P120
50
Years Ago
OCTOBER 10, 1968
LOOKING BACK
The Sacramento Mile was featured on the cover of Cycle News 50
years ago. Freddie Nix broke two track-lap records en route to the
win. Up to this point, the rider from Oklahoma had won all four of the
long mile races of the 1968 flat track national season… We covered
motocross racing from Saddleback Park where promoter Wes Cooley
surprised the regulars with a new section of the track that sent riders
straight down a steep hill right after the first turn. Chuck Minert was
the big winner that day.
It was ISDT time 40 years ago. Team USA brought home 27 gold medals
from Sweden, and fifth-in-class Frank Gallo, the top-finishing American
rider, was pictured on the cover. Team Czechoslovakia took the win;
Team USA was fifth… We had coverage of the Subaru International
Motorcycle Olympiad II from Saddleback Park. Winner Bob Hannah
donated his $10,000 winnings to the Muscular Dystophy Foundation…
Belgium won the Trophee des Nations for 250s; Team USA was fifth.
40
Years Ago
SEPTEMBER 27, 1978
(Below) Rex Staten was a late replacement
for Rick Burgett for Team USA (Bob Hannah,
Chuck Sun, Tommy Croft and Staten) at the
Trophee des Nations in Belgium.
(Above) Chuck Minert
was pulling down the
wins at Saddleback
Park 50 years ago.
