SAN BERNARDINO, CA

Round eight of the 2010 CALVMX/AHRMA SoCal Regional Series saw the Vintage Motocross racers returning for a third time this season to the fabled Glen Helen Raceway Park. There was a major exception to this return, in that the event was going to be held on the main "National" track at the facility. Suitably modified for the older bikes (and bodies), the course proved quite the challenge for the more than 100 entrants throughout the day.

Although the climb up the infamous Mount St. Helens hill was shortened, it and one other steep ascent made the balance of throttle and body position a major priority. Racers were also confronted with two steep downhill runs that dared them to lay off the brakes until the last moment before the turn at the bottom of the run. The course put the skills of both Vintage and Post-Vintage racers to one of their toughest tests this season.

The seesaw battle for the inaugural Manufacturer's Cup continued into the latest round. The season-long duel between Team Maico's Norm Himaka (311, right) and Team Yamaha's Wendell Clark looked like it would rage on at this round. In moto one, Clark took the lead as the pack thundered into the "Talladega" corner at the end of the long start straight, with Himaka and CZ jockey Joe Knoettgen in pursuit. Nearing the end of the first lap, Himaka passed Clark for the lead, while Montesa pilot Shane Clausen (38K, below left) moved into third. Near the middle of the second lap, Clark's entire season changed. As the pack powered up the steep uphill, Clark's normally reliable DT-1-based machine slowed dramatically, leaving Clark frantically trying to keep the ailing machine upright. It was to no avail, as Clark was forced to the sidelines.

With Clark out, it appeared that Himaka would have an easy victory, but Clausen had other plans. Clausen began to close the gap, and on lap three he powered past Himaka. At the checkers, Clausen had the win, followed by Himaka and Honda rider Randi Perkins.

Leaving nothing to chance, Himaka blasted to the front of the pack immediately when the gate dropped for moto two. After some frantic repairs between motos, Clark was following in second, trailed by Knoettgen. Himaka kept up a torrid pace as he pulled several seconds ahead of the pack. Behind him, mechanical gremlins hit Clark again, ending his day on lap four. Himaka went on to capture both the moto and overall wins and added to his season points lead.

In other racing action, CZ rider Kyle Winton (17, above) continued to maintain his points lead in the Ironman (30-minute moto) division with a solid second place overall, behind former Supercross Champion Mike Bell, on a Yamaha. With four rounds remaining, Winton appears well on his way to his first Ironman title after several years of gallant effort.

The September round of the CALVMX/AHRMA season will see the series return to Perris Raceway. Numerous class titles are still up for grabs, and Perris is extremely popular with the Vintage and Post-Vintage racers.

Results

IRONMAN VINT NOV: 1. Terry Sterrett (Honda).

IRONMAN VINT INT: 1. Steve Caro (CZ); 2. John Cash (Yamaha); 3. John Grebenstein (Hus).

IRONMAN GP NOV: 1. Eddie Pierre Jerome (Yamaha).

IRONMAN GP INT: 1. Ron Renzulli (Suzuki).

IRONMAN GP EX: 1. Mike Bell (Yamaha); 2. Kyle Winton (CZ); 3. Jeff Clausen (Mon); 4. Dwayne Scrivnor (Hus); 5. Bruce Cornell (Suzuki).

JR NOV: 1. Sean Bell (Yamaha); 2. Donovan Tryon (Kawasaki); 3. Sean McDaniel (Honda).

WMN: 1. Katherine Wood (CZ).

CLSC 1 100 NOV: 1. Eddy Pierre Jerome (Yamaha).

CLSC 2 125 NOV: 1. Robert Ivery (Hus).

CLSC 2 500 INT: 1. Frank Maney (Suzuki).

VINT SPTSMN 100 INT: 1. Alex Toth (Suzuki).

VINT SPTSMN 250 NOV: 1. John Rittermal (Mai).

VINT SPTSMN 250 INT: 1. Norm Himaka (Mai); 2. Randi Perkins (Honda); 3. Shane Clausen (Mon); 4. Scott Piddington (Honda); 5. Joe Knoettgen (CZ).

VINT SPTSMN 500 NOV: 1. Steve Dolphin (Mai); 2. Bryan Wood (Hus); 3. Kevin Bucher (Hus).

VINT SPTSMN 500 EX: 1. Dewayne Scrivnor (Hus).

MFG CUP: 1. Norm Himaka (Mai); 2. Randi Perkins (Honda); 3. Shane Clausen (Mon); 4. Joe Knoettgen (CZ); 5. Wendell Clark (Yamaha).

GP MINI NOV: 1. Mike Garcia (Yamaha).

GP MINI INT: 1. David Peabody (Suzuki).

GP 1 125 INT: 1. Jeff Snyder (Suzuki).

GP 1 250 NOV: 1. John Farmer (Honda).

GP 1 250 EX: 1. Kyle Winton (CZ).

GP 1 500 NOV: 1. Ken Shilling (Hus); 2. Douglas Pope (Yamaha); 3. Brian Pusey (Suzuki).

GP 1 500 EX: 1. Ed Stovin (Yamaha); 2. Jeff Clausen (Mon).

GP 2 125 NOV: 1. Scott Michel (Yamaha).

GP 2 125 INT: 1. Mark Sandzimier (Suzuki).

GP 2 250 NOV: 1. William Cameron (Yamaha); 2. Steven Voznick (Mai).

GP 2 250 INT: 1. Bryan Burch (Suzuki).

GP 2 250 EX: 1. Trevor Bell (Yamaha); 2. Kyle Winton (CZ); 3. Michael Van Acker (Honda).

GP 2 500 NOV: 1. Hal Voznick (Bultaco); 2. Mark Martin (Yamaha); 3. Mike Domanchich (Mai).

GP 2 500 INT: 1. Troy Bartley (Honda); 2. Brent Koble (Hus).

GP 2 500 EX: 1. Chip Howell (Yamaha); 2. Bryan Paquette (Yamaha); 3. Brent Miller (Mai); 4. Bill Hagen (Mai).

GP 3 125 NOV: 1. Craig Furman (Honda); 2. Kevin Rogers (Suzuki).

GP 3 125 INT: 1. Dave Peabody (Suzuki).

GP 3 250 INT: 1. Ron Renzulli (Suzuki); 2. Servando Hernandez (Honda).

GP 3 250 EX: 1. Ed Tashjian (Suzuki).

GP 3 500 INT: 1. Bengt Lautomen (Mai); 2. Ron Kinden (Honda); 3. Brent Koble (Hus); 4. Douglas Farren (Kawasaki).

GP 3 500 EX: 1. Mark Wood (KTM).

GP 4 125 NOV: 1. Steve Voznick (Kawasaki); 2. Edward Antezana (Honda); 3. James Farren (Kawasaki).

GP 4 250 NOV: 1. Kevin Rogers (Honda).

GP 4 250 INT: 1. Raymond Andes (Honda); 2. Lucio Antezza (Yamaha).

GP 4 250 EX: 1. Chip Howell (Yamaha); 2. Cody Van Acker (Honda).

OPEN AGE VINT NOV: 1. John Rittermal (Mai).

OPEN AGE GP NOV: 1. Steve Dolphin (Suzuki).

OPEN AGE GP EX: 1. Brian Paquette (Yamaha); 2. Mark Sandzimer (Honda); 3. Bryon Kukla (Yamaha); 4. Ed Stovin (Suzuki).

50+ VINT NOV: 1. Brian Brown (CZ).

50+ VINT INT: 1. Scott Piddington (Honda); 2. Joe Knoettgen (CZ); 3. Dana Yenawine (CZ).

50+ VINT EX: 1. Gary Faxon (CZ); 2. Bill Hagen (CZ).

50+ GP NOV: 1. Mike Domanchich (Mai).

50+ GP INT: 1. Rond Rinden (Honda); 2. Fred Wachter (Mai); 3. Terry Tate (Suzuki).

50+ GP EX: 1. Michael Van Acker (Honda).

70+ VINT EX: 1. Bruce Cornell (Yamaha).

MDRN SUP 4-STRK NOV: 1. Ricky Graves (Honda); 2. Tabio Antezna (Honda); 3. Raul Martinez (Yamaha); 4. Shane Clausen (Yamaha).

MDRN SUP 4-STRK INT: 1. Kirk Chapman (KTM).

MDRN SUP 4-STRK EX: 1. Trevor Bell (Yamaha); 2. Brett Miller (Kawasaki); 3. Jake Caprona (Honda); 4. Cody Van Acker (Honda); 5. Loren Dimond (KTM).

MDRN SUP 2-STRK NOV: 1. Steve Campbell (Yamaha); 2. Steven Scott (Kawasaki).

MDRN SUP 2-STRK INT: 1. Erik Clemson (Yamaha); 2. Bay Andes (Honda); 3. David Peabody (Suzuki); 4. Dee Tryon (Honda); 5. Ignacio Rivera (Suzuki).

MDRN SUP 2-STRK EX: 1. Scott Burnworth (Yamaha); 2. Kyle Winton (CZ); 3. Jay Pavlovec (Honda).