March 12, 2016, Perris California, Perris Raceway,

 Southern California Flat Track Association's

Championship Series, Round 2

Photos and text by Rodney Rutherford

The sliding season hits second gear and dialing up the energy, as we proceed into the second round of the twelve round 2016 Southern California Flat Track Association's (SCFTA) Championship series. Earlier rains had threatened the Saturday racing date, but the rain stopped well in time for the typical dialed in conditions of the Perris Raceway playground to take hold. For this round two, we have several classes bursting at the brim with over twenty-six Main events. Over one hundred and sixty entrants spread out across forty classes.  Next two rounds will be on April 9, Saturday evening, and the following day, April 10, Sunday.

Chris Real (right) and Jaycee Jones (left), testing the sound of her machine in 2015, and a reminder that your muffler sound needs to be at 96 decibels very soon, if not at this point. There is a leniency of 100 decibels at this time, but the target test level is 96 decibels or lower, so we can have happy neighbors and an open track. Lower that sound to keep SCFTA around.

Dee Kilroy, a valued member of the SCFTA family will be unable to compete for 2016, but she is in our thoughts. Barney Stern (imaged here), exemplifies that by painting his hot plate pink, in honor of Kilroy with her number 24 clear and large in the foot of the action. Hang tough Dee!

Jacob Cascio, bringing his game up a notch after his harrowing eleven day stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) in 2015. Required after he was severely burnt when unconscious after going down in a practice, he has since recovered and he is flying. Racing in 85cc 4-Stroke Novice, Cascio rode out second in the inter class Main, and first in class. He had an excellent ride in the 250 Youth Open staying in the top three, until he ran into problems near the end and finished up seventh. Remarkably, Cascio entered the Open Expert and was in second in the first two laps and held on for an impressive fourth.

Bailey Richey, with her curly mane whipping from under her helmet, went for a second in the 50cc 4-Stroke Beginner.

Owen Williams, looking snazzy on his way to a second in the 50cc Open. He was third in the 50cc 4-Stroke Beginner.

We have an inter-class heat with Travis Horn (25) on the bead for the clean air. Colin Petton (46), Sierra Hickerson (3), and Jasper Heathfield all engaged in the 65-70cc Open. Team Motorsports Junkie's Horn, lead out to comfortable gap while Petton and Heathfield went at it. Horn paced out to the checkers for his second win in the class this season. Petton and Heathfield continued to race within five bike lengths of each other to the finish, finishing second and third respectively.

Rachel Schnakenberg (5), holds the inside line over Sierra Hickerson (3), in the 65-70cc 2-Stroke Beginner. Schnakenberg takes the class win with Hickerson second. The feisty Sierra Hickerson went on to win the 65cc 4-Stroke Beginner.

After winning the Open, Horn also rode to a third in the 85-100cc 4-Stroke Novice.

Travis Petton IV, earns a lot of press due his uncanny ability to win multiple Mains on the same day, and the pre-teen did it again. Placing second in the 250 Youth Open, Petton IV went on to win the 85cc Amateur four races later. Another four races later he was back on his scooter in the 85cc Open. Working into lead by lap three, an unfamiliar name in the SCFTA results page was serving notice he can lay down the speed, Dominic Dias, in second and Grant Holmes third. Petton IV brings home the win, Holmes ambushes Dias on last lap in the last turn for the pass and second place, Dias rocking the locals takes third.

Evan Souza, making the trip south from the Northern California town of Lockeford, about twenty miles north by north-east of Stockton, California, he had the slide going on. Racing against a group a racers that have been attacking the Perris flat for years, the Northern Californian brought game racing to a third in the 250 Youth Open. He also rode off to the victory in the 85cc 4-Stroke Beginner.

Dominic Dias, coming down from Lodi near Evan Souza's hometown of Lockeford. He went to work for a win in the 85cc 2-Stroke Novice. He also raced to an eye catching third in the 85cc Open, after an intense mano a mano scrum with Grant Holmes.

A mostly "A" student, IV Flat Track League's Tanner Richey, has always had the speed to rattle the top of the box and has. Racing for only three seasons, he has won his share of 50cc and 65cc races. He is currently racing in the SCFTA 85cc Amateur and 85cc Open classes. He also races across the state from Northern California to the South in San Diego county. Healthy and feeling more comfortable on the 85cc machines after slowly working into the class in 2015, he is looking poised and able to maneuver better with the elite SCFTA 85cc classes. He rode to a fourth in the 85cc Amateur and a fifth in the 85cc Open.

Zack Earwood (99), has the upper hand over Tanner Richey (13),  in an inter-class heat. Earwood went on to win the 4-Stroke 100-125cc Youth.

Conner Hickerson, looks to be pushing up the clouds with his helmet, as the colors from the clouds and his equipment seem to blend, in symphony. The determined racer rode to a second in the 85cc 2-Stroke Beginner, second in the 85cc 4-Stroke Beginner, and seventh in the 85cc Open in a busy night for the youngster.

Joy Lewis, racing to a fourth in the Woman's (Powder Puff) class. Jaycee Jones took the Woman's win, Monica Gil second, and Alyssa Flores rebounding from a first round crash in another class for third.

Chris Osborn (12N), and Matt Ott (21), two abreast in an Open Novice heat. Osborn won the Senior +50 Novice. Two races later he hops into the Open Novice Main with eleven other racers, likely all are much younger than him..Undeterred, he sally forth for the Open Novice Main an his second win on the night. Arnie Fry second, Parker Earhart third, Justin Simons fourth, and Matt Ott closing out the top five.

This Open Novice heat, has Matt Ott, spearing the clear air. Parker Earhart (16E), Nick Garcia (41), and Chris Osborn (12N) rubbing the corner marker.

Justin Simmons (51), pushing the outside of the inside running Noah Bush (17), in an Open Novice heat. 

Marc Heathfield (313), holds the early lead over John Girdler (411), in the early laps of the 4-Stroke race. Heathfield kept the first through the half way mark of the eight lap Main, then Girdler took over the lead on lap five and carried it clean to the finish for the win. James Rust able to get around Heathfield for second, and Heathfield third in the 4-Stroke.

Southland Racing's Jim Wood, is normally a flurry in the pits helping racers prepare, answering and assisting with technical questions and helping with suspension set ups and whatever else is needed. He gets to rip the slide every so often, entering the Super Senior +60 Expert at this round he found himself in first, after Donnie Moore went wide coming out of turn two on the start and Wood took the lead. Keeping the bike clean he roared to the win, Moore second and Jim Medlin third in the Main.

Bill Wright, another member of the SCFTA that has volumes of racing history in his past. Heavy into the motocross scene between 1973-1980, arguably the hey day for Southern California dirt biking. He has ridden at Hopetown, Muntz (Valley Cycle Park), and was part of the High School motocross scene of the 1970's that pitted teams from High Schools against each other. Racing on the flat for the past nine years, Wright is currently racing in the Super Senior +60 Amateur. Racing on this night, Wright into the lead by turn one, lap one, and never looked back for the win in the Super Senior +60 Amateur. Gary Moore takes second and Paul Claybaugh third. Wright would like to thank all his Family and Friends for their support. 

Clayton Williams, top of the Open Expert pack in the Main, Cascio continuing to marvel with his performance on this night in second. Williams working hard to check out, but James Ott around Cascio for second and bridging up to Williams in a hurry. Williams fends off James Ott for the Main win, James Ott second, Petton IV, and Cascio with a spectacular fourth and Grant Holmes fifth.

Wheels in Motion/Fly Racing/Bell Helmet's racer Joe Roberts, loves to get in some flat racing in between his road racing gig in the Super Sport class. Foster Brothers Racing, Colt Foster, separates slightly from the pack taking the hole-shot and lead on lap one. Roberts in second and stalking a line to get around Foster. Paul Ott in third, Foster's teammate Alex Crosby in fourth. Roberts tucks hard inside coming into turn two and Crosby sweeps wide, Roberts holds the inside and sneaks into the lead on lap four. At that point, Roberts rode smooth with the lead finishing out twenty laps for his SCFTA Pro win. Crosby made a last lap pass on Foster for second, Foster third, Paul Ott fourth, and Chris McDougal fifth.

 Foster Brothers Racing's Alex Crosby did it again to his teammate, Colt Foster, making a race ending pass for second on Foster, going on to second in the Pro Main. This finish is Crosby's best to date in the SCFTA Pro class, and he should get a Main win before the season is over. 

Colt Foster, once again he was engulfed in a gritty battle with Crosby, and coming out at the losing end getting passed for second. Regardless he finished third in the Pro Main, and will be back to battle for the top as the season progresses.

The number 12E flown by James Ott, also occasionally takes a spin with his fast flating Father, in the way of Paul Ott. Most of the time, Paul is normally busy running the pits for his sons Matt and James. Combining to race in four or more classes between them, there is little time for the multi-tasking Patriarch to scratch some flat himself. When he does Paul can bring it on, racing to a very respectable fourth in the Pro Main. With racers likely ten years or more younger than him.

Fontana Radiator's Jeff Johnson (87), leads eventual Pro Main winner Joe Roberts (27) in an earlier heat. Jonson as usual, ripped out another win in the Bomber Expert class for the second consecutive round. Unfortunately his Pro ride did not go as well, unofficially finishing eighth in the last race of the night.

Please go to SCFTAracing.com for schedule, results, point standings, and information

 as we go into round three and four on April ninth and tenth.

2016 SCFTA ROUND 2 RESULTS:

50cc 2-STRK BEG: 1. Chase Gray.

50cc 4-STRK BEG: 1. Kristian Daniels Jr.; 2. Bailey Richey; 3. Owen Williams.

50cc OPN: 1. Kristian Daniels Jr.; 2. Owen Williams.

65-70cc 2-STRK BEG: 1. Rachel Schnakenberg; 2. Sierra Hickerson. 65-70cc 2-STRK AMAT: 1. Colin Petton.

65-70cc 4-STRK BEG: 1. Sierra Hickerson; 2.Jasper Heathfield; 3. Isabella Mitchell.

65-70cc OPN: 1. Travis Horn; 2. Colin Petton; 3. Jasper Heathfield; 4. Sierra Hickerson; 5. Isabella Mitchell.

85-100cc 2-STRK BEG: 1. Jake Mitchell; 2. Conner Hickerson; 3. Eli Souza.

85-100cc 4-STRK BEG: 1. Evan Souza; 2. Conner Hickerson; 3. Eli Souza.

85-100cc 2-STRK NOV: 1. Dominic Dias.

85-100cc 4-STRK NOV: 1.Jacob Cascio; 2. Dominic DeMario; 3. Travis Horn.

85-100cc 2-STRK AMAT: 1. Travis Petton IV; 2. Grant Holmes; 3. Dominic DeMario; 4. Tanner Richey.

85cc OPN: 1. Travis Petton IV: 2. Grant Holmes; 3. Dominic Dias; 4. Dominic DeMario; 5. Tanner Richey; 6. Conner Hickerson; 7. Jake Mitchell.

4-STRK YOUTH: 1. Zack Earwood.

4-STRK: 1. Jon Girdler; 2. James Rust; 3. Marc Heathfield.

250cc YOUTH OPN: 1. James Ott; 2. Travis Petton IV;  3. Evan Souza; 4. Alyssa Flores; 5. Noah Bush; 6. Grant Holmes; 7. Jacob Cascio.

WMN PWDRPF: 1. Jaycee Jones; 2. Monica Gil; 3. Alyssa Flores; 4. Joy Lewis; 5. Rachel Schnakenberg.

OPN BEG: 1. Shawn Chamlee; 2. Barney Stern; 3. Skylar Schnakenberg.

OPN NOV: 1. Chris Osborn; 2. Arnie Fry; 3. Parker Earhart; 4. Justin Simons; 5. Matthew Ott; 6. Travis Friedrich; 7. Noah Bush; 8. Chris Anders; 9. Alyssa Flores; 10. Nick Garcia; 11. Monica Gil; 12. Andrew Myers.

OPN UNCLAS: 1. Colt Foster; 2. James Ott; 3. Clayton Williams; 4. Chris McDougal; 5. Evan Markus;

6. Byron Kukla; 7. LJ Gronek; 8. Scott Hanson; 9. Matt Ott; 10. Jaycee Jones.

OPN AMAT: 1. Evan Markus; 2. LJ Gronek; 3. Frankie Eubanks.

OPN EXP: 1. Clayton Williams; 2. James Ott; 3. Travis Petton IV; 4. Jacob Cascio; 5. Grant Holmes; 6. Byron Kukla; 7. Chris Campos.

PRO: 1. Joe Roberts; 2. Alex Crosby; 3. Colt Foster; 4. Paul Ott; 5. Chris McDougal; 6. Troy Johnson; 7. Robert Bush.

VET +35 NOV: 1. Chris Anders; 2. Shaun Chamlee; 3. Andrew Myers.

VET +35 AMAT: 1. Kevin Jordan; 2. Frankie Eubanks; 3. Robert Skittler; 4. Scott Hanson.

VET +35 EXP: 1. Jim Rosa; 2. Jon Nunes; 3. John Dupree; 4. Robert Bush; 5. Chris Campos; 6. Joel Kath.

SR VET +50 NOV: 1. Chris Osborn; 2. Barney Stern; 3. John Farmer.

SR VET +50 AMAT: 1. Kevin Jordan; 2. Ken Shilling; 3. Corey Bauman; 4. Arnie Fry; 5. Robert Stettler.

SR VET +50 EXP: 1. Steve Minter; 2. Jim Medlin; 3. Joe Steffen; 4. Jim Ottele; 5. Larry Earhart; 6. Jim Lundgren.

SUP SR +60 AMAT/NOV: 1. Bill Wright; 2. Gary Moore; 3. Paul Claybaugh; 4. Greg Powell.

SUP SR +60: 1. Jim Wood; 2. Ron Moore; 3. Jim Medlin; 4. Steve Kukla; 5, Dan Kane.

PREM SR +70: 1. Gary Lane; 2. Allan Girdler.

BMBR NOV: 1.John Farmer; 2. Shawn Chamlee; 3. Dwayne Locks.

BMBR AMAT: 1. Ken Shilling; 2. Monty Watowa; 3. Paul Claybaugh.

*BMBR EXP: 1. Jeff Johnson; 2. Steve Miller; 3. Jim Lundgren; 4.Joe Steffen; 5. Dominic DeMario; 6. Travis Petton II.

VINT 250 NOV: 1. Lucas Duner; 2. Joy Lewis.

CLSC VINT: 1. Jim Ottele; 2. Lenny Rodriguez; 3. Joe Pape.