AMA MX at Spillway Park
AMA
at
Spillway Cycle Park
Sunday April 13, 1975
By: William P. Czerwinski
This benefit race for Cerebral Palsy has to be termed a great success. With over 200 riders, the day's event went off as scheduled. There were riders that never got on a bike also. Like Vince Clark recovering from an ankle injury only to re-injure it last week at Hangtown.
John Dallaire with his shoulder cast on has two more weeks in the cast and he will be out on the track again. Also, Mike Hampton was walking around, I think the only injury to him is his Maico. Brett Yeager was strutting around stepping easily on his left foot. I think Brett is recovering from a knee operation. Mike Knope was walking around, I'm not sure what he's recovering from. Also John Caldwell of San Luis Obispo was on hand without racing gear. He recovering from the flu. But it was good to see so many just out to support another one of the good causes. I'm sure all that attended will sleep well knowing the money spent went to help some others.The two mini motorcycles given away went to Chuck Myers and Madge Townsend, both of Lompoc. I know Chuck could use it as he seized up his 250 Suzuki in the race, who knows, maybe he'll race mini next race. Brett Cross, of San Luis Obispo, on a Honda, made another impressive win for himself. Brett jumped into the 125 class from the Mini's and started leading the pack. We look for great things from this young lad.
In Div. A of the 125 Juniors John Townsend of Lompoc on a Honda was holding on to a third place in the second moto and had just moved into second place when all alone in the back esses he hit the berm on his front wheel and the front just stopped, throwing John hard to the ground. Overall results, a broken arm. We all hope be recovers soon, because running in a field of over thirty riders a third spot is nothing to be ashamed of. John's brother, Jim managed a 12th in Div. B of the 125 Juniors. Running second in moto one his throttle cable broke putting him last for that moto. But a repair job and Jim was in second for most of the moto and a second place finish in moto two netted him the 12th place trophy. It seems like with 50 percent trophies everyone got a trophy for the day's race.
In the 125 Expert it looked as if Sam Holland, of Huron, on a Honda, was going to take top honors, as in the first moto he took the lead and ran off and left everyone in the dust. Moto two started out like a repeat of the first. But with about four laps to go Sam came by with half of the exhaust chamber gone and Mark Gambetta hot on his tail, with Sam losing power, Mark Gambetta, one of the Sambo's Team, was gaining ground and the next lap Mark got by Sam. Gambetta, of Santa Barbara, went on take the win in moto two and net him the top place overall. Mark really had the Sambo's Honda by the tail.
In the 250 Experts, Tom Bass of San Luis Obispo, on a Bultaco, made moto one his but not before he got by Rick Long. Rick Long on his Montesa, got the hole shot but Tom was too unreal. He got by Rick in a hurry. Moto two was going to be a different story, but again Rick Long got the hole shot with Tom hot on his heels. Tom tried so hard to get by Rick in the first turn, that Tom hit the bank went up over it, back on to the track hitting Rick and both riders going down while Andy Segale, of Santa Barbara, got himself a good lead over the field.
Rick got up and away Tom got up and was away last. Rick had to pull in the pits to straighten out the shift lever while Tom had his work cut out to take over the lead.
Lap after lap Tom would pass riders until he got behind Andy then the chase was on. Andy would just pull away from Tom each time Tom would get near. Andy even made a few mistakes but Tom could not capitalize on them. Tom did make it by to take over the lead and go on to win overall.
Open Experts winner was all Allen Griswolds as he took his Yamaha mono-shocker to the lead in each moto, which no one could touch. Chuck Czerwinski got his Maico-Suzuki together the night before and wanted to get into the action. He started moto one off with Allen leading, Chuck second-but on the last lap Chuck slowed down and the bike was smoking. He made it to the finish straight-a-way but had to push it across. A check in the pits disclosed the air cleaner boot came off letting in sand. But moto two it was ready again, off to a second place start he crashes into a rider in the same spot Tom Bass tried his move up. With everyone up and away, Chuck gets in gear last but did manage to pull out a second. He said feels good to finish a race again.
