P138
50
Years Ago
OCTOBER 7, 1969
LOOKING BACK
We featured the ISDT from West Germany on the cover 40 years ago with a
photo of top American Larry Roeseler chasing a West German rider. Team
Italy took the overall win. Team USA finished sixth with riders Roeseler,
Dick Burleson, Jack Penton, Kevin Lavoie, Jeff Hill and Ted Leimbach.
The U.S. Silver Vase Team—Drew Smith, Jeff Fredette, Mike Rosso and
Dave Hulse—also placed sixth… The opening round of the AMA Trans-USA
MX Series got underway in Lexington, Ohio. Andre Malherbe took the win.
40
Years Ago
OCTOBER 3, 1979
Our picture contest winner, Manuel A. Burton, had his photo plastered
on the front page of Cycle News 50 years ago. The shot was taken of
Loyal Penn (750) and Andy Skeil (242) at Perris Raceway TT… Mert
Lawwill finished sixth at the Oklahoma City Half Mile but that was more
than good enough to clinch the flat track national championship. Jim
Rice won the race… We covered the Desert Foxes European Scrambles
in Rosamond, California, where desert-racing legend J.N. Roberts
came home in first place.
(Left) Gene Romero (22) leads Dick
Mann (2) and Dan Haaby (20) at the
Oklahoma City Half Mile 50 years ago.
(Below) In its final race, Nicky Hayden
rode the Honda RC45, to be replaced
by the RC51, to a third-place finish at
the Pikes Peak National in 1999.
