CALVMX

 

 

FLAT TRACKERS BEST JULY HEAT

By Steve Caro

Photography by Kathryn Caro

Campo, CA July 29-30

 

 

        The grounds of Camp Lockett Event and Equestrian Facility once again roared to the sounds of two, three and four wheeled machines as the third round of the 2017 CALVMX/100% Flat Track series descended on the facility in Campo. Predicted triple digit temperatures were mercifully absent and a steady wind helped keep racers and spectators alike tolerable. The only downside to the breezes was the need for extra water on the track as the heat, wind and spinning tires repeatedly dried out the surface.

        Several new machines were seen on the track including Randi Schaller on a newer Yamaha and motocross regular Phil Hall on his Honda Elsinore based dirt tracker. Hall was able to make good on his goal of racing his bike in tribute to his recently deceased friend Ken Marohn, known to be one of the best wheel builders in San Diego.

        On the track, great racing was in evidence on both Saturday and Sunday. In the Saturday edition, Travis Petton, a rising star in the flat track community, sped to main event victories in Post Vintage 600 Expert, Post Vintage 250 Expert and an impressive second to veteran campaigner Byron Kukla in Open Bike expert.

        Shawn Chamlee continued his mastery of the Camp Lockett oval with winning rides in Post Vintage 600 Intermediate, 70’s Single Intermediate, 35+ Intermediate and Open Intermediate on Saturday, with repeat victories during the Sunday program. His toughest competition came during the Saturday 70’s Single main event. Fellow Booze Fighter Motorcycle Club team mate Ken Shilling kept the pressure on Chamlee from start to finish. The team mates swapped the lead numerous times with Chamlee emerging the victor.

In the Youth 12 and Under Beginner Less than 100cc Jimmie Hobbs topped the class with an impressive victory in the main event. After finishing third in their heat race, Hobbs powered his way into the lead and fended off the challenges of Ryder Palmer and Mathew Savoy to take the win, with Palmer and Savoy crossing in second and third. Although she was unable to finish the race, Summer Kukla merited special recognition for walking off a hard get-off in the main. Known for her distinctive pink western style boots, the young lady was tagged from behind and spun onto the ground. She gamely pushed her bike off the track before being checked out by the track EMT. Bruised and sore, the young lady indicated she’d be back on the track at the next round.

 

        Once again, some of the best competition was seen in Saturday’s Quad Open A main event. Eric Hartell, Jay Gorum and Mike Weaver hurled their powerful four-wheelers around the 1/6th mile oval with full lock broad slides thru the corners, with literally inches between their wheels. Hartell kept his quad pointed in the right direction to take the victory, with Gorum and Weaver rounding out the podium spots.

        Not to be outdone, Saturday’s Quad Open B main event saw Julian Hoefert and Steve Kerchner duel for the win with their own close quarter action with Hoefert taking the win, followed by Kerchner and Rachael Weaver who took her own main event victory by topping the KP2 Pipe B kart class.

        The Sunday portion of the two-day event featured a large number of entrants who chose to compete both days, along with several new entrants in various classes. A good number of three-wheelers and quad racers were part of the entry list along with bikes and karts.

                Rick Ederer enjoyed his Sunday rides with an impressive victory in Sportsman 600 Novice. Timing the starter’s flag perfectly, Ederer exited turn two with the lead over Kyle Apple and Josh Tovar. Maintaining a steady pace Ederer took the main event win, with Apple and Tovar following in second and third.

        Open Bike Expert is the class for “run what you brung”. The majority of the bikes being either 250 or 450 four-stroke machines modified for flat track competition. In the main event, Byron Kukla faced off against Daltin Collie and Jeff Apple. From the drop of the flag, Kukla and Collie engaged in a close quarter duel for the top spot. Kukla muscled his machine around the oval, keeping the unrelenting Collie behind him. At the checkers, Kukla added another first to his record of wins, with Collie a very close second and Apple in third.

        Tom Decrescente again showed his mastery in the art of navigating a three-wheeler around an oval at high speed. Facing off with Mathew Carrick in the 3-Wheeler Open A final, Decrescente rarely backed off the throttle as he used ample amounts of body English to keep his trike out of the hay bales and pointed in the right direction. Throwing up huge amounts of Camp Lockett soil, he took the main event win in convincing style with Carrick crossing the line with a well-deserved second place.

        In the kart classes, Shane Holt rolled to both heat and main event wins in the Kids 5-7 B Kart class. With the kart classes using a rolling start, Holt timed the green flag perfectly and slid his way into the lead exiting turn two. Trailing Holt were Brody Porst and Curtis Nugent. With his hands in constant motion to keep his kart in control, Holt sped to the main event win followed by Porst and Nugent.

        Round four of the series will see the racers returning to Camp Lockett August 26 and 27. As with all CALVMX events, there will be classes for virtually any vehicle. Riders of all ages and experience are encouraged to come out and try their hand at oval track racing.

 

 

 

 

 

Further photos and race coverage can be found at:

Todayscyclecoverage.com