SAGE, CALIFORNIA (April 9) – MRANN’s fourth round of their season was the 2017 Diamond Back Hare Scrambles. Staged by the Lassen M/C it was the 50th anniversary of the event that began in 1967 as an enduro race.
The event was run at the Ft. Sage OHV area east of Doyle, California. It’s up against a mountain range and the final drop down to the pits is called “The Widowmaker.”
Starting at 4,000 feet this very steep drop is one that even the fastest rider rode with care. Asked about it, one rider laughed and said it should be named, “Sunshine and Lollypops.”
Reese Honea takes the checkered flag as he wins the 2017 Diamond Back Hare Scrambles.
After winning the hole shot and the race by over two minutes Reece Honea said, “Hole shot, rode smart, no mistakes and caught the Hare in say about 15 miles. It was a tough course and the Widow Maker actually is pretty nasty because of all the weather there’s a lot of sand so you’ve got to be on your toes a little more than usual.”
Then he thanked supporters MJ Barenback Plumbing and Heating, Reno Motorsports, Big Valley Honda, General Transmission, MSR, girlfriend Tina Boden and my family.
At a MRANN event riders line up in their classes. Experts go first then after a small delay the amateurs are launched with the novice riders being sent last after another delay.
Mason Stone, the Hare, waits to get his head start on the field.
Mason Stone was chosen to be the Hare and got a head start on everyone. There is a prize for the first rider to catch him.
When the banner dropped sending the experts off Honea got the hole shot and set off after the fleeing Stone.
While most amateurs had a clean start a couple didn’t as one rider did a cartwheel. The medics responded but fortunately, after a couple of minutes all the involved were able to get up and continue; after the all clear the novice line was released.
When Honea came down the Widow Maker before the pits he had not quite a two-minute lead over second and third. Irving Powers held the runner up spot with Dan Cappareli very close behind him.
Unlike most events the pits were in a large square area. After leaving the pits a rider would make a brief pause while their fender cards were marked.
Due to the rain on Friday and Saturday and mud on the course those fender cards were soon covered with mud so they couldn’t be counted. In fact most riders came into the pits covered with as much mud as their bikes.
At the end of the second lap Honea had over a two-minute lead while Powers was still holding off Capparelli by less than 30 seconds. After quick pits stops they were all sent on their way.
Attrition was a factor but not a major one. In this race to be considered a finisher a rider had to complete two full laps but only a few were unable to finish two loops.
At the end Honea had extended his lead to over two minutes. Behind him both Powers and Capparelli had each gone down in separate spills but were able to get back up and continue.
The top three overall at the end of the race. Going right to left, winner Reese Honea, Dan Capparelli and Irving Powers.
Towards the end Powers started getting tired and Capparelli was able to get past and take second but not by much.
After taking the checkered Caparelli said, “Obviously that last lap went better. I just had trouble with the vision, got caught up with a lapper in the second lap we both went down on a hill, lost some time there but all in all it was fun.”
Then he thanked his wife for her support plus sponsors Fly, Reno KTM, KTM and Concours Auto Body.
After reaching the finish Powers said to Capparelli, “I’ve got no more and dropped the bike.”
Then Capparelli answered, “I saw that but didn’t have any more either.”
After catching his breath Powers said, “I was running second, kind of starting fading, Reece was riding really good and Dan got me toward the end here. Other than that I’m just got it in safe.”
Then he thanked McCoy’s Off Road, my girlfriend Angelica, MX Trophies, IMS Tanks, Brad Koler and Morris Ag Air and Tech One Designs.
Even though the amateur line is released second usually the fastest of these riders will usually catch and pass the slowest experts.
First amateur to complete all three loops was Dane Johnson, who finished 24th overall.
After taking the checkered flat he said, “It was pretty good, lots of whoops. Got a good start and had a good race.”
Dane Johnson was the first amateur to complete all three laps.
And he thanked his supporters, Erin Grive Law, his lawyer girl friend, RMS and Concours Body Shop for their support.
Although the novice line was held up when one of the amateur riders went down right after the start, the class winner was 33rd overall and that was Tristan Furlong. And his last ride down the Widow Maker was pretty exciting for him.
“It was very muddy the first lap but dried out by the last and the Widow Maker was very sandy,” he said. “Had both the front and back brakes locked up and will still gaining speed so just glad I finished.”
Asked who he wanted to thank Furlong listed NMS, CMS, RMS, his pit crew, Fast House and two personal trainers, Zach and Drew Chatin.
One scary incident happened on the run to the checkered flag, at the bottom of the Widow Maker. Two bikes went down hard and the medic then jumped on his bike and roared to see if he was needed.
One rider was okay while the other had some cuts and was looked at back in the pits.
Unlike Saturday there was great weather and 105 riders showed up to compete on Sunday. Most seem pretty happy and due to the wet dirt hard was hardly a factor.
• Although Saturday’s weather was a bit of a challenge the short course program was run.
In the Pee Wee race, Jesse Miller was first overall followed by Jacob Surone and Genevieve Miller.
Next up was a race that combines the Mini Bike, V Women and Bombers. Topping that was Arie Furlong, a Mini Bike rider followed by the women’s top two, Julianne Zotter and Taylor Kemp in second and third overall with ninth place Curtis Calder winning the Bomber division.
Finally eight teams squared off and at the end the Chattin/Kinkle combination won followed by the father-son duo of Wilson/Wilson with third place going to the team of Fletcher/Fell.
Next on the schedule for MRANN is the Corey Herring race in June at the Honey Lake track.
THERE IS A PHOTO GALLERY AT THE END OF THE RESULTS.
OTHER RACING NEWS
- Injured motorcycle racer, MRANN competitor as well as the 2016 VCGP champion Tucker Larrieu is now at the Craig Hospital in Denver. They are treating him for a major back injury.
Cards and letters would be very appreciated by him as he’s supposed to be there for at least 40 days. His address is:
Craig Hospital
3425 S. Clarkson St.
Englewood, C) 80113
Attention:
Tucker Larrieu
C/O: Guest Services.
• Team Testa was in Southern California this weekend at the California Classic MX event. Your Parker Ross came away with a national champion ship in the 65cc, 8 to 11 class.
• Over in Dixon, California the current KPX round was staged and the Red Army of Nevada Kart Sport was there. At the end of Sunday Zachary Rivera ended up third in Senior 206 while his uncle Brian was fifth in the Master’s 206 race.
• NASCAR’s top two series were at the newly repaved track in Texas this weekend. And there were three Nevada drivers competing.
In Saturday’s Xfinity race Brendan Gaughan started 24th and ended up 19th. Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup event is split into three stages but at the end Kurt Busch started 10th and finished in 10th while younger brother Kyle started 35th and finished 15th.
If you enjoyed this article please “like,” and share it as widely as possible. Comments are welcome.
Subscribers have articles posted to their inbox as soon as they are on the site.
We now have four very appreciated sponsors that are helping support this site.
The newest is familiar to anyone in the riding lifestyle. It’s PJ & Co Restaurant and Saloon located at 1590 Wells Avenue in Reno.
Good food, great place and they have Bike Night every Wednesday. For further information please check their website at, www.pjandco.net.
Concours Body Shop, owned by racer and race supporter Gil Grieve, is a business doing quality repair work on cars and trucks.
The business is located at 240 Telegraph Street in Reno and their website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
If you are into karting or want the most cost effective way to start racing then check out Nevada Kart Sport, our only full service kart shop in this region.
They are located at 1220 E. Greg Street in Sparks and their website is, www.nevadakartsport.com.
Into riding or racing a motorcycle? If so Reno Motorsports is for you as they have a full service shop as well as about anything a rider could want.
They are located at 964 Terminal way, by Mill Street and their website is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
Have a business targeted toward the motorcycle, motorsport or off road demographic? Well we are looking for more sponsors.
You can contact us either through the comment section of the site or our Face Book page.
RESULTS:
MRANN – FORT SAGE OHV
2017 DIAMOND BACK HARE SCRAMBLES
- Sunday, April
+ Overall Big Bikes*: 1. Reese Honea, Open Exp., 2. Dan Capparelli, 3. Irving Powers, 4. Wyatt Brittner, 5. Corey Fletcher, 250 Exp., 6. C.J. Crandall, 7. Mason Parker, 8. Max Parker, 9. Jack Reader, 40+ Exp., 10. Drew Chattin, 4-Stk Exp., 11. John Evie, 12. Donavyn Morris, 13. Cory Chapman, 14. Jake Himphill, 30+ Exp., 15. Justin Legenbauer, 16. Brad Hartsell, 17. Titan McKibben, 18. Churk Faul, 19. Dan Rankin, 20. Paul Zigler, 20cc Exp., 21. Jesse Cunnally, 22. Ryan Jackson, 23. Steve Walkiewicz, 24. Dane Johnson, Open Ama., 25. Zachary Cramer, 26. Keith Alois, 50+ Ama., 27 Devin Walker, 28. Nathan Owen, 29. Alan Morton, 30. Wayne Weidemaier, 31. Phil Fell, 32. Colton Scudder, 33. Tristan Furlong, Open Nov., 34. Kelly Joy, 30+ Nov., 35. Thomas Lay, 36. Wyatt Konen,37. Craig Swindells, 38. Anthony Monachelli, 4-Stk Nov., 39. Greg Wyman, 40. Ryan Albert.
* – Full Big Bike results can be found at, www.racemrann.com.
• Saturday, April 8
+Pee Wee Overall: 1. Jesse Miller, 7 & Up 50cc, 2. Jacob Surone, 65cc Nov., 3. Genevieve Miller, 4. Charlie Albert, 5. Ava DeLaney, 6. Seth Rigsby, 7. Wyatt Rankin, 8. Hayden Himphill, 9. Shea Zastawniak, 10. Kali Belsher, 11. Destry Rigsby, 12. Kyra Tichenor, 13. Troy Pensotti, 14. Jacob Engelke, 15. Hannah Engelke, 16. Trenen Johnson, 4-Stk., 17. Tyler Davenport, 18. Devan Tichenor, 6 & Under 50cc, 19. Miles Kozlik, 20. Anna Rigsby, 21. Mikele Levie, 22. Henry Young, 23. Logan Blaire, 24. Walker Segale- VanDover.
+ Mini Bike/Women/Bomber Overall: 1. Arie Furlong, 100cc Exp., 2. Julianne Zotter, Wmn Exp., 3. Taylor Kemp, 4. Jesse White, 5. Christina Courtney, 6. Chanel Hones, 7. Elliette Kennedy, 8. Carson Calder, 100cc Ama., 9. Curtis Calder, Bomber, 10. Camie Ingram, 11. Tina Bodden, Wmn Ama., 12. Suzanne Anderson, Wmn Nov., 13. Rob Egesdahl, 14. Sheah Ferrara, 15. Blair Rankin, 100cc Nov., 16. Kayla Faul, 17. Cassie Searle, 18. Nicole Ellsworth, 19. Sarah Gley, 20. Danielle Horneman, 21. Jimm Tracey, 22. Erin Grieve, 23. LandenWilliams, 24. Brooke Baird, 25.Dalton Legenbuaer, 26. Alyson Wilson, 27. Kadyn Morton, 28. Anthony Braun, 29. Jennifer Tichenor.
+ Team Race Overall: 1. Chattin/Kinkle, 2. Wilson/Wilson, 3. Fletcher/Fell, 4. Morris Fitzpatrick, 5. Johnson/McKibben, 6. Faul albert, 7. Hewett/Alosi, 8. Ferrara/Smith.
PHOTO GALLERY:
That crash at the bottom of the widow maker at the finish of the race . at the Diamondback race left rider 53x Cory Chapman with a dislocated shoulder, crushed T7 and T8 disc in his back, broken nose also several brused ribs Not just minor cuts and bruises. Just wanted to state the facts And he is doing well
Thanks for letting me know Perry. Saw that crash from a distance and it looked pretty bad.Due to the
Hippa law I usually don’t describe the injuries unless I have the person’s or their family’s permission.
Please give him my best wishes on a full recovery.