CARSON CITY, NV (Aug. 19) – For the second year in a row the Carson Flat Track races returned to the Fuji Park rodeo arena. And like last year the afternoon and evening shows were a blizzard of heats and main events.
This year however there were a couple of challenges that had to be dealt with. One was with the arena’s sound system and while it was working next year it will be tweaked a bit.
Mother Nature proved the biggest challenge as a downpour toward the end of the heat races left a very wet track. However the track crew was on it and after grading the mud off the surface it was soon ready for racing although the program was set back about 90 minutes.
Helping with the opening ceremonies was the Marine Corps Color Guard from the Mountain Warfare Center.
Once things got dried out the Marine Corps Color Guard from the Mountain Warfare Center provided the color for the singing of the national anthem.
Still there were around 1,025 spectators on hand to watch this motorcycle spectacle. And the show ended with a Woman’s Invitational race that drew entries from as far away as Illinois.
Julia Rankin scored a flag-to-flag victory in the first Women’s Invitational Race.
“I’m pretty good at keeping my marks at the same points,” Julia Rankin said after winning the Invitational. “I just try and steer around lap traffic as safe as possible and if I can do that then I’ll so it and keep going. We ran lower tire pressure so it doesn’t slide as much and we softened up the rear a little bit so it moves more as it’s pretty rough out here and it seemed to be working a lot better out here today in the main. Feel good sitting in this position.”
She also commented after taking her father around for a fast victory lap. “He said go fast.”
Then she thanked Hess Farms, her parents, Works Connection, D&D Racing, Big Joe Danzie and all her fans.
With a dozen women in the race the riders lined up in two rows based on their heat race finishes. The only local in the group was veteran motocross and desert racer Chrystal Ponsock.
When the starter turned on the green light Rankin did a jack rabbit start and was off and running. Jaycee Jones was doing her best to keep up but Rankin had the advantage.
The leaders began lapping slower riders only 4 or 5 laps into the 15-Lap race. And now due to her easily getting around slower riders the gap between Rankin and second increased.
Back in the pack Ponsock, riding in her first ever race of this type began moving up and would finish fourth behind Makenna Hiatt. Ending up third was Sara Saatoff while Jones was a distant second to the flying Rankin.
Of the women Miranda Soderstrom had the longest tow as she came in from Michigan.
Before the Pro Singles had their race there was a 50/50 raffle to raise money for the Pro Dash-for-Cash. When the dash began Chris McDougal and Mikey Rush had a brief duel for the lead.
However the night belonged to Rush and he scored the win and money. And one lucky fan celebrating her 21st birthday got a bit over $400 to cap this special day..
“Made a couple of changes to the bike and it’s my second win in two years,” Rush said after the dash.
There were 11 pros lined up to start the big race of the night and it would go for 20-laps. After getting everyone lined up, and when he’s ready, the starter steps into a circle marked with chalk and the riders know they might have up to three seconds before he turns on the green light.
Mikey Rush won the Pro Singles race. Here he is at speed going through a corner.
On the start James Monaco was on point with Rush close behind. Then John Vanderlaan moved into second and both leaders ran a close side-by-side duel for a few laps.
Eventually Rush took over first for good and began to slice his way through the lap traffic while Vanderlaan dropped back to finish in second. Josh Mott ended up third with Monaco finishing fourth.
After taking the checkered Rush has his oldest daughter get on the back and she help the checkered flag as they did a couple of victories laps, with him stopping and holding his 19-month daughter for the final one.
During the awards ceremony Rush, who also won last year, said, “The race was good, got a decent start, spun a little bit off the line but still got with it. These guys were pushing hard tonight and running really good. The track dried out a little bit and my setup changed a little bit but I’m glad I made a few adjustments right before the main. Thanks to my suspension guy, Jimmy Wood he does such a good job.
Then he thanked G&G Racing, Machetti Energy, G&G Racing, Fontana Radiators, 6D Helmets, Chism Racing and my wife and daughters.
Finally it said, “It’s awesome to win both the Dash and the Main Event.”
The Hooligan race is for 750cc heavy motorcycles, many are Harley Davidsons or Indians so they can be a handful to muscle around a short course like the one at Fuji Park.
When the race started Chris McDougal jumped into the lead with Jordan Graham after him. Behind them Mitch Gallagher and Thor Drake began a long due for third.
Hooligan winner Chris McDougal (14) leads Jordan Graham through a turn.
In the end McDougal won followed by Graham, Gallagher and Drake. Since the race was sponsored by Battle Born Harley Davidson of Carson City, the top three received special plaques at the awards ceremony.
Asked about the race McDougal said, “I thought somebody was behind me the whole time, as I didn’t know he was that far back. It’s a rough track on one of these bikes, it’s a Sportster and weighs about 500 pounds compared to 250 pounds on the 450. On one of these bikes it’s really rough but on a 450 it’s barely rough and like I said, these things are heavy so you feel everything.”
Then he thanked Onsite Racing, Little Brakes, the Ride Shop, Performance Choppers for letting him ride their bike and his whole pit crew.
The Expert Singles main was held up for just a couple of minutes as one rider’s bike refused to start. Once that was taken care everyone was ready to go.
On the green Stephen Sikorski took off with Matthew Yapelli challenging him for the entire race. They finished in that order with Bobby Caldeira and Garry Reynolds ending up third and fourth.
In the Open Expert main winner Stephen Sikorski was chased by runner up Matthew Yapelli.
“For the second year back, trying to kill it and make it back up to the pros again,” Sikorski said after winning the race. This is first and second in the points right now and I’ve got it for a little bit. The track is amazing, it turned out great, honestly I love it. Have to give a shout out to my family, they’ve been behind me for years.”
Then he thanked T-Bone Cycles, Performance Cycle, Sikorski Engineering and Gradma’s Cookie Jar.
The “Running of the Buls,” is a race for Bultaco motorcycles, a vintage bike that hasn’t been built since the factory shut down in 1978. But these motorcycles are cared for and once again took their place on a race track.
This year there five on the starting line and when the green light started the race James Monaco took off with Dominic Monaco chasing him. While the race was all James the crowd was treated to not only seeing these vintage bikes in action but also the sound they make.
Bultaco winner James Monaco rips around a turn at Carson City.
After winning Monaco said, “This was great and it’s wonderful to see modern day riders on these bikes.
The afternoon show has all the other groups from Pee Wees to Vintage as well as vintage riders and those in the 50+ and 60+ class. At the top of the age bracket was Dave Keil as he won the 60+ Open race while in the 50+ Open class, which had 18 riders, Sid Reed won that race.
Up holding the local’s honor Rich Thorwalson, owner of Moto Surce in Reno. He won three different classes, Amateur Singles, Vet Amateur and Amateur Singles.
Nick Ledou scored double victories as he won in 100cc-230cc and 230cc Unlimited.
At the bottom end of the age scale are the Pee Wee riders, there youngest of all competitors are gaining experience and some were really showing their speed on this night.
Colton Shafer won in both the 4 to 6 and the 6 to 8 age classes while the 7 to 8-class winner was Paul Freeman.
During the evening program promoter Robert Hansen was given a special award for his work with a team at the last race in Baja..
After racing the 1/8 mile track at Fuji Park the series heads for Santa Maria for an August 26th date on a 1/5 mile track. For further information on the series please check their website at, www.californiaflattrack.com
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery after the results.
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RESULTS
California Flat Track Association – Round 7
Carson City Fair Grounds – August 19
• Evening Program:
+ Female Open 150cc+: 1. Julia Rankin, 2. Jaycee Jones, 3 Sara Saathoff, 4. Makenna Hiatt, 5. Chrystal Ponsock, 6. Kamsey Durelle, 7. Shasta L’Heureux, 8. Samantha Berry, 9. Reena Manka, 10. Mikaela Nichols-Lionette, 11. Annie Wyman, 12. Miranda Soderstrom.
+ Pro Singles: 1. Mikey Rush, 2. John Vanderlaan, 3. Josh Mott, 4. James Monaco, 5. Chris McDougal, 6. Colt Foster, 7. Ricky Henson, 8. Brad Miller, 9. Chris Corbari, 10. Sean Jones, 11. Michael Rodriques.
+ Dash for Cash: Mikey Rush.
+ Hooligan 750cc Expert: 1. Chris McDougal, 2. Jordan Graham, 3. Mitch Gallagher, 4. Thor Drake, 5. Wade Boyd, 6. Chad Valker.
+ Expert Singles: 1. Stephen Sikorski, 2. Matthew Yapelli, 3. Bobby Caldeira, 4. Garry Reynolds, 5. Frank Chesebro, 6. Conor Odgen, 6. Julia Rankin, 7. Chad Valker, 8. David Ehrhart, 9. Jordan Graham.
+ Bultaco, 35+, Expert (Running of the Buls): 1. James Monaco, 2. Dominic Monaco, 3. Michael Rodriques, 4.Jordan Graham, 5. Matthew Yapelli.
• Afternoon Program:
+ Pee Wee:
– (4 to 6): 1 Colton Shafer, 2. Mark Harris Jr., 3. Camlin Durelle.
– (6 to 8): 1. Colton Shafer, 2. Paul Freeman, 3. Mark Harris Jr.
– ( 7 to 8): 1. Paul Freeman, 2. Kaylnn Smith, 3. Diem Durelle.
+ 65c/110cc:
– Heads Up: 1.Kage Tadman, 2. Isabella Mitchell, 3. Dalton Hunn.
– Expert: 1. Kage Tadman
+ 85c/150cc:
– Amateur: 1. Jonathan Schaefer,2.Zack Gard, 3. Chase Emerson.
– Expert: 1. Chase Saathoff, 2. Branden Weller, 3. Kenny Holland, 4. Bryson Berna.
– Heads Up: 1. Chase Saathoff, 2. Kenny Holland.
+ 100cc Mod/150cc Stock: 1. Wiles Stapp, 2. Reena Manka.
+ 100cc-230cc:
– Amateur: 1.Nick Ledou, 2. Tim Lampe, 3. Aleksei Simone, 4. Chris Larson, 5. J.J. LaCruze, 6.Wiles Stapp, 7. Chase Emerson, 8. L.D. Chesnut, 9. Denise Berard, 10. Joe Brown.
+ Heads Up: 1. Jonathan Schaefer, 2. Anthony Bonanno, 3. Rochelle Miller.
+ 230cc Unlimited: 1. Nick Ledou,2. Rickk Ziemerjr, 3. Kevin Fox, 4. Rick Ziemer.
+ 250cc:
– Amateur: 1. Tarren Santero, 2. Branden Weller, 3. Mason Olson, 4. Mike Lampe, 5. Bryson Berna.
– Expert: 1. Dominic Dias, 2. Jake Mitchell, 3. Frank Chesebro.
– Trial/MX Amateur:1. Devin Valker, 2. Aeden Veach.
+ Super Senior 60+ Open: 1. Dave Keil, 2. Tom Baugh, 3. Jay Gardner, 4. Mark Hunter, 5. Tim Niles, 6. Wade Boyd, 7. Mark Topping, 8. Donald Rasmussen.
+ Senior 50+ Open: 1. Sid Reed, 2. Henry Hayes, 3. David Ehrhart, 4. Scott Reed, 5. Brad Raymond, 6.Jack Roberts, 7. Tom Baugh, 8. Joe Danze, 9. Joel Huskey, 10. David Gengenbach, 11. Mark Hunter, 12. Eric Lindauer, 13. Tim Rott, 14. Tim Lampe, 15. Rich Holland, 16. Tony Witherspoon, 17. Gene Fitzsimmons, 18. Gregory Nichols.
+ Vintage:
– Light Heads Up: 1. Rick Ziemerjr, 2. Dave Keil, 3. Jay Gardner, 4. Alan Johnson, 5. Rick Ziemer.
– Modern: 1. Greg Gilmore, 2. Perry Smith, 3. Jack Jones.
– Heavy Amateur: 1. Tim Doda, 2. Tim Rott, 3. Riley McKee, 4. John Retta, 5. Chris LaCruze.
– Heavy Expert: 1. Jack Jones, 2. Mitch Gallagher, 3. Thor Drake, 4. Mark Topping, 5. Scott Whitaker, 6.Gene Fitzsimmons, 7. Gregory Nichols.
+ Open Heads Up: 1. Bryan Berna, 2. Craig Reynolds, 3. Wade Boyd.
+ Open Trial/MX:
– Amateur: 1 Collin McHaney, 2. Brendon Borrego, 3. James Holly, 4. David Gengenbach, 5. Aaron Wishart.
– Expert: 1. T-Mo Moore, 2. Tervor Arden, 3. Jake Porter.
+ Amateur Singles: 1. Richard Thorwaldson, 2. Tarren Santero, 3. Bryan Berna, 4. Riley McKee, 5. Brendon Borrego, 6 Dominic Dias, 7. Craig Reynolds, 8. Jake McHaney, 9. Kenjiro Tsuji, 10. Craig Reynolds, 11. Morris Bell, 12. Lance Smith, 13. Mikaela Nichols-Lionetti, 14. Samantha Berry, Miranda Soderstrom.
+ Vet:
– Amateur:1. Richard Thoraldson, 2. Nick Ledou, 3. Sid Reed, 4. Perry Smith, 5. Jack Roberts, 6. Shane Bell, 7. Matt Marinsik, 8. Chris Larson, 9. Craig Reynolds, 10. Kamsey Durelle, 11. Chris LaCruze.
– Expert: 1. Ricky Henson, 2. A.J. Kirkpatrick, 3. Chad Valker, 4. Bryan Berna, 5.Frand Chesebro, 6. Nicholas Baugh, 7. Brad Raymond.
PHOTO GALLERY:
