2011
Opening Race
Perris Raceway – Perris Ca.
April 2rd,2011
Round # 1
Article by Jamey Blunt
Photos by Janice Blunt
The skies finally parted and the
faithful made the pilgrimage to Perris raceway for round one of the
2011 season on the quarter mile oval. Having been rescheduled from two
weeks prior the one hundred twenty two racers in attendance were all
fired up with leathers polished and helmets aglow, itching to enter the
track, so dirt they could throw. After earning their starting positions
through the heat races, sixteen main events were posted for the
evening's final show, of course that was after Freddie Edwards finished
with the grooming, bladeing, watering and packing of the racing
surface. This night also marked the opening of Perris's permanent snack
bar which was a huge success due to their large and varied menu; and
with the increasing spectator base for Saturday night entertainment
from the town of Perris this will only add to their enjoyment.

Young Travis Petton from Romona Ca. topped the Youth 50cc main event posting a 20.64/100 second lap time aboard his KTM.
The Youth classes kicked off the
main events with young Travis Petton (yes I know the names familiar,
he's third generation) smoking the 50cc class. For the 65cc and 85cc
classes Clayton Williams is the man to beat as he bested Alyssa Flores
and Monica Gil respectively.

#37r Ron Moore won both the Super Senior +60 and the Premier Senior +70
Classes with a fastest lap time of 15.26/100 seconds! This photo at the
start of the Super Senior race see #51 Dennis Kanegae, #26 Donnie
Walters #96 Jack Alexander #3j De Wayne Jones and #4 Vince Graves as
close as they ever got to Moore.
The war that develops in the
Super Senior +60 class has to be seen. With five riders all putting in
sub sixteen second lap times one thinks these guys forget their age,
and why not! Vince Graves led the field into turn one with Dennis
Kanegae in tow. On the first trip down the back straight Ron Moore went
from fourth to third and locked sights on Kanegae. Back in fourth was
Donnie Walters with Jack Alexander, De Wayne Jones and Freddie Edwards
all giving chase. Entering turn three for the second time Kanegae went
under Graves to take the lead away. All the while Graves was having a
fogged visor problem and losing positions fast. By this time Edwards
recovered from his poor start and by lap three had fought his way into
fourth and was closing on Walters in third. As Graves put a hand up so
as to drop to the back Moore got a drive and shot past Kanegae for the
lead. With two laps remaining Edwards working a low line at the pole
went under Walters for the third place and final spot on the podium.
Moore posted the fastest lap of the race at 15.26/100 seconds and
Edwards made a final push to get Kanegae but came up a half bike length
short at the stripe making the finishing order Moore, Kanegae, Edwards,
Walters, Alexander, Jones and Graves.

Many racers over the years have ridden the Dodge Brothers Indian, but
it's hard to recall anyone that has done it any better than Kayl
Kolkman! Kolkman almost broke the fifteen second berrier with a lap time
of 15.06 seconds en-route to his large margin of victory over the other
nine racers.
Nine bikes made up the Classic
Vintage 500-750 class. Entering turn one in fourth and exiting turn two
in first was Kayl Kolkman on the Dodge Brothers Indian. (A bike that
arrived late to the track so he missed practice) Jeff Apple ran in
second on his smoking Triumph (which he says he just did valve guides
in) with Bruce Reynolds on his pristine Bultaco third and Ron Lessley
fourth. At the front with just a lap completed Kolkman went to another
time zone turning a 15.06 second lap. Two laps complete had Kolkman
into lappers while Apple and Reynolds gave chase and Lessley, James
Kohls and Lenny Rodriguez were working their way forward. By the white
flag Kolkman had put five riders a lap down and would go on to the
victory with over a six second cushion. Apple stayed in second with
Reynolds third on the track but first 250cc, and Lessley fourth.

#77v Jason Craven won the rough and tumble Vet 35+ class but not by a
large margin. He faught the whole way to the flag turning a 15.22/100
second lap in the process.
The Vet 35+ class saw two riders
very evenly matched. Jason Craven and Jim Rosa both had close lap times
with Craven getting the edge with 15.22/100 seconds to Rosa's 15.29/100
seconds. Off the line Rosa led through turns one and two with Craven in
second. Robert Bush ran third with Paul Herman fourth and Woody Carlson
fifth. Two laps in saw Rosa and Craven getting away from the rest of
the field with Craven biding his time to pounce. As the laps wound down
Lloyd McGregor from a third row start had worked his way up to and past
Carlson for fifth, where he would finish. Back at the front after the
white flag going down the back straight Craven pulled alongside Rosa
and they entered turn three side by side. Craven took a slight lead
while Rosa squared up the corner for a drive to the finish which he
lost by just a few feet. Bush came home third, with Herman fourth,
McGregor fifth and Carlson sixth.

Open Novice winner Nick Ottele turned a respectfull 15.96/100 second lap on dad's bike!
Larkin Wight shot to the front
in the Open Novice class with Eric Ryke second and a group containing
John Rudder, Nick Ottele, Corey Bauman and Chris Johns sometimes three
wide all fighting over third. With two laps complete the order had
settled in at Wight, Rudder, Ottele, Bauman, Ryke, Monte Roberts, and
Roy Stafford. The biggest mover of the group was Nick Ottele who from a
terrible start was in third and wasn't finished yet as he twisted the
throttle beyond the stop. Just after the white flag Ottele secured
second through turns one and two and pulled alongside Wight entering
turn three making it a drag race to the checkered flag where he came up
short by inches. But since Wight was a Senior Novice he received that
victory while Ottele an Open Novice, was awarded the victory for his
class. (Two classes on the track at the same time scored separately)

#47 Jim Wood of Southland Racing launched off the line and never looked
back in the Senior +50 race. His fastest lap time of 15.13/100 seconds
on this night was worthy of a spot in the pro final. (#58 Jim Ottele,
#52 Elliott Iverson, #29y Gary Evans)
The highly contested Senior +50
class had a field of twelve which Jim Wood led into turn one. In close
pursuit were Craig Johnson, Joe Steffen, Jim Ottele, and Elliott
Iverson. Down the back straight Ottele got by Steffen for third with
Ryan Gifford dropping Iverson to sixth as he claimed the fifth place
position. Three laps in the books and Wood clocked a 15.13/100 second
lap time that the field just couldn't quite match. With two laps
remaining Ottele had closed some of the gap to Johnson but still had
five bike lengths left to make up as Wood began to put some of the
field a lap down. In the end the running order remained unchanged at
Wood, Johnson, Ottele, Steffen, Gifford, and Iverson all on the same
lap.

#47 Jim Wood on the Mr. Edd's Yamaha spanked the Vintage 250cc Expert field. His fastest lap was a 15.84/100 second time.
The fastest lap time of the
night for Vintage 250cc Two-Stroke class was set in the heat race by
former World Champion John Kocinski riding his custom Knight framed
CR-Honda at 15.42/100 seconds. At the start of the main event it was
Jim Wood who led the field into turn one followed by Kocinski, Jeff
Lessley, Joe Steffen, and Ryan Gifford. A lap and a half down had
Kocinski looking down at his newly finished project suspecting a
problem. This in turn allowed Lessley by for second while Steffen faded
to fifth with Gifford moving up to fourth. A lap later Kocinski
thinking things might be ok launched an attack on Lessley only to
realize there was indeed a problem after all and pulls out. Back up
front Wood had gotten a six bike length cushion over Lessley and turned
a 15.84/100 second lap as time was running out for the rest of the
field. Wood would go on to an uncontested victory his second of the
night with Lessley second.

#89 Danny Perkins lap time of 15.83/100 seconds was faster than any of
the twelve other Bomber racers could run. Perkins who has raced at
Perris since he was in his pre teens is still always a threat when he
gets on a motorcycle. Class C or Speedway! (#14 Eric Ryke and #57 Keith
Speir give chase)
The Bomber or basically the
Yamaha TT-500 class had Danny Perkins (who has raced at Perris since
his pre-teen years) lead into turn one followed by Keith Speir and Simi
Valley Kawasaki's Jimmy Lundgren. One lap down saw Jeff Gonzales up to
fourth and joining the fight with Travis Petton running fifth waiting
and watching. Three laps complete and Perkins had pulled away with a
two second gap posting a 15.83/100 second lap time the fastest of the
twelve riders on the track. Entering turn three on the next go round
Lundgren dove up the inside of Speir to take second place away while
out of nowhere David Mc Nelly in sixth caught fire and he and Petton
started their run towards the front. With two laps remaining Gonzales
was back to sixth as second through fifth all bunched together with
only Perkins position secure at the front. Then out of turn four to the
white flag Petton who was at this point in third ran into Lundgren on
the front straight knocking him literally back to fourth which made the
finishing order at the checkered flag Perkins, Petton, Mc Nelly,
Lundgren, Speir, and Gonzales.

#17r Nick Gil had a field of ten to contend with in the Open Amatuer
final. Nick was up to the task and put in a 15.77/100 second lap as
well.
Jason Craven led the Open
Amateur class into turn one. Nick Gil dropped in behind Craven with
Paul Herman, David Reinhard, and Bill Wright sorted out behind. On the
second trip through turn two Gil got a tremendous drive out to pull
alongside Craven down the back straight and take over the lead entering
turn three. Once in the lead Gil still continued to run a high line
leaving the door open for Craven which he never could quite take
advantage of. The front two would go on to distance themselves from the
field by over four seconds with the running order staying the same all
the way to the finish at Gil, Craven, Herman, Reinhard, and Wright.

Just like days gone by from an
era when Dirt Track ruled the motorcycle racing world the eleven riders
for the twenty lap pro main event were introduced to the spectators
with helmets off, dead engine, facing the bleachers, reminiscent of
Ascot Park in Gardena California, a must for Friday night entertainment
if you loved motorcycle racing. Michael Avila fresh off a victory in
Daytona Beach Florida shot to the front from the flash of the green
light from starter Rudy's hand. Kayl Kolkman on the Simi Valley
Kawasaki ran second with Jimmy Wood on the A&J Racing Honda in
third. Jeff Evans ran in fourth with Kenny Malaguarmeno fifth. It took
Kolkman two laps of setting up Avila before he could make a pass stick
to take over the lead, which he did up the front straight. Now with a
clear track Kolkman put his head down and turned a 14.56/100 second lap
time trying to get away as he knew Wood would be coming. But Wood was
not finding it so easy to get past Avila as this youngster has acquired
some new talents and a lot of speed over the winter break. As the front
three separated themselves Evans was coming under attack from
Malaguarmeno for his fourth place position. On lap six going into turn
three Wood couldn't wait any longer and pushed his way into second past
Avila but Kolkman by this point had a two and a half gap at the front.
On lap nine Mark Cernicky who appeared to be fighting with his mount
went down between turns three and four, thankfully he was uninjured but
his night was finished. At crossed flags (half way) the running order
was Kolkman, Wood, Avila, Evans, Malaguarmeno, Michael Brichfield,
David Bush, Curtis Peebles, Robert Bush, Brandon Rothell, and Cernicky
out. By lap thirteen Kolkman was into lappers and Wood was making up
ground, but there was a lot of it to make up. So unless Kolkman made
mistakes it didn't look as though Wood had a chance. Traffic could be a
deciding factor if there was to be one. Kolkman and Wood were the best
through traffic as Avila dropped off their pace and Kolkman was
defiantly being held up with Wood now within four bike lengths of
catching him. With a lap remaining Wood had closed to within a bike
length but Kolkman was flawless and went on to a well deserved victory
over Wood. Avila was alone in third with Evans the first rider ever to
win a pro main event on this track fourth and Malaguarmeno still on the
same lap fifth.

After winning his first pro main
at Perris Kayl Kolkman had this to say, "I'll take this and go on to De
Quoin Ill. The track was good, a little rough I had a hard time holding
on there at the end. I could hear Jimmy catching me, but I held him
off. I tried to break the track record and was close but maybe next
time."
Thus ended a great night of
Class C racing, the facility at Perris continues to evolve with new
improvements seeming to be added monthly. Vince Graves, Freddie &
Donna Edwards are to be applauded for their hard work and resources
they pour into this historic
venue.

#4 Matt Stoutenburg won the Men's 4 Stroke main event but #151 Billy
Katkov had the single fastest lap of the race at 16.04/100 seconds!
SCFTA Perris Raceway April 2, 2011
Youth 50cc
1. Travis Petton Ramona
2. Grant Holmes Porterville
3. Ava Bush Valencia
Youth 65cc
1. Clayton Williams Bakersfield
2. Alyssa Flores Sylmar
3. Travis Petton Ramona
4. Frank Flores Sylmar
5. Noah Bush Valencia
6. Grant Homes Porterville
Youth 85cc
1. Clayton Williams
2. Moncia Gil
3. Jaycee Jones
Super Senior +60
1. Ron Moore Yuciapa
2. Dennis Kanegae Riverside
3. Freddie Edwards Riverside
4. Donnie Walters Riverside
5. Jack Alexander Bakersfield
6. De Wayne Jones Pomona
7. Vince Graves Palm Springs
Men’s 4 Stroke
1. Matt Stoutenburg Tustin
2. Billy Katkov Fountain Valley
3. Mark Cernicky Costa Mesa\
4. Ian Folds
Classic Vintage 500-750
1. Kalyl Kolkman Ventura
2. Jeff Apple Imperial beach
3. Ron Lessley Bakersfield
4. James Kohls Santa Paula
5. Lenny Rodriguez Palmdale
6. Fred Berger Bakersfield
7. Joe Pape Culver City
Classic Vintage 250
1. Bruce Reynolds
2. Isaiah Canales Bakerfield
Vets +35
1. Jason Craven Madera
2. Jim Rosa Apple Valley
3. Robert Bush Acton
4. Paul Herman Grand Terrace
5. Lloyd Mc Gregor Lakeside
6. Woody Carlson Spring Valley
7. Joel Kath Glendora
Open Novice
1. Nick Ottele Redlands
2. John Rudder Auga Dulce
3. Corey Bauman Los Angles
4. Dan Shaw
5. Monte Roberts El Cajon
6. Roy Stafford Pinon Hills
7. Chris Johns Murrieta
8. Emmy Bush Acton
9. #45 ?
10. Brian Uchida
Senior Novice
1. Larkin #Wight Lucerne Valley
2. Fred Berger Bakersfield
Senior +50
1. James Wood Redland
2. Capt Craig Johnson Encintas
3. Jim Ottele Redlands
4. Joe Steffen San Jacinto
5. Ryan Gifford Bakersfield
6. Elliott Iverson Riverside
7. Steve Craft Bakersfield
8. Larry Earhart Panorama City
9. Bill Wright Northridge
10. Jim Steet Corona
11. Jimmy Rust Lahabra
12. Gary Evans
Vintage 250 2 Stk Novice
1. Michael Fritz Garden Grove
2. Steele Fredrick Corona
3. Joe Pape Culver City
Vintage 360 2 Stk Novice
1. Rick Logan
2. Monte Roberts El Cajon
Vintage 360 2 Stk Amateur
1. Danny Stinson
Vintage 250 2 Stk Expert
1. James Wood Redlands
2. Jeff Lessley Delano
3. Joe Steffen SanJacinto
4. Jon Kocinski
Vintage 360 2 Stk Expert
Ryan Gifford Bakersfield
Bomber
1. Danny Perkins Rancho Santa Marg.
2. Travis Petton Ramona
3. David Mc Nelly Chula Vista
4. Jim Lundgren Santa Clarita
5. Keith Speir Fillmore
6. Jeff Gonzales Tulare
7. Danny Stinson Yorba Linda
8. Dan Kane Rancho Santa Marg.
Premier Senior + 70
1. Ron Moore Yucipia
2. peter Torjion San Juan Capistrano
3. Allan Gridler Rainbow
Vintage 750
1. Jeff Apple
2. Stevre Craft Bakersfield
3. Keith Bryant
Open Amatuer
1. Nick Gil Riverside
2. Jason Craven Madera
3. Paul Herman Grand Terrace
4. David Reinhard Mentone
5. Bill Wright Northridge
6. Jim Lundgren Santa Clarita
7. Eric Ryke Long Beach
8. Austin Williams Bakersfield
9. Harley Legowski Orange
Pro Main Event
1. Kayl Kolkman Ventura
2. Jimmy Wood Redlands
3. Michael Avila Madera
4. Jeff Evans Agoura
5. Kenny Malaguarmeno Lakeside
6. David Bush Valencia
7. Curtis Peebles Bakersfield
8. Brandon Rothell Madera
9. Robert Bush Acton
10. Michael Birchfield Bakersfield
11. Mark Cernicky Costa Mesa

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