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/125510
"" .., CLARKE TAKES ELMA TITLE ll.l '" Q" .... .., "" - lory & Pholos by Vic E bbutl Expert rider #65V Dave Clarke of Seattle on a Harley-Davidson was king for the day at the June 4 race at Elma, Washingt()n. Against such sterling competition as four National Numbers - #90 Emil Ahola of Tacoma. #69 Sonny Burres of Portland, #91 Rollie Hall of Kennewick and #62 Dick Taylor of Kirkland - as well as other fine riders, Clar ke won top plac e in tbe Exp ert Main. Although situated in a sparsely populated region, tbe small town of Elma, Washington boasts one of the fastest hall-mile tracks in the entire Nortbwest. Sunday, tbe Grays Harbor Motorcycle CI ub played bast at this track to over 1200 spectators and 130 riders from Spokane. British Columbia, Oregon and the entire Western Washington region. ~. ll.l c:: .:; '" r.J ~ :i!: r.J ..,). Co) ;:.., Co) Fierce Determin&.tion Ron Hopp.I, wlnn.r 01 ".I bat.r .aln shows concentration as b. crosses ".I ftnlsb lin•• SUdJ Saand.s (Trll.pII) crosses lIJI bani _II. tryInl lD 14.. lap lIIl11e 15-1.... ElqIeIt Main shows CI.k. wi" a / In the .A Main, after Abola blew his primary cbain, Clarke took the lead and for 13 of the 15 laps in the event and maintained it over Sonny Burres and Rollie Hall. On the 10th lap, he hit tbe wooden barrier on tbe backstretcb with his hand and broke two fingers but rode the final five laps to victory with his hand dripping blood. When tbey crossed the fioisb line, he, Burres and Hall were inches apart. Dick Taylor, wbo was fourth, was one second bebind at tbe checkered flag. Sonny Burres, wbo is the top ranked TT rider in the nation, as of this date said that never in his life bad he ridden so hard or tried so desperately to catch a man. He waited 15 laps for Clarke to make one mistake but be never did and he took bome first place money to prove it. Ita, .......d of Dick Ascol (HoD). ."ow Iud whll. Hall and Bu"es are 8Rllled In a wb.l. . .hHI duel for s8COlld plac.. Starter IlalS down Hopp. lor ".I Amat.ur tltl .. HOPPE mrs AMATEUR SHOW The Amateur Main was another thrilling race with tbe rising star, Ron Hoppe of Edmonds, on his new Norton Cbeetah copping first place over young Dave Grout of Tacoma who was right on Hoppe'S rear fender the entire distance. Third place went to Randy Bowman on a HarleyDavidson and in fourth was the roaring logger from Elma Von Hogan. The Novice Main was won by Luther Corey, wbo is mainly responsible for building tbe new Maltby TT track nine miles Nortb of Botbell. When he did take a day off from that track, he burned up tbe one at Elma. Easily winning tbe event on his Ducati, he forced Cappy Skeen of Kirkland on a HarleyDavidson to settle for second, and John Smith, a Suzuki rider from seattle, took third place. In fourth was Roger Stanley of Kirkland on his Honda. Tbe Amateur-Expert Main was won handily by Rollie Hall on a Honda but only after a 'fabulous three man fight for placement was Lowell Johnson on a Triumph able to nose out Dick Taylor. Honda rider, and Don McLeod with his HarleyDavidson. Lap after lap after lap tbese three riders were only inches aQl1rt and they roared across the finish line in that order. • During intermission, the fans were entertained by two wbeeii