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/125491
DRAG RACING B\ Boh (ht'lin~ Match races, Funny bikes, new machines and a group of die 8CMItIlland's fastest gas bikes left the spectator with a satisfied auiety for a weekend of great racing, Murray & Cook's twin engine Triumph stood firm in its position as Idng of tile twins, as the well known - Stagefright-, twin engine Triumph of Perry & &:oUy were defeated in three successive races. AlIwc a ccqlle ef tile 1111, bad p •••• CO for &lory plus! Below: Perry (knMUne> and Scotty (_rlDI &la..e" sort out probl_. 10 Slap Frl",t, ....Ieb IIv. up to It. nleknam.. --~--::::!! Flr.t race, aDd lIunay & Cook's double lets !lie ROUND 0 E! Problems developed early for Perry & Scotty when an engine sprocket was sheared from its spline (sounds brutal doesn't it?) The first round was delayed until a welder could be found in the dragster pits. The repair was made and the machines pushed onto the fire-up road. Murray & Cook led the way from the time the towing started. The hikes were staged and the quarter mile finish lights flashed On in the winner's lane. Jim Cook rode the -Flustration· on its winning sprint to an elapsed time of 10.28 seconds and a speed of 150.25 miles per hour. While Perry trailed with an 11 second, 145 mph run. Top Fuel Winners Three Qualifiers were in contention for top performance and expense money, Don McEvoy drew a large gathering as he unveiled the new twin engine Triumph that will soon provide a close chase for all top contenders. But Sunday it wasn't in the chips, for as Tom Whiteman staged the double alongside Ralph Pohl's Triumph single, the problems of new construction showed themselves in the form of a burned clutch. Ralph won this round with a 12.29 second run wt wore a rather downcast look when he next faced SOnny Raslawski's Harley Davidscn Sportster, His expression never chllll1:ed, for the 40 inch single just couldn't stay wi~ SOnny's victorious elimination times of 10.63 seconds and 146.16 miles per hour. Raslawski had turned an elapsed time of 10.17 seconds at Lions the night previous and now he wants Murray & Cook to feel the exhaust of a Sportsster Fueler. a.lllw: llatc:ll wl_r Jim Cook tells It like It was. Class Champions-Street & Gas Cycles of 650cc displacement crowded the drag strip aisles and the street and gas divisions were swept clean by Triumphs. Nira Johnson defeated five top Gas contenders with an E.T. of 11.97 seconds at 114.97 mph while the well groomed street machine of Tony Dodge shoved its way through an equally large class to trophy gold that was won with 12.31-110.42. A group of ten in the E street bike class seemed easily overcome, as Fred Merkel's 250cc Yamaha met each one and arrived hack in the cycle pits with a winner's time ticket. The Yamaha's best was 14.27-93.75 and every elimination was won with a near duplicate perforlllll.nce. One I1Y one the classes were cleared of slower machines and finally there was a winner in each one, waiting for a I------~-------~--------------, I I SALVAGE : co LETE SERVICE- HARD TO GET PARTS IE SERVICE WHAT THEY SELL I 12i& West 4tII St. S. Pedro, Ca~ TE 2.124 Dick Platt L .... ltD.. MOTORCYCLES ONLY I _A 12.5:1 HIGH COMPRESSION PI stOIll Std. to .010 plus HON' - - I : I I R NOVICE & CLASS"C" WRITE TO P....II P......ce IIIDER PO Boll 926 Bend, Ore. 9770 Jump 011 P." & Sc:ott's. chance at the top street and gas honors. The engines were covered with rags or the rid er's jacket to retain heat, while round two of the Stagefright, Flustration hattIe was again rolled out onto the starting road. BOUND 'l1I'O: There were strange things afoot as Perry & Scotty poured a strange purple fuel additive into their 90 per cent Methane mix. Murray & Cook paid it a minimum of attention, as confidence was more nf the additive they needed to secure another round. Again all went well as the two machines fired and staged, but when the lights had traveled the long yellow countdown to green and the clutch levers left the riders grasp, Perry's rear tire traveled 200 feet left and right. whlle the front wheel only went forward for fifty. When the full 1320 feet of asphalt had been covered by the blur of two fantastic fuel machines there was a winner's light in Cook's lane and the clocks were stopped at 10.32 seconds with an average of 151.26 miles per hcur in the last 150 feet. Top Gas at Irwindale Nira Johnson's Gas class victory had not been easy wt it was all only a sample of the race to come. Bill Cbambers won his class on one of the Castest 74 inch Harleys now in contention aDd Nira was aware that 74 inches is a long ways from 40. Triumph and Harley, a repeat of the hattie that is fought many times and Chambers made the error which has decided a lot of races before they are run. He overstaged and drew a big red bulb. Nira left on the green and overcame the Harley's early start with a top gas run of 11.97 seconds and 114.97 miles per hour, The race for top street gave as even a match between the final two machines as the handicap system would have provided. Tony Dodge and Triumph were putting writers cramp into the time writers by repeated low 12 second runs and the Harley Davidson of Lance Haserot made the fingers grow stiffer yet, with identical 12 second ticltets. The only thing which gave TriUlllPh this victory was Tony's consistency in riding skill, and vanQuished Lance was Qnick to admit to this ability as he coogratulated in a true sPDrtsnan fashion" Tony Dodge and Triumph for their Top street victory. Tony's elaPsed time ticket read 12.31 seconds and 80 did Haserot's wt the small ·W· OD the Triumph's ticket told tbe tale. CANOGA PARK 1'~ 7233 CANOGA .';'vE 3463700