2007 Tulare May6 WCVDTS

Round #2 Tulare Cycle Park

Tulare, Calif. May 6th, 2007

Article by Jamey Blunt

Photos by Jessyca Blunt

Two hundred eighteen made up the grids for round number two of Eddie Mulder's W.C.V.D.T. series on the Tulare Cycle Park oval.
This, a daytime race required more attention to track prep which Mulder was on top of.

98 Rod Lake

A&A Racing/Works Performance sponsored the senior class where Rod Lake launched to the front of the pack from the outside of the front row. Triumph mounted Bob Scally dropped in behind with John Grant and Gary White in two. As the field thundered down the back straight and into turn four Grant made a huge mistake which advanced White to third. Coming through from a mid pack start were Steve Craft and Keith Speir, now up to fifth and sixth respectfully. On the exit of turn two on lap three Grant took third back form White only to have White come right back and return the favor. At the front on lap four Lake had a two second gap as he entered a different time zone from the field. On the final lap Grant, Craft, Speir and Mark Stuckert all came together fighting for the fourth position. Craft made the pass on Grant in turn three with Speir doing likewise in turn four making the finishing order Lake, Scally, White, Craft, Speir, Grant, and Stuckert.

1 Jim Ottele

In the ARD Ignitions/C&J Racing Frames Super Senior/Senior Novice class round one winner Mickey Alzola once again topped the field, this time over Steve Lacey, Ron Alexander, Dave Cheney, and Bob Harris. The Coventry Spares Ltd. Dino class saw Jim Ottele throw a leg over a 1937 Indian and turn a 21.80/100 second lap for victory over Mike O'Neil and Brent Johnson. Also worth noting, in the Maxima Racing Oils Youth 85cc class Evan Stafford seems unstoppable as he bested Zachery Lenhof, Bronson Bauman, and Geoffery Shelter.

700 Evan Stafford

98 Rod Lake

The Browns Cycles/San Diego off Road Modern 250 and the K&N Filters/Mr.Ed's Modern 500 ran as a combined main event, but were scored separately. Brad Rudy has found extra speed, he says from doing some road racing, but whatever it is, it has paid off as he nailed the start to lead into turn one. Rod Lake gave chase with Jay Gosvenor and John Grant falling in behind. On the exit of turn two for the second time Gosvenor hit the dirt, he was up quickly, but his race was over. Meanwhile Lake was glued to Rudy's rear wheel applying pressure trying to force a mistake. Rudy's fastest lap of 20.43/100 seconds was good, but not quite good enough as Lake pulled alongside Rudy up the front straight on lap four and made the pass for the lead stick entering turn one. Grant was alone some three seconds back in third, but he was first for the 250cc class. This is how they would finish two laps later.

310 Briar Bauman

Tony Davila took point off the line in the Maxxis Tires/Barnett 250 Open final. Briar Bauman dropped in behind with Mikey Avila in third. On the exit of turn two Bauman make short work of Davila for the lead, and Avila not wanting Bauman to get away followed suit in turn four for second position dropping Davila to third in less than a lap. Eric England ran fourth with Patrick Osmer fifth, and Brandon Bates sixth. Two laps in had Bauman under immense pressure from Avila as the front two separated themselves from the field, and England was showing Davila a wheel attempting to take third away. On the exit from turn four on lap three England made his move and dropped Davila to fourth. Try as he might Avila could match Bauman's 19.63/100 second laps, but just couldn't find a way around, this made the finishing order Bauman with a flawless ride first, Avila second, England third, Davila fourth, Osmer fifth, and Bates sixth.

The AGV Helmets/Megacycle Cams 500 Support class is a complete field of Yamaha TT-500's in various formulations. For now the best combination is the one from Mr. Ed's stable with Joe Steffen at the controls as he shot to the front and never looked back. Jim Ottele, and Mike O'Neil gave chase but just couldn't break under the twenty second lap barrier to match Steffen's 19.94/100 second laps. Jason Craven ran fourth, with Mike Gonzales fifth, and Mike Riddell sixth, which is where they would finish. For the rest of the race it was follow the leader as Steffen disappeared at the front for the win. Ottele stayed in second and O'Neil in third.

15 Garrett Stout

Twenty riders fought through three heat races for one of twenty spots in the Motion Pro/ Rod Lake Racing Open Amateur "A" Main. Garrett Stout has been red hot of late and didn't disappoint as he took the lead from pole position. Kayl Kolkman dropped in behind Stout with Eric England, Mikey Avila, and Bill Kolkman right on their wheels. Two laps in the books saw Stout with a four bike length gap up front over Kolkman who just couldn't make up any ground, but not for lack of trying. At this point England was some fifteen bike lengths back in third with all kinds of company. Briar Bauman who left the line in seventh was on a march forward as he was now up to fifth with Jesse Sleeper sixth. On the exit of turn two on lap four Bauman went past England who had lost third to Avila, and now fourth to Bauman. With a lap remaining Bauman closed quickly on Avila and in a drag race to the checkered flag took third place away by inches. This made the final order Stout wire to wire, Kolkman, Bauman, Avila, England, and Sleeper.

21 Jared Mees

Jared Mees sat on pole for the Digger Helm Pro 600 twenty lap main event. Mees nailed the start and lead into turn one followed by Mikey Rush, Brandan Bergen, Kris Bunch, Garrett Stout and Johnny Murphree. On the exit of turn two for the second time Stout made a pass that saw him advance to fourth. Two turns later Murphree displaced Bunch as well for fifth, with Ian Foulds making a return to dirt track quickly up to seventh. At the front Mees was flawless and smooth on the Mr. Ed's machine as he was getting away from Rush. Lap five, with a clear track in front of him saw Mees turn an 18.33/100 second lap, the fastest of the day. Stout would hold National number 20 (Murphree) at by for eight laps until the entrance to turn three where Murphree took over fourth. All the while Joe Hernandez Jr. was quietly working his way forward from a poor start, at a very fast pace. By lap ten (half way) Mees had a full front straight away lead over Rush, who had ten bike lengths over Bergen, who had a sizable gap over Murphree. Rushes fastest lap of 18.68/100 seconds was good but just a couple tenths off of Mees, who would have lappers to deal with for the last half of the race. With five laps remaining Hernandez and Bunch were all over Stout, a battle Hernandez would win and Bunch would lose making the finishing order, wire to wire for Mees, Rush second, Bergen third, Murphree fourth, Hernandez fifth, Stout sixth, and Bunch seventh. After the race Mees had this to say, "This was a different race track in the day, and we tried some different things and it just all came together."

Classic 500 - 87y - Chris Rudy

Senior
1. 98 Rod Lake
2. 71z Bob Scally
3. 74r Gary White
4. 25d Steve Craft
5. 57 Keith Speir
6. 80g John Grant
7. 15 Mark Stuckert
8. 96a Jack Alexander
9. 17q Herb Wolff

Vet
1. 68 Paul Herman
2. 48y Mike Vital
3. 42 Bill Kolkman
4. 28z Tony Harrell
5. 571 Mike O’Neil
6. 28b Gary Ritchie
7. 45e John Lundgren
8. 6 Joe Steffen
9. 77j Jason Craven
10. 68 Jeffery Evans
11. 77 Joe Suebert
12. 317 Geoff Ball

Sr Novice/Super Sr
1. 49x Mickey Alzola
2. 27t Steve Lacey
3. 27 Ron Alexander
4. 52c Dave Cheney
5. 80x Bob Harris

Dino
1. 1 Jim Ottele
2. 3 Mike O’Neil
3. 53 Brent Johnson

Classic 500
1. 87y Chris Rudy
2. 86d Ross Stuckert
3. 14 James Kohls

Youth 50
1. 80 AJ Alves
2. 45 Tyler Kolkman

Youth 60
1. 88t Tyler Shelter

Youth 80
1. 700 Evan Stafford
2. 24 Zachery Lenhof
3. 309w Bronson Bauman
4. 33g Geoffery Shelter

Modern 250
1. 80g John Grant
2. 35e Chuck Walton

Modern 500
1. 98 Rod Lake
2. 19r Brad Rudy
3. 13 Anthony Tucker
4. 13p Allan Malm
5. 44n Gary Swan

Modern 750
1. 68 Paul Herman
2. 57 Keith Speir
3. 77 Joe Suebert
4. 71z Bob Scally

250 Open
1. 310w Briar Bauman
2. 33e Mikey Avila
3. 22 Eric England
4. 18h Tony Davila
5. 55 Patrick Osmer
6. 58 Brandon Bates
7. 261 Michael Cantu
8. 309w Bronson Bauman
9. 28 Pauly Herman
10. 12y Jacqui VanNoort

500 Support
1. 6 Joe Steffen
2. 58y Jim Ottele
3. 571 Mike O’Neil
4. 77j Jason Craven
5. 32y Mike Gonzales
6. 82 Mike Riddell
7. 28b Gary Ritchie
8. 32 Dominic Stewart
9. 80k Augie Alves
10. 317 Geoff Ball

Open Amateur “A” Main
1. 15 Garrett Stout
2. 45 Kayl Kolkman
3. 310w Briar Bauman
4. 33e Mikey Avila
5. 22 Eric England
6. 342 Jesse Sleeper
7. 42 Bill Kolkman
8. 65 Ross Gallaher
9. 55 Patrick Osmer
10. 58 Brandon Bates
11. 45 Ross Stuckert

Open Amateur “B” Main
1. 88 Dillon Allen
2. 261 Michael Cantu
3. 79 Joey Alves
4. 68 Jeffery Evans
5. 210 Garrett Gordon
6. 21y Bubba VanNoort

Digger Pro 600
1. 21 Jared Mees
2. 54 Mikey Rush
3. 17y Brandan Bergen
4. 20 Johnny Murphree
5. 23z Joe Hernandez, Jr
6. 15 Garrett Stout
7. 65y Kris Bunch
8. 45 Kayl Kolkman
9. 18h Tony Davila
10. 342 Jesse Sleeper
11. 35 Kyle Ragsdale
12. 45e Ian Foulds
13. 20m Brady Mueller
14. 88 Dillon Allen
15. 27 Larry Earhart

Sunday was a beautiful day for racing and there were some awesome battles.
The day was over fairly early and after a really great trophy presentation we headed home.
Thanks to AGV Helmets our new sponsor for the helmets we are giving away at each event.
Tyler Shelter and Evan Stafford were the lucky recipients this weekend.
Thanks AJ Herrera! Maxxis Tires went to Joe Suebert and Bob Scally.
See you Saturday night June 9 for Round #3 at the Tulare Cycle Park.
Jodi and Eddie