Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

ACA THIRD ANNUAL OPENER ROAD RACEl WILLOW SPRINGS RACEWAY Photos by .Dave Gooley AIIove: A couple of future road race pilots peer throuch the plulClas of St."e Galbraith's racer. RIFt N... ber one. and stili trylnc harder, Buddy Parriott. AIl three of the ingredients necessary for aD excellent racing day were available at Willow Springs for the first national points race for the ACA on February 5th. The weather was absolutely beautiful. running in the high 70"s and low 80' s ail day, wi th very little wind. The track was in excellent condi· tion as the heavy rains had washed 0[[ all the loose rubber, aDd the good field of riders were eager to get back on the road racing circuit for 1967. Above: Steve (24) McLauchlin wtnnlnc the 250 production class. And Below: The 250 Grand Prix chase, both on Kawa saki s. Kawasaki Does It Again! The lightweight production event over-all winner was Alan Spears from San Bernardino on a Bultaco. beating out last year's champion. Barry Provisor. also Bultaco mounted. The heavyweight produc tion win went to an old racer, James Bassey on a Harley-Davidson. second on the road and second in the Open class was Hugh McLean, last year's Open production champion. on a Harley-Davidson. First in the 250cc production class and third on the road was Steve McLaughlin on a 250cc Kawasaki. As we said. it was an excellent day for racing and one of the largest sPectator crowds turned out for an opening event ever seen at Willow Springs in the last three years. We hope this is a good indication that grand prix racing is gaining spectator interest in Antelope Valley. ~ g t:l " :; 1:1 ~ S ,g ~ Below: West & Baker stretch out on their new BMW kneeler. All grand prix classes, 50cc through Open. were run, as well as Production classes and a side car demonstration by Bob Bakker and Ron West on a brand new BMW kneeler. Judging from their first outing. we think this will be a real competitor and winner against the side cars now running or being built. In fact. Bob would like to extend an open challenge to some of the other side cars to come out and compete at the next ACA road race which will be the Challenger on March 19th. Ron West and Bob Bakker are not new at this side hack racing. The first side car seen in this country since the war waS built by these two men back in 1959. but because of the lack of interest at that time in road racing, especially in the side cars, Ron and Bob switched to solo machines. Now. with the interest being generated, they are coming back to one of their first loves. the side cars. First grand prix of the day was open to the 50cc Class I and Class II and 100cc machines. The over-all winner was last year's 100cc production champion Jeff Pasternak on a Yamaha. In hot pursuit was Terry Grotefeid on a Honda. and behind Terry came Colin Jones, also Honda mounted. Colin was last year's Class I 50cc champion. The 50cc Class II event went to Paul Wilde, one of the top short track racers in the SOuthern California area. Paul was Yamaha mounted. TD 1A Yamaha had an absolute runaway finishing well out in front of the pack. Bob didn't have it Quite so easy in the main event. steve McLaughlin. riding a new Kawasaki Passed the Yamaha in tbe early laPS and continued to pull away. finishing with a substantial lead over Bob. Third place went to Marv Fleming from Lancaster on a TD 1B Yamaha. Fourtb place went to Steve Pederson on a Yamaha. This was the first 250cc grand prix machine Steve has had the opportunity to participate on; most of his previous racing has been on smaller Ixlre machines. The final grand prix event of the day was open to 350. 500cc and open machines. The winner. this year's number one point man and national champion in the 500cc class. was Buddy Parriott on a Norton. In hot pursuit was Art Baumann from San Francisco On a 350 Honda. The open class win went to J .C. Williams. Norton mounted. Tbe heat race winner in this class. Dave Alex" ander. had a few mechanical troubles and ended UP finishing second in the open class main event after his impressive win on his Harley in the heat race. (Results on page 16) is' g .. llI: .. ! 3·Way Duel Most exciting event of the day was the second grand prix event open to 125cc and 175cc machines. There was a three-way duel between old friends and past champions. After 20 miles. at the finish line there was actually only a half hike length separating the eventual winner, Bruce Shaw. Honda mounted. from Chief Galbraith. last year's 125cc champion. who was Bultaco mounted. In hot pursuit, and finishing third place over-all and third in class was Jeff Pasternak on a Yamaha. Throughout the entire event. every one of the front three riders led at one time or another. and it was a down-ta-theflag finish. Fourth place over-all and first in the 175cc class went to Dick Tetz on a Honda. The next Grand prix event of the day featured the 250cc class. Earlier in the 250cc G.P. heat race. Bob Barker on a " c ~ o o J.D. (13) WlIII.a, W.,. (14) F1lckl. . . and T_ (111) ROY.,. off lD tile start of • ...dtlal~e'"

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