May 15, 2016, Perris California, Perris Raceway,

 Southern California Flat Track Association's

Championship Series, Round 5

Photos by Cindi Fears and Rodney Rutherford

Text by Rodney Rutherford

The conclusion of the Southern California Flat Track Association's (SCFTA) twelve round double header weekend featuring Saturday evening's round four, marrying into round five on an overcast Sunday afternoon. With the lack of direct sunlight the track held moisture well and developed to a fast surface, that had this reporter timing Travis Petton IV on an 85cc machine at a sub fifteen seconds, he had nothing but clean air and put the gas pedal somewhere past the center of the earth, never letting up for the rest of the day. We had thirty-five classes filled by one-hundred and fourteen entries on this second day of consecutive competition, round five with a bit of jive, let's race.

Bandit Landers (96) riding outside, and Bailey Richey (27). keeping the inside locked up in the 50cc 4-Stroke Beginner heat. Richey was able to build a moderate lead in the main, after shaking a determined Landers about mid race, and it is Richey for the class win with Landers second.

Chase Gray, sporting a number one plate, and backing it up with a decisive race win in his inter-class main, and winning the 50cc 4-Stroke Novice class as well.

Sierra Hickerson (3) and Jasper Heathfield (713) racing in a 65cc class. Hickerson went off at this round in a good way, in the 65cc 4-Stroke Beginner main she took in the back of Heathfield, relentlessly pushing on the outside. Her persistence paid off, securing a go-by before the final lap and buffering the attacks from Heathfield to the finish for the win. Heathfield wrapped up the race with second, and Isabella "Izzy" Mitchell in third at the end. Hickerson proved to be major obstacle for the competition winning the 65-70cc Open, going home with two wins on the day.

The knobbied one, Dominic DeMario (10) carving turn one in the 85cc 4-Stroke Novice heat, Zack Earwood (99), Jacob Cascio (21), and Conner Hickerson (45) as the players race through turn one on lap one. In the main, Cascio paved the way as DeMario occupied the drag of the first two spots, but the race was restarted on lap three. Cascio was back at the front before the white flag and running Ajax clean to the finish for the win. Hickerson in second, but DeMario was having none of it having to work his way back to the top two after the restart, locking up a last lap pass for second, Hickerson third and Earwood fourth. 

Jacob Cascio, continues to impress with increasing skill and speed after spending eleven days of 2015 in an intensive care unit, with burn injuries that occurred while practicing. But he shows no effect on the track at this point, and is competing in the Open Expert class to prove it. Holding his ground against the fast guys like Petton IV, he is now one of those fast guys of the SCFTA. Besides his victory in the 4-Stroke Novice, he finished up round five with third in the 250 Youth Open and fourth in the Open Expert.

Dominic DeMario (10), and Tanner Richey (13) entering the front stretch out of turn four in the 85cc 2-Stroke Amateur. Richey went down hard just a few minutes before this image was taken, forcing a restart. Petton IV was the winner of main, DeMario ended in second holding off a tiger eye Richey to the end, Richey takes third. After being checked out, Richey was given the go to get back to racing, and doing it with a bared knuckle tenacity to never give up and get the job done.  

Kevin Jordan (137) in front of fellow Vet over 35 Expert racer, Jim Rosa (88), in the main. After reeling off a combined eight straight main wins in the Vet over 35 Amateur and Vet over 50 Amateur, Jordan was forced to move up to the Expert rank in each age group. He had one of his toughest test of his 2016 SCFTA series run, in Rosa. Rosa, a multiple SCFTA title holder in the over 35 Expert initiated Jordan by going under him in turn two on lap two and the race looked to be done in favor of Rosa, but the red flag is out after a rider goes down and we have a new race with approximately three laps remaining. Jordan is able to get the lead seat after the restart, and despite being all over Jordan, a frustrated Rosa is unable to make the pass. Jordan for his first win in the class in his first attempt, as Rosa settles in for second. Now we have ourselves a series battle, as neither one of these racers will relent with seven rounds remaining, stay tuned. Jordan also won the Vet over 50 Expert class, staying undefeated on the season despite moving up to the Expert ranks in both classes.

Barney Stern (68), John Farmer (13), Mike Boal (14) and Chris Osborne (12N) launch off for the Senior Vet over 50 Novice race.

Osborne, asserted his leadership role in the over 50 Novice, commanding the lead early on and pulled away towards the end of the main, checking in with the win by over three seconds at the checkers. Boal rode second into the finish, as Farmer made a pass on Stern for third, and Stern with fourth at the final wave of the flag.

Corey Bauman, was a 2013 SCFTA Open Amateur Champion and a long time supporter of SCFTA racing. Bridled with injuries that forced him to take a break from competition, he is now back and racing as hard as ever. At round three, Bauman came together with another racer in the front stretch, he ended up going airborne while his bike decided to take a nap on the side wall by the start line. After the crash, the bike was horizontal straddling the wall, Bauman was shaken up but is now back finishing second on the day in the Senior Vet over 50 Amateur. He would like to thank Dad Larry, fiancée Martha, Amber and his entire crew for all their support.

Ron Moore (37), Steve Kukla (3), and Dan Kane (1) feed into turn one after the Super Senior over 60 Expert start. S & S Off Road's Kukla suited up looking for his first SCFTA win of the season. Getting in front of Moore, Kukla just needed to stay on the gas and keep Moore at bay, easier said than done. ButKukla did it, staying in clean air he was able to mount a gap of near two seconds over second place Moore, for his first win of the season, Moore second and Dan Kane third in the main.

Bomber Experts Jim Lundgren (70) and Joe Steffen, racing first and second respectively in the inter-class heat, Bomber Amateur Scott Hanson (65) running third overall. In the main, Steffen turned the tables blitzing a holeshot as second place Hanson and third place Lundgren, struggled to stay with the Mr. Ed's racer. Steffen stayed true with his way out leg style for the race win, Lundgren took over second overall, while Hanson faded back after appearing to have a mechanical issue. The Bomber Expert has Steffen taking the class win and Lundgren with the second notch. The Bomber Amateur was Hanson's win, Ken Shilling second, and Paul Claybaugh third in class. 

Jaycce Jones (33), Barney Stern (68), and Stoney Landers (96) prepare for turn one of their inter-class heat race. Missing round four, Jones came in with both guns a blasting getting the holeshot in the combined Women (Powder Puff) and Open Beginner main. Open Beginner Stern in second as fellow classmate, Landers rolls in third. Jones gaps out the chasers for a four second margin at the end over Landers, who slotted in second past the mid way point. Jones takes the race win as Landers comes in second. The Woman's class finishes with Jones for the win, Monica Gil second and Skylar Schnakenberg in third.  Landers wins the Open Beginner as Stern takes second.  Cindi Fears image

Open Novice class commencing their main, Parker Earhart (16E), Nick Garcia (41), Chris Osborne (12N), Justin Hanson (27), Shawn Chamlee (3B), and Arnie Fry (45E). Chamlee sees nothing but space in front of him as they exit turn two but plenty of rumbling, and out of the back-stretch Garcia is setting up a pass and succeeds as they exit turn four. On lap two we have Garcia in front, Earhart second, Chamlee third, Hanson fourth and Osborne fifth. The racers maintain that running order to the checkers, as Garcia gets the win, Earhart second, Chamlee third, Hanson fourth and Osborne fifth at the finish.

Garcia hurrying out of turn two as Earhart maintains a steady but fruitless pursuit, the two finished first and second respectively in the Open Novice.

The Open Unclassified has the green light for Byron Kukla (92), Colt Foster (84), Clayton Williams (95) and the remainder of the field. Foster managed to install his machine in the lead into turn one, Williams in second and Kukla third. Foster went wire to wire for the win, but Williams made a show of it surging hard near the finish for second, and Kukla in for third.

In the Open Expert, Clayton Williams, clawed his way off the line and into the clean air for the lead. On lap three Petton IV extended his way into his way for second, but that was going to be as far as he was going. Williams controlled the main for the win, Petton IV second, Grant Holmes third, Byron Kukla fourth and Jacob Cascio fifth. Notable mention for Petton IV once again as he won the 85cc Open, 85cc 2-Stroke, and 250 Youth Open.

John Vanderlaan, waving the checker flag of glory as he wraps up a crazy race win, for his fourth win in four attempts.

A wild and crazy first five laps of the Pro main, Nick Gil nails the start but Vanderlaan waste no time marking him as they run first and second respectively. Vanderlaan on the move but Gil is proving to be a worthy opponent, holding him back as Vanderlaan pulls out his bag of tricks, inside, outside, he just can't make a pass stick. We go into lap five they are side by side, and increasing speed as the time for lap four is 14.60 seconds. Gil and John Vanderlaan were side by side exiting out of turn four, the push was on and neither was letting up. Gil exited out of turn four on the outside with Vanderlaan on the inside, Vanderlaan's bike appeared to float wide resulting with impact between the two, and through the wall they went. Both tough guys, recovered and back to the remaining fifteen laps of the main.

Gil (17E) leading Vanderlaan (12), and Alex Crosby (88) in the early going of the Pro main, before they rearranged the wall. After the wall was patched up, Vanderlaan put up a fifteen bike lead over Gil for the Pro win, Gil second, Colt Foster third, and Alex Crosby fourth. Cindi Fears image

Foster Brother's racer Alex crosby, has had a good run in the past few years with the SCFTA, winning multiple titles and advancing his way up from the youth classes to the SCFTA Pro ranks. He now has a bigger purpose in life, joining the United States Marine Corp (USMC) to serve his country and further his life. This reporter wishes him well and thanks him for serving our country.

Please go to http://www.SCFTAracing.com for schedule and point standings.

2016 SCFTA ROUND 5 RESULTS: