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/125477
• • 100cc class Cllls off to a slippery start as the rain slowly .laIl to fall. Just as the first event got under way. it slowly started to rain which really didn't hamper the spectators, only the riders. Ventura Fairgrounds has covered grandstands and the spectators merely moved up to the upper section where they were protected from the rainfall. There was no roof over the course however. As the ACA sanctioned 'IT events progressed. the course got worse. The first two Moto crosses in each class were run at a falIly good speed, since the rain had not turned the course into slick ice-like mud as yet. However, by the time the last Moto Star of the day was 168 Ray McCarty from Lancaster on his HusQvama. Ray has had several years experience in Europe riding on wet muddy surface, and with tbe excellent handling of the Husqvarna and tbe large knobby tires be had on tbe machine, he was able to maneuver quite well, winning both the 250cc class and the sweepstakes events. Anotber lightweight rider wbo pel" formed well was Roger Goldthwaite out of Sunnyvale. Roger won tbe l00cc class and placed second bebind Mc Carty in tbe 250cc event. John Riggen on a Bultaco from Tbousand Oaks also did an excellent job by winning tbe cross series started, riders' speed was not a determining factor. merely his ability to keep the two wheels between his two legs on the course. Needless to say. most of the riders were absolutely determined to ride their last event of the season. even though the rain was coming down heavily and the course had turned into a real hard slippery surface. Naturally, on every corner, there were three Or four fall-downs, with riders slipping and sliding trying to get back on tbeir machines. Spectators were going wild, and tbe last events really demanded sbeer riders' skill in balancing tbe machine over tbe COurse. • • • • THE • Joe (2741) Occhlnlo temporarily leads Husqvarna star Ray lIcCarly. 250cc class and placing second in the Sweepstakes event. Tbe 175cc win went to Warren Landers out of Arroyo Grande on one of the new Suzuki 12O's. The 350cc class went to Alex Chrzanowski out of Ojai on a Honda. and John Wiley from Ventura. also on a Honda. won the 500cc class. It developed into a real battle of skill in the Open class event when Justin Glidden and Jim Murley, both on frOOl Oxnard. went slipping and sliding around the course trying to hold up over 300 lbs. of fire-breathing equipment on a course so slippery that even at 10,000 rpm's you couldn't move a yard. Hats off to the riders who participated in this event! They really have to love motorcycling to participate under these conditions. Surprisingly, most of the riders got a big bang out of it. were laughing and yelling for more. If you like motorcycling. you don't care under what conditions you participate under long as it is falI and equal for everyone. This was verified by the fact that there were over 38 entries in tbe sweepstakes event, which, needless to say, was under the worst conditions of the entire day as far as the weather was concerned. (Resnlts on pace 16) SERVICES EYE CYQlST CLUBS Riverside Bombers M.C. TT Scrambles Perris ...~....~~....I~stj,.;50.0c;.;.c.;EX. CHUCK MINERT BSA VICTOR ... 910J0 . . (213) 359-921l Motorcycle riding sailors and Marines may have some new rules for SCooting in the future. There are too many servicemen being hurt and safety experts are trying to see what can be done abOut it. Military officials have cause to be worried. During a three-month period this year, 15 Navy men were killed in cycle accidents. The Marines report that motorized two-wheelers have claimed the lives of 10 of their members during the first three quarters of this year as opposed to a previous five-year average of six per year in the Corps. THE AIR FORCE hasthe most alarming figures. From January through October of this year, 48 of their men died in cycle-scooter accidents; double the number killed during the same period in 1965. It's claimed that in almost every offhase fatality, the driver was not wearing a safety helmet. But how to enforce a regulation requiring tbe off-base wearing of safety helmets by servicemen has officials perplexed. It's felt in some circles that as long as state law doesn't require the belmet, the Services would be treading on thin legal grounds to make such a regulation stick. "We can enforce on-base regulations,' said one official," but off base, tbe whole aspect of motorcycle driving by servicemen poses many knotty legal prOblems. " Encouraging servicemen to form motorcycle clubs was suggested as a solution at the recent Norton Air Force Base safety seminar. The help and guidance of experienced cycle riders could then be brought to bear on rookie riders. Very few motorcycle clubmen have been known to ride witbout protective clothing or proper instruction. It isn't tbe "in" thing anymore. Base commanders could offer hobby shOll facilities and meeting rooms to service cycle clubs. Junior officers wbo ride cycles sbould volunteer their leadership in this vital area.