CALVMX

Photos By Katy Caro & Article by Steve Caro

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALVMX RETURNS TO GLEN HELEN

By Steve Caro

Photography by Kathryn Caro

San Bernardino, August 21

 

Series Two, Round Two, of the 2016 CALVMX/100% vintage motocross season saw the racers returning to Glen Helen’s R.E.M track for the first time this year. The competitors definitely caught some lucky breaks as temperatures, normally hovering near triple digits, were moderate, while the smoke from the horrific Blue Cut brush fire just north of the track had cleared away by the consistent mild breeze that remained in effect throughout the day.

There was a healthy turnout of both vintage and post-vintage machines taking to the Glen Helen course, suitably altered for the older machines, including a rarely seen late model Ossa entered by Randy Lewis. Strategic watering throughout the day kept dust to a minimum.

 

Close racing once again highlighted the Marty Tripes 100cc Works Revenge class as the Factory Support Intermediate division led off the racing day. With Yamaha being the preferred bike of choice, a two-moto duel ensued between Steven Furman and Charlie Hamill. In the first moto, the pair swapped the lead numerous times throughout the moto, with Hamill finally holding onto the lead as the checkers flew. Furman finished a close second, with series regular Scott Piddington third.

The second moto saw the Furman-Hamill match resuming, with Eric Cook trailing in third as the pack funneled onto the first uphill climb after the start. Furman never put a wheel wrong during the moto and powered his way to both the moto and overall win, with Hamill taking second overall, followed by Piddington with 3-4 moto scores.

Two of the younger riders in the series proved that it wasn’t necessary to have a $10,000 modern machine with more computer power than what put man on the moon to have a good time in motocross. 21-year old Nick Lapaglia (CZ) once again put on quite a riding exhibition as he dominated both GP-1 250 Expert and GP-2 125 Expert classes. Lapaglia’s smooth style saw him railing the berms and flying high and far over the numerous jumps.

 

Not to be outdone, twenty-something Micah Davis, complete with an open face helmet, powered his small bore Honda four-stroke to a two moto sweep of the GP-1 250 Intermediate class, with veteran competitors Ryan Voznick (Bultaco) and Steve Gallegos (Husqvarna) rounding out the podium. Davis added to his tally of wins with another two-moto sweep of the GP-150 Expert division.

For over a decade, the mainstay of the pre-1975 classes has been Vintage Sportsman 250. In the Intermediate division of the class, Bultaco mounted Doc Alexander made fans of the immortal Spanish machine proud as he powered his way to victories in both motos. His wins didn’t come easy as Honda mounted Mike Padilla kept the pressure on in both motos, with his efforts meriting him second overall on the day, followed by fellow Honda racer Jim Barker in third overall.

 

In Vintage Sportsman 500, it was a field of CZ’s and one lone Husqvarna filling the gate in the Novice, Intermediate and Expert divisions of the class. CZ mounted Mike Korgan and the Husqvarna of Andrew McKeag re-created the early ‘70s era of the sport as the two swapped moto wins in the Intermediate race with Korgan’s 2-1 score edging out McKeag’s 1-2 tally. As this duel ensued, James Fryslie (CZ) powered his way to a 1-1 tally in the Novice portion over fellow CZ pilot Charlie Finnegan. Not to be outshone, Expert ranked speedsters Greg Landers and Mike Lapaglia rocketed around the course on their own CZ’s to finish first and second overall on the day.

 

In the post vintage classes (1975 and newer machines), Honda mounted Mark Sandzimier showed his usual fluidity in taking the overall in the 50 Plus GP Expert class over class veterans Dave Harris (Maico) and Ed Tashjian (Suzuki). Sandzimier also topped the GP-3 Experts over Tashjian, now Honda mounted, taking a well-earned second overall.

Other winners on the day included Chris Corum (Hon), making his return to racing after being injured at a prior race, in Factory Works Expert class of the Marty Tripes 100cc series along with a second in the GP-2 125 Experts, Ryan Voznick (Suz) in GP-2 125 Intermediate, Agina Rupert (Yam) in Women’s Open Novice, Tim Hoole (Suz) in 50 Plus GP Intermediate and Norm Himaka (Maico) who made his debut race in the 60 Plus Vintage Intermediate a success with the overall win, followed by Bill Davidson (CZ) and Rickert Haag (CZ).

 

CALVMX returns to the oval track at Camp Lockett for their next event with two days of racing over the Labor Day weekend. Classes for two, three, and four wheeled machines, including karts will be offered with separate classes for knobby and Class C tire bikes.

 

 

 

 

Further photos and race coverage can be found at:

Todayscyclecoverage.com