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BAKERSFIELD HlllellMBS A-GO-GO
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By Jack BumeUe
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Hi gh Fightiag
Bakersfield was invaded Sunday by
the Campbell Motorcycle club from San
Jose and when the dust bad cleared tbey
almost needed a special truck to carry
bome all the trophies. Eighteen members
of this club traveled the eighty miles to
the oiltown and they even won a tropby
for tbe most man-miles traveled to compete.
Frank Durso of tbe Eastside M.C. of
San Jose was tbe major exception to tbe
sweep by the Campbell Club. Frank took
a four foot trophy for winning the open
event. Frank and his BSA flew to the
high mark on the grass bill. The !light
UP was so exhausting for Frank tnat he
sat by his bike right where it stopped on
the bill and waved the other riders on,
but none of them could even come close
to his mark on the slippery grass. Frank
also took a 2nd place trophy on the
regular hill in the 650cc and open event.
The hill seemed particularly viscious
and rough as rider after rider flipped. or
flopped trying to make tbe toP. Only four
riders conquered the crest all day. The
hill seemed to be fighting back. kicking
the bikes out from under the riders and
tben pusbing rider and bike back down
the steep grade. No mercy was extended
and only tbe quick work of tbe club members working on the hill saved riders
from wearing out the seat of tbeir pants
sliding to the bottom.
As usual the big bikes provided the
most spectacular action but Manuel
Ponte, of San Jose on an 80cc Bridgestone managed to make 80 feet and Jimmy Danford took both first and second
in the 200cc Novice class riding two
different Bultacos to 139 feet and 129
feet. Buzz Silva from San Jose took first
in the 200cc expert class buzzing bis
Bultaco to 205 feet.
Joe J. Ponte, a San Jose amateur,
made the best ride of the day, clawing
his way UP the bill and over the top in
8.44 seconds. Joe took first place.
whipping all the experts and novices in
the 650cc class. None of the experts
were able to make it over the top, but
THREE novice riders· outwitted the hill
and went over the crest. Ed SChweitzer
at 9.91 copped the first place trophy and
Mel Cunha at 10.29 took second. Larry
Smith, San Jose, took home the third
place gold with a time of 11.30.
8 Feet Makes a Winner
In the 250cc Novice class only eight
. feet separated the winner Doyle Sanders
at 148 feet from second placer Roy Tannehill of San Jose at 140 feet. In the
250cc expert class Manuel Ponte, Jr.,
san Jose. managed to make 180 feet to
take the trophy on his second run after
a hard luck tryon his first run when be
barely made 83 feet.
In the 350cc class. Louie Wood eked
out a win. again by only eight feet wben
he made 158 and Billy Bryant made 150
feet on his Honda to take second.
Jim Schweitzer piloted his Harley 45
almost to the top to take the 500cc trophy at 222 feet. Clayton Cotlett, riding
a Honda. made a good fight of it by
:limbing to 200 fee t to take second.
When it was allover everyone agreed
it had been a full, exciting day, and the
oil town club. tired from hauling bikes
down off the hill all day. went home
with the knowledge that everyone had a
lot of fun. And that was what it was all
about.
(Results on page 16)
