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/125500
falcons faster f•• Rifle & 'oller R. Despite the weather man's predictions of rain, a hundred riders, some from as far awa,y as Reno and Santa Monica, entered the Delta Falcons Easter Fun Ride and Poker Run. The Falcons prom- SPROCKETS SCRAMBLES By Stan Coffee A popular question was settled last week at Sprockets Park. Can a fast (CZ) ridden by a top el(llert(Joey Brown) shut down the big iron in a sweepstakes event? Check - Joey did just that. Granted, they bad a staggered start. Granted, open expert Earl Bachant started out last off the line, but the big guys had ten laps to catch the little guys in and they flat couldn't do it. Joey even had the time to grab a few wheelies on the way. We musn't belittle Bachant tbough, He did a great job of wnrking his way past Mike Keen on a five bundred G85, Clarence Pitman's everfast Triumpb, and Midge Griffith's docile Ducati. Rick Elissarras would have been in contention had it not been for his choosing to look for something down on the track at the wrong time. This sweepstakes event way by far the most popular of the day and it is hoped that tbe Sprockets will continue to run it whenever time permits. The rest of the action came off pretty much the same as usual. but there were some noteworthy exceptions: Pete Willis let it be known in the first heat that he was (as he aptly pUt it) "goint to zap the stars,· and he did just that On his big bad Bultaco. Rick Blake tried out Grit's Bridgestone for the first time and gave a good account of himself by finishing second to Pete. One of the "stars·, little Mike Lane, didn't fare as well as he hoped On his new Sherpa, but salvaged his rating by copping the ninety class on his Hodaka. A near upset took place in the two fifty Amateur Main when fifteen year old "Tiger" Tracy Bright came close to nipping perennial class winner Midge Griffith. Midge had to charge all the way to maintain the margin of victory. It was one of the day'S better go's. The rest of the classes were pretty ·much "status quo". Not many new faces were seen in the winners circle. The aforementioned Earl Bachant looked smooth and consistent in the open-expert rounds, despite spasmodic charges by Sid Payne on his Matchiess (that's right -Matchless). ~arlier pressures was a~ plied by the old master Jake Griffith, but mechanical problems forced him out. Joey Brown rode a 650 "Beezer· (as hard as) his CZ, but it just didn't have the -beans.· The action ended well before dark and the well satisfied group departed eager to return for the big one on April 23. Don't miss this one. Remember entries must be in by the twelfth to make the show. (Results on page 16) AWARDS: MaD Miles: Reno Ramblers LODe Distance Rider: Fred Walling, Santa MoDica Oldest Rider: Nick Granados Lafayette Most 8etlous Mishap: Every member of the Callfornia Roadmaster of Richmond lost the course TROPHIES: First place: John Davis, Pleasant Hill 2nd Place: Henry Peterson, Napa 3nI Place: Doris Roobos, stockton Lowest Hand: Cal Rogers, Concord PRIZES: Transistor Radio: Ken serrau, Oninda Wm. A venmltO. Pleasaot Hill ised trophies, prizes, and surprises anu delivered all in fine style. The big SUIprise was free admission for all riders to the Martinez HIHA TS scrambles, The Falcon event cost $1.00 and the races $1.50 so some fancy economics were invol ved. in addition, coffee and doughnuts were served at the start and several merchandise awards were given away at the finish. Soup to Nuts A computer was used to determine who received the merchandise awards. As each rider came in he found his prize awaiting him. These consisted of everything from souP to nuts, including a can of soup and bags of nuts. There were also items such as transistor radios, oil, playing cards, etc. The course wound around the edge of Suisun Day (a tip of San Francisco Bay) through Tilden Regional Park, along Skyline Blvd. (and a marvelous view of the bay area), and down through a canyon and a virgin forest of redwoods. Riders from Reno described it as the best and most beautiful run they had ever been on. Candy: Daniele·SlDith, Sparks, Newda Soup: Chuck Thieman, Concord Nuts: Earl Jenkins, Sunnyvale Fred Walling, Santa MoDica Oil: Marilyn McCulIwn, Vallejo Richard Oswald, Mill Valley C, Dean Hilton, Reno, Nevada Joyce Trumbull, Reno, Nevada Playing Cards: Reo Belcher, Reno, Nev. Paul Juranek, Concord Jess SCott, Manteca Ronald Lacey, Alameda Roy Bisi, Alameda Joyce Smith, Pittsburg Smallest Machine: David Agazzi, Walnut Creek, (¥amaha 80) FOOTHILL TRAIL & SPORT Surprises "& USED Hie's Not all the surprises were planned, nor were the riders the ones to be SUIprised.lt seems the Falcons had planned on having two exceptionally pretty girls to do the greeting at check point four. The girls started out in plenty of time to make it; but rather than following the lime decided to take a short cut and got lost. Over half the riders found the check point unoccupied. Late arrivals will testify that the girls finally got back on the track and were properly equipped. Oh yes! The best surprise of all. The weather man was wrong. It was a perfect day. COMPLETE REPAIR fACILITIES BORING, WElDING fORK & WHEEL REPAIR SERVICE MANAGER MIKE VAN NESS PROFESSIONAL EXPERT #131 6 YEARS PROFESSIONAL RACING ANO TUNING EXPERIENCE. Address U3l VERDUGO BLVD" MONTROSE Phone # 24!H&4I IN MALLORY TRAGEDY Stiei• .,er liled Allove: Scheldqger (left) and Robinson World sidecar champion Fritz SCheidegger was killed in a racing accident at Mallory Park, England, Easter Sunday. The accident happened on the tenth lap of the sidecar -Race of the Year" when Scheidegger's BMW outfit crashed into the barrier at the hairpin. Passenger John Robinson is in the hospital with a broken leg. Marshals who saw the accident said it appeared that the braking system on the outfit had failed. A pieee of brake linkage was later found farther down the track, Colin Seeley, who was lying third at the time, said: "I was braking hard for the hairpin and Fritz rocketed past me. He appeared to be out of control.· The ou tfi t smashed into the bank and Scheidegger and Robinson were thrown into the air. Scheidegger was immediately rushed to Leicester Royal Infirmary, but died. Robinson's condition was stated to be"fair" the following evening. 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