West, DeSoto, Lunde Take $500 Home From 4-Corners T.M.R.C. MX at Four Corners Cycle Park Part 1
T.M.R.C.
at
Four Corners Cycle Park
Sunday January 26, 1975
By: Scott Heidbrink
In these times of tight money, men will do quite a bit to get some of the long green stuff. A good crowd of Pro riders did just that as they drove to Four Comers to race with Track Masters in their $3,000 purse motocross. After a three hour drive down to the track, we wheeled in just in time to see the 125 Pro class blast off the line. There were very few Pros that thought they were good enough to come down and go for the money, but those that did walked away a lot richer.
The story in this race is a simple one. It can be summarized in two words: Tim Lunde. Lunde, the 125 Flying Machine Factory rider, was moving like usual. He took the early lead in the first moto and was really moving. His main competition came from C.H. Industries' Ray Lopez. Raymond was moving right with Tim until a minor problem took Ray out for a couple of laps. Ray returned, bike running just right, in time to collect a fourth for that moto. Between Ray and Tim was Ron Turner, one of the local shoes, and Billy Glore, from Whittier Honda. Both Turner and Glore thought that they would be in for some of that really big cash when Lopez dropped back, but the second moto soon shattered their hopes.
As in the first moto, Lunde rocketed the FMF Special off the line in first place. Lopez was hot on his heels with Turner and Glore right behind in striking distance. Lunde started to motor away while girl friend Kelly Bartlett cheered him on from the side lines. Tim and Ray were starting to put some space between themselves and Turner and Glore. The two were really going full throttle all the way around the track. Ray was gaining on Lunde, and about half the way through, Lopez got by. Lunde, secure that even with a second place he would still win the overall, settled down and cooled it. Lopez continued to stretch his lead, with Tim close behind.
Turner was keeping up, but he couldn't gain on the two speedsters. Glore seemed to be tiring from the long motos, and he was dropping back. At the finish it was Lopez winning the second moto with Lunde second, Turner third and Glore fourth. Overall, Lunde took home the big money on his FMF Honda while Lopez and his C.H. machine grabbed $300 for second. Turner took home $200 for his proud sponsor. Glore missed the money by one place.
The 250 Pro class really brought the crowd to life. On the line was Marty Tripes, riding a borrowed Mono-shocker Yamaha, Kenny Zahrt, riding brother Dave's Bul; Tom Rapp on his Bui; John DeSoto, on his Ossa; Mike Stearns, on a Yamaha; and Mike Tripes, on a CZ.
After winning the 125 Pro class. Tim Lunde watches the 250's with friend Kelly Bartlett and Paula, Kenny Zahrt's girlfriend.
When the rubber band snapped, they all charged the first corner. Stearns pulled the early lead with Zahrt and Tripes close behind. DeSoto was in fourth. They were all battling it out with Marty coming on strong trying to make his move around Zahrt and Stearns.
First, Stearns had a small problem and next time he came around he was in third with Zahrt in the lead and Tripes second. Next lap and Marty put a wheel inside Kenny, but Zahrt shut the door. But on the next lap Marty held it on just enough to pass Kenny, then half a lap later Marty spun out and let Zahrt by. Back and forth the lead went, the crowd was going wild.
Finally, Tripes did it again, and this time he spent no time putting space between himself and Zahrt. But then it happened, Marty holed a piston in the Yamaha and his day was over and the $500 flew out the window.
With Tripes permanently out of the picture, Zahrt had his work cut out for him. He just cruised in for the win in this moto, keeping the bike together. DeSoto caught and passed Stearns, so Big John took second for the first moto. Steams was able to hold on to third while Tom Rapp worked into fourth. Continue to Part 2