Good Crowd Comes to Watch Pros T.M.R.C. MX at Four Corners Cycle Park Part 2
T.M.R.C.
at
Four Corners Cycle Park
Sunday January 26, 1975
By: Scott Heidbrink
The second moto was looking like it was going to be another wheel-to-wheel battle when DeSoto and Zahrt jumped out away from the start, but after John got a clean lead, Kenny couldn't keep up. Zahrt was riding his brother's bike, and according to his father, if Kenny had pushed John for the lead, the odds were good that the lower end would let go and Kenny would finish out of the money. So Zahrt just cruised in for second place.
Mike Stearns was again in third and really moving. But he wasn't fast enough to catch Zahrt in the dosing minutes of the moto. Overall, DeSoto took the $500 home, which John said would all go into Patty's mouth for dental work. That s one way to pay the bills. Zahrt took $300 home while southern speedster Stearns walked away with $200. The Open Pro class was another one that was full of thrills and spills. Off the line in both motos there was no doubt in anybody's mind who was going to win and that was Jim West. The tall Maico rider pulled a hole shot then just ran away from the pack.
The scenery at Four Corners was excellent. Just take look for yourself. Heidbrink photo
West was clearly in the lead by the end of the first moto with Rich Thorwaldson in second and Nils Arne Nilsson in third, nding a factory Husky. Zahrt was trying his best riding a Mono-shock for Sport Time Yamaha in the San Fernando Valley. Kenny looked pretty good on the big bore. Joe Root, riding for Analube was moving pretty fast, but the tough track and a failing bike dropped him way back. As even-body else was fighting for position. West just moved out in the lead doing giant cross-ups and bitchen slides. Thorwaldson was satisfied in second with Nils Arne right on his tail. Zahrt stayed in fourth. When the checkered came out for this moto, that was how it looked: West, Thorwaldson, Nilsson, and Zahrt.
Marty Tripes had entered this race on a 400 CZ. but he threw the chain early in the game and retired. The second moto looked more like an enduro than a motocross, as only four people finished. West took the win again in this one, lapping everybody except Thorwaldson. And given ten more feet, he would have passed Richard too. Thor took another second place finish, and the results have Bob Brown coming in third. From what I saw, I could have sworn that Sherman Schneller had third, but they say different. The reason I mention it is that it meant the difference between $200 and nothing for the rider who came all the way from Santa Maria.
Overall it was West winning it, Thorwaldson second and Brown third. Nils Ame dropped out with chain problems and Zahrt dropped out on the first lap when his chain came off. Had he finished, he would have taken home another $200. In the other classes, it was Danny Tron taking the 100 Junior win on his Suzuki. He rode to a fourth and a first to capture this trophy. Rob Niel was second with a third and a second while Shawn Wornock brought his Suzuki in for third.
Mike Wolfe took his Honda Elsinore in for the win in the 125 Junior class. Mike swept both motos taking the win easily. Second place went to Jon Michaels on a Suzuki. Rice Wade took third, also on a Honda. Mike Jennings took the win in the 125 Intermediate class, riding a Honda just like everybody else. Second fell to Steve Cross.
Jim Halbert swept both motos in the 250 Junior dass on his Poway Suzuki-sponsored Husky. This insured Jim the win as he beat out Scott Olson, also Husky-mounted. Third place went to Don Dietrick, riding a Montesa. The 250 Intermediate class was an interesting one as Tamali Smith took the overall win on his Honda. Second place went to Gary Cox.
Mike Tague led the combined Open Junior and Intermediate class around for the win on his big 400 KTM. Mike was riding as an Intermediate and really flew. In the last moto, one of his buddies sat up by the checkered flag, soaking him with a fire extingusher each time he came around. Mike took the win by beating out Jeff Olson, who was CZ-mounted. Bill Ladd led the Juniors on his Husky in both motos for the overall in this class. Second was Tom Hart on a Bultaco and third was Bob Carr, also on a Bul.
The racing was over early and everybody was happy. The winners in the Pro classes all got goodies from Champion Spark Plugs. Jim West, the Open winner took home a box of Gold Palladium plugs while DeSoto and Lunde will both receive neat Champion jackets. Also, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha all gave Track Master flags for their track. Too bad most of them were gone early in the day from the souvenir seekers. All in all, it was Farrrrrrr out.