The first of two major motocross events visited the Sandbox this weekend for two days of great racing. There is a photo gallery at the end of this article.

FERNLEY (April 23) – The Old Timers Nationals visited the Fernley-Wadsworth Lion’s Motocross Track this weekend. Hosting the event at the Sandbox, as many call it, was the local chapter of the Old Timers Motorcycle Club.

This event draws riders from the western states as well as Canada. Many enjoy the track as its different from what they find at their home regions not to mention a great weekend of competition and comradeship.

The age group of these racers runs from riders still in their 40’s to a pair still riding and racing that are in their 80’s. While most classes will race five times during a weekend the oldest class, those in their 60’s to 80’s only race twice a day.

After the final checkered flag on Sunday Reno rider Kerry Barnies, riding as an 70+ Expert, took the overall victory and clinched a weekend sweep for himself.

“I won all four races,” he said. “Somehow everything worked out, usually I finish fourth overall. I’ve got a brand new KTM300XE, first race for the bike so who knows.”

Even at 82-years Richard Lyons can still get some air on his motorcycle. He rode both days and is the 80+ Class champion.

The oldest racers were in the 80+ Class and while Donald Nelson only raced on Saturay, 82-years-young Richard Lyons raced both days and would have claimed the Methuselah trophy if there was one.

Moving down a few years there were four riders in the 75+ Class although only three of them rode both days. Topping that group was Doug McCaleb.

Most races combined classes and the first race of each set of motos had three of the four 60+ classes. The overall winner, who led and reached the checkered flag first was Californian Steve Law riding in the 60+ Master’s class.

“I did five for five,” he said after taking the checkered flag and repeating his win in the first moto. “It’s always a pleasure to come here the track is awesome, we just don’t get them like this at home.”

Then he thanked Quality Wreckers and his wife for their support.

After that the “youngsters,” had races combining like 50+ and 40+ classes. The first pairing had the 40+ Experts going against the 50+ Masters.

From the gate drop Tim Tyaan was on a mission during both motos and left everyone in his dust.

Even though he was fourth in one moto Saturday the other wins were enough to give him the weekend’s overall victory in the 50+ Master class.

“It was a good day, I went 4 in the middle moto yesterday but I won the overall,” he said. “They watered the track really good last night, this morning and the moisture is great. A little rough out there, a little square edged but it keeps you on your toes.”

Then he thanked Shock Therapy, Mike Marquez from Click Suspension Labs without that Tyaan said he wouldn’t have been able to do what he did.

The next race paired 40+ Intermediate and 50+ Experts and had the most bizarre finish of the weekend.

Local rider Scott Chick seemed on his way to the 50+ Expert overall until he crashed right at the finish line but when the white flag was going to be displayed. Coming up from a dip his bike got sideways and threw him over the bars and on to the track.

His brother Gilbert might have had a chance but he fell and ended up third. In fact so did Scott but had worked his way toward the front before his crash.

Fortunately Chick seemed only to be shaken up although he’s probably been checked just to make sure. In the end the two winners were Tomm Cleveland in 50+ Expert along with Bryan Furry in the 40+ Intermediate class.

One of the few single class races was next and that involved the 50+ Intermediate group.

When the gate dropped Carl Powell was on point and led entire way scoring his second win on Sunday. After being in a four-way tie for second he ended the weekend in the runner-up spot.

However consistency does pay off as Carmen Ogino, without winning a moto but placing well earned the overall victory.

“I didn’t win any of them but got seconds and thirds and the overall by points,” he said. “That’s what I worked on, just consistency. The track’s in good condition, it’s all up the rider in the end.”

Then he thanked the Nevada OT chapter for putting on the race and said he comes back every year.

Finally the last pairing consisted of the 40+ and 50+ Novice classes. The 40+ group had two women in its ranks, Lisa Moore from Washington and local Denise Schwartz.

After the final moto reached the checkered flag Russ Cronin won but wound up second overall in the 40+ Novice class.

“This was an excellent moto, felt really good, this track is prepped very well today and I was very happy, Cronin said.

Then second place Mark Dugan, who actually won the overall and class victory said, “Best weekend of racing I’ve had, I got three “1’s” yesterday and two “2’s,” today. We battled the whole weekend, everybody’s just tight on each other and it’s just been a blast.”

Then he thanked sponsors Recluse Clutch, Lucas Oil, Factory Connection Suspension, Factory Effects, Rebecca Barton (wife) for letting him race all the time as well as he racing buddies he travels with.

The Vintage and Bomber riders only race twice on Saturday and Bill Evans was the Vintage winner while the Bomber victor was Mitch Barns from Carson City.There were also two support races that ran twice on both days. Charlie Grubb was the only 65cc rider whle Trevor Halgett, from Fernley, absolutely ran away with the 85cc National Support races on both days.Tyler “T Moore” Moore also scored run away victories in the Big Bike support races. That event combined four classes including two 30+ groups.Finally the Sunday show finished early due to taking no lunch break and not having to water the track.

Local OT chapter president Jeff McCollum also raced both days.

At the end of Sunday’s racing Old Timer chapter president Jeff McCollum was asked how the weekend went.

“Very good, awesome, great turn out, nothing but happy people,” he said. “The club is doing just fine thanks to our helpers.”

Earlier in the weekend he mentioned they had 150 riders on Saturday, which is very good for an OT National event and on Sunday there were around 140 signed up. All in all it was a good weekend highlighted by great weather.

The local chapter of the Old Timers return to Fernley on May 13/14 to stage the fourth round of the Battle Born MX spring series.

OTHER RACING NEWS

• At every Virginia City Grand Prix there is a head start position auctioned off. The rider buying the “0” gets a five-minute head start on Saturday.

VCGP Head Start auction poster.

This year the VCMC is helping last year’s winner pro winner Tucker Larrieu, who is in a Denver hospital for treatment of a major back injury. So the proceeds from the first head start position on Saturday goes to his family to help with the mounting medical bills.

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RESULTS:

Old Timer Nationals – Fernley, Nevada

40+:

+ Novice: 1. Mark Dugan, 2. Russ Cronin, 3. Chad Johnson, 4. Thad Burt, 5. Ty Reilly, 6. Lisa Moore, 7.  Clay Ross, 8. Denise Schwartz.

+ Interm: 1. Bryan Furry, 2. Keith Goodrich, 3. Bob Woebbking.

+ Exp: 1 Chuck Heckman, 2. Paul Park, 3. Brad Peters, 4. Kevin Roach, 5. Layne Kolbet, 6. A.J. Heckart, 7. Jay Grigsby.

50+:

+ Novice: 1. Peter Chapin, 2. Ron Cronin, 3. Kevin Roach, 4. Chuck Cook, 5. John Tillman, 6. Bill Fain, 7. Michael Villa, 8. Steve Pratt, 9. Lee Wilder, 10. Michael Ward, 11. Nick Collin, 12. Tim Keuvelaar, 13. Steve Basmajian, 14. Dave Nattzel, 15. Bill Buffington, 16. Carl Smith, 17.Mitch Barnes.

+ Intrm: 1. Carmen Ogino, 2. Carl Powell, 3. Bret Eckert, 4. Butch Garza, 5. Billy Slusser, 6. Jim Stroup, 7.Jerry Tucker, 8. James Goldberg, 9. Jeff  McCollum, 10. Dan Anderson, 11. Jay Heying.

+ Exp: 1. Tommy Cleveland, 2. Richard Cervantes, 3.Gilbert Chick, 4. Dave Harden, 5. Ken Coker, 6. Scott M. Chick, 7. Stacey Rowe, 8. Mike Voegele, 9. Joe Tauerman, 10. Greg Smith, 11. Don Ellinsson, 12. Grant Brown, 13. Phil Holmes.

+ Master: 1. Tim Tyaan, 2. Ken Peterson, 3. Craig Christian, 4. Greg Fry, 5. Leon Capps.

60+:

+ Novice: 1. Rod Rohrbacher, 2. Ron March, 3. Bob Hooker, 4. Kikr Muraoka, 5. Russ Greenfield, 6. Bob Gallareto, 7. Steve Willis, 8. Wayne Halozan.

+ Intrm: 1. Gonzales, Vincent, 2. Ted Griffin, 3. Mark Moore, 4. Ray Schumucker, 5. Derek Currie, 6. Tom Patton, 7. Brian Swanson, 8. Mitch Alden, 9. Terry Messer, 10. Steve Fugate, 11. Mike Costello.

+ Exp: 1. Lance Marshall, 2. Steve Bader, 3. Michael Butler, 4. James Neff, 5. Rick Hopkins.

+ Master: 1. Steve Law, 2. Al Whipple, 3. Carl Chadwick, 4. Gary Chase Sr., 5. Bill Evans, 6. Steve Parker.

70+:

+ Novice: 1. Gary Kritcher, 2. John Fridlund, 3. Bud Abbott.

+ Interm: 1. Robert Cooke, 2. John Craft, 3. Dave Wilz, 4. Jerry Retecich.

+ Exp: 1. Kerry Barnies, 2. Bart Kellog, 3. Wayne Obleness, 4. Bruce Hoover, 5. Duane Quick, 6. Dan Fleming, 7. Art McDade, 8. Edgar Perriton,      9. Roger Knight.

75+ Class: 1. Doug McCaleb, 2. Clayton Ross, 3. Paul Budia, 4. Jim Patterson.

80+ Class: 1. Richard Lyons, 2. Donald Nelson.

Vintage: 1. Bill Evans, 2. Vincent Gonzales, 3. Jay Heying.

Bomber: 1. Mitch Barns, 2. Allan Rudd.

65cc National Support: 1. Charlie Grubb.

85cc National Support: 1. Trevor Halgett, 2. Grant Bergman, 3. Drew Johnson, 4. Elias Slusser, 5. Axel Smith.

Big Bike Open A/B: 1. Tyler Moore.

Big Bike Open C: 1. Garrett Jones, 2. J.W. Thompson, 3. Brandon Jacober, 4. Tim E. Trainor, 5. Brandon Delgesald, 6. Trevor Halgett, 7. Kyle J. Zimmer, 8. Nick D. Trainor, 9. Philip Bart, 10. Longan Holms.

30+ A/B Support: 1. Richard Carl, 2. Chris J. Leone, 3. Michael Bergman, 4. Tim Tyaan.

30+ C Support: 1. Ryan Haverson, 2. Josh Knight.

PHOTO GALLERY:

The 75+ champion was Doug McCaleb.

Mark Dugan won the 40+Novice Class.

The 40+ Intermediate champion is Bryan Furry.

One of the few women racers Denise Schwartz rode in the 40+ Novice class.

The 50+ Intermediate champion was Carmen Ogino.

The 50+ Expert Champion was Tommy Cleveland.

Lisa Moore rode in the 40+ Novice class.

The 50+ Masters champion was Tim Tyaan.

The 50+Novice champion was Russ Cronin.

Steve Law was the 60+ Masters champion.

Rod Rohrbacker (108) was the 60+ Novice champion.

Kenny Bardnies is the 70+ Expert champion.

Even at 82-years Richard Lyons can still get some air on his motorcycle. He rode both days and is the 80+ Class champion.

Trevor Halgett ran away and won all the 85cc National Support races.

Tyler Moore won the Big Bike A/B Support races.

Local OT chapter president Jeff McCollum also raced both days.