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/125521
- Dick "-"S back In t _ and hi. pr.-ce ... certalnly 'e1t at last SatardaJ's Ascot TT•••• spec:lally by Skip V. Le_ _ ($9). Hamm., IDok til. I.ad at til. half.WllY point and _ t on to"'", desplt. Van L_. . . . ffantlc ma_vortnL c T by Maureen Le e Labor Day weekend TT competition at Ascot Park certainly proVided the spectators with al1 the excitemeat they Deeded DO 'll Saturday night, SepL 2. There go were crashes, re-~t&rts ud real ~ bard racing to celebrate Ihe start ~ of Ihe Fall seasoD. ;' The Trophy Dash was won by g Skip Van Leeuwen with another Tri- r; umph rider, Dick Hammer in second, c:l Norton-mounted Dave Palmer in third and the lone BSA man, Eddie ;; Wirth, having mechanical troubles. However, Wirtb was able to make repairs in time for the Main. g AmateDr ElilliDalions In the Amateur qualifying beats probably the best ride was turned in by Roger Goldthwaite (Royal Enfield). Jan Crawford had been holding onto the first spot when Goldthwaite got a tremendous drive coming out of the half-mile turn and took Crawford just before the checkered flag. But come the Amateur semi, the boys really got a little wild. The re were a total of three restarts and when the second ambulance had to leave after the third start, officials decided then and tbere to skip the T event and moved tbe th:ree fastest from the heats into the Main without benefit of a semi. On the first lap, Rick Otto (Triumph) took the lead with the high point TT man Larry Wilburn in third spot. Triumph-mounted Wilburn gave chase determinedly, moving next into second and then challenging Otto twice, bard, but coming slightly unglued each time. Then Otto bobbled badly just before tbe jump and Wilburn took the lead. From then on, that was allo sbe wrote as Wilburn built up his lead nicely. Ron Miller and Rob Harrison, who ended up 5th and 6th, had a real little scrap going, providing the fans with some action to watcb after tbe leaders got sorted out. Dick Mercier took third and Butch Turner fourth.o What with the excitement that had been building up all evening, everyone was wondering who would take the Expert go. In the heats, Van Leeuwen won his over a line-up that looked more like a Main than a heat. Eddie Mulder was in the same heat but didn't make it off the line when his pressure plate and clutch parted company. Ralph White and Jim Berry gave the fans a tbrill when coming out of the half-mile in their heat, with White coming up hard and going to the outside of Berry and alo ng- side the crash wall, calmly reached over and touched Berry on the arm as if to say, -Don't come over buddy, I'm here. N Dave Palmer (Norton) looked fast as did Dick Hammer and a dark horse for a top spot could have been John Fishburn on an Arieltwin, a lonely looking brand among all the Triumphs and Beezers. Hallmer Nails Vu Leeuwen Rich Thorwaldson grabbed off the lead with Eddie Wirth in second. Dusty Coppage and Skip Van Leeuwen were having tlleir work cut out with Dick Hammer right on their tails, but Skipper worked his way up to tbe lead leaving Coppage and Hammer to tussle for the second and third. At the half way {Xli nt Hammer, really flying; was starting to catcb Van Leeuwen and finally nailed bim on tbe start of lap ten, going into tbe North turn. Dave Palmer (Norton) held down tbe fourth but just couldn't come up and cballenge tbe three Triumpll Tigers in front. Van Leeuwen wasn't about to give up, though, and after Hammef almost unloaded Alnat.., polnt I.ader LarrY Wlillum (59x) took tile y.llow-plat. TT final, Rapt' GoldtIlwal to won his hut ,ac•• coming out of the half-mile. Skip pulled rigbt up behind him, tben went out of shape llimself on the ri ght hander after the jump and that was tile end of the Flying Dutchman's bid for tbe first place. The Novices gave their full share of tbe evening's entertainment. Their Main bad a re-start after Jim Peterson didn't make it tbrough turn one; nellt time out two more went down and another re-start. Rick Dnrkee was up in the front third time out but crasbed, leaving Rick James and Cbuck Baker to get sorted out into first and second. James built up a nice lead While Baker finally dropped ba.ck to fourth over-all when two more o-Pelicans" ridden by Steve Ellswortb and Jim Peterson took over the second and third places. All in all, it was a beck of a good TT although we suspect that some of the guys could have done without their bruises, and latest report is that the one s they hauled off will be back in action a~in shortly. (Results on Pages 20 & 21) Cycle Enthusiasts , / ON THE ROAD ~ ON THE JOB , ANY TIME Here is an accident policy that covers all accidents including lIIetortyde riding SalII. aU a.-d as TrCllllrJ Dasll "'nner Skip V. Lom_ receives conpatllalons IroIn Ylvaclous trophy 1I,1s, hallllJ tun.rs and varlou. well·",slIer.. LESS THAN 535 For $5,000 Accidental Death and $2,000 Medical r--------------------------, : -JnQ\W : ; John Maynard I e ! I Motorcycle Specialists 3447 MOTOR AVE. • LOS ANGELES, CALIF. 90034 I : I am interested in cycle accident coverage for. I I 0 I I Self 0 Family : 0° Liability, Fire and Theft I I NAME: I ADDREsS° I CITY; I I , STATE: Z!f':_ _