P132
50
Years Ago
AUGUST 26, 1969
LOOKING BACK
We tested the 1979 420cc MC-80 KTM that was pictured on the cover of
Cycle News 40 years ago. It sold for $2395 … Mike Bell won the 500cc
class at the Binghamton MX National… We showed our readers some
of the exotic bikes that competed in the CMC Four-Stroke National
MX Championship, including Rex Staten's winning Yamaha TT500 that
featured a Dick Mann frame and Pro-Tec engine… We coverd the AFM
road races at Riverside Raceway. Eddie Lawson crashed in the 250cc
GP race and suffered a dislocated hip.
40
Years Ago
AUGUST 22, 1979
That's Dick Mann on the cover of Cycle News 50 years ago doing what
he does best—winning. Mann had just won the National Short Track at
Santa Fe Speedway in Illinois. Famed British Speedway Champion Barry
Briggs made a visit to the series, riding an unproven Yamaha that he
built. Briggs failed to qualify… Upstart motocrosser Jim West was giving
veteran racer Gary Bailey fits at Bay Mare MX in California. They went at it
in the 250 Senior class with Bailey working hard for the win.
(Above) A young Eddie Lawson crashes while
competing in the 250cc GP class at Riverside
Raceway 40 years ago. (Right) Tim Hart
leads Gary Bailey at Bay Mare MX 50 years
ago in Thousand Oaks, California.
