AME MX at Indian Dunes Park
AME
at
Indian Dunes
Sunday April 13, 1975
By: Chris Hatounian
Jim Hale, Hal Strauss and Dave Haugh were all overall Pro winners of the day at American Motocross Enterprises Indian Dunes motocross on the fast International course. All three put on the heaviest of racing as all their classes were fully packed with competition. A lot more than the usual crowd.
Kolbe Honda sponsored Jim Hale probably had more work than anybody cut out for him in the huge 125 Pro class as his first moto could only be described as "Catch Up".
Tony De La Torre took off from all the competition in the first moto and left more than one of his fellow competitors a little stunned. Jim Hale blew his start as he went down in the first corner and had one big race ahead of him as he passed, get this, sixteen riders all the way up to second place before the flag dropped. Boy, that's what I would call, earnin' your bread.
Hale had no intention of doing another first moto number and kept it cool on the start of the second moto behind De La Torre, who was once again in the lead. Then the heavy racing started as Hale moved up on De La Torre and soon went by after a fierce battle for the lead which left De La Torre a little out of breath. Tony cooled it in second as Hale motored off for the win, assuring him of the overall for the day. De La Torre's 1-2 score was about the best for second overall as new Expert, John Oswald (Hon) put together a 4-3 score for third.
Revell Two-Stroke's Don Hansen was back again today with hopes of gaining another overall victory, only to throw it all away after a second moto crash while battling for the lead with Cole Bros, ace, Hal Strauss, who just went through this same thing Friday. While together, and I really mean close, these two would run away from anything when they got into another one of their weekend battles. Hansen had one big pack of Pros to contend with as he shot out in the lead in the first moto and held off Strauss when it counted for the first moto win.
The second moto, although, was quite a different story - Both were in the front of the pack with Strauss in the lead this time and Hansen close by in second until Don lost it over one of the jumps and all but lost any chances of beating his AME weekend pain in the neck. Hansen, after picking up his bike and bod, got his bike unloaded in time to take a sixth, which was enough for second overall for the day behind the happy hauler, Strauss. Consistency paid off for Montesa rider and Cole Bros, sponsored Fred Holbit, who put together a first moto sixth and a nice second moto second for third overall for the day. Consistency again paid off for Steve's Bultaco sponsored Dave Haugh, who put together a third in the first moto and a wire-to-wire first in the second moto for the overall 500 Pro win against a very large pack. NBR ace, Tom Claire took the first moto victory but scumbled to mechanicals in the second and ruined his chances of any money for the day. The really impressive ride of the day was put on by CZ-mounted Dale Tittlemier, who rode a 2-2 score for second overall. Third fell to Bay Area Bultaco star, Randy Stubbs. Saving the best for last is what has been done and this race could never be produced by any Pro. Hot 125 Junior Bob Kline, put on a show that left more than one person with his jaw dragging on the ground for the next hour.
Kline easily tore apart his first moto against a large group of riders but little did he know what he was in store for in the second round!
Bob jumped into the lead and had it pretty well stretched by one lap, only to slide over a berm and get passed by nine riders. Bob was up and charging and in a short time was back up to second and going after first place Randy Gauvin (Hon). Bob then went down again and it didn't look like it was going to be one of his days but what's this? Ohmygod, he's up again and after Gauvin and gaining! Then he bogs in a turn and Gauvin puts more ground between himself and Kline. Bob then starts charging again and once again bogs down. "Aint no way he'll get me now" said a bystander.
"Oh yea" said I as Bob was again on the gas and again gaining on Gauvin. Bob knew he had to beat him to win overall and he must have really wanted it bad as he just kept chargin' and Chargin'! Believe it or not, he finally did get up to Gauvin and passed him like he was in reverse. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Gauvin's Jaw was also hangin' when he saw Kline coming! When Bob finally did get by, he motored off for the win and the overall and didn't even look tired when he got off his bike.
