Kelso Creek - Northeast Regional

Fireworks, Food, and Fun (Racing) kelso creekclassic By: bob Close - - - - - - - - September 19th and 20th, 2020

This year’s third annual Kelso Creek Classic took place in description. the heart of the Adirondacks during peak fall foliage colors. Another fact of life that we Nor’easters have come to accept But before we talk racing, I want to show AHRMA MAG about cross country racing at KCC: the Spoonagle family readers what you missed if you were not in Minerva, NY, on shows up and kicks ass. Completely and thoroughly—in both Saturday Night, September 19th. Click on this YouTube video Vintage, where Chris somehow beat his dad Kurt on a pair of link; it takes about eight minutes to watch the KCC fireworks beee-utiful white tank Can-Ams, and in Post-Vintage—where show. I will not be offended—the article will still be right here Chris once again led the Spoonagle slaughter by winning the and waiting for your eager eyes when you return: overall on his Yamaha IT200. It should be noted that the “old” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhTvFhzUJN8&t=7s man opted out for the second race, grabbed a beer cooler and

Amazing right? And the racing hosts, Brett Darrow and his Mama Bear, and parked himself at several points around Alicia Coon, apply that same enthusiasm throughout this two- the course to offer encouragement (and I think beer) as we day event, whether it’s the Saturday cross country races, the struggled by on each lap of the Post Vintage race. Sunday motocross, or the wonderful food offered up beginning Okay—a bit ahead of myself with overalls in that last Friday night, throughout Saturday, and again on Sunday. But paragraph, but I just needed to get some KCC ground rules we did come here to get some AHRMA racing in, as did the established. Two lines left the starting area at 1 PM for the racers, families, and friends supporting the 39 cross country Vintage XC and after four very painful laps, the results were and 69 motocross entries. So, let’s get to it! in, with Chris taking 200 Sportsman Expert and his dad

While it was a cold Saturday morning (the event gatekeepers Kurt winning Vintage 50+ Expert. THE race of the day had a fire pit going at the entrance), afternoon warmed up to took place between Intermediates Otto DeJager (Vintage the upper 50s for race day. The KCC team had laid out a 3.8- 60+ Intermediate) and Rick Ketcham (Sportsman 200 mile course across the 120 acres that Brett calls home, and he Intermediate) who swapped the Intermediate lead several times enthusiastically characterized this year’s course as “rugged” at during the race. Otto started out by leading a batch of riders the rider’s meeting. You should have heard the collective groan the wrong way on the first lap (not me—I brilliantly led the that went out from the group—okay, maybe it was mostly Intermediates and Novices for a third of the first lap before I me—as they contemplated what is often thought of as THE was caught and passed) and then later lost his chain in one of toughest course on our Northeast calendar. Serious elevation THE most difficult mud/rock/large log sections on Lap three, changes infused with off-camber challenges, rocks bigger than allowing Ketcham to pass him and… wait for it… Ketcham engine cases, and only a couple of (wider open) connectors that did NOT claim the Intermediate victory! DeJager got back allow you to reach fourth gear. Yep, “rugged” is an appropriate by him on the final lap for the win. Rick still enjoyed his 200

Dave Scheffer’s MX250 Harley-Davidsons Photo credit: Brian Palmer

Andy Palmatier (8X), Keith Vanderwalker (8), Unknown rider, Ryan Cole (819) take bets on who has the cleanest bike after the Post Vintage XC race Photo credit: Andy Palmatier

Ron Bacon (711) in pursuit of Loren Westcott (L99) Photo credit: Brian Palmer

Sportsman Intermediate victory over the ever-present and dangerous Dave Salmen on his (bouncing) Yamaha MX175 and Bob Young on his Ossa 175 SDR. Merritt Brown won Vintage 50+ Intermediate, and finally our very fast Novices in the Vintage race were well represented with Dale Miner (Kaw) beating Keith Vandewalker (Yam) for Post Vintage 50+ Novice and Tim Carroll (Hus) winning Vintage 60+ Novice.

Next up, we had three rows of bikes leave the dead-engine start area around 3 PM for the Post Vintage race, with the Post Vintage 200 Novices joining the Pre-modern and Next Gen bikes on the final row. It should be mentioned that over the last several NE rounds, we have had great Novice turnouts and this was no different and bodes well for some very fast Intermediate racing in 2021 based on the pace these guys are demonstrating. A few of the muddier slogs on the course (and there were only a few; the Northeast has had a fairly dry fall) had tacked up a bit, but the KCC course was no less challenging for the 32 bikes in the second race. After five laps and the previously-mentioned overall for Spoonagle “The Younger“ in Post Vintage 200 Expert, Charlie McCormack’s “Ride Red” Honda took second overall and Post Vintage Open Expert and Rick Smits third overall, with his Husky beating Mike Sciocchetti on his orange Can-Am Qualifier for Post Vintage 50+ Expert. Jay Danak’s screaming KTM 125—when he wasn’t on the side of the trail adjusting his route chart holder or clutch or whatever—grabbed Post Vintage 60+ Expert. On to the Intermediates, where your author is unable to discern who took that overall but can fill you in some results, nonetheless. First up is kudos to Mark Wittohn (Yam) who beat three other riders for the very prestigious Post Vintage 60+ Intermediate win, and Brett Darrow (yes—our racing host) who is very quickly wrapping up his Post Vintage 200 Intermediate career with yet another win on his white Yamaha IT175, this one over Ryan Coyle on his Yamaha IT. Tyler Krupa (Yam) took the Post Vintage Open Intermediate honors over Pete Kromerak (Hus) and Dave Salmen grabbed the Historic Open Intermediate win on his Maico 250 over Paul Heid’s Ossa. Speaking of historic, chalk up another victory for Rick Ketcham in the 200 Intermediate class on his Yamaha IT175. Now, let’s move on to the really fast guys (not kidding here): congrats to Ryan Collins (Hon), a short-timer if there ever was one in Novice, for his Post Vintage 200 win over Dustin Loss (Suz) and Keith Vanderwalker (Kaw). Also showing excellent pace with their wins were Eric Miller (Pre-Modern 200 Intermediate), and Andrew Palmatier over Jon Sorber and Alan Linville in Next Gen Open Intermediate on his Kawasaki.

And that’s a wrap for XC racing, which, on Saturday, then meant it was time for the racers, family, and friends to enjoy the excellent BBQ beef brisket and turkey dinner served up by Alicia Coons and her posse. And that wonderful feast was followed by a big bonfire (it got COLD as the sun went down) and of course those unbelievable fireworks.

Sunday served up a slightly warmer and sunnier day for our motocross contingent, which had gathered about a halfmile up the road in an open grass field, with food services

provided by the Minerva High School Class of 2021. The KCC team had laid out a one-mile-plus course that involved a Next Gen and Pre-Modern 125 start L – R: Ron Bacon (711), Ryan Cole (819), Andy Palmatier (988), Paul Heid (104), Jason Miller (36, Justin Malone (84M) challenging, rough climb Photo credit: Andy Palmatier after the start up and over a ridge to a second grass field with a dozen or more turns that featured sharp 180 switchbacks as well as several sweeping “keep it pinned and lean it over” turns before a high speed Andy Palmatier (988), Brett return section/downhill Darrow (82J), Eric Miller (083) Photo credit: Brian Palmer brought you back in front of the lower field and pit area. Given that there had been very little rain in the Northeast, the track held up well for the first set of motos but a couple sections reached a “blind leading the blind” quality for the second set of motos and required some caution. Or not, if that is your riding style. First up for the day was the Father/Son race, running for its third time Ron Bacon, scoring wins in both motos on his KX125, with Jason Miller (Suz) second, and Jason Taylor (Hon) in third. Race five was all about the Ultima and GP classes with Eric Miller (Yam) beating Carmen Casillo (Yam) and Dave Salmen Fireworks Photo credit: Dani Vanderwark as part of the KCC, and according to Brett Darrow, “We get (Yam) in both motos for first in Ultima 125 Intermediate, half-dozen entries for this race from local guys just because Craig Curry (Hus) bringing home some more “gold” foam they want to ride around the course for three laps with their with the GP 250 Intermediate win over three other racers. kid(s).” I think we’ve included a photo in this article—check Shout-outs also to Mark Kalopolites (Yam) for his dominant it out. AHRMA coordinator and his team (uh, Mrs. Brown) Post Vintage 100 win, Jim Bell (Hon) for his Ultima 500 organized seven classes of racing for the day, and Race one Intermediate win, Terry McDonnell for ripping some great kicked off with the largest contingent of riders, principally laps on his Husqvarna to take GP 125 Expert, and guess I have the Post Vintage age groups, but also a GP 125 Intermediate to mention Brett Darrow AGAIN for winning Ultima 250 rider thrown in for good measure and in the course of the day, Expert on his Yamaha. this Young Gun, Jason Taylor, on his Honda CR, reached the Race six was the Historic classes with nine guys on the line checkered flag first in both motos. Winning Post Vintage and let me start out first by recognizing Historic 250 Novice Open Intermediate was Eric Miller and his Yamaha over winner, Hollis Lacombe, who is slowly figuring out his Bultaco Ryan Coyle and Bob Close, and Craig Curry grabbed the win 250 Pursang. I also mentioned him because I want him to over four other riders in Post Vintage 60+ Intermediate on forgive me for running over his brand new (never used) O’Neal his Husqvarna with two moto wins. Terry McDonnell was MX helmet with my truck. He tried his best to chase down unchallenged in Post Vintage 60+ Expert on his great looking the Historic 250 Intermediates, but nobody was stopping Maico 440. Mike Sciocchetti won 50+ Post Vintage Expert Ron Bacon’s first-place Yamaha, Mark Strassner’s (almost as on, you guessed it, a Can-Am. Brett Darrow took home the pretty as Hollis’s) 250 Pursang, and Dave Scheffer’s always fast 40+ Expert foam board on his YZ250. The Novice contingent H-D 250. Loren Wescott is still the man to beat in Historic was led by Tom Curry’s Yamaha (Post Vintage 50+ Novice), 550 Expert and Tony Treanor (Yam) took the Historic 125 Bob Balt (Post Vintage 60+ Novice), and Keith Vandewalker Intermediate honors. Race seven—call it the Best of the (Post Vintage Open Age Novice). Rest of—saw two of the fastest men on the day competing:

Race two was mostly the Next Generation contingent with Charlie McCormack on his Honda Elsinore in GP 250 Expert eight riders on the line for both motos. Brody Morse (Yam) and Chris Spoonagle on his dad’s faster than fast Can-Am and Jon Sorber (Hon) exchanged wins in Next Gen 250 250 in Sportsman 250 Expert. It was Chris who won the Intermediate, leading two other competitors to the checkers. war. In Sportsman 250 Intermediate, Dave Salmen (Yam) Also notable was Andrew Palmatier (Kaw) taking home the beat Tyler Krupa (Hon), Wayne Zebrowski showed everyone Next Gen Open Age Intermediate foam board, and Paul Heid how the four-strokes do it with his BSA in Sportsman 500 (Hon) and Keith Vandewalker (Yam) winning the Next Gen Intermediate. Pete Komerek got the nod in Early Sportsman 50+ and 60+ Intermediate classes, respectively. 250 Intermediate and last but not least for the motocross

Race three brought a bevy of pre-1975 machinery to the line write-up from the Kelso Creek Classic, that OLD guy Ray for the Vintage Age classes. Loren Westcott beat everyone Rondinella put in four motos for the day by signing up and to the finish line on his 73 Husky 450 in the first moto (and winning the Vintage Open Age Intermediate class on his won Vintage 60+ Expert), but Brad Krupa (first in Vintage Maico. Congrats, Mr. Rondinella! 60+ Intermediate) handily won the second moto on his Honda A Northeast AHRMA thank you goes out again to Alicia Elsinore 250. And step aside everyone. Ray Rondinella signed Coons and Brett Darrow and the rest of the KCC team for an up and collected the Vintage 70+ Intermediate trophy board on excellent two-day experience in the Adirondacks near Minerva, his Maico. NY. Fireworks, Food, and Fun Racing are what this is all

A whole lotta late-model machinery showed up for Race about. We’ll see you again in 2021! four, including SEVEN racers who signed up for Next Gen 125 Intermediate. Taking home the Bacon (I can’t myself) was

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