Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

CYCLE PROFILES By W.M. A,skins . !i0.. '-. @':~" By Rosalie Adams SCRAMBLIN' AROUND By Maureen Lee We ran into a new subject for mention in our column this paSt Sunday at Perris. One that just might come as a shock to some nt you, and one that doesn't seem to happen too otten although maybe people have been keeping quiet about it. It's sabotage. That's rlgbt, sabotage. 'Ibeart nt disabling sometblng so that It won't run. One time some Ye&lSback we heard nt a case where a Goldie running in the hotly contested 21" -500 class at Prado ended up with a nice dose nt sugar in the gas tank and there was a Novice who was going good at Ascot one season whose carb fell apart just as he got to tile starting line. We never doubted the validity of these tales, knowing the integrlty nt the people who told us about it, but we never saw It. SUnday we saw the evidence. One nt the lightweight bikes was deliberately tampered with, with everything that could be reached in a couple nt hasty minutes tweaked, jerked and bent. Some quick work got the scooter into running order and rider went out and really wailed on his class unW something eise let go, making the point again that a race Is never won unW it's over. So whoever was rotten enough to try tbis in the first place needn't have wasted his time, or part nt himself as a human being, by doing some dirty work. Back-Handed Compliment One way to tbiok about situations like that Is that it's quite a compliment when people figure they can't beat you any other way than making sure your bike can't run rlgbt. 'Ibey must know that you're at least legal or they could have that checked. Some people sure take Sportsman racing seriously though, don't they? JUst would like to catch someone in the act nt doing something like that and I quarantee they wouldn't be handed a daffodil and love. A bash In the chops is the right answer! Next weekend is the big bash in Ensenada and we hear grand tales nthow the course is far different from last year• 'Ibere won't be all that sloppy sand and the· course will be watered, so for a lot nt tun the EDsenada weekend is the way to go. But If South 01. the Border doesn't appeal to yoo, but yoo want to reaIiy try something rough for a change without riding the desert, then head for the Forst Ranch Track. Since the first Molo-Cross held there, several improvements to make things nicer have been installed. 'Ibis time the whole course will be watered, and the pit arlll is extended into something like 4 acres. Problems with land clearance had things packed in a bit tight last time out. Then, too, the ridge from where you can see most nttheactionhas more room on it for the spectators. A new 100cc course has been laid out, leaving out the bill that caused so much grief to some nt the gang last time, and on the big course the nastier turns have been widened somewhat to allow more passing room. So, If you want a preview of one nt the places where one nt the soon-ta-come International Molo-Cross will be held, drive on out to Forst Ranch in Castaic. "'Ibe Grand Old Tuner" is what they call Mel Dlneson, a title which he has so aptly earned in his 22 years in cycling. 'Ibe fact that ~ has his shop in Bakersfield helps to ezplain who so many cycle champs have come from that area. IDs shop today, his tbird place nt business, is one nt the most modern in san Joaquin Valley and still a favorite nt many who are cb,arnps and many who aspire to become title-holders in cycle competition. He has turned out so many winners that those who have developed under his tutelage are otten referred to as the "Dlneson Kids". And, some racers will tell you that It Is more of an honor to beat a "Dlneson Kid" than it is to win a trophy. Mel's first shop in the Bakersfield area opened in 1950, the year that he was listed as one of the ten top tuners nt the nation. J.D. Williams nt Ridgecrest was one nt his rtrst champion TT riders, followed bY Clark White, Sid Payne, Dave Palmer, Digger Helm, and Eddie Mulder (Big Bear winner in 1960 on his 500cc single Royal Enfield.) One veteran cycle competitor commented, "Mel is a guy you just like. Wbetber you're a Novice or an Expert, If you're a cyclist that's enoqgb for him to give yoo the benefit nt anything becan do for you. He Is one nt the few persons I've ever kno1llll who will take you and your bike to a race. But, you bad better bring along an extra can of gas because he always runs oot on the way home. Who likes the smell nt IDendall burping In a truck after you've siphoned it out of your motorcycle? I've never beard one word nt prntanity from hisllps.And, I've never know Mm to take a drop of alcobol." More and better safety rules are Mel's pleas for cycling. But, unW better regulations come along, he says, the thing to do is to enforce those we now have. Right now Mel Is most concerned with road racing and he plans to be on hand for the Nationals at Carlsbad and so at Daytona. And he'll have racers with him. (Ed. note: See Carlsbad story, this issue!) Mel was serving in the U.S. Merchant Marine in 1943 when he dreamed of having his own motorcycle shop. When he was discharged in 1945 he went rtght to work, making his dream a reality, opening up a shop in Oceanside as an Indian dealer. As he recalls, about all he had were two crescent wrenches, a pair nt Ford pliers and a screwdriver • Among his ftrst winners were Bob Turner, who topped a lot of competition in those days, and Bernie Swain, who set the Dan Diego record for the quartermUe. Mel will always have winners; and he'll always be "The Grand Old Tuner." Castaic Moto-Cross M,I Dln,sCIII By 1959 Mel had brought Big Jim Goldsm1th along to the point where he waS the top trophy winner nt the year, with the Ascot halt-mile among his triumphs. The next year he had the top Novice fiattracker nt the nation in .flmmy Plain. in 1963 he had such celebrated winners and Danny Reed, Roy Spiker, Ron Pierce and Rick Newby. This is by no means all of the prestige Mel has gathered in his career. He was one of the top Yamaha dealers in the nation in 1964 and was rewarded with an all-expense tour to Japan. This was the year when he opened his present shop. The second in a series of Europeanstyled Moio-Cross motorcycle scramble races is slated to be held October 1 at the new Forst International Moio-Cross course near Castaic, Calif. Some 150 riders are expected to be on hand for the competition which will Include all classes from 100cc to 750cc bikes. A total nt 10 events are scheduled the first getting under way at 12:30 p.m. QualIfying will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. Admission Is $1.50 for spectators, children tree. 'Ibe 1-1/4 mUe Forst course, newest authentic Molo-cross in the nation, has been selected as the site for the International Moto-Cross ChampIonship meet November 25 and 26 which will see top riders from the U.S. and Europe vying for coveted International bonors. Located two miles south of Castaic ott Higbway 99, the Forst International Moto-Cross course Is reputed to be one nt the most challenging nt Its type in the United States. According to ACA President Wes Cooley two major hills have been widened, additional snow fencing has been installed and a special course has been added for lightweights. In addition, a totally new 5-acre pit area has been constructed and equipped with adequate communications for the riders and their crews. BEA TlNG THE COMPETITION IS OUR BUSINESS Spokebenders M.C. Hare Scrambles September 24, 1967 (California\ Trail Class 1st JACK MORGAN· J-iODAKA 2nd JIM JACKLET· HODAKA 3rd JACK FROELICH· HODAKA Trojan Speedway (California) n·Steeplechase 5epl 21 100cc Jr. Main 1st JIM CONNOLLY· HODAKA 2nd DON EI DE • HODAKA Powder Puff Main 1st KELLY STRUBLE· HODAKA 2nd DIAN E CONNOLLY· HODAKA Sacramento (Cali!.) Trackers High Point Season StandinRs JOHN RI CE , Long 1st TOM CHRISTENSEN· HODAKA Southern Calif. Area Representative H.A. 'NELS' NELSON Pbone (213) 243--1011 Glendale, Calif. No. Calif. Oi stributor LEAVITT POWER TOOL CO. INC. 2265 5unrl se B Ivel, Rucba Cardava, Calif. Phan, (916) 6351970 Oesipell & I~....ed BJ PABAlCO Beilch Honda Service Expert and Oi st. 37 Scrambles point leader beats the competition regularly on the track. Latest victory: FI RST 500cc Expert at Hi IItoppers Scrambles, Perris Park. Sunday. Sept. 24 on his Long Beach Honda 450. For Service and Sales that beats all others, come to any or our four locations: LONG BEACH HONDA * 5105 Atlantic Blvd. - 4Z3-1433 1760 Long Beach Blvd. - 591-1301 11747 E. Carson Blvd. - 860-1354 4328 E. Anaheim Sl- 4~43 ~ Q) :f ~ r.. ~ ..... ... .8 S <.l 0 ~ r..:I Z r..:I -J ~ U

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