Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

·,SSOUI, SHOWS 'UI TRIALS By Tom Finlay The st. Louis Two Stroke Cluh, an AF\l affiliate, has organized four English trials since the first of the year. The latest event left winner Lee Cowie, of st. Louis, hruised hut contented. The course consisted of sixteen ohseIVed sections conjured UP hy volunteers Joe Vaclavik, George Suedkamp and Bob Stephens. Cowie, wbo has been the driving force behind the St. Louis AFM branch for many years, lost only 18 marks on his Bultaco trials model. He was followed by Jim Willingham on a Greeves, with 21 marks lost. The novice award went to Keith Davis, Bultaco, in the constant Davis vs. Bill Wasko duel but Wasko was overheard remarking about "too many all night parties and champagne for breakfast.· A rarity virtually unknown to westerners was the light snow that fell during the rider's meeting! On to Florida &Ild the home of the brave - Daytona International Speedway, the finest racing plant in the world. This &Ilnual Speed Week for cycles bas gained popularity far beyond predictions in the past two seasons. One of the main reasons is the open-book-type of participation by factory racing tealJlS. Daytona is the only cycle racing event in the USA that does not take on a complete look of a national holiday for one and all who hold a $20.00 racing license. There are many -pretenders· at Daytona but they are far overshadowed by the real pros who still are attempting to make all or part of a living from racing. All other national events look like open season for any and all who can drag two wheels and an engine through the pit gates, but Daytona separates the men from the boys and the progressive factories from the over-nighters who want to see cycle racing remain a backyard affair. The American public demands pro-fessionalism when they are asked to pay top dollar to gain entry to any show. Factory teams such as Yamaha, H-D, Triumph, BSA, Kawasaki and Suzuki provide just that, once a year, at the f;llJled speedway. Every top road race in America is slated to ride on one of these teams in the lllO-mile 250cc race or the big bike 2lMHnile national. Another "yamaha Scoop Lany lbomu attacks hi scours. til bec:oll. tl.d for 2nd In AAI Trial points. 1967 points standings after four events show Lee Cowie leading with 24, followed by Willingham and 1964 AFM National Trials chamPion Larry Thomas tied with 18 points. Points leader Cowie is the 1966 AFM trials champ and seems bent upon retaining his title. In mid-April, the Pan American Racing Association (PARA) will hold it's annual National Trials Championship and an AFM team will contest the Kansas event. COmPlete results and current points standings on page 16. CASTAIC COUISE- Silver CUP III Now for this year, Yamaha will again score another first. Their latest scoop is to bring Canadian champ and former Grand Prix winner, Mike Duff to Daytona to ride On the 250cc tearn and then team with Tony MUJ1lby and tryout the new 350's against the 500's and 750's in the national 200 miler. Yamaha was the first to send a top fligbt American rider across the waters. Gary Nixon was the lad last year at the Grand Prix of Japan and you all know by now what a job he did. The Yamaha company has set the pattern and led the way to placing a touch of much needed color and professionalism to the sport. They were the first to actually come out with a bona fide "Team·, the first to place their select riders in matching racing leathers, and the first to paint all team machines allke. They were also the first to pay the years he has been competing, he has broken his legs approximately 14 times. Since Larry isn't such a young man any more, we probably will not see him competing again. He had done well enough in the other two motos to still finish in second place and some silver for his pains. Behind Larry came Al Fox, Honda mounted sporting the Shamrocks' colors. In the Open event, Richard V incent, Triumph mounted, took first place. In hot pursuit came Lyle Taylor, and pushing Lyle was Bill Fillmer, also Triumph mounted. riders a respectable fee for just riding the factory e 01 ~ (;) ~ [oJ ~ [oJ ..,J u :>-. u Hooray for Calif! California sends its largest and finest Itroup to Daytona this year, They won two of the four major events down there in '66 and there is no reason to think that they won't do beUer this 'year. Grahhing the tiger by the tail we will go with Dave Smith to win the novice event, Walt Fulton and Jim Odom to be tops in the amateur lOD-miler and lf it is possible, Gary Nixon, to become the first rid er to ever win both the 250cc loo-miler and the big bike 200nationaL f-~---~i:-\\"""i~~t~\\~1 ~\\,~t\\"'\ I E~S I tlt~t l{ I Clnbs & Colors The rough and tough mota cross riders were at it again March 5 at Castaic. There were so many machine s in the 250cc Amateur class that two separate Moto cross series had to be held, with all point winners running in a final event. The ultimate winner was Don Shore on a Greeves, wearing the Prospectors' colors. Don had done a terrific job earlier in his three motos and looks like one of the up and coming rough scrambles riders in the SOuthern California area. 3 Tries For A Prize On a tough tight course such as Castaic Park, the rider faces a real challenge. He has three opportunities to race and U he does not do well in one, he has two more tries to accumulate points in order to take home a prize. Speaking of trophies, most of the wives were thrilled that they could use some of their husbands' newly _won silver dishes and plates in prominent places in their homes. The lightweight moto cross winner, Al Barker on a Hodaka, did an outstanding job. It is amazing to see these lightweight machines get around this rough and tumble course. The 200cc class went to John McOoy on a Yamaha. In the 350cc event, John Maynard, Honda mounted, put on a spectacular show. Hot in pursuit was an old time rider and a friend of many, Larry Reed riding a 350 Bultaco. In the last event, Larry spUn out and fell, suffering a possible broken left leg. In talking with Larry after his accident, he stated that he felt this signalled his retirement. He also revealed to us that in the past many All the entries in the open class were Triumphs and most of the blg machines got around the cou rse

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