Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125469
their starting area and Illt area aud lIle organized, checks were very well which always makes for great racing. ."col. SllllII rod. III. S.... lit ",In' m ... cltl_ to ,et . . . Dy.1I v1ctorJ. TRAIL BIKES , SMITH WINS SPOKE BENDERS ing that he had to stop each lap to gas uP as he was using a two-gallon scra~ bles tank. Bob Fenn, Triumpb's #2 open Expert, ,,110 bas been consistently lIP in tile first five for tbe last moo til, came io for a well-ridden second place over-all and first oPeo Expert, J.N. Roberts, #4:11 00 a 30:l Hooda. received first 21 Amateur laurels, which is gettinr to be quite a babit \Ii th Roberts. We don't know what he has done to tile Honda, but he sure makes it Oy. There was a big battle between two amateurs, Oscar Thomps~, #43. and Cmrlie Gates. #54X, with Oscar hitting the finish line by only a 'bike's length lead to take first open Amateur on his BSA, and Charlie right behind him. taking first 250 Amateur on his Bultaco. Bob Arison #80 Open Expert. was really making the scene on the first 2 laps, running 5th on the 1st lap, but was beginning to tire, from being out of condition from a years' layoff. but was able to gun his Triumph in to round off the top ten finishers. In the pits after tile race, most of tile riders agreed tIIat tile course was vel)' fast and dusty, but well-limed and safety marked. SOme of the riders pulled orr tile main trail to get out of tile dust of tile guys in front, and of course did not see tile safety markings. This resulted in some sPectacular two-wheel acrobatics while in tIIird gear, which always makes for good bench racing - if you survive. The spoke Benders are to be congratulated for putting on a fine run, as By Dick Wright About ten miles north of Victorville in terrain that was considered fast toolles. with an occasional twofoot rut or road crossing which made great picture-taking for the spectators, the Spoke Benders staged their Championship in th e desert. It was a perfect banner start for the more than two hundred open class riders, with the smoke bomb set in a saddle between two hills. You could see the riders for about three miles fln the slight uphill open terrain as they headed out for three thirty-mile loops over the same course. Sunday was Malcolm Smith's day. who incidentally, just got back from Europe where he rode the six-day trials and received honorable mention for his fast feet-up style, Riding a 250 Husqvarna. he grabbed the lead abou t a half mile from the start. A spectator at the smoke bomb said he could see Malcolm with an approximate ~ mile lead coming towards the bomb. with the dust boiling llP behind him in a wide arc. Malcolm shoWed his real feet-up style on the fast, dusty course; the only time he got into trouble was just sixty feet before coming into the gas check, tryin g to make a fortY-five degree turn and at Ibe same time hitting a series 01 jumps, but today he could do no wrong. and he stayed in the saddle. He held about a twelveminute lead, which is very good consider- The trail bikes went four laps on a separate ten-mile course which was very fast. Three-quarters of the course could be run in fourth gear. About two miles from the smoke bomh Ibere were a series of three ditches about 2'h feet deep which you could not see until you were in them doing hand stands on your handle bars. If you moved off the course to get out of the other riders' dust. missed the safety markings, and were far enougb up in the running to he riding over your head, you were in for some real trouble as a lot of riders got off in this spot on the first lap in tbe beavy dus t. The course also had a short sand wash which led to a thirty-foot bigh, almost straigb b-up hill in heavy shale rock. at the top of wbich was the first check. If that wasn't enough to keep you alert. they threw in a ten-foot drop orf of about 2 degrees less than straigbt down into a sand wash crossing, and this one really made you hold your breath. Earl Roeseler, #I on a Zundap. held tile lead for the first lap until Jack Morgan, #13 on a Hodaka, passed him three miles out of the gas check. Jack seemed to get his kicks out of this course. He was telling how he took tile ten-foot drop off in third gear by mistake and got away witll it. Jack held tile lead for the rest of the race and came in for tile win, with Earl Roeseler approximately two min utes behind him. Frank Morgan, #89 on a Hodaka, moved up through the pack on each lap to take third place. Bob Steffan, #5 on a Hodaka, must have had Frank in bis sights and was reallY turning the wick up, but was unable to catch him and settled for a solid fourtll. All the trail bike riders seemed to relish the" course. even though it was occasionally hair-raising when you hit tile dips at top speed in the open terrain. They also appreciated Ibe fact Ibat the Spoke Benders laid ou t a separate course especially designed for tbe little ones, which all added up to another good day's racin g. Above: Well, that's ONE wa, to trayel In the desert, but Gar, Conrad (below) pes faster on a GrHves. !E'!!!!!!E!!!:!!!!:i! Ride, Ride, Ride THE ULTIMATE COMPETITION SUSPENSION SYSTEMS FOR HANDLING AND CONTROl • GOOQ6ua • ACHTUNG 1•• • BLUE ITREAK M070RRACER • • 2.75x18 & 3.00x18 3.00x19 & 3.50><19 • • Ceriani SHELBY ~~tWack ENT.lt3S Art~lia ••••••••••• • Now Available in These Sizes • • Tires . ComlDg Soon W. 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