Sunday Morning, nace coordinator, Fred Lowery, gathers the racers at the top of the course
his legs. SMASH! He was down
then he was back up again with a
beaming smile saying "didn't spill
any of my cancer deterrent." I was
so proud of him. The rider was OK
but unfortunately had to withdraw
from the race. After the elimina
tions, the sideen fastest qualifiers
were paired off according to the
elimination schedule. After racing
twice in the first round, the racer
with the fastest time in t
the pairing
then advances to the second
round where the cycle continues
so on and so forth
reaches
the fourth and final round where
the two winners meet for the
deciding duel for the Champion-
ship. Third place is determined by
a consolation round between the
two eliminated racers from round
three and the positions four
through eight are established by
Could this be skateboardings' new elite?L toR, TED, LoBoy, unknown, Mr.V., Production the fimes of the racers in the limi
John Hutson posted the lastest time of the day on this run with
speedster Caedman Bear right behind him
14
nations
The qualifiers from one thru
sbteen went like this: R. Hickey, R.
Fike, M. Goldman, J. Hutson, P.
Fisser, B. DeNike, C. Bear, D. Wood,
D. Bostick G. Fluitt, R. Katen, P
Dunn, C. Coleman, C. Pettyjohn
and R. Blackhart. The fastest quali
fying time was 35.82, belonging to
Roger THE KID Hickey. There's one
to men-
thing that I cannot forget t
tion and that is the factor of the
wind. Or is it wind factor? Anyway
the wind played an important role
in not only the qualifying but the
whole race in general. On the last
stratch of the run, the wind chan-
neled heavily into the racers
faces. But the bursts of wind were
not consistent. If not for the wind
think the qualifying roster might
have been a Ime different. I think
Mother Nature wanted total con-
trol of this race, if credit is due
where credit is due then one
would have to credit Her.
By this time of the day, the
cancer deferring agents were
taking full effect and control. I
tried to get ahold of myself but my
hands just kept slipping. Little did
realize, the sun was beating down
intensely on my soul Tan lines on
the forehead. My eyes began to
bulge and my custom CHP. Inter-
ceptor minored shades became
too hot to wear. But did I care?
HELL NO
Suddenly, I found myself at
trackside. I was just in fime to s00
John Hutson and Paul Dunn come
down the track Paul was a couple
of yards out in front, but as they
4
Obviously this fan knows what's happening.
came to the turn, John made his
move and with snakelike precision
passed Poul beating him to the
finish line. I was terribly blown
away. I never thought that these
races could get so intense. I walked
over to some guy who was taking
pictures and asked him for a
cigarette. Handing one to me he
asked. "Did you see that last run?"
I told him, "Yoah, It was hot." It
the cig and then I said. "Hey man,
who are you taking pictures for?
THRASHER MAG
"Oh really." I said, walking away
wondering the
the guy was legit or
what. Later I found out he appor
ently was. It was then that I noticed
a strange voice coming through
the public address system, an-
nouncing the riders as they came
down. I tried to decipher his
muddled English and befuddled
comments as to what was actualy
going
on.
My success was minimal and i
had to rely on recognition alone
Somebody nearby me said that
somebody told them that DD.
Merv was doing the announcing
No
wonderf I thought as I tried to
keep from falling down, 1 hate TV.
people."
The mumblings from the speak
ers clued me in to the fact that
there were two more racers com-
ing down the track. I recognized
the colors of Coedman Bear's
speed suit and Byron Miller's
helmet. The holmet was out in
front when just like John Hutson)
the colors blurred by in a expose
of fine snaking Coedman Bear
the young skater from Berkeley.
CA was proving to be quite a
threat
Now, having the capacity to
deny the opposite sex types certain
unmentionable pleasures Ide-
cided to use my gifted facilities in
obtaining some desperately
needed information, I spotted the
prey nearby, stand-
suspecting i
ing all alone. Slowly I approached.
being careful not to startle the
timid ittle creature. I looked care-
fully
for any signs of foreign jewelry
that she might have on her person
le, frat pins, high school rings on a
chain or medallions that say.
ROCKY LOVES LULU All clear.
I slithered over and used one of
my best lines. "Hey man I didn't
know you cool looking broads
were this interested in skateboard-
ing Slowly she turned and stared
info my CHP. Interceptor shades
"Holy cats!" I gasped as I realized
she had TV. eyes. The honor sent
chills through my body, but I hold
my composure so as not to frighten
her to drastic measures. "So, uh, I
missed the part of the race.
could yo fill me in? Her eyes
rolled back in her head as if she
was changing channels, they then
came back into place, 1 The gears
were engaged She spoke "Randy
Katen, Byron Miller. Miller will ad-
vance. Roger Hickey, Rick Black-
hart Hickey will advance. Bob
DeNiko, Don Bostick DeNike's
times ace out Don. Bob ad-
vance. Rick Fike, Chris s Pettyjohn
Fike advances. Mike Goldman,
Caf
Coleman Mike - Goldman
advances with the fastest time i
the second round eliminations
36.23. Parry Fisser, Gary Fluitt. Flutt
will advance. John Hutson, Paul
Dunn Hutson advances. Caedman
Bear, David Wood Bear
advances"
in
I couldn't take any more. I
thanked her and she blinked I
turned and walked away. Fast I
spotted the Volvo and decided to
stick close to it for the remainder
of the race and make it my head-
quarters. I was glad to be amongst
friendlies
One interesting instance in the
next round was when C. Bear and
J. Hutson were paired off and
it out down the hill. Coed-
dueling
man picked the line and held fem
acing out Hutson on the first run of
HU
their two for the around What an
upset On their return trip up the
hill I witnessed the finest form of
camaraderie. Paul Dunn, whom
Hutson had just eliminated in the
round t before gave John his new
whools to
s to help increase his speed
Pure sportsmanship. The wheels
did help, because on the next run
JH blasted past Caedmon and
slammed the door behind him
scoring the best time of the day.
35.76. After t the cheers died down
and the dust selfied, the four
finalists hopped in the back of a
greasy truck and made their way
back to the top. The finalists wore
Roger Hickey, Mike Goldmor, Rick-
Fike, and John Hutson
I was getting late in the day
and the sun was unrelenting. I sat
in the front seat of the Volvo
reclining to its full potential and
pretended to sleep so no one
would bug me. I began to weigh
out the possiblities as to who
would take this race. Let me see
Mike Goldman, a veteran skater,
was making a good showing for
not being in the public eye for a
good while. Rick Fiko, one of the
Washington boys, was picked up.
hitchhiking on the way to the
race: he's looking good so his
show would be pretty interesting
Roger Hickey. Roger was the first
of all the racers to show up for
practice. Arriving on the Thursday
before
the race, he was well
prepared. He ground down his
trucks so they would cut through
the wind more effectively and
create a much better fairing. And
John Hutson. What can you say?
He's the winningest skater and he's
up against the stiffest competition
yet.
The fourth round. At this point it's
almost anybody's race. The wind
was playing tricks on the racers,
Juggling their times and what not
So it was pretty tough to say be
forehand who would win the race.
After the runs Roger Hickey and
John Hutson- came out on top to
battle it out for the one and two
spot. This left Mike Goldman and
Rick
Fike to r race and decide who
would capture third Rick wa
was the
eventual third place finisher. In the
Hickey defeated
Hutson, thereby ending skate-
boarding's longest winning streak
I talked to Roger after the con-
finals Roger
gratulations proceedings and he
said. T'm more stoked about
winning
beating John Hutson than
this race. And after that I heard
John Hutson T be waiting for
on say
at Capitola, and be
Roger at
sounded to me like he
ready
meant that, so I think that Capitola
a race.
is going to be one hell of c
Early evening now approached
and I still had a long ride home. A
friend had promised to introduce
me to a glamor Betty from San
Diego and I am looking forward to
her. So until next time sports fans.
lator
LAGUNA SECA RESULTS
Roger Hickey
John Hutson
Rick Fike
Mike Goldman
Byron Miller
Coedman Bear
Perry Fisser
Bob Denke
David Wood
Don Bostick
Gary Ful
Randy Katen
Paul Dunn
Ciff Coleman
Chris Pettyjohn
Rick Blackhart
HOCKEY
Roger Hickey, new downhill master cams some respect at
Laguna Roger's challengers also included a fairing bicycle, which
he passed on the outside using the laydown technique
15