Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

PONDEROSA By Wes Anderson Sr. It was a clear day at the Ponderosa on ,.; .8 Sl Ducat! Meccanica, one of th~ world's foremost motorcyclemanutacturers,have :.. announced that th4lr 1968 line of motor~ - cycles will Include ten different models raug1ng trom lOOCc Cadet to the power1111 new 350cc overbead cam Scrambler. 'I1Ie new Ducati macb1Des introduced In this country by the Berliner Motor Corp for 1968, embody a series of techmcal adftDces and performance, all of wb1cb the Ducat! factory were able to incorporate in the standard production of tbe1r 1968 models. New Scramblers for 1968 Ducat! overhead cam Scramblers have long pleased the sports rider who seeks b1s tbr1lls on tile open road as well as ott the beaten path. The 1968 Ducati 250cc and 350cc Scramblers have been fitted with a new llgbtwelgbt beavy-duty competition fork. lbIs double acting telehydraulic fork ls fitted to the new tube trame at a new rake angle and bas a travel of 6-1/2 inches. The new forks on both tile 250cc and 350cc models are fitted wltb expandable rubber dust covers. The feDders have been re-deslgnedtoglve tile mac blM a cleaner and sportier appearlIDCe. .. Otber changes in tile 1968 Scrambler models include an tmproved starting II)'S1em, extra deeP and ttrm competition-type saddle and three-way competlt1011 type adjustable rear sbocks absorbers, fitted witll expandable rubber bellows. The 1968 Ducat! 250cc Scrambler F.bares of the 1961 Ducat! lOOcc lIo...taln.r Include I.e. alloJ cJllnder, chromed IIn.r, alloJ head and ,,_rous coollne fins. Heat ellard, lu"a" rack and reinforced bars are standard equip_I. Diana Sports for 1968 The 250cc overbead cam Diana MIt III Is a fast and reUable model (previously road tested and confirmed to be the fastest 250cc production motorbike"out of tile crate" at 110 mpb.) 'lbe '68 model Is llgbter; the starting system, as on all overbead cam models, bas been Improved. To meet the valous electrical stand8rds, establlshed by state safety regulations, the Ugbtlng system bas also been improved. Otber features tbat have made tile DIana Mk m popular with sports rider, include a new sports cam sbatt, 150 mph speedometer, 12,000 rpm tachometer, tuned exhaust pipe and megapbone as well as a trim Plextglass wind screen and number plate. "Extras" included at no additional cost witll tile DIana Mk m include a second set of flat sports type handlebars, a standard street muttler, carburetor air cleaner, a variety of carburetor jets and a selection of- valve adjusting caps. Docali Lightweights In tile llgbtwetctat department, the Ducat! Cadet and MoantaiDeer witll the fancooled lOOCc two-stroke q1ne have 80- joyed more than thetr share of successes. These trim little motorbikes for botb b1gbway and trail riding, wtll remain tile choice of both the novice as well as the outdoor sportsman. The llgbtalloyeng1nes are fitted with a 4-speed loot sbltt. Speeds of over 70 mph can be attained witll almost unbelievable economy (200 miles per gallon.) For 1968, a special sports engine bas been developed, allowing even greater performance. 'lbe engine ls tltted with an aluminum alloy cylinder wbtchfeatures a chromed liner. An extra largellgbt alloy cylinder bead with tins of generous proportloos eUminate tile necessity of fan cooling.1be '68 models ute those oftbe previous year,haveafour-speedgearbox wbtch ls actuated by a foot pedal. Fuel Is introduced via an etf1cient 24mm Dellorto carburetor. 'I1Ie lOOcc Cadet bas a smart duaJseal, passenger footpegs chromed luggage carrier. 'lbe lOOCc MOWltalneer Is fitted witll a specIallY re-entorced handle bar, upswept exbapst system with perforated chrome beat gujU"lI, sturdy chromed luggage race and knobby tires. An optional expansion chamber for Increased power and performance Is abaUable at nominal cost. II.. lIuVJ-datJ t.ladraullc forks . . ntted to bolll 2SO.aad 3S0cc Dacalls. lIew babe ..... and rake anel. accompanJ lIIem. Comp.MIt parts are shown In th.llaeram. comes equipped with a 27mm Dellorto _ sports carburetor, whereas the 3500c' model Is equ1pped witll a 29mm carbo Botb models have ettIcient, louvered aluminum air cleaners. The 350cc model also incorporates acompresslonrelease. 'I1Iese new Ducati Scramblers feature a llgbtwelgbt alloy engine, the crankcases of tile type previously fitted to the successfUl Formula m compeltion models. A softer operating clutch bas been added and an improved beavy duty kick starter necbanlsm bas been designed for tIIe'68 models. The saddle Is longer and softer. The steel footpegs are of the folding type and the bIgb level exhaust pipes come with a qu1cly removable chrome 'sborty" , muttler. Allhoueb the IIrl dIIesn't p with II, th. 3SOcc overhud cam Ducat! $e_lne bas a n_spHd parbol, lar" lull-hub front and rear brak.s, and a varl.tJ of IrIdescent colors to choose fram. THE PEAK By Cbarles Cross The bruises, the chafing, both magnify the pain beyond my endurance limiL Even more staggering, my fear of height, which stretches the span of every minute. Fighting and claWing" my punished muscles sfrain to prevent the ever lurking plummeL Then, almost too ellBy, comes the snow-crunching steps to the summit. Suddenly I am king of the beast that had mercilessly nipped me with hite. Me, resounding a great victory as my spirits surge higher than the wildest kite. But my thoughts must not dwell upon this delicious savor. Else the teIFible elements take control and quell the victory's flavor. Down, down, trod down the perilous path. Even now, designing a great sequel, that will never be called an aftermath. Oct. 1 as 51 Open Class bikes roared out to tile smoke bomb. Leading was Lon peterson (Trlumpb) of tile Shamrocks club, witll l7-year-oldAl Baker (trlumpb) of the Cbeckers Club, in close pursutt• 'lbe Two young riders dueled for both loops, with Baker beating Peterson by 50 feet. Baker Is the only rider to win both Trail Class and Open Class tbts year. Ken Peterson tunes Baker's and his son lon's bikes. internationally famous Charlie Hockle (Bultaco) was tbtrd, steve Kirk (Trlumpb) was fourth followed by Big .nm Camaret on b1s new Husky. Willie Irving, top negro desert rider, was 15th overall on bls Triumph with tile strange looking exhaust system. SUty trail b1kes buzzed ott atter tile ()pen Class and l5-year-old Wes Anderson Jr. of the san Gabriel Valley Club was leading on Barry Eisenberg,s Hodaka aI the bomb. John Stein (Hodaka) of the Rams Club, was riding Anderson's rear wheel. The two riders swapped the lead many times on tile two loops, with Anderson taking stein by 75 feet at the flnlsb. The two trail bi kes fln1sbed 16th and 17th overall to the amazement of many big bike riders. Hard riding Monte Lee (Hodaka) worked bls way through tile pack, atter some trOUble, and t1n1sbed tbtrd, five minutes after the winner. Wayne Garrett (Ymaba) came in a saUd fourth, followed by tIttb place Ken Parks, another Hodaka rider. sandy Termin (Hodaka) ot tile Desert Daisies Club was tlrst gal. Muntz Cartridge City donated six stereo tapes tbat were given in a drawIng. Big Red Nicbolas and daughter Rae were on the radio cbecks. The Ponderosa Air Force was watcblng for cbeaters. See you at the next Ponderosa, Nov. 5th. (Resulls on page 16) MAaYSVlUE SCIAULES By Dale McKinnon Marysville bad what could bave been the best nattrack in Nortbern Calltornla. However, tIIey weren't sa tI s tI e d; a scrambles course Is more to tIIetr UIdDg. They stretcbed ltouttoaquartermile with a wooden ramp as a jump. Man, what a jumP! The straightaway was long enough that one could get up about three-quarter steam and It you btt t at that speed you might land on the other side ot the fence a bundred yards down the track. Most of the riders didn't like It so tIIey took It out and will bave a more suitable one by next week. In the 100 class Joe Henry took a qu1ck lead with Vic Krill right on b1s tall. Paul Minor, who was in tIIere also, fell, tIIen Joe went out and lett tile lead and a well deserved win to Vic. Incidentally, this Is bls second Trophy in a row. They baven't had enoogb riders to separate tile Nov/Am/EXP. classes soln some events they all ride togetller under a penalty system. Jerry Baugh, aNovice riding a Bultaco, took a qu1ck lead in the 200 go and Expert Mike Rockwell worked bls way up to second but be and bls Honda couldn't get by Jerry, who Is getting better with eacb race. Novice Scott Marran got ott the Une real good in the mixed 250 event, beld the lead a lap or so then MIles Anderson on a Husky, riding for Gene's Automotive in Rockland, took over. Carl Cranke started the oigbt on a 238 Kawasaid but It wasn't fast enougb so be bopped aboard Bill Dawson's Cub and went on to take second. He caugbtMlles, then passed blm, then rode peg to peg with bIm for awbtle. 'lbey swapped again but Miles took bome first place Trophy; it was a real bum-dlnger of a race. a lineup including Carl Cranke on a 500 Triumph, Dennis Dickerson (Trlumpb), Skip Hurlmin, who was along just for the ride, and Monte Gibson on a 350 Honda. Bob Howard decided be wanted the lead and took It. Cranke didn't Uke tile Idea so relieVed bI m of It before tile end of the first lap. Dickerson came up to ride alongside Howard lor a wbtle, tIIen got tired of that and moved into second, so be could give Carl a bad time. Monte stayed in there for fourth which was real good considering bIm a Novice on a 350 against Experts. 'lbey are going to have one more Friday ulgbt race then move to Sunday. If they keep up the good racing and the good tropbles they will attract all the area riders. And they expect to bave a race almost every week; neat, hub? (Results on pace 16)

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