April 2, 1975
Vol. 3  Issue 12
    










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Steve Miller


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CRC District 37 MX at Valley Cycle Park Part 1


The 125 Novice class heads out of the first corner and up the hill at Valley Cycle Park. The eventual leader got a bad start and is stuck in the pack.   Kiel photo.
The 125 Novice class heads out of the first corner and up the hill at Valley Cycle Park. The eventual leader got a bad start and is stuck in the pack. Kiel photo.

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

Things got started slow this week and they never seemed to speed up. The signup proceedings took more time than everybody had planned, so practice was delayed until almost 9:30 a.m. So that set the first moto back until almost 10:30. And the club had to run two 25 minute motos. It was the starting of a very long day. During practice, everybody got a look at the track, which was in pretty good condition, at least during practice. The jumps had been built up to huge proportions and the back section of the track was in.

Team Poland heads into the grand stand straight at Valley while holding off a few fellow competitors in the 500 class.   Heidbrink photo.
Team Poland heads into the grand stand straight at Valley while holding off a few fellow competitors in the 500 class. Heidbrink photo.

It was really very interesting, but most of the back part of the track could not get watered, so by the end of the sets of motos, it was dusty. The hot weather dried the track quicker than planned, so at the break, the track was ripped and done over. That made things a little better for the second moto, but there were quite a few rocks on the track. If you were riding a 250 or 500, you really needed a chest protector, especially off the start.

Steve Miller leads a full house of 250 Novice riders up the hill during the first moto. He went on to win both races.  Kiel photo.
Steve Miller leads a full house of 250 Novice riders up the hill during the first moto. He went on to win both races. Kiel photo.

After finally starting, things were very well organized, but it was that morning delay that bummed everybody out. Jim Mercier, of Modern Cycle Magazine, left after his first moto in the 250 Expert class. He had a fourth, but he didn't feel like spending the entire day at the track.

Honestly, that was really the only valid complaint about the entire day, that it took the entire day. The track was done as best it could. At least it was rock hard all the way around. As for the racing, there was some good competition going on, and some good cherry picking. In more than one class, there were riders competing out of class. One Maico ace rode in a Novice division, and I have seen him many a time competing on Expert and Pro levels. I hope that somebody can clear up this mess sometime.

This is the view most of the Powder Puffers had all day as this young lady rode a fine race, taking home the big trophy.   Heidbrink photo.
This is the view most of the Powder Puffers had all day as this young lady rode a fine race, taking home the big trophy. Heidbrink photo.

Back to the racing. Terry Mason did in the Mini class by out riding Russ Geiger and BUI Cambell. The Women's Division was a real thriller today with lots of thrills and spills. The overall winner ended up being Roberta Vasilis on a Honda. She had a third and a second for the day.

Nancy Payne rode one of the new 125 Maicos out at Valley.   The bike really looks good, but they sound like a road racer in a MX frame.   Heidbrink photo.
Nancy Payne rode one of the new 125 Maicos out at Valley. The bike really looks good, but they sound like a road racer in a MX frame. Heidbrink photo.

In the first moto, cute Lori Payne grabbed the lead while sister Nancy had her Maico run out of gas. Lori's lead didn't last long as Roberta soon made her way to the front. Then Cherry Stockton was pulling her Bui up to the front, too.

Cherry Stockton was leading the Women's race for a while, then she dropped out. Her new Bultaco looks very fast.  Kiel photo.
Cherry Stockton was leading the Women's race for a while, then she dropped out. Her new Bultaco looks very fast. Kiel photo.

Then, after some thrilling moments, Roberta was way back and then Cherry didn't come around. Nancy Payne got going and was really moving, but she was way back.

One of the really quick girls out there was Chelle Blythe. She was making the District girls take a double look, as she speeded on by.

Paulette Napolean rode her Suzuki  of Santa Barbara Honda in for a good finish, but the bike was totally stock and did not handle as good as the others. Heidbrink photo.
Paulette Napolean rode her Suzuki of Santa Barbara Honda in for a good finish, but the bike was totally stock and did not handle as good as the others. Heidbrink photo.

Another of the faster women who was having no luck at all was pretty Paulette Napolean. Paulette, riding her Honda for Suzuki of Santa Barbara, was doing good, but could not penetrate the top three. Otherwise, she was riding good, but she lacked some of her old speed and style. I think if she tricked her Honda more, it would bring Paulette into the brass more often.

Those new ABH Shoulder pads-chest protectors arc really trick.  These are being modeled by Scott Heidbrink as he races in the 250 Novice class at Valley Cycle Park.   New photo.
Those new ABH Shoulder pads-chest protectors arc really trick. These are being modeled by Scott Heidbrink as he races in the 250 Novice class at Valley Cycle Park. New photo.