Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

- UPSETS MARK SPROCKETS SCRAMBLES 2 . . . . . TAlIS 10 . . ..... .= .. ~ Mrs. Dorothy Fromm, of 12249 215th street, Hawaiian Gardens, recently purchased her first motorcycle from Long Beach Honda in Lakewood. Motorcycling was an entirely new experience to Mrs. Fromm. She didn't know how to drive a car and had never even ridden a bicycle. SOon after her son bought a 90cc Honda, the bug bit, and she knew she must have one of her very own. Her only fear in learning to ride was that her grandchildren might outrun her on their tricycles. store manager, Dick Squires, a very capable instructor, took Mrs. Fromm to the Long Beach Honda's ample ridilli area where new riders receive instruction. The first step in the learning process was explaining how to operate the vehicle and letting the student familiarize herself with the bike. After a thorough understanding of the operating procedure, it was time for that first ride. Mrs. Fromm sat in the front operating the foot controls and holding on to Mr. Squires' wrists, as he sat behind operating the hand controls. Off they went on that first ride! Mrs. Fromm was a very good student, and in less than half an hour, she was handling the bike alone with Mr. Squire s si tting behind giving directions. Within forty-five minutes, she was riding aione and having a ball. As a result of having a good instructor and practice, Mrs. Fromm is now a good rider and enjoys riding by Stan Coffee Three perennial winners were knocked off of their pedestals [or the first time in many moons at Sprockets Park, June 24th. Sid Payne was put down in the Open Amateur-Expert go by Butch Turner, who traveled down [rom Kerman. Payne was handicapped to the back row but Turner was right beside him. As they moved out of the first turn, Butch was already stretching a iead over the pack. Sidney moved to second immediately and began the long chase. Most of the loyal Payne fans figured it was only a matter of time before their man made his move, but Turner had other ideas. When they took the flag it couldn't even be called close. Turner had zapped him good - ask Sid Payne. New Hero her motorcycle through the desert. She looks forward to each weekend, when she and her family load up their bikes and head for wide open spaces and a weekend of motorcycling fun. Don Hughes was the • Star Smasher· in the 250cc Am-Exp. Main. Joe (the star) Brown had to settle y d wire for number two. Hughes Ie to wue, wh11e Brown more than had his hands full with Butch Bivens, Tracy Bright, Mike Taylor and Rick Blake. Second and third positions changed hands no less than five , , " hmes, w1th Joe:y fmally rowing the group at the hae for, number two glory. Bivens ed~ed BTlght and Taylor to ,grab the third spot. -BIg Daddy Long Legs·, Avery Hensley, finally reaped the reward he has long awaited. He won the 90cc Amateur-Expert class over Mike Lane Lane was leading half • h h w3:Y throug~ the last lap 11', en e eVIdently pIcked up a stray pIece of carbon on the o,ld electrode. H1S ~odaka momentanly faltered. allow109 Ave~y and Jeff Johnson to scoot by the little Expert. Why Not? No real upsets came a bout in the other battles, but a new face or two was 'Seen in the winners circ;e. Ted Mainini came over from Veatura to take on the Open Novices and took home a huge first place trophy and the ·Wheelie Champ· silter platter. Ted also ended his wiru:ing wheelie With a spectacular crash - just for the crowds sake (real snowmanship). Dale Graham came south from Mendota with a Morrtesa tucked in his truck to do battle with a brigade of Bultacos. It couldn't even get a good skirmish out of them while winning the 250cc Novice division. The 50 and 90cc Main was a Ron Tobey affair all the way. F,red Gregory and Bobby Owens ap!'liedpressure at varymg pomts dunng the ~o. but Ron mastered them all. An 10teresting sidelight developed when , DarrellSmlth rl7 n off the t,rack at the ~nd of the straIght and disappeared 1n th,e darkness., D!I;vid, Matthev.:s, who IS usually flghllng 1t out WIth Darrell for a 50cc trophy, saw the mishap and gave up a possible trophy position to stop and make sure there was no damage. Steve Davis continues to improve , ,,' smce J01rong the two !lUndred raD!'s. Steve won out over RI<;:hard !"erelra, o~ Tull!-re, and Cecl1 Bailes" of VIctorVIlle, to garner the top NOVIce award. One of the best 500 Amateurs going, Clarence Pitman, took the measure of the 30,50's. Pitman was in command all the way. Mike Keen, who has only recently moved up to Amateur, finished second and Wes McAllister topped the Novices with a third overall. (R_Us OIl ...Ie 16) r-liiriiiiisiiuir" 1 ..I ByRoxyRoc:kwood As predicted, Bart Markel was the class o[ the Tulare National last the track was too rouBh in spots but all. OLD SPORT, NEW TWIST There ain't a thing you can't do with a motorcycle. Rodeo cow hoy Bob Marcellus of Riverside, Calif. proves the point by giving an old sport a modern twist. This bulldogger got to his bull on the back of a Honda 300. The trick to the st unt no w is how do you let go of the bull? Pilot for the dynamic duo is Frank Kennedy of santa Ana. The bulldogging by motorcycle fad was started at a Riverside stable which normally caters to horseback riders. PASSE GER PEGS FOR YAMAHA TRAil MODELS ITE pll Y-JOO $5.90 a set (retail) ,..... 1 .,.,., J ii ..... "ps ,. N., ....... RIDERS SEE YOUR DEALER. WE DO NOT SELL RETAIL ~ PACIFIC BLVD. 4915 VERNON, CALIFORNIA PH. 589-5488 Saturday niBht. Some of the riders said it didn't bother Bart, wbo can ride them He now has won two Nationals . and climbed three more spots on the National point ladder. He moved from lith to 8th and look for him to climb again after the Castle Rock National 'IT this weekend. He nearly won Castle Rock two years ago, and was beat out in the final two turns by Dave Palmer the same goy who upset Skip Van Leeuwen in the Ascot 'IT last Saturday night. Markel lIoves The door is wide open for Markel to move up in the National point race, since current leader Gary Nixon did not even enter Castle Rock last year and failed to Qualify for the show two years ago. George Roeder, who is second place in the current standings, told me at Tulare that he will not be at Castle Rock because he had to fly home and take care of the farm so that he can return to the West for the Portland mile National on the 16th. Like Nixon, Roeder would just as soon pass up a'IT. Fred Nix aiso moved up in the National standings from the Tulare race but is another rider who is far short on 'IT experience. This means that the Castle Rock race should be the golden opportunity for Mert Lawwill, Markel, Chris Draayer and Dick Hammer to move up and really tighten those National standings when all head for the mile that they all can ride well enough to win. Tulare took a heavy toll of equip. ment. It was surprising to see how many riders went to the pits with bad engines. It was also the first time I can recall that Sam Tanner. Dan Haaby and Ralpb White were all spectating at once when a Main Event came around. Right now, on the basis of N ationals this year and what was done at Tulare, you can look for Chris Draayer or Dan Haaby to be the next riders to win a National event of the large group of riders that are still looking for their first big one. Dark Horse Huby Add to this list, Skip Van Leeuwen, whom we pick to WID National at Castle Rock this coming Saturday ni ght. The unpredictable Skip is as ready as he will ever be to win his first big one. I! you like surprises then go with Dan Baahy to win Castle Rock. He can upset the many 'IT specialists that will be on hand, including defending champ, Eddie Mulder. The Amateur race at Castle Rock will be a two rider affair between Jimmy Odom from California and Mark Williams from Eugene, Oregon. Odom is red hot right now on both the half mile and the 'IT's. Williams h as his work cut out. All in all the Tulare event came off in good shape. They had problems with the track that were unavoidable and the officials handled the problem as well as anyone could. Hank Gendusa and his experienced crew worked their first national and Bill Cumbie and Tom Clark promoted their first national event. There were a lot of firsts at Tulare. Look for more in the coming seasons. Tulare will also host two half miles in August, on the 12th & ~6th. Both are Saturday night events. Chuck Jones, Mel Lacher and Sammy Tanner return to half mile action at Ascot this \\leek on Friday night to again resume those weekly battles that are unsurpassed for pure thrills and close racing. Keeping The. Honest A last note to riders who may think about stretching the AMA rule book. Up at Tulare, in the novice race on Friday night, the first rider across the finish line rode straight to his truck, loaded the machine in record time and refused to let the officials look at the engine. This same rider had a too-thin frame break in half on him at Ascot about a month ago. He was not paid for his illegal efforts at Tulare and a refusal to allow the officials to look at your engine, according to the rule book, will bring this same rider a one year suspension. Keep it honest men. It is better in the long run.

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