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/125498
... HARE seRA BLES AT HI VISTA OIl ~ Q" By Ilicll Wlicbt J.N. Roberts, #13 oa a 360cc Hnqvama., _lied Ilis way to first overall o. a IOIIp, cIIom ad saady 16-lIlile coarse d1at wu really a test of ... aDd aem.e. . The race was started twice because of a mix-up on the starting truck. On the restart. Howard Beach. #33 on a Triumph. led it to the smoke bomb. with Larry BergQUist J. • Roberts bu cood rea_ to lIIIIi1e after victory lD Lost Angels !bree-loop Hare Sctambles.1be2ll-miJe ~pre_1ed IIIlUIfcllalleaeestoJ.N.and bis IU8~ Husky. on a BSA Victor right behind him. These two riders were really moving in this twisting. choppy sandwash where the smoke bomb was set up. There was a 45-degree turn in the rough and Beach never let off, looking as though he was determined to take the overall win if the bike could stand it. .After the smoke bomb. the course went up a deep. winding sandwash onto a sandy trail for about two miles. then back into an uphill sandwash. The course turned left out of the wash down a steep, sandy hill about 30 feet long. then back into a sandwash which ran downhill for about 4 miles and turned onto a milelong fire road. finally coming back into a sandy trail. Heading back to the pits. there was an .Ascot-type 'ump that sent some of the riders J airborne. then one mile of trails to the pits. TOllgh Break For Beach It was going to be a 3-1oop race. and coming into the pits the first time around Howard Beach was still the leader, with J.N. Roberts 0011' running second and Bob Belt. fIx. bolding third spot. Beach was still in the lead on the sec:md loop. but by this time the course ..as really tom UP with deep ruts. and after the second gas check it began to take its toll on Beach's hike. The machine just quit _ a tou.... break for the ..... 17-yeapoold )lotshoe. Roberts then moved into the lead and held it to the finish line. with Belt only one minute behind. OUVel' Ancel. #470. lID _tear 011 a 580cc TriUlllPb, took tb1nI ovenall IIDd finJt amate.-. lnlYellDc well ID fast S&evelUlllperlonaed well. fiD18IIed 12.... ~y. Kea 1I.aad8eD, HZ on a TrioveraU ud first Opell Expert, bat be maly beat Mile Palricll by aIIout a loot after a really ptty race to !be nahl! . fifth. toll, _ ... d . llDe. Patrick. '4 on a 0'" ..... WllB . . . . . . Hassle A. The S.art •• Getting back to the start of the race, there was a large turnout of 360 big bikes and lightweights. and there were only two guys doing the marking, which took a little time. The radio man on the starting truck goofed, not realizing that there were a lot of riders who had not gotten their starting checks. and gave the word to drop the banner. One man dropped bis side of the banner. but the other was not reallY. his side was stuck in a vice. and half of the riders took off. Most of them got the word at the first check and came back for the restart a balf-hour later. What are you going to do? It wasn·t the riders' fault. because they did tlY to drop the banner. Just one of those things•.. It is very difficult to run off a perfect desert event. as there is so mucb ~ volved. but it is even harder to do if you don't have enough members. I can't say enough about the organization displayed Qy the Ridgecrest sandblasters last week at the National. It was a good example for all of us. Two points I would like to pass on: I. They had a lot of members wearing jerseys marldng the gas tanks. and the boss. J.D. Williams. ..as standing out in front where evelYone could see him, making sure that all riders got their checks. He then ...alked through the line of bikes and gave the signal. 2. Their pit area was over 100 feet wide. givingthe guys plenty of room to race through. and no one was walking through the area. A winding. 2O-foot..ide pit area is not enough room to race in. ABOUT 11IE WINNER: JoN. Roberts' Uusqvama was timed at Tracy's sIIop lD G"",ves rider Hob Belt took second overall. Ilrst %:10« E_rt.