March 5, 1975
Vol. 3  Issue 8
    










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CRC-MX at Valley Cycle Park


Worms eye view of the 125 Expert class coming off the line at Valley proves to be very interesting.  That was a full class with loads of competition.  Kiel photo.
Worms eye view of the 125 Expert class coming off the line at Valley proves to be very interesting. That was a full class with loads of competition. Kiel photo.

CRC at Valley Cycle Park
Sunday February 23, 1975
By: Scott
Heidbrink

Everybody I talked to said they thought there was going to be a small turnout at CRC's race at Valley Cycle Park, but they were going there anyway. Well, CRC fooled ya, 'cause the place was packed to the rafters. I have been to some races where everything is over by 1, so I expected that for today, but when winding down off the hill I spied that the pits were full, the hill was full and the hill next to the TT-Scrambles track was packed. That meant to be prepared for a full day of action and racing. The last race finally finished up around 4 p.m., not really that late considering the crowd. It looks like the park didn't expect such a crowd either, as the track was prepared so that it would hold up for quite a bit fewer bikes. And add the winds on top of that and you find a very dusty track that got hard by the second moto. They tried to keep it good, as they watered it quite a few times, but that wind just blew all the moisture out

As for the races, the most thrilling and mystifying had to be the combined 250 and 500 Expert and Intermediate bash. The 500 class lined up in front of the gate with the 250's behind. There was quite a line up in both classes. When the checkered finally fell for the last time, it was discovered that Don Hicks had taken his Cole Brothers Maico in for three straight wins. He was really motoring out on his big bore bike, but not without pressure. In the second moto, the pressure came from Chuck Lanzarone, the Maico racer from C.H. Industries. Chuck grabbed the early lead, but Hicks didn't take long to move on by. From there on, it was all Hicks.

Jimmy Mercier was flying high off the jumps out at Valley. Even with his radical style, he couldn't get into the top three. Kiel photo.
Jimmy Mercier was flying high off the jumps out at Valley. Even with his radical style, he couldn't get into the top three. Kiel photo.

Lanzarone took second place cash home with his pair of seconds and a third. He had a bad third moto when he crashed. Rod Kershaw rode another Maico in for third spot The 250 class was the eye opener. Out of the top three, none of them won a moto. It seems that the riders winning the motos had other problems, dropping them way down for the day. It was just one of those days, I guess.

Tim Sarian was really going fast on his new 250 Husky, that is until his chain came off in the second moto. Heidbrink photo.
Tim Sarian was really going fast on his new 250 Husky, that is until his chain came off in the second moto. Heidbrink photo.

When the overalls were tallied, it was Mike Ruby coming out the winner. Gee, the last time I saw him was when his bike went flying into five directions off Banzai Hill at the Bay Mare Nationals. Mike has really gotten faster since the days when I went to school with him at Valley College in Van Nuys. He took his pair of seconds and a fifth and traded them in on first place money, which was pretty high, considering the turnout. Second place went to Mark White, riding a Honda. Mark had a 5-3-2 for the day. Again, nothing spectacular, but enough to get him second overall.

This young man was the one to beat in the 125 Expert class at CRC's race at Valley Cycle Park.  Heidbrink photo.
This young man was the one to beat in the 125 Expert class at CRC's race at Valley Cycle Park. Heidbrink photo.

Steve Rawson rode his Bui in for third place money. He had a 3-6-3 finish. Jim Mercier was plagued with bad starts and a lack of luck, as he finished down in the standings. Seventh, I believe. He has changed a bit. No longer does he sport white fenders and the alloy Maico tank. It is yellow fenders (with a Bui one on the back) and a painted alloy tank. Trend setting again Jim? Almost forgot to mention what happened in the first moto. The 500's took off, leaving the250's ready logo behind the gate. When the starter went for the gate, it didn't drop. But the entire field thought it would, so it was WFO and tug on the throttle. Man, were their bikes flying all over the place. Up and over the gate. Riders going down. It was a mess. Some even got over it

They had a re-start and that time everybody got off fine. But the first false start left a few scars on some of the bikes. The Mini Cycles class was a full one with loads of competition. In the Mini Expert class, Scott Boek was racing our Yamaha Mini YZ80 for a test The bike was stone stock and racing against all the big boys.

Chuck Lanzarone leads Don Hicks over the jumps at Valley Cycle Park.   Not too much later. Hicks passed Chuck and went on for the win.   Heidbrmk photo.
Chuck Lanzarone leads Don Hicks over the jumps at Valley Cycle Park. Not too much later. Hicks passed Chuck and went on for the win. Heidbrmk photo.

The bike is fast, but not enough to keep up with the tricked wonders. Overall, Jerry Little took the win on his Yamaha with Chris Heisser taking second. Jerry swept all three motos while Chris took a 2-3-2 for the day. Our entry, Scott took a 3-2-3 and grabbed third overall. He had only ridden the bike for the first time the day before.

Jim Mercier was really having fun, both on and off the track.   Kiel photo.
Jim Mercier was really having fun, both on and off the track. Kiel photo.

In the Mini Intermediate class, it was Donnie Simington taking the win. He was riding a pretty fast XR Honda. Second place went to Simi Valley Yamaha's Jimmy Simons. Jimmy, wearing one of the most stylish jerseys on the track, really looked like a mini factory rider, all the way down to his front fender flap like the works Yamahas. The 125 Expert class had alot of talent in it, and quite a few riders. John Oswald won the first moto with pressure from Larry Greer and Thad Friday. In the next moto, Greer was ready as he motored in for the win. This time Oswald had to be happy with second and Thad was still in third.

Story Editor Scott was just getting ready to shoot a few photos when somebody stepped in his way. George Corcoran looks at the other photog while Scott prepares to shoot. Kiel photo.
Story Editor Scott was just getting ready to shoot a few photos when somebody stepped in his way. George Corcoran looks at the other photog while Scott prepares to shoot. Kiel photo.

The third moto and Greer was again in the lead, going for the cash. Thad had dropped to fourth and Oswald was hanging back in sixth. Even with these average finishing positions for the last moto, Oswald still took second and Thad grabbed third. Needless to say, Greer took the overall for the class. All in all, it was a good day, but it would have been better had it not blown so much. The day would gotten under way earlier also had it not been for the time change. I am sure many riders got up thinking it was an hour earlier than it actually was, making them late to the races. But it was neat having the new time, it was still light out when the racing was over.