Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

By Don Wallen Quite a large group for this time of year, made it to the latest Elsinore Nillht Scrambles. One bundred and thirty-nine riders and 4QQ-plus spectators sbowed up, wbicb, sollsidering ail the local races, is an encouraging turnout. Vegas Invaders Down from Las Vegas to do interstate battle this week with the regular Elsinore riders were Chuck Hatcher on a Bultaco and friendly arch-rival R. Tooley also, on a Bultaco. 'Our own boys put on a good fight, but the Las Vegans were too much for them. D. Russell, on a Montesa, was able to hold R. Tooley back for one moto. After that it was Tooley all the way wi th C. Hatcher catching a second in the third Moto and E. Olesen a second in the Main. D. Russell rode to a well deserved third in the Main. These guys from Vegas ssid they had to cool it because of a race in Phoenix the next day. All we have to say is come down more often! Foar Straight Bultaco-mouated Jim Dlalbam, MlO bas won bere balf a dozen times, did a &DOd job in the 200 Novice class, running away with all the bardware after 10.. stmigbt wins. Danbam's on1Y cornpeUtiOll came fram L. Raven, 011 a BuItaco, who tOll.. second in the main, and third place B. Bri«, also riding a BuI· taco. lOOcc Bash In the first two motos, a good battle for first place honors took place between Cris Smith, Kawasaki, R. Burkert on a Hodaka, and A. Sparks on a Yamaha. Tbe first two were won by Smith, and Q.uite a battle it was. The third moto and the main event went to Burkert, who is becoming a real threat. Watch out for Cris and Arvil next week, Burkert! The 100cc novice and expert riders comprise one of the largest classes at Elsinore. Some of the rOOcc riders have said, "fhe MERY WRIGHT FEATURE track was made for us.· Photo Finish The closest finish of the night and one of the best duels was seen in the first moto. Elsinore expert Ron Stinnett made his usual hole shot on the field but was dogged right to the wire by hardcharging Arvil Sparks. Sparks finally made good his bid for first place by getting past Ron in the last forty or fifty feet. It looked like Arvil's front wheel was no more than six to eight inches ahead at the finish line. Tbe eventual winner of the main was Sparks after having fought off D. Lenar and Stinnett, both BSA mounted. The novice ranks apin saw tbe detennined riding of L, Davis on bis newly repaired BSA running out in froB t of Art Sparks in second on a BSA, and J, Smith on a Matcbiess, Sweeps In the sweeps we saw Paul Coberly taking the flag by a wide margin against Norton-mounted R. Fish, R. Tooley on a Bultaco, and R. Burkert on a Hodaka. Well, Paul did the job on the big guys for just two laps with the small Hodaka. Tben it was as if Paul had suddenly shifted into reverse as Fish rumbled by on the Norton, followed by Hensley. Luck intervened today for Hensley because hapless Fish fell on the next to the last lap, allowing Hensley to capture the win. 7x took second place and R. Burkert on the Hodaka came in third. Regular races are scheduled for next week. so cross your fingers for wann weather and let's all go to Elsinore. (Rel!l11ts 011 page 20) it three times the first year he's goiug extraordinarily well." Wright was an avid cyclist on the street and used a motorcycle for transportation from the age of 16. "It's a major form of transport over there because the roads are so congested and gas is so expensive. I used to ride all year, in rain, snow, fog and what have Mervyn Wright, fonnerly of England, now of Richmond, Calif., wistfully smiles when he shows you a small bronze trophy on his mantlepiece. "That cost me $3,000,- he says,"It's the most expensive thing in the house." Tbe trophy is a Bronze Replica, and Wright won it in a little more than two hours on the Isle of Man in 1965. Mounted on a sleek Norton Manx )woed by British short circuit star John :::ooper, Wright averaged nearly 90 miles per hour over the six 36-mile laps of the famed Tourist Trophy course. Speeding around the picturesQ.ue i~ land wi th Wright that day were the world's finest motorcycle road racers, drawn by the immense prestige of a win in the TT, the ultimate competition event for road-going two wheelers. you..- [a Basiaess With a Banger 25th At The Island! Running in a field of 150, through a continual downpour of rain, Wright came in 25th in a race where merely finishing is a great feat. Curren tly a top regular in California AFM racing, Wright is still a fierce competitor on 50 and 125ccHondas,Orrin Hall's 250cc Parilla, and a newly imported kneeler sidecar Sunday, March 26, dC~~. - Despite the tremendous popularity of cycle racing in England, Wright didn't enter competition until he came to the United States five years ago. "The only reason I didn't race in England was I couldn't afford it and there are too many people there who want to compete," he said. "The English road racing season runs from APril to October, about 92 meets, and every one is over-subscribed," he explained. "Over there a new rider buys his machine and if he Rets to ride RlchlDOnd, Callfomla'llI.", .rlPl push.s off on the start DI the 1965 '"I. DlIIan TI. Wright got interested in American racing when he arrived in the United States and found that to continue his medical practice (he was a podiatrist in England) he would have to take two years of pre-med classes. ·1 couldn't see going back to school full-time for two years and trying to support a family, too, so I got a job in a motorcycle shop." he says. Shortly after taking the job, Merv bought a Manx Norton and was in the racing business with a bang(er). He had to sell the Norton later to get the money to make his Isle of Man trip in 1965, so when he was offered a ride on a pair of Hondas own ed by J&K Cycle Inn of Richmond he jumped at the chance. The machines were later sold to Marvin Hambrick, ex-world champion skeet shooter and owner of a chain of Giant Hamburger stands in the Richmond area, who continued to sponsor Wright. Although Merv is devoted to racing, he concedes there are some times when it is extremely frustrating. ·1 remember in the Senior race on the Island," he recalled, "r was running along the Sulby Straight, a fiat area about a mile long and dead straight. I was doing about 127 mph when I was overtaken by Mike Hsilwood on the MV four doing about 40 miles per hour faster than I was." "Tt nearly sucked me off the bike."

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