CARUTHERS FAIRGROUNDS
The others in Caruthers
By: Karen Gould
Caruthers, CA August 22, 2004
Racing has taken me to lots of nice tracks and events all over California and this week was no exception. Saturday morning we set off to go to a track that we had never been to but had been hearing about for a long time. About 200 miles from our home out “in the valley” of central California is a great little cushion track called Caruthers Fairgrounds. This track has been running for 27 years and is one of the best kept secrets in California racing. Shaped like a paperclip this little cushion provides a lot of excitement for the people in the stands and the racers. The last of this years races will be held during the County Fair (free entry to the fair for everyone) on October 1st and 2nd. They run motorcycles with both knobby and class c tires, rider’s choice and they don’t run money races.
Track prep is done on this track with a lot of hands and cooperation from the thirty members of the Fresno Motorcycle Club and this event was put together and orchestrated flawlessly. Racing started with the youngest riders on their 50cc motorcycles and Joshua Petz getting the hole shot in the 7-8 year old modified event. Petz who learned to ride on this track rode hard but Andrew Alquinzon got by Petz for the win. Kevin Alcorn was first to the finish in the 50 stock and modified and 50x 5-6 year old classes. The adults riding 50’s were a kick to watch. Knees to their elbows these boys put on a show on their bikes. Dave Hill, T.j. Dykstra and Adam Fernandes finished in that order.
The 80 4 stroke class was fun to watch as Logan Lohmeier got the hole shot. Coming around in the first spot Daniel Staples was on the move with Matt Runyon not far behind him. Staples and Runyon got around Lohmeier and the race was on for the first spot. Runyon rode hard to catch Lohmeier but could not make the pass. Coming across the finish line Runyon looked at Staples who had him by a about a wheel and lost control of his bike crashing in the infield. Staples was back on the track in the 100 youth class finishing first in front of Logan Peterson and Runyon.
Chris Canepa, who hasn’t been beat on this track continued his winning streak finishing first in the Open M/C expert event. Jeff Gonzales and John Larson put on a show in the 70s singles class. Gonzales beat Larson by a long shot in the heat race but Larson made some adjustments to his bike and took the win in the main. Corner after corner Gonzales came along side Larson but Larson held his line and took the win.
Marsh Runyon aboard his twin Harley Davidson had a good time riding with the Vet class and told me that he was practicing for the AHRMA National event in Peoria next week. Marsh is 67.
RESULTS:
50cc Stk. 5-6
1. Kevin Alcorn; 2. Gregory Reinhold
50cc Stk. 7-8
1. Wyatt Wolf; 2. Jakob Costaneda
50cc Mod. 5-6
1. Kevin Alcorn
50cc Mod. 7-8
1. Andrew Alquinzon; 2. Joshua Petz; 3. Wyatt Wolf
50cc Adult
1. Dave Hill; 2. T.j. Dykstra; 3. Adam Fernandes
60 cc X-Class
1. Devon Cunningham
50cc x class
1. Kevin Alcorn; 2. Wyatt Wolf
60cc Nov
1. Zachery Lenhof; 2. Devon Cunningham; 3. Bobby Bolin; 4. Marshall Smith; 5. Landin King
60cc Int
1. Christopher Torres
80cc Int.
1. Justin Deger; 2. Kyle Lenhof; 3. Justin Petz
80cc Exp.
1. Patrick Osmer
80 4stk
1. Daniel T. Staples; 2. Matt Runyon; 3. Logan Lohmeier; 4. Kevin Alcorn; 5. Bradley Newman
80cc Nov.
1. Zachery Lenhof; 2. Dj Montgomery;
80cc X-Class
1. Justin Deger
100cc Youth Nov.
1. Daniel T. Staples; 2. Logan Peterson; 3. Matt Runyon
100cc Youth Int.
1. Justin Petz; 2. Dillion Luttrell
100cc Youth Exp
1. Patrick Osmer
100cc Adult Int.
1. Lindsey King
100cc Adult Exp.
1. Evan Plymale; 2. Jim Stilwell
vintage twin
1. Marsh Runyon
70 Singles Nov.
1. Jacob R.
70 Singles Exp.
1. John Larson; 2. Jeff Gonzales
125cc Nov.
1. Mitchell Morris; 2. Austin Reid; 3. Travis Sasseli
125cc Int.
1. John Walker; 2. Trevor Peterson
Open M/C Int.
1.Ryan England; 2. John Walker
Open M/C Exp.
1. Chris Canepa
250cc 4Stk Nov.
Kyle Lenhof; 2. Cole Gallaher; 3. Travis Helm; 4. David Blair; 5. . Jason Mcintosh
250cc Int.
1. Kutter Morrison
Vet Nov.
1. Jerry Van Ness
Vet Exp.
1. Jim Stilwell; 2. Evan Plymale; 3. Mike Turner; 4. John Larson
250cc 4Stk Int
1. Ryan England; 2. Lindsey King
250cc 4Stk Exp
1. Mike Turner; 2. Ross Gallaher; 3. Larrissa Cannon.
Open M/C Nov.
1. Jerry Van Ness; 2. Mike Middleton; 3. Cole Gallaher