WCVDTS Willow Sat 2007

Round # 6

Willow Springs Raceway - Rosemond, Ca.

Saturday Oct 13th, 2007

Senior “A” Main

Senior “A” Main
1. 55 Tom Horton
2. 98 Rod Lake
3. 57 Keith Speir
4. 12e Jeff Lessley
5. 78 Roger Landberg
6. 45c Mark Stuckert
7. 27 Ron Alexander
8. 75z Joe Pape
9. 25d Steve Craft

Senior “B” Main

Senior “B” Main
1. 19z Joe Brown
2. 87 Lawrence Bertrand
3. 74r Gary White
4. 17q Herb Wolff
5. 52c Dave Cheney
6. 66f Frank Scileppi
7. 290m Rick Harrington

Vet “A” Main

Vet “A” Main
1. 21y Tommy Carriger
2. 13 Rick Hocking
3. 48y Mike Vital
4. 42 Bill Kolkman
5. 6 Joe Steffen
6. 42z Anthony Mitchell
7. 571 Mike O’Neil
8. 58y Jim Ottele
9. Steve Nichols
10. 42 Craig Johnson

Vet “B” Main

Vet “B” Main
1. 19v Joel Kath
2. 28b Gary Ritchie
3. 441 Paul Lane
4. 12e Jim Steet
5. 110 Daniel Kane
6. 77 Kyle Lessley
7. 55e Mark Davis
8. 39y John McArthur
9. dnf 33 Weds Powell
10. dnf 24 John Worthman

Sr Novice/Super Sr

Sr Novice/Super Sr
1. 49x Mickey aAlzola
2. 27t Steve Lacey
3. 87 Lawrence Bertrand
4. 16 Ed Steffen
5. 50 Mel Stoner
6. 52c Dave Cheney
7. 3 Steve Baker
8. 501 Bob Gerberich
9. 12 Norm Gruber
10. 96 Bud Riddle
11. 19x Guy Duckett
12. 14t Ted Hubbard
13. 80x Bob Harris

Dinosaur

Dinosaur
1. 37 Mike O’Neil
2. 53 Brent Johnson

Classic 500

Classic 500
1. 19v Joel Kath
2. 50s Brad Holt
3. 55 Tom Horton
4. 27 Jeff Apple
5. 87y Chris Rudy
6. 86d Ross Stuckert
7. 14 James Kohls
8. 62e Matt Campbell
9. 97w Alan Shaw
10. 62 Flyn Stone
11. 3 ?

Youth 50

Youth 50
1. 80 AJ Alves
2. 1 Cole Chilcutt

Youth 60

Youth 60
1. 12 Cody Pelle

Youth 80

Youth 80
1. 309w Bronson Bauman
2. 735h BJ Vieira
3. 4r Andre Ochs

Modern 250

Modern 250
1. 12e Jeff Lessley
2. 50s Brad Holt
3. 55 Tom Horton
4. 80g John Grant
5. 12e Jim Steet

Modern 500

Modern 500
1. 98 Rod Lake
2. 19r Brad Rudy
3. 501 Bob Gerberich
4. 209 Cliff Nagatani
5. 13p Allan Malm

Modern 750

Modern 750
1. 42e AJ Herrera
2. 57 Keith Speir
3. 77 Joe Suebert
4. 58y Jim Ottele
5. 78 Roger Landberg
6. 74r Gary White
7. 33e Marvin Moore
8. 45c Mark Stuckert
9. 66f Frank Scileppi
10. 27 Ron Alexander
11. 290m Rick Harrington
12. 556 Steve Mihovil
13. dnf 68 Paul Herman

250 Open

250 Open
1. 33e Mikey Avila
2. 310w Briar Bauman
3. 18h Tony Davila
4. 58 Brandon Bates
5. 86v Danielle Diaz
6. 55 PJ Osmer
7. 87 Lindsey King
8. 23 Joe Meyer
9. 100e Life Kelley
10. 28 Pauly Herman
11. 309w Bronson Bauman
12. 4r Andre Ochs

500 Support “A” Main

500 Support “A” Main
1. 13 Rick Hocking
2. 68 Paul Herman
3. 32y Mike Gonzales
4. 84j Jeff Gonzales
5. 571 Mike O’Neil
6. 6 Joe Steffen
7. 258 AJ Neelings
8. 68e Pauly Herman
9. 3m Robert Koch

500 Support “B” Main

500 Support “B” Main
1. 21 Tommy Carriger
2. 42z Anthony Mitchell
3. 12e Jim Steet
4. 35 Don Galloway
5. 8 Dustin Allen
6. 29 Dan Shaw
7. dnf 28b Gary Ritchie

Open Amateur “A” Main

Open Amateur “A” Main
1. 1 Chad Cose
2. 45 Kayl Kolkman
3. 310w Briar Bauman
4. 24p Jimmy Abrams
5. 15 Garrett Stout
6. 49w Dustin Pruczinski
7. 23 Joe Meyer
8. 45e Ian Foulds
9. 55 PJ Osmer
10. 88 Dillon Allen
11. 20m Brady Mueller

Open Am “B” Main

Open Am “B” Main
1. 33e Mikey Avila
2. 42 Craig Johnson
3. 42z Anthony Mitchell
4. 86v Danielle Diaz
5. 27 George Woods
6. 91 Todd Vaughn
7. 45f Tom Sahli
8. 20z Ray Hensley
9. 43g Robert Bacosa
10. 39y Randy Arrington
11. 10 Bob Harvey

Vizzo Racing Dash-4-Cash

Vizzo Racing Dash-4-Cash
1. 21 Jared Mees
2. 33 JR Schnaubel
3. 42 Bryan Smith
4. 1 Chad Cose
5. 17y Brandan Bergen
6. 65y Kris Bunch

Digger Pro 600

Digger Pro 600
1. 21 Jared Mees
2. 14 Jake Johnson
3. 33 JR Schnaubel
4. 28 Shaun Russell
5. 42 Bryan Smith
6. 17y Brandan Bergen
7. 1 Chad Cose
8. 37 Jake Mataya
9. 69 Jethro Halbert
10. 45 Kayl Kolkman
11. 89 Kevin Varnes
12. 16x Nicole Cheza
13. 15 Garrett Stout
14. dnf 65y Kris Bunch

Eddie Mulder's W.C.V.D.T. Series

Willow Springs Walt James Stadium

Rosemond, Calif.

Round 6 - October 13th,2007

Article by Jamey Blunt

The oldest and most traditional type of motorcycle racing is flat track, sometimes referred to as dirt track racing. This uniquely American type of motorcycle racing dates back to post World War II, fans of dirt track were in for a treat at Eddie Mulder's West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series finale at Willow Springs 3/8 mile banked oval as four hundred twenty filled fifty heat races, four semi's, two dashes for cash, and thirty one main events over the course of two days.

Saturday

Rod Lake led the Berkeley Honda, Yamaha/ARD Ignitions Senior "A" main into turn one. Triumph mounted Tom Horton dropped in second, with Joe Suebert, and Keith Speir right behind. Down the back shoot Speir pulled alongside Suebert then dove underneath on the entrance to turn three to take third away. Jeff Lessley ran fifth, Mark Stuckert sixth and Steve Craft seventh. Entering turn one Suebert's hand suddenly went skyward as he pulled out of the race advancing everyone behind him one position. Lap four saw Lake turn his best lap time of 23.04/100 seconds, and Roger Landberg find his rhythm as he sailed past Stuckert. At the front Horton's Horsepower over Lake's smaller displaced 500cc machine was working as he took the lead between turns three and four on lap five. Lake not one to give up did everything he could, and would show Horton a wheel in every corner only to loose three bike lengths down every straight. At the finish Horton prevailed with Lake a close second, Speir was a lonely third, with Lessley by himself as well. Landberg came home fifth, with Stuckert settling in at sixth, and Ron Alexander up to seventh.

Riders over the age of thirty five, on any year or size machine makeup the Mr.Ed's/Works Performance Vet class. A field of twenty went bar to bar for a spot in the "A" final. Mike Vital got the launch off the line but was quickly swallowed up by the pack. Tommy Carriger lead with Bill Kolkman second and Rick Hocking third. Hocking made quick work of Kolkman for second making the order Carriger, Hocking, Kolkman, Vital, Mike O'Neil, and Joe Steffen. On the second trip down the back straight Hocking went off the track for Mr. Toad's wild ride. Without missing a beat Hocking leapt back on the track over the turn three banking landing back in the action in eighth place. A lap later Hocking was up to fourth and on a mission. By lap four Vital was around Kolkman for second and Hocking clearly the fastest rider on the track was closing. On lap five Hocking caught and passed Kolkman for third between turns one and two. With two laps remaining Hocking put a wheel under Vital on the entrance to turn one to take second away, but Carriger had a twelve bike length gap at the front. This only made Hocking more determined as he put his head down and was gaining on Carriger. On the entrance to turn three Hocking pulled alongside as the crowd stood, Carriger had position and Hocking tried for a drive that came up just inches short. This made the finishing order Carriger, Hocking, Vital, Kolkman, and Steffen.

The Brown's Cycles/ Motion Pro Super Senior final had fourteen riders over the age of sixty thunder into turn one. With "Rocky the Flying Squirrel" on his chest Mickey Alzola closed down on Steve Lacey in turn one to lead the field. Down the back straight for the first time Dick Fox horse powered past Lacey, dropping him to third. Bud Riddle ran fourth, with Ed Steffen fifth, Dave Cheney sixth, and Lawrence Bertand seventh. On lap two Fox had mechanical problems advancing everyone one position. By lap three Bertrand had fought his way forward to third while Mel Stoner and Bob Gerberich were marching forward from deep in the field as well. By the half way point the finishing order was cast, with Alzola winning by over a full straight over Lacey, Bertrand and Steffen. Stoner would climb to fifth, Cheney just behind in sixth, Steve Baker seventh, and Gerberich would stop advancing at eighth.

Joel Kath returned to racing without his halo, which is a good thing as Kath was injured over a year ago and all were happy to see his return. His first test came in the Barnett/AGV Helmets Classic 500 main event where he left the starting line in second. Brad Holt led, with Chris Rudy, Tom Horton, Jeff Apple, Ross Stuckert, and Mike O'Neil all falling in behind Kath. Between turns three and four on the second lap Kath took over from Holt and never looked back, this lap also had O'Neil drop Stuckert a position. Just after the white flag entering turn one Horton and Apple both capitalized on a mistake of Rudy's to drop him to fifth. Making the final tally Kath, Holt, Horton, Apple, Rudy, and Stuckert, thus showing that Kath hasn't lost his nerve or any of the speed he had prior to his accident.

Fourteen vintage twins made up the Megacycle Cams/JRC Engineering Modern 750cc class. Keith Speir has been nailing the starts as of late and led into turn one with Gary White, A J Herrera, Jim Ottele, Joe Suebert, and Paul Herman dropping in behind. Down the back straight Herrera moved into second then took the lead exiting turn four for the first time. Herman not wanting Herrera to get away followed suit and was up to the second place position at the stripe on the first lap. This moved Speir to third, Suebert was fourth, and White fifth. Herrera running a high line posted a 22.74/100 second lap time on lap three. While Herman running lower on the track turned in a 22.42/100 second lap, and was only gaining ever so slightly. Then down the back straight for the fourth time Herman had a mechanical and was out of the race. At this point the finishing order was set as Ottele had climbed to fourth where he would stay, making the finish Herrera, Speir, Suebert, Ottele, and Roger Landberg as White dropped another position.

Briar Bauman got the jump in the Kawasaki of Simi Valley/Tuffplates 250 Open main event. Bauman led through turns one and two then had Mikey Avila pull alongside down the back straight. Entering turn three Avila was on the outside and had to square it up to take the lead exiting turn four. Tony Davila settled in at third with Danielle Diaz, Brandon Bates, P J Osmer, and Lindsey King in tow. Two laps down had Davila displace Bauman for second only to have Bauman return the favor a lap later across the stripe. Bates was also pushing hard to get past Diaz for her fourth place position. At the front Bauman got his second wind and caught up to Avila and was making a race of it. Exiting turn two with a lap and a half remaining Bauman took the lead while Davila sat six bike lengths back watching and waiting. On the trip through turns three and four to the white flag Avila regained the lead and would protect it to the finish, making the order Avila, Bauman, Davila, Bates, Diaz, Osmer, and King.

There were twenty one Yamaha 500cc singles in the San Diego off Road 500 Support class. But only Rick Hocking was capable of turning a sub 22.00/100 second lap time! On the start in the "A" main Mike O'Neil did what he usually does, get a great start. Down the back straight for the first time Hocking and Paul Herman went around O'Neil, one on each side heading for turn three. At the end of one it was Hocking, Herman, O'Neil, Jeff Gonzales, Mike Gonzales, and Joe Steffen. By lap three Jeff Gonzales had found a way around O'Neil into third and Herman had found more speed to stay close to Hocking. At lap five Herman was fading and Hocking had a large gap at the front, and Mike Gonzales slipped past O'Neil and was now pressuring Jeff Gonzales. On the last go round Mike Gonzales won the drag race to the stripe making the finishing order Hocking, Herman, Mike Gonzales, Jeff Gonzales, O'Neil, and Steffen.

Vizzo Racing's Open Amateur "A" final was the Chad Cose show as he took over the lead exiting turn two and never looked back. Kayl Kolkman who is fast in his own right appeared stunned as Cose shot past. Two laps down and Cose led by half a straight away which meant the battle would be for second, which is what Kolkman would win followed by Briar Bauman, Jimmy Abrams, and Garrett Stout across the stripe.

For the Digger Helm Pro 600 final sixteen riders would race for twenty laps on a freshly groomed racetrack. Jared Mees led from pole only to see a red flag as he came to the stripe for the first time. On the entrance to turn three Sammy Halbert was pushed up too high and clipped a hay bale sending him over the bars and ending his day. Thankfully Halbert was fine with just a little straw needing to be removed. On the full restart, (minus Halbert) Mees once again shot to the front with J R Schnabel, Bryan Smith, Shaun Russell, Chad Cose, Rob Pearson, and Jake Johnson from the third row settling in behind. On lap three Mees turned a 20.89/100 second lap his fastest of the race and Schnabel was looking for a way around as the two began to pull away from the rest of the field. Cose made a pass on Russell for fourth by lap four while Brandon Bergen was working the inside putting pressure on Jethro Halbert for ninth. On lap six Pearson went sightseeing off the track to rejoin at the back of the field. By lap seven Russell regained fourth from Cose, who was beginning to fade. Two turns later Johnson was past Cose as well and going after Russell. On lap nine Johnson got a drive down low to take fourth from Russell and Bergen had picked up his pace and was now up to seventh. At crossed flags (half way) Bryan Smith was slipping backwards and was under attack from Johnson and Russell. Mees was pushing the line higher and higher attempting to get away as team mates Schnabel and Johnson came together when Johnson passed Smith. On lap fifteen Johnson turned the fastest lap of the race at 20.53/100 seconds setting a new track record. But his battle with team mate Schnabel would make their time short for an attack on Mees. With three and a half to go Schnabel passed Mees, be it only briefly as Mees took it right back. With two laps remaining Johnson was side by side with Schnabel and Mees only had a bike length gap over them. Into turn three for the final time Johnson went up high to square it off and get a drive Schnabel was down low protecting his line and Mees had a two bike length gap which he held to the stripe. But Johnson got his drive and stole second by inches over Schnabel. Russell was alone in fourth, Smith had dropped to fifth, and Bergen was past Cose for sixth. Mees commented after his victory "this was fun; these guys do a great job. They make this track great for us, I wanted to check out, I looked back once, and I figured J R was there, he gave me a lot of pressure and stuff. I knew too Jake was going to make his way up, cause he was the fast guy of the day, but it all worked out". Jake Johnson had this to say "it's pretty cool I guess setting a new track record, I was just trying to get to the front, I knew it was going to be hard from the third row. But I love this track it's fun and we did our best, I'm happy". As for Schnabel, "I bumped Jared a few times cause there was one line out there that was real sweet and he was in it. That's where I needed to be, but he never faltered and then I tried to block pass him and it kinda messed me up and Jake snook past me, but it was one of the best races we've had all year".