P112
50
Years Ago
FEBRUARY 17, 1970
LOOKING BACK
We featured a photo of defending champion Steve Eklund on the cover
of Cycle News 40 years ago to accompany our preview of the 1980 Grand
National Championship season… We covered round five of the CMC
Golden State MX Series at Prairie City OHV Park, where Ron Turner
(125cc), Chuck Sun (250cc) and Danny Chandler (500cc) came away
with the Pro-class wins… We showed you the latest models from the
Spanish manufacturer Montesa, highlighted by the do-it-all Cota 349 … We
tested the 1980 Honda CB750F.
40
Years Ago
FEBRUARY 13, 1980
Our cover story 50 years ago was the Houston National, the first GNC
race of the 1970s. It was held at the Houston Astrodome, where Mert
Lawwill came out swinging in the short track, edging out Ossa-mounted
Dick Mann for the win. Jim Rice won the next day's TT event. Some of the
top-finishing amateur riders were John Hateley and Terry Dorsch… We
reported that former BSA rider Dick Mann had agreed to race a factory-
backed four-cylinder Honda at the upcoming Daytona 200.
Dick Mann (2) leads winner Mert Lawwill during the Houston
Short Track National at the Astrodome 50 years ago.
Ten-year-old Zach
Osborne was our featured
local talent of the week
20 years ago.
