Dateline Perris: Preview of Round 9

D Jameson | Sep 09, 2012 | Comments 0

Southern California Flat Track Association Series
Round 9: Perris Raceway

By Jamey Blunt
Photos by Janice Blunt
PERRIS, CA, SEPT. 8, 2012

Just prior to the start of round nine’s main events, a backward lap was held in honor of Doug Douglas, who passed away on August 24. More than a hundred riders participated as a tribute to what Douglas meant to the motorcycle fraternity. The shop Douglas opened will celebrate its 50th anniversary next January. Douglas was a lifetime AMA member whose solo record of 27 hours and 15 minutes for racing from Tijuana to La Paz, Mexico, stands unbroken to this day. Doug will be missed by so many.

Racers – be careful what you wish for! Over the course of the last year, perhaps even longer, the question has been asked: Why doesn’t John Kocinski enter the Pro class? Well, on this night, he brought out another one of his pristine Knight-framed rockets, this one with an old Honda air-cooled 350cc four-stroke single engine and contested the Pro class.

In his heat race, Kocinski had to start from the back penalty line, but he still managed to hunt down Ajay Hateley and make a last-lap pass to take the victory.

Starting from pole in the 20-lap final, Kocinski entered turn one in fourth place but was leading by the end of the back straightaway. When the checkered flag fell, his margin of victory was 9.4 seconds over the runner-up. His first Pro victory at Perris Raceway was dedicated to his son John Kocinski Jr., who, sadly, was not in attendance to see his father put in such a stellar performance.

The full story and results from the seventh and eighth rounds of Southern California Flat Track Association action at Perris Raceway will be posted shortly, but meanwhile here are a couple of photos to whet your appetites…

Jim Wood gives Colleen Douglas a ride for the backward lap in honor of her father, Doug Douglas, who passed away a couple of weeks prior to this event.

John Kocinski (3) had to start from the penalty line in his heat race, but he still managed to take the victory with a last-lap pass on Ajay Hateley (43).

“Be careful what you wish for!” Many riders, even Pros, have questioned why John Kocinski doesn’t compete in the Pro class. At round nine, he made his first appearance in the Pro ranks aboard a vintage 350cc air-cooled Honda. Here, he waves to the fans during his introduction just prior to the start of the 20-lap feature.