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/125501
Ron Pierce (97) looked eood; so did Jolin Spraeue (37), but neither nnlshed the Amateur Main. Wild aad woolly raei ng, a ratber spectacular crasll over tbe jUqI, a tremendous sIIowing by Ibe new Bultaco five-speeds, riders cuning, tbe course and protests filed, made Ibe first TT at San Gabriel really a good 01l1!! The way the Novice Main was to end was shown early in the evening, when in the second novice heat Bill Cody on a Suzuki ran off and hid from the opposition. Come the main, Cody zoomed into the lead again with a real go developing behind him between Midge Griffith and John Riggen on one of the new 'Tacos. Riggen, with all stops pulled, finally got by Griffith (Ducati) and that was th e way they took the flag. Expert Main A Gasser The Expert Main was a gasser witb spectators \\Ondering WIIo would gp oU in Ibis one. Dick Hanmer took the early lead with Skip Van Leeuwen right after him. SlUp, WIIo was riding better than we've ever seen him for slIeer smoothness, was overhauling Ranmer. In spite of being one of those wbo cut the course (wbich was to cost bim his first place eventually) be caught Hanmer and passed him over the second jump. Dave Palmer, on a horrendously fast Norton, had been booming up behind and was now in third, with Gene Romero in fourth, after working UP through the pack. Palmer finally nailed Hammer. and on the yellow-nag lap, Romero ducked under Hammer to end up with third place. The protest mentioned before was upheld, moving Van Leeuwen back to second and Dave Palmer on his snortin' Norton into first, Big Boys Novice honors went to Suzuki-mounted Bill Cody, here scallne the San Gabrie' helchts. When the • big boys· took to the track the fun really started. There has been a change since last year in the back section of the track layout. It is really FAST with some of the riders having trouble keeping on the course on some of the turns. Quite a few of them made a short voyage through the boonies and back onto the track again. The Amateur Main saw Ron Pierce blaze into the lead only to drop it, leaving Jim Odom as the front man. Second place was see-sawing back and forth between Larry Wilburn and Lloyd Houchins. Wilburn was one of the unfortunates who had to take to the weeds, and although he ended up second. was moved back to the third spot in the final count. Tropky Dash The Trophy Dash also had its share of good riding. The line-up was composed of Skip Van Leeuwen, Swede Savage, Gene Romero and Dusty Coppage. Van Leeuwen took the lead with Coppage going like a bat out-of-you-know-where behind him. Dusty took one of the now famous trips off the track, but caught up again. only to drop it hard in a real slideout. The dash ended witb Van Leeuwen first, Savage second and Romero third, with a time of 1.07.86. (Results on page 16) .7~7e44· 7~ 11726 Santa MoDI ca BI VII. !!.~_a:-s Aneelea Ph: GR 3-1101 DUI:.KI ; A SPEQALTY! . Winner of the Amateur semi was Marty MacDonald (14x), last year's leadlne U.S. Novice. He went on to nnlsh fifth In the Main. Also transferrine to the nnal were Jan Crawford (45z) and George SUrber ($Or). 'O~Etl c.~tlc.'" tlES~ and development co. Z69 ORANGE AVE •• GOLETA,CALIF •• 93017 PH. a05-967~91SJ THE HOME OF CHAMPIONS! l******************• * HONDAS - * : : * LOWEST PRICES IN SO. CAL. * * * * * * '******************.. Gartn. Enterprises 2073 W. Pacific Coast H.-y. Lomita, Calif. 326-3810 & nS-1802 ..