Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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CN III ARCHIVES B eginning in the post-World War II years, the Pocono Mountains began gaining a reputation as a top East Coast honeymoon destination. Still, with the completion of Pocono International Race in 1971, a new group of visitors began populat- ing the kitschy hotels, complete with their heart-shaped bathtubs, including racing teams and their accompanying fans. Along with auto racing, the AMA Grand National Championship came to Pocono's new superspeedway in its first season of operation. The track, owned by Philadel- phia dentist Dr. Joseph Mat- tioli, was built in stages over the years. It started in the late-1960s at a three-quarter-mile track before making way for the big speedway completed in '71. Fortunately for road racing fans, in addition to the famous 2.5- mile tri-oval Indy and Stock Car racetrack, Pocono built an infield road course section, as well. In fact, there are three different sections of road courses making for multiple configurations, which have been used for motorcycle road races over the years. The first AMA National held at the track in '71 utilized a 1.8-mile course that used the infield and parts of the tri-oval. Pocono came along at a perfect time to help meet the growing popularity of motorcycle P110 RACING IN THE POCONOS race, he would be forced to make a pit stop. Duhamel jumped out to a big lead ahead of Kel Carruthers and his Yamaha 350cc two-stroke and Dick Mann on his BSA Rocket 3. When Duhamel pitted for fuel, Car- ruthers took the lead with Mann right on him. Duhamel's Kawasaki never ran as strong after the pit stop, so the race came down to Carruthers and Mann. On the final lap, just 20 feet separated the two. Mann came into the last corner and stayed low, forcing Carruthers to go around the long way to get around. The move paid off for Mann, and he held off Carruthers by inches at the finish line to take road racing. Throughout much of the '60, the AMA calendar only featured three or four road races, with Daytona and Laconia being the biggies. But by 1971, that num- ber was up to seven road race venues, including freshly built facilities like Road Atlanta, On- tario Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Pocono. Before the national was held there, a regional race was held at the not-yet-completed facility in August of 1970. Gary Nixon raced a Triumph triple to victory over Yvon Duhamel, who was on a Kawasaki 350cc two-stroke. The first national at Pocono in August of '71 produced a great race. DuHamel was easily the fastest rider on his Kawasaki H2R three-cylinder 750cc two-stroke beast. But Duhamel's Kawasaki was thirsty, and in the 100-mile Kenny Roberts discusses his Pocono AMA National victory in 1977. Skip Aksland (in PJ1 t-shirt), and Gary Nixon (far left) finished second and third, respectively. PHOTO: HENNY RAY ABRAMS BY LARRY LAWRENCE