June 4th, 2016, Perris California, Perris Raceway,

 Southern California Flat Track Association's

Championship Series, Round 6

Photos and text by Rodney Rutherford

In the glow of the lights on a late spring evening, Southern California Flat Track Association (SCFTA) raced into the sixth round of the twelve round Championship series. This weekend's round seven, July 16, is slated to go as the gates open at 12:30 PM, practice gets underway at 3:30 PM. Now let's finish up round six and put it in the record books.

John Vanderlaan on his fifth victory lap of the season. Five wins in five tries and no sign of slowing down. Report at the end of the article.

Grant Holmes out for another Saturday thrill ride, starting well in the 250 Youth Open with the holeshot, he slipped back to second and stuck the position to the checkers. Holmes finished his evening with a fourth in the Open Expert. Travis Petton IV was the winner in the 250 Youth Open main, Holmes second as stated and Jacob Cascio third.

Alyssa Flores (53), and Noah Bush (17) jousting into turn one during the 250 Youth Open main. They finished fifth an sixth respectively. Bush racing in his second round of the season, belt out a sixth spot in the Open Novice Main.

His six guns un-holstered and hammering, Kristain Daniel Jr. (yellow 46), gets the first hop over Isabella Mitchell (89R), Owen Williams (523), Sierra Hickerson (3), Jasper Heathfield (713), and Colin Petton (white 46) in an inter-class main. Petton was the only non 65-70cc Beginner in the field, as he lined up as a 65cc 2-Stroke Amateur.

We have two number 46's in the inter-class contest, this reporter has the yellowed number 46, Daniel, shooting off the start like Space X's Falcon 9 at Vandenberg Air Force base. His booster singeing the field with a dominating three second gap at the end of lap one over the white numbered 46 of Petton. There was no touching Daniel as Petton poured it on but was unable to close the gap enough for a pass. Daniel flew in first overall the remainder of the main, touching down at the barge of chief flagger, Rudy Gil, for a shocking and messaging delivering main win over Petton. He has the speed and ready to challenge anyone that gates up, I want his autograph.

Hickerson (3) and Heathfield (713) racing third and fourth overall late in the 65-70cc 4-Stroke Beginner main. Heathfield busted off the start and delivered his bike into the third overall spot on lap one, with an approximate six bike length over Hickerson. Past the mid point, Hickerson erased the gap and secured a pass over Heathfield for third overall, Heathfield runs in at fourth at the checkers. We have Daniel Jr. first in the 65-70cc Beginner, Hickerson second, Heathfield third, Williams fourth, and Mitchell coming in fifth. With two number forty-sixes this reporter believes he was able to get the report written correctly, any mistakes parents please contact the reporter.

A chaotic start in the 85cc 4-Stroke as Zachary Earwood (99) is the outside half sandwiching Conner Hickerson (45), Dominic DeMario (10) the inside half, Jacob Cascio (21) staying true, and Evan Souza (63) wrangling his steed for an hair-ball main.

DeMario (10) leading Cascio (21), and Souza (63) through the turn apex and out of turn two in mid race. DeMariopassumed the front by lap two, Cascio and Souza breathing fire upon each others back and blitzing the dirt in pursuit. Running on knobbies against the flat track treads of his chasers, DeMario likely never gave it a thought in the heat of battle, holding off the growling twosome to the checkers for the main win, Cascio and Souza checked in at second and third respectively.

Travis Horn (25) has all the clean air as he races to victory in the 65cc Open. Petton (46), rides behind Horn and is in at second at the end, Heathfield was third.

The comedic Isabella (Izzy) Mitchell, scraping the dirt at the apex of turn one and two. The bubbly Izzy, is all about having fun, racing to a fifth in the 65cc Open and a fifth in the 65-70cc 4-Stroke Beginner.

Travis Petton IV, has been intentionally starting several lengths behind his fellow racers in the 85cc classes, and usually has himself in the front by the end of the second lap. After winning the 250 Youth Open in race one, Petton IV took over the lead in the 85cc 2-Stroke Amateur by lap three after DeMario captured the holeshot and led temporarily until the "Ramona Raider" in Petton IV, blew by him for the lead and his second win of the evening. If getting passed by Petton IV was not enough, DeMario fell victim to the perennial peppiness of Tanner Richey. With a bead on DeMario from the onset after diving down into the inside line at the start and sticking in third. Richey stalked DeMario, finally swooping in on the last lap, going inside in turn two for the pass and second at the finish, DeMario concludes at third. 

Tanner Richey, racing to a second in the 85cc 2-Stroke Amateur.

The aggressive Rachel Schnakenberg (5) with her elbows way out style pops off the chalk with the holeshot in a mixed class main, Kensei Matsudaira (74) and Sierra Hickerson (3) about to get left behind. Schnakenberg took no prisoners peeling away for a sizable lead snaring the main overall win, and 65cc 2-Stroke Beginner class win.

Drake Conner, for the win in the 50cc 4-Stroke Beginner.

Petton IV (82) on the prowl racing by Conner Hickerson (3) in the 85 Open main as he hurries to the front. DeMario, raced to his third holeshot of the night according to this reporters calculations, but Richey is all over him. Soon thereafter Richey locks in a pass around DeMario for the lead by lap three, but Petton IV with his back row start passing through the pack approaching fast at second. Petton has made a habit of taking down leading racers like a dominoes in an earthquake this season, but the honey badger don't care and either does the leading Richey.

Richey (13) races under DeMario (10) for the lead. Richey with all his spunk and grit finally relinquishes the lead towards the end, after Petton IV pulls an inside slide job out of turn four passing him and pasting the point to the final lap for the 85cc Open main win. Richey rides in at second, DeMario with nothing to be disappointed about after a great night of racing third.

Scott Hanson (44) and Ryan Reed (5) in a skilled donnybrook as the sky darkens for the Vet Over 35 Amateur. Hanson held the lead most of the race, but Reed checked in close never allowing Hanson to build a comfortable lead. On the final lap Reed worked the outside as we go into turns three and four. Hanson tightens up the inside out of turn four and speeds into the front stretch forcing Reed outside and it is Hanson for the min win, Reed second, and Robert Stettler third.

Joe Pape (75) leads the way in the Classic Vintage heat, Jim Ottele (58Y), Mike Boal (4E) on his starboard side. Pape is long over due for a class win, and may just get one soon if he can carry his front running starting positions to the checkers in the main. Pape went on to a fourth in the Classic Vintage main. The first three in the main were Jim Ottele the top dog, Mike Boal, and Flyn Stone third.

Paul Claybaugh (83), Greg Powell (420), and Gary Lane (68), vector out off the starting line as they up-shift in the beginning of the Super Senior Over 60 Amateur and Novice main. Powell savors the lead and Lane and Claybaugh settle into second and third respectively. Racing in his third round of the series, Powell liked that open space in front of him, never letting up for the win and Lane second. In the dice for third, it was Bill Wright pushing past Claybaugh for third as Claybaugh takes fourth. 

The Centrum Silver senior vets blaze into turn one as the Bomber Expert main commences and it is Fontana Radiators Jeff Johnson (87) first, flanked by Joe Steffen (6), Danny Perkins (89), John Dupree (16), Steve Miller (19), and Travis Petton II (82). Johnson in his standard modus operandi glued in the lead as the determined Petton II followed in his wake in the bridesmaid spot, Miller third, and Perkins fourth. Not much changed to the checkers, as they filed in their positions to the end with Johnson taking his third win of the season, Petton II, Miller third, Perkins fourth, and Steffen fifth.

Danny Perkins (89), bee lining for turn one with the holeshot in the Bomber Expert heat race. Perkins is surrounded by John Dupree (16), Steve Miller (19), Joe Steffen (6), and Travis Petton II (82). Sidelined by an injury for the first five rounds of the series, Perkins is mended and was not taking it easy finishing fourth in the six racer main.

Chris Osborn (12N) looking for his third Senior Vet Over 50 Novice jetting into turn one, Rocket Exhaust racer Don Leib (9), Mike Boal (16E), Barney Stern (13L), and John Farmer (13) as the field hammers off the start in the main. Osborn had no issues installing a six bike length by lap two keeping the zone for his third class win of the season. Stern is feeling his oats as he continues to get stringer as the series matures racing in for a second, Boal takes third, and Leib with a fourth at the finish.

The Premier Senior heat ratchets into heat action, as the youthful Ron Moore (37) runs the outside, and Gary Lane (68) laying into the inside line. Moore wrote the holeshot and filed it in the completed task tab for the main, securing the first place spot to the checkers for the win, Lane second and Allan Girdler third.

Lifelong motorcyclist enthusiast and Cycle World pen, Allan Girdler, scanning the turn as he heads off the front stretch.

Vet Over 35 Expert gets mean on the green, Rosa Plates racer Jim Rosa (88) on the pole for the holeshot, Kevin Jordan (137), Robert Bush (47E), and Chris Campos (42) in the fram. Rosa has owned the class for a few seasons and leads into lap three, but is clustered with Bush and Jordan. Jordan  has become a major factor in the class since being elevated from the Over 35 Amateur after four straight wins.

Jordan (137), a former Speeedway racer, bullies his way into the inside of Rosa (88) entering into turn one on lap four for the lead. Jordan pulled away and the win is his, while Bush showed no mercy on Rosa, also making a pass scooting in at second. With the final flag wave we have Jordan for the main win, Bush second and Rosa third.

Alyssa Flores, took advantage of the 2015 Woman's (Powder Puff) class Champion. Jaycee Jones, when Jones went wide on lap three while leading. Flores powered underneath her for the lead continuing to pull away for her first win of the season. Jones was able to hold down second, while series points leader Monica Gil rode past her Dad, Rudy Gil, waving the checkers for third.

Super Senior Over 60 Experts Steve Kukla (16) and Ron Moore (37), are getting downright fast and furious in the war for the series title. Moore led from the beginning with Kukla hounding him like grease ants on a drop of summer apple cider. The relentless nature of Kukla, maintaining an attack position on Moore was to pay off. Never venturing further than three bike lengths back, Kukla seemed to know he had to wait for a mistake by the highly experienced Moore, who was skillfully locking up any passing lines, and here we go. The white flag signals the last lap, Kukla still has no lane for a pass but preparation he has. Moore appearing to have it locked up rings tight into turn three with Kukla on his back, exiting out of turn four Moore makes a slight bobble appearing to get cross rutted and Kukla pounces for the inside pass and a thrilling win, his second main win in a row, and Moore second. We now have us a tense series battle with Kukla seven points behind and six rounds remaining.

Nick Garcia (41), Justin Simons (51), Shawn Chamlee (3B), Andrew Myers (37), and Chris Osborn race it out in turn one of an Open Novice heat. In the main, Osborn surged to the early lead as Garcia fastened in second, Chamlee third, and Arnie Fry fourth by lap two of the nine racer main. Garcia stalked Osborn throughout the main finally sticking a pass in the inside of turn one, late in the race for the win. Osborn kept the second spot, Chamlee third, Fry fourth, and Simons fifth closing the top five.

Rolf Greenhill (63), LJ Gronek (12), and Ryan Reed (5) race for starting positions in the main as they get underway in their Open Amateur heat. Engaged in the Open Amateur for the first time in 2016, Reed wrapped up the main win as G & G Racing's Gronek rolled in at second, Greenhill was listed as a non-starter in the main. Reed has deep roots in riding as part of the Hanson family, doing it in the desert for many years at remote areas like Randsberg, California. Suffering a knee injury a few seasons ago, he has recovered and remains undeterred and currently in his first full SCFTA season run. For the 2016 season he is racing the entire program in the Vet Over 35 Amateur and raced round three in the Open Unclassified going away with a second. He would like to thank Grahams Towing, Dean Sykes, and his entire crew as he continues to point his 2015 KTM SX-F450 towards the winner circle for the rest of the season.

Clayton "The Gent" Williams, went off the chalk in the Open Expert on a restart after the red flag came out previously, looking for his second main win of the night after winning the Open Unclassified earlier. The second win he wanted he earned, looking like he was on another planet his skills just seem to get sharper as he appears to go into a workman like trance manufacturing a comfort buffer for his second win of the night. Always learning, his crew made some gearing changes before the race, and it obviously was the right move after his two victories. Williams thanks Southland Racing, Digger Helm, Pop and Grandma, Gail Cummins and his crew for all the support.

An Open Expert heat gets underway as Byron Kukla (92), Evan Souza (63), Jacob Cascio (21), and Chris Campos (42) round turn one. Campos finished up third in the main, Byron Kukla fifth, Cascio sixth and Souza seventh.

Enerlon's John Vanderlaan, arrived from his home town of Salinas, with his crosshairs set on a fifth Pro main win in as many tries. After sitting out the heat race, Vanderlaan appeared to be warmed up and rearing to go, quickly dashing out to the front at the kick off of the traditional twenty lap grand finale of the SCFTA program, the Pro main. Leading from the onset, he attacked the track as Foster Brother's racer Colt Foster sat in at second, Dylan Morin third, fifty something racer Kevin Jordan fourth, and Two Dicks Racing's Nick Gil fifth. 

After racing in selective rounds in 2015 with the SCFTA Pro racers, Morin appears to be applying the same routine this year, visiting round six after capturing third in round one. He still has the chutzpa though, forcing an inside pass in turn two on lap three Morin moves into second. Morin gives it a hard run at the leading Vanderlaan, getting within a half second of him around lap eleven, but Vanderlaan upped his game just enough to prevent Morin from getting totally in his face. Clocking a 14.72 second lap thirteen, aided by lapped riders getting between him and Morin, Vanderlaan took his fifth SCFTA Pro victory of the season home, Morin second, Foster third, Jordan fourth, and Andre Ochs fifth.

Please go to Scftaracing.com for complete schedule and points standings.