Megacross kicks off the Season with a Blast! 

 4-11-09

turbo 

Blast of Cold air anyway!  April 11th could have been confused with March or even February!!!  Temps in the low 30's as the night progressed didn't curtail the almost 400 riders that kept the night hot!  Track changes were not there, but conditions were tacky and race ready.  Moisture in April is the norm and riders enjoy excellent traction to make that needed pass! Here are some of the highlights of the night.  Not a "Nikki" story by any means but will give you an idea of the fun and intense racing that many got to witness!

Most notable race of the evening.  250 A.  Tommy Hofmaster (110), Roy Horton, and Justin Kelly.  It's the main event Kelly and Hofmaster on 2 smokes, Horton on a thumper.  As the race got into the later laps, lap 5, 6, and 7 were just simply amazing. Tommy was shadowing Kelly and made a pass down the back straight. It seemed to work pretty well as he did that same pass on Roy. The difference was Hortons' Honda being a 4 stroke hooked up in the corners better.  Tommy passes with horsepower and speed in the straight, only to leave the inside "door" wide open and Roy just cuts under that 2 stroke Yamaha. This happens on lap 6 and the final lap 7!  Both times Roy made the pass and the last few corners made it stick for the win. Tommy took second and Justin third. Who says a thumper can't hang in this arena!

Old home week??? the 40+ class was like a who's who from yesteryear at Megacross. Jason Dollas (11), Dave Thomas, AJ Waggoner, and the newer "regulars" Dave Hayes, "Rev" Larry Banks, Randy Harper, along with the newly 40+ rider Scott Holmes. 15 riders made for interesting racing, Dave Henry made his appearance on the once "Spizz" machine and Scott Siebert kept his form going, looking much better then he did on a hillside at the last HS race he attended! Holmes and Bank battled with Hayes kicking that thumper over and over with no avail.  In fact either old age or cold temps and temperamental starting four strokes did in more then a few riders this evening.  Holmes won, "REV" held off Jason for the second. Henry after holeshotting collected up the 4th, the woodsman (Thomas) showed that his track at home kept him in fine shape for a 5th!  AJ Waggoner bike builder extraordinaire took his A/F Service Honda 500 through it's paces for 6th.

+25A With the heat races underway the +25A class prepared for the races. With Tommy '53 rear tooth' Hofmaster grabbing the early lead, Jason Kloptowsky settling into second and with Burton Lavens a close third. The top three riders stayed in their positions throughout the heat with only a few bike lengths separated them at the checkers. The main event turned into a repeat of sorts with the top three guys making it a copycat main event. Hofmaster was a second or two in front while Kloptowsky and Lavens battled for the second place winnings. Kloptowsky held off Lavens's charges and kept calm for a second followed by Lavens in third. +30A Heat race seen Burton Lavens grab the holeshot on his Borelli Suspension, D&S Powersports Yamaha with Jason Kloptowsky in second putting the pressure on Lavens only to come up a little short at the finish. Although the Jason learned valuable line selection and had a great seat to watch Lavens' (18 years of) lines throughout the heat. Main event: Lavens grabs the holeshot and makes it a heat race repeat with heavy pressure from the Jason in second. With the laps winding down the Jason tried hard to make a clean pass (yes SOME Vet riders pass cleanly for the most part) only to come up a bike length short at the checkers. The Everett Dahlberg 520 rounded out the top three on his vintage looking Honda.

+35 heat race went to Burton Lavens(763) on his No Fear, Fasst Co, Scott backed Yamaha from wire to wire followed by Everett Dahlberg in second and also in the main event. Motojunkie regular Everett Dahlberg 520 on the 'black is whack' Honda snuck into the first corner holeshot in the lead of the main only to have Lavens pass early and go onto the checkers. The 'Dill" rounded in second and Chad Stanko topped David Hayes for the third and final podium spot, even though there is no "podium" at Megacross. It's all about the racing!! Mother nature doing her best to prepare the unchanged track for the race. Although she could have given us some warmer temps! The Duke O' Dirt does have a new, improved watering setup that should provide the track with H20 on those thirsty track nights during the summer.