It's already about 11:00 and the racers are
looking mighty flash for the survivalists
that they are. It has been quite a workout
and these cats hardly even show it. John
Hutson and Paco charged after the start of
their match and converged on the turn. It
was pretty close most of the way, as far as I
could tell at least. This lady was standing in
front of me and I couldn't quite see around
her. If you know what I mean. Anyway, I
guess John kept ahead of Paco because I
saw John walking back up the hill with a big
wide grin on his face.
Next to hit the starting boxes were Byron
Miller and Bob. The starter, K.T. [T.-ED,
the editor, TED], double checked his men on
down the track for cleamess when two
roller skate Hodads loaded onto the track
and hauled ass on down the course. I almost
pegged one of them with a monkey wrench
I had just happened to have with me for si-
tuations just like this. The corner judge,
'Big John', almost clotheslined the other
one with the signal flag he just happened to
be carrying. Regardless of our heroic ef-
forts (in which I'm still awaiting a thank-
you from the City Hall of Justice of Capito-
la), the suckers made it all the way down the
hill, with 'Charles Atlas the Cop' hot on
their tails. I hope he shoots out their wheels
and gives those Haight-Ashbury types what
they deserve, BATHS AND HAIRCUTS.
Meanwhile, back at the top;....Bob and
Byron step into the starting boxes once
again, the coast is clear, the racers are ready,
they're off. Big strong pushes send them
hurling towards the turn. Byron is slightly
ahead and Bob has a fairly precarious stance
but soon sucks himself into his tuck. On-
wards down the hill, Bob closes in and
slowly but steadily overcomes Byron for
the win.
That leaves Paco Prieto and Byron Miller
to harsh it out for the number three and four
slots; and Bob and John to haggle it over for
first and second.
The consolation round, as it was called (I
couldn't figure this one out either. There
wasn't anyone here to console, everyone
got what they earned or deserved and that if
they were going to cry about it and need
consoling, then they could just go home.),
was quick, sweet and to the point. Paco; a
long time-all around type skater well versed
in the arts of freestyle. pool terrorizing and
full-on down-hill speed sensationalism;
overwhelmed Miller and captured third.
Now was the moment of ultra-justice in
the declaration of the winner of this scenic
Monte Carlo' event of skateboarding. John
Hutson, who was beaten not long ago at the
Laguna Seca contest by Roger Hickey, was
out to win and regain his title of the fastest
guy on a skateboard. Bob Denike, a San
Jose homeboy, was out to dethrone anyone
John Hutson, down the line to yet another downhill victory. who got in his way of eventual victory.
I was to notice one of the most tensely in-
tense matches I have ever had the cause to
behold. John and Bob took to the starting
boxes and prepared for what was to come.
The signal came that the course was
clear. All sytems were GO. The pushoff
feet hit the pavement in giant thrusts of
forward projection. Bob dropped into
the comer first, with John right on his
tail. BUT SUDDENLY DISASTER
STRUCK!! Bob lost traction on the tum
and started to side-slide. OH NO, Bob
hit the deck and John T-boned him.
SMASH! Luckily though, no one was
really injured. Technically, John had the
win but, being the sporting type that he
is, he agreed to go at it again. A quick
equipment examination revealed that
John had tom his speed suit. John
wasn't going to let anything stop him.
He was going to race with a tom speed-
suit regardless of the implications.
Back in the starting boxes they shook
hands and wished each other luck (but
we know what they were really thinking).
They were set. They were ready. The
crowd was set. The crowd was ready.
They're off. Onto the first stretch and
into the tum, it's Bob Denike with John
Hutson trailing him like white on rice.
Around the bend, it's still Bob Denike
and John Hutson is still hanging in there
close. At the second bend, Bob Denike
staying out ahead by a half a body
length, but wait. What is this? John Hut-
son is making his move. Coming out
from behind around the outside. They're
parrallell. No wait. Bob is still in front,
no, John, Bob. John is pulling away and
is now two lengths in front of Bob. It
looks like it is going to be John Hutson
across the finish line first, and.....
and...it's John Hutson winning the
Capitola Classic for 1981 with Bob
Denike taking a well deserved second.
It looked to me that Bob Denike pro-
bably would've taken the whole thing if
it wasn't for that fall at the top there on
that first run. But I guess fate has it's
strange ways of telling the long time
Pro's like John Hutson, that there is
always going to be somebody around to
beat you one time or another and it looks
like Bob is one that John is gonna have to
watch out for at the next Capitola
Classic.
WELL, THAT'S IT. NOW HERE
COMES STARSKY AND HUTCH IN A
TOW TRUCK. LOOKS LIKE WE'RE
NOT GOING TO SACTO AFTER ALL.
OH WELL, IT PROBABLY WOULD'VE
BEEN TOO HOT ANYWAYS. I GUESS
WE HAVE TO GO HOME AND BE
MELLOW. AND BEING MELLOW
SURE AIN'T NO FUN.
-MOrizen FOche
Bob Denike, present and future threat.
河
To Protect and to Serve. Capitola's finest.
Blackhart readies to blast out of the box.
1981 CAPITOLA FINAL RESULTS
1. John Hutson
700.
2. Bob Denike
350.
3. Paco Prieto
250.
150.
100.
75.
60.
50.
4. Byron Miller
5. Rick Blackhart.
6. Rick Fike
7. Randy Katen
8. Cliff Coleman
33