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/125520
SPROCKETS SCRAMBLES SIZZLE by Stan Coffee With an ever increasing turnout on hand from District 37 and the usual fine array of local talent. the action in Bakersfield was hot and heavy at the latest evening. bash, August 19. Every race seems to come closer to a North-South showdown. Sid Payne, and Jeff Sperry once again waged a fierce battle for Open Expert laurels. Jeff developed a bit of a miss on one bank of his KHR and the resulting loss of power was just enough to make the race almost dead even. Sperry went fast. but Sidney was just a little faster. John Scantlin bested Bob Leppek and Ray Wallis for Amateur honors. The Bridgestone brigade from Taft swept the small bike classes. The brothers Matthews took the measure ofthe ninety classes. David best out Craig Ingalls in the Novice Main and Expert Randy was tops in the .Amateur-Expert final. Jeff Johnson finished second to Randy to take away the Amateur gold. Expert Harry Krugh guided a factory one-se ventyfive Bridgestone to an impressive win in that division. Chuck Parkinson was the Novice honors. Tom Brimage captured the fifteeninch Novice trophy. Tom was long overdue and impressed them all with his smoothness•.Avery Hensley took his first ride on 'something larger than his Hodaka and made it a good one. ,Avery charged to second and pushed Brimage all the way. Ray Tobey bested Stan Sweaney for third. The two-fifty .Amateur-Expert main was a real ding-dong affair. Don Hughes grabbed a quick lead over Jeff Sperry and maintained the advantage throughout, but the real action took place back in the pack. Rick James, Guy Smith, Don McKay, Frank Roseberry and Mike Taylor all wanted to be in third place. Frank and Mi ke unloaded and afterremounting, staged the most furious battle for the next to last ever witnessed. Roseberry won out by inches, relegating Mike to the dreaded last lllace •. James followed Hughes al)d Sperry across to nab third. Smith finished fourth on a Kawasaki twin (superfast). Ron Spellman added another trophy to his collection by grabbing the top spot in the twenty-one-inch final. Ron was followed across by a very fast Novice. Eugene Smith from Ventura, also Honda-mounted. Up From L.A. A large parade of L.A. area riders was led by Bakersfield's Mike Keen in the 500cc round. Clarence Pitman pushed Keen all the way without success; Mike just didn't make a mistake. Bob Ward of West L.A. edged his Matchless ahead of Triumph-mounted Brian Short of santa Monica to'take the Novice prize. The Open Novice class was a clean sweep for District 37. Roger Longhofer of Van Nuys was followed by Santa Monican Ed Bearcroft and Dick Ziker from Los .Angeles. The track surface was in excellent condition and the lighting was better than usual. It all added up to a great night of racing. The next race will be saturday night. Sept. 2. to try and make it. If any rider in the South Bay. Inglewood, or san Fernando Valley area needs his bike transported to Bakersfield that night or has room for more in his truck, call me at Inglewood number 673-0573 and I will haul it myself or arrange for someone to get together with you. Let's go north and give those guys a bad time. (Results on page 16) 250(( MATADOR Torquer lor str..' or dirt 6!h" fork travel For your nurest Bullt-to-ao dealer call TR.7-2400 or PO. 9-0441 Enter Cycle News' New Subscription Contest ! PRIZES - RULES - GRAND PRIZE a Brand New NORTON Poll Dual-Purpose Scrambler. Wait Iii you gel the pink slip on this brawny, man-sized cycle! Ride it on the load as a fine louring Norlon, or take off the lights and PRESTO! Irs a gaspingly fast P·ll Scrambler. Guaranteed to crank off 90-plus quarter-miles and bring home the trophies for you, if you',elhe winner. Entries will be jodged on nRST PRIZE - To Be AnnounCe