Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

.G 00 ANA road racing off to another great start with the first paved event in the USA for '67 last SUnday jlfterDOOn at Carlsbad Raceway. The sportsmen event for all sizes of machines, including a new production class, drew 140 entries. The 15 event race program again was ticked off like clockwork by the experienced Playboys M.C. with the entire running ti 0 . a c u r d 45 minutes. including the break for inteJmi n. . eterans and newcomers alike with trophies b d experience. Top rated pro's Dick Hammer and Eddie Mulder captured the honors in the open class and 250cc division for the experienced pilots with new names such as Dave Smith. Dave Damron. Frank Fullylove. Roger Bader. Barry Sulkin and John Hately coming to the front for the first time at the home of the western national championship road races. MULDER-MANLEY BATTLE Above: Close ,aclne In the open class. Below: #16 Dick Ha e' on vIctory. Mulder and Bill Manley captured open class heat race wins before coming back to do battle in the ten mile final. Manley was a close second until forced to the pits. leaving Mulder away out in front. Eddie gave the road race followers a treat usually saved for the IT fans when he pulled ·wheelies· on each and every lap at speeds up to 80 mph between the first two turns on a downhill portion of the fast and famous course. It was the first setback in the big bike class in many a month for Cal Rayborn who could pull no better than a third place behind Travis Petton in the open class. Cal was first in the 500cc class. It was Mulder's Second feature win in less than a year and now places him second behind Rayborn in the total win bracket at the nationai track. The 250cc race was a Suzuki preview of things to come at Daytona with Dick Hammer in command from start to finish in both the heat and final. Dick clocked a faster lightweight heat race time tban either of the big bike class efforts on the long course and breezed to the win in the final after teammate Ron Grant had to make a quick pit stop early in the race. Walt Fulton made a game attempt to stay with Hammer and ran a solid second ahead of the fast improving Doug Boiles who is in his second year of competition. Dirt tracker Larry Pruett was a respectable fifth and another rider who is fast learning the art of pavement racing. Racing in for fourth in the 250cc class was young Dave Smith. one of only two riders to trophy more than once during the afternoon. Smith won his heat race and joined Hammer on the front starting line and then came on strong all the way to run right up with the bigger guys. DAYTONA PREVIEW Hammer and Grant were on the official Suzuki ·Team· entries that they will be riding at Daytona next March. Hammer once again came very close to not grabbing the glory as he took a 150 yard sliding spill at the end of the back stretch in practice but the ·lron Man· returned to action with the entire left side of the fairing scraped right down to the metal. The heats and final for the ultra-lightweights. machines under 250cc's, also produced much action and many riders that are marked for road racing stardom in future events. Top: Moth.. uld. scrubs off some speed. Above: Dave Smith won his class ,I dine a Yama a, SULKIN SMOOTH Barry Sulkin was a heat race and main event winner for the machines over 160cc's and was super smooth both times out. Dave Smith looked even better in this group on his 100cc rig as he won his heat race against many of the bigger bikes and then came from 14th in the final to finish a closing second to Suikin. Little John Hately captured the crowds favor aboard his 50cc special that looks like a big bike With the pint sized rider fully tucked in down the straights. Little John has quite a few years to wait before turning' pro but he is sure winner when the time comes. . The new production class for street motors had a huge entry list for all sizes up to and including 250cc machines. Walt Fulton was a narrow winner over Dave Damron in the 250cc heat race but Damron turned the tables and snowed Fulton under in the main event. Frank Fullylove, on a 175cc bested his 200cc competitors with Moe Conserriere upsetting the 160cc class on a 125cc road racer. Roger Bader brought out one of the new Kawasaki 100cc bikes and ran extra fast to capture production honors for the little jobs. There were a few spills but once again the fast tricky Carlsbad course proved to be accident-free. The next sportsmen event by the Playboys will run at Carlsbad on Sunday, February 12th. It will again be open to all rider and will again host a class for production machines. (Results oa page 16)

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