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/125499
ROSS' RACES The banner has fallen and 250 desert riders start off through the sand. By John Shedd II was a long line, as 250 desert riders anxiously awaited tile drop of tbe big Greeves banner and the start of Jack Ross' hare scr_les. The place: Jack Ross' Ponderosa - The time: Easter SUnday, 18:80 a.m. - The reason: The worlds greatest SIIOrt, As the starting line formed, riders checked their gear and made last minute adjustments. Shorty after 10 o'clock, the smoke from the bomh drifted high into the air over the soft desert sand and the sleeping engines roared to life. All eyes were on the banner, as everyone waited for the most exciting type of start in motorcycle racing. There is nothing else (luite like this massive· single line start to envelop one in the suspense of desert racing. The ha.nner feu.. the sand new. and man and machine pitted themselves against each other and the barren desert. It was anybody's guess who led the way to the smoke bomh, hut when the first little cloud of dust came rolling hack from the first of the two 13 mile loops. it was following Bud Ekins. Ekins had a good lead as he powered his way back through the sand for the second loop, facing another grueling 13 miles and the small hike traffic. A Cloud or Dust Minutes after the open class plowed off into the desert and the dust had cleared. the hanner fell for the second time and the trail hikes were on their way. As the engines faded from hearing Pondering the Ponderosa trail. McQueea's Meti sse FIRST TIME OUT FIRST OVER ALL at Po'-ertsa Hare ScraJlllles 3-2&-61 1st RICH THOR WALDSON n aa all aew dtSlgJI 1967 PurSang 250u (5 S'" ) SCUJlILfi --ALSO-2nd (overall) JACK OGLE 150cc PDq (~SIIeedJ -it * ... SOME NEW '61 PURSANG fEATURES: .. and all that could be seen from tbe. starting line was a monstrous cloud of dust, the spectators scampered out along the trails awaiting the return of tbe riders from the best vantage point they could find. With many of the trail bikes still coming in from the first loop, Ricb Thorwaldson, perhaps warming UP for the Ascot opener On APril 7, came. storming past the finish to win fiISt overall on a Bultaco. Jack Ogle, also Bultaco mounted, captured second but he was closely pursued hy a pair of big bores piloted by Marvin Steele and Steve Mc Queen. Eyes were straining looking for Ekins, but it seems Bud was experiencing mechanical difficulties. Wes Anderson, Jr.• who led the first loop was still doing one whale of a job as he took the trail bike win one and a half minutes ahead of Cleve Thomas. There is a funny little story about Wes. It seems he was riding a Yamaha, sporting C-Z forks. which was loaned to him by Barry Eisenberg. Barry had raced at the Ponderosa eight times but hadn't finished any of them. Wes proved that the machine was capable of a win and said the fork change made a great handling improvement. Out of 250 entries only 144 finished. Ninety-three of the finishers were in the open class, and trophies were presented all the way back to the 74th place. Of the 104 trail bikes only 51 finished not even using UP all the trophies Jack had for the class. Thirteenth in the trail bike class was Sandra Termin, who was the first gal to take the checkered flag. Ra)' McCar1J rode stricti)' IlDck 1000ccV_ ha trail bike (lightS. Illn_, etc.), ".Ilbed 17tb .. t of 107 _rle .. After the race. I had a chat with Steve McQueen. and I suppose I asked him the same (luestion that everyone else does. -How do you like your Metisse?- Steve feels that his machine. which was set up by Bud Ekins, is the greatest thing going on two wheels. He says he is only a layman when it comes to mo torcycles, but he feels the machin e is at least eight years ahead of its time. Steve may class himself as a layman. but his riding ability is far above it. Not knowing his pOsition between racing and studio contracts. which we had discussed before the race. I asked him if he would like to have his name witbheldfrom publication. His answer: -Hell No! I'm proud to be apart of this sport.- McQueen says tbat, -Motorcycle racing is the worlds greatest sport and has the worlds greatest sportsmen-. Jack Ross' Ponderosa hare scramhles was no exception. and another of his races en ter the pages of the past. (Results 011 page 16) ... AU NEW ENGINE AU NEW fUME S-spe.d Transmission. 3 main bearings. 4 engine bolt mounts. More Brake Horsepower. Wider power band. 55\2" Wheelbase. Longer travel rear shocks. 6 Ib.. lighter weight. Lower seat height. Larger tank Capacity (2\2 gallons) NOW IN STOCKI for YOir _ares' 1.,·To-Go ....r cal BULTACO 769-0441 - WESTERN 117-2400 Trhllllpb Metlsse enthuslut Ste". McQu_ (center) Is flanked'" Modem C)'cle's HaIY., Tow (left) .d Gordon Karrel.