CMC-MX at Indian Dunes Park
CMC
at
Indian Dunes
Sunday January 26, 1975
By: Chris Hatounian
CMC is returning to Indian Dunes this new year with their new plan of running races every fourth Sunday of the month. CMC has been away from the Dunes for too long and it's a change that everybody will enjoy as CMC gets the hottest local talent around So. Cal. tracks. Jerry Cortright, of Monrovia, is part of the regular CMC action men and came out to Dunes as a branch out from the head CMC guys Kelvin Franks and Stu Peters.
Jerry put on one of the smoothest races at Dunes in a long time and future CMC races here will be even better according to Jerry. Despite some of the heavy cash races elsewhere, today's race still attracted some hot CMC shoes.
Dave Haugh borrowed a 250 Bul and proceeded to almost take a quick trip over the bars. From now on he swears to only riding his bike. Kiel photo.
One sponsor and his three rider's did what doesn't happen all too often around these parts. The sponsor, Lou Revell, and his titanic trio of Don Draz, Willy Harper and Billy Payne, gassed it to each win his Pro class for the day on Revell wrenching and tuning. When's the last time you saw the same sponsor's name leading three different classes of Expert's? Never? Maybe so? I don't care what you say, because all three of those bikes put out more horsepower than a mac truck!
The 250 Pro's jumped off the line with Ruffus Kerr taking an Immediate lead followed closely by Mike Lacy (Kaw), Rick Salmon (Mai), Bob Hannah and many other's. Included on the "others" was Willy Harper (CZ) as he came up and passed all the front runners in one lap and took off for the rest of the moto. Salmon was heard to remark, "Willy could win out here blindfolded". I wouldn't say he was wrong. Among rider's following Harper's tire tracks to the finish were Salmon, Hannah and Lacy.
Kerr jumped out in the lead again in the second moto but Harper was right behind this time and quickly displaced Kerr for the lead. So long Willy, see you at the checkered. Salmon held a steady second this round 'till the finish. What looked to be Lacy's first good finish ended a few laps from the finish when while holding a steady third. Mike had his brakes not do their job, sending young Mike into the nver for a swim at the wrong time. "You're all wet. Lacy". The overall result showed Harper the winner with Salmon taking second and Hannah third.
The 125's were in with the 250's with Don Draz taking as easy win in this class. What more could you ask for from an Indian Dunes Champ? The 500 class was what really brought out the CMC talent. How does Joe Johnston grab you? Or how does Jeff Jennings (CZ), Dan Barnes iCZ) and Billy Payne (Mai) strike ya. Wait a minute, did I say Bill Payne? Why, he's just a local in one sense. Well, one way or another, Billy Payne couldn't be touched by anyone for the overall as he dominated both moto's for the overall cash. Jeff Jennings came in second with his two second place finishes. I swear the little geeter looks like Falta without that number nineteen. A fifteen-year-old Falta? Barnes took third overall.
Now, I was saving the best for the last and this race was probably the best of the day. In the 125 Junior class, Scott Faulkner (Hon) and Shawn Beal put on a display of riding that only the best could reproduce. Beal won the first moto with Faulkner a close second all the way. As they jumped off the gate in the second moto, Faulkner had the lead and a slight advantage over Beal but the worst was yet to come. Beal slowly worked his way up to Faulkner with about two laps to go. Beal then was getting a little too close and started making a move on Scott. Just as he was diving for the inside line, a lapped rider with a looped chain pulled right in front of Beal, knocking him out of contention for first. He was not amused.
Randy Stubbs returned to racing at the Dunes riding his Bultaco. He looked really good, but was never a threat to Payne or Jennings. Hatounian photo.
Scott motored off the 125 winner for the day, much to Beal's regret. Well, that's racing.
