P128
50
Years Ago
MAY 13, 1969
LOOKING BACK
We featured local racing from Saddleback Park on the cover 50 years
ago. Bruce Baron was pictured leading eventual winner Mike Pera in
the 250cc Jr. class… Joel Robert won the Swiss MX GP. However,
we were encouraged by the performance of American John DeSoto…
We kept our readers up to date on California's drag racing scene. Bill
Chambers took Top Bike honors on his 139 mph "knucklehead…" Jack
Lane won the Tompkins County National Enduro in N.Y. Only 37 of the
210 starters made it to the finish line.
Speedway racing took center stage in Cycle News 40 years ago.
Pictured on the front page were Peter Collins and Dave Sims from the
1979 Champions' Challenge Speedway Series… Bob Hannah swept
both nights of racing at the Pontiac Silverdome Supercross doubleheader
in Michigan… Team USA out-dueled Team Britain at the Marlboro
Transatlantic Trophy Match Races at Brands Hatch in England… We
featured an interview with speedway racer-turned speedway promoter
Harry Oxley… We also chatted with the AMA's Mike DiPrete about the
controversial claiming rule.
40
Years Ago
MAY 9, 1979
(Above) Bill Chambers was
tearing up the drag racing scene
in California in 1969. (Right)
Mark Hyde (10) leads the way
at the Brown Jug 100 GNCC 30
years ago.