AME MX at Indian Dunes Park
AME
at
Indian Dunes
Friday April 18, 1975
By: Scott Heidbrink
It was just one of those nights for many people out at the Dunes. It was an odd night. There was a new RM-125 Suzuki being raced in the beginner class; there was a new '76 Maico 400 out. And both these bikes were total eye catchers. But besides that, nobody, I mean NOBODY really had any luck but Warren Reid. This up and coining 125 Expert put it all together. As far as the Expert classes, Warren was the only rider able to string together two wins to take all the cash. But he didn't have it easy. No way! In fact, from the start of moto two it looked like C.H. Industries' Ray Lopez would take home all the cash since he had a second in the first moto and Warren had a first.
If Lopez could hold the lead, he and Reid would both have a 1-2 for the night with Ray getting the nod But it didn't end up that way as the young Al Baker R&D rider smoked by Lopez about half the way through. Into the first comer Lopez had the hole shot and it looked like he might be able to stretch the lead. But Reid broke free of the pack and soon nailed himself right to Raymond's rear fender. He watched for almost four laps then made his move and motored inside the swift C.H. rider. That was it. Reid had the win if his bike didn't break. And it didn't even miss a beat. According to Baker, the only thing trick on the bike is the forks, the rest is almost box stock. So Reid collected top cash with Lopez really looking good and finishing second overall. This is Ray's first time back into the money since a long string of DNF's. Third place was dominated by Valley Cycle Park's own Tom Zahnter. Every Friday he strays away from the park and comes out to the Dunes. Had Lopez and Reid not shown up, Tom probably would have copped the cash. Instead, he brought home two thirds for the night.There was alot of other talent out on the track but they could not make it into the top three. They included Kolbe Honda's Jim Hale, Sambo's Mark Gambetta, Goleta Cycle's Rob Rollins, Mike McAtee, and Tom Ryan. So you can see it was a real tight race. The 250 Expert class looked like another Enduro. Riders starting in one moto only to DNF in the other. In the first moto it was Donny Hansen battling for the lead with Dirt Bike West-Analube rider Joe Root, who was gassin' it in second. Joe looked like he might go the distance, but on the second lap he dropped it in the first turn, then later his bike stuck a throttle. Had he stayed up, Joe would have been in the money. Also going out of it in the first moto was Revell's rider Willy Harper. He looped a chain and dropped to ninth place. This moto turned out to be very interesting, as Hansen went on to win. But he didn't do it too easily as Hall Strauss haunted him for some time on a Cole Brothers Maico.
Finally ending up third was another Revell's rider Frank Giardina. Frank, returning to action on a CZ, was looking good, though he did lose his front fender in the first moto. The next moto found Harper proving that a looped chain in moto one wouldn't set him back as he flashed in for the win. Strauss was looking good until he looped a chain near the finish. Mike Lacy surprised everybody on his West Cycles Husky as he was now in second. He was moving out and looking good. Giardina was again in third leading teammate Hansen, who had some trouble in this moto. When the overalls came out, Hansen had the win with a 1-4 finish. Second went to Lacy with his 4-2 and Giardina was tied with a 3-3, so he got third.
The 500 class was even more confusing. Moto one and NBR rider Tom Claire was out in the lead. Dale Tittlemeir and Dave Haugh tangled with Haugh losing his face shield and Tittlemeir still racing. After some fast racing, the pack was starting to spread. One of the early speedsters, Greg Osech, had his fair share of problems. He was right up there when his bike soured, dropping him to last.
So when the checkered came out it was Claire, Tittlemeir, and Mike Marsh. The next moto was another story as Claire dropped out early, but Osech didn't. He got his act together and rode in for the win. But it didn't help, since he had such a bad first moto.
Haugh was in second, followed by Tittlemeir and Marsh. That's the way things finished. Overall, Tittlemeir had the points with his 2-3 to grab the cash. Haugh, riding for Steve's Bultaco, managed second with a 5-2. In third was Mike Marsh, with a 3-4 finish. Jeff Whelchel continued his dominance of the 100 Junior class as he rode in for another win on his Suzuki of Van Nuys screamer. He is really a fast kid, just wait until he moves up, there'll be no stopping him.
The 125 Intermediate class was another fast one tonight with a new winner. You would think that after last week's story, Bobby Kline could not be topped. But this week Willie Simons came out to see just how fast this class was. When he left, he was toting the big brass. Willie came out from Simi and showed everybody just how fast he really is. Mounted on his Simi Valley Honda, he grabbed the win. Second went to Jim Ryan with Bobby Kline ending up in third. He just couldn't get things to click like he did the week before. But, still Bobby was flying. Somewhere in there, EME rider Steve Paulos ended up. Probably in fourth.
Don't forget, AME runs a 100 Expert class, with cash payback. That's 100 per cent pay back for those of you that prefer money instead of trophies. So you pint-sized Experts get your act together and go for the bucks with AME. Next Friday promises to be more thrills at the Dunes when a full house will be out racing.
