Bodnar Ranch Regional - MX / XC

words by Debbie Poole // photos by Sharon Coad

ABOVE: Mark Baer (67U), Stephen Newell (648), Wes Poole (19X), Steve Gard (92R), Robert Bellicitti (59f), Kelly Shane (74Q)

This past year saw a whole host of problems with the country’s supply chain, and the reality made an unwelcome impression for this event. The Bodnar Ranch water pump motor failed almost a month before the event, and a new motor was ordered immediately. Four days prior to the event, it was still hundreds of miles away, so it was picked up by one of the leasing farmers. By Saturday morning, the one available man in the county still could not come to make final crucial adjustments. The realization that there would be no water became evident as early as Thursday, as the MX track continued to bake under clear skies. Always the problem-solver, Jeff Bushey arranged to get his brother Bobʼs water truck, which was an hour south in Alturas. A neighboring rancher agreed to provide water, loads of water was dumped on the track before the day was over, and continued for the next three days. Although many of the 46 trials riders didnʼt miss it, the usual “water feature” thatʼs pumped into the creek where five of the ten trials sections are set was absent this year. For the Saturday morning trial, Modern Classic novices represented the most riders; scores for all riders were generally high for the first loop, greatly

improving for the second and third loops. Sam McMurray took third place with 27 points, Sidney Mocke was second with a loss of 13 points, and winner Russ Pfirrman gave up only six points for the day. Intermediate Modern Classic riders numbered eleven; Mike Houde with 24points for third, Clay Dawley collected four fewer than that for second place, and out of his thirty trips through the ten sections, class winner Craig Menghini dropped only two points. The Modern Classic Expert class continues to grow. Seven competitors put up fairly close scores, led by Jason Gitchell with 13 points, followed by second place Joe Bill with 15, and Grant Menghini with 19. There were two Modern Classic Masters class riders, Ralph Foster and Lance Janée Magee Women’s Maddux, and one Air Cooled Mono Master class rider, Scott Stewart, riding the most difficult numberone line exclusively. Foster won the Modern Classic Masters class with a 23-point loss. Stewart lost 28 points. Participation in Expert Cross Country the Premier classes was slim for this event. Premier Heavyweight experts Luis Bryant (54L) , Eric Wachter (22K ) Terry Dale (56Q), Rowland C Rob Poole and Kelly Shane were first and second respectively, separated by one point (12 and 13). Mike oad (260) Miller won the Premier Heavyweight Novice class. Premier Lightweight

Expert winner Bob Bellicitti had to give up one annoying point; Premier Lightweight Novice winner was Mike Nadekker. The Beginner class was nearly swept by new rider Jenny Newell, who lost only one point on her fist loop, and then obviously got the hang of it for zeros on the next two loops. Cross county ran that afternoon, and everyone knew it would be dusty in the back of the property with no moisture. Jeff Bushey and Wayne Hawes took every possible chance to keep out of the dustiest areas with the lay-out, and all in all it was a good result. Unfortunately, the conditions no doubt kept some away. Fourteen vintage and twelve Post Vintage riders enjoyed the course and were, for the most part, spread out enough so dust wasnʼt a problem. The 60+ Expert Vintage class was the largest, led by Kelly Shane, who was followed by Jeff Bushey and Wayne Hawes. Sportsman Open was won by Chet Mauer, also the overall winner. Mike Gorrono won the 60+ Novice class over Cy Yee. Most Post Vintage classes contained only one rider. The exceptions were 200 Novice, won by David Alamo over

Unidentified rider Robert Toronto, and Women expert, won by Erin Gilkison over Jane Magee. The VMX on Sunday had just over ninety entries, which made for an early Rob Poole day. Nine singlegated races ran without a hitch, and the water truck watering efforts worked perfectly, better than the usual irrigation sprinklers. Most races were made up of three to five different but compatible classes. The classes were small, but no less exciting or competitive; brothers Chet and Clay Mauer in Open Age Expert each won a moto, with Chet getting the overall for the final moto win. Ariel James and Erin Gulkison took the two top spots of three in the Open Age Intermediate class. Steve Gard, Kelly Shane and Stephen Newell had very close races in one of the larger classes, 60+ Expert, with Steve Gard taking the overall win even after Newell rode like a madman beating everyone in a gripping moto two. Iron Butt winners for the weekend, those who rode all three events—trials, cross country, and VMX—were Charlie Higdon (also the oldest competitor at a fast 79 years young), David Alamo, Layne Hanna, Kelly Shane, Russ Pfirrman, Cy Yee, Mike Gorrono, Chet Mauer and Pete Jorgenson.

Mike Houge

Bob Bellicitti