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/125529
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS TO RACE IN WEST World champion moto-cross (scrambles) racer Torsten Hallman will lead a group of six European dirt stars in a tour of western U.S. courses this month and next. Accompanying Hallman, who was seen last year at the Dirtdiggers G.P., will be Britain's Dave Bickersand the Belgla.n pbenomenon Joel Robert. A moto-cross team from Czechoslovakia Is also rumored on Its way here. Hallman and friends will race In Southern Cali!ornia November 19th at the Prospectors M.C. MOto-X, and on December Srd at the ACA-FIM shindig at Forst RauC'h near castaic, Cali!. On December 3 they w1ll participate in a moto-cross at seattle, Washington. November 11 Hallman, Bickers and Robert w1ll join with other top-ranking European stars in a moto-cross school near san Diego, Cali!. And on Nov. 12 they will cballenge Southern Cali!ornia stars to a day of 250cc and 500cc racing In the san Diego area. Watch Cycle news for specific details. That's Show Biz Joe Smith and his Harley-Davidson defeated Triumph In two straight. There was no handicap, and there should not be, no animosity existed between riders or their sponsors, Ed Kretz and LaIdlaw, nor should there be. It was the simplicity of a "heads-up" two out of three match race with each combination of man and machine pushing for the ultimate In power and acceleration. Smith proved that his successive weekly wins are not produced by lucky charms or talismans, but consistency. Tbe big 80-lnch Harley turned in a best elapsed time of 10.42 seconds and the abolute slowest quarter mUe was 10.99 seconds. Your reporter's 4O-inch Triumph was not the threat that everyone had anticipated. Elapsed times ranged In the low eleven second realm while the best speed was 128.06 mph. In the first of two, Smith accelerated out of the hole to a quick lead that was not only maintained but Increased in direct proportion to the distance of a quarter mile. The winning elapsed time was 10.63 seconds, while l:.'beling was traIling at 11.26 seconds. Round two put the pressure on and I prepared the Triumph with a frantic search for miracles •••too much time used changing gears of a touch transmission and having to shift at the whim of a greamUn that pushed the transmission from second to neutral on Its own. Try only two gears and burn off the line In third. One roller starter was all that was In The Dirt Diggers M.C. wish to express their thanks to the 800-plus riders who have entered the Hopetown Grand prix, and to the SOC-plus riders whose entries were returned. ThIs, their 9th Annual Grand Prix, promises to be the biggest and best of them all. Riders have entered from Cali!ornia, Wasbington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Texas 1'-"d Mexico. This year for the first time there will be a Powder Puff .class. It should be interesting to watch the oesert Daisies battle the Powder puff Assn. for the overall win. The course is approximately the same as last year's but with a few ditferences to make It more challenging to the riders. Traction is opt1onal but a mud fender and waterproofing are recommended. All motorcycle enthusiasts are cordially invited to Hopetown, November 11 and 12 to view moto-cross racing at Its best. Races start at 10 a.m. both days. use at Lions Drag Strip. Joe Smith and Ebeling tired side by side without difficulties. Each staged and brought the rpm to Its peak as the last yellow faded and the green flashed on. Third gear was a good selection for Ebeling as he charged out with a good lead. At the end of a quarter mile there are three electric eyes. Tbe first Is one of the mile per bour clocks, second Is the E. T. clock and winner's light, while the third is the final mph clock. Ebeling was ahead at the first light, behind by a spoke at the winners light and well behind at the final light. Joe Smith was down the quarter mile In 10.99 seconds. There was an advertised three rounds of match racing, but as Smith and Ebeling now Jcnow, some of this drag Is not all racing, for C.J. Hart said to forget the third race since the Harley won two In a row. It Is Interesting to note that the racers were being paid per race and not a flat amount for winner or runner-up. Oh, well, that's not racing, but show biz. Honda Beats Harley Deep In the heart of Texas and racer Dan James Is the drag strip at Austin Raceway Park. Austin is a new raceway that bas run a schedule of twelve events In which classes have been provided for bikes in nine of the racing days. It Is now almost time to button up for the bitter winters that strike the Texas area. owners and spectators were boisterous in their satisfaction at the show provided by cycles and as a result there are big promises for the not too distant 1968 racing season. How Is It that Dan James holds Austin deep in his heart? Well, that's where man holds his bitterness as well as joy. On Sunday. Oct. 22nd, James was defeated by the 160cc Honda of Tony Darlean. Austin's eliminations are run on a handicap system. The elapsed times for handicapping are taken from the record book, so you had better be running equal or better than that record. A final race was between Dan James modified 76-inch XLCH and Tony Darlean's modified 160cc Honda. The bike of Darlean lett the starting line approximately five seconds ahead of the Harley and was at the finish lights a wheel tread ahead. The race was close enough to draw spectators to their feet and respond with a standing ovation for the 160 Honda's win. Tony Darleanturnedan elapsed time of 17.05 seconds and tripped the mph clocks at 71.81 mph. Somehow I receive the impression that Dan James would like to tear out the handicap wiring system plus the Honda's Ignition. ARP, or Austin Raceway Park, bas the best organized drag program in Texas for cycles. Tommy Connors Is the cycle director Is behind it all. Like or dislike handicapping, It's the only Texas program headed by a man Intent on providing an equal chance for all cycle competitors and Increasing their position fn the rank and file of drag racing programs. lilY SHOULD SKIP VAN LEEUWEN PUT HIS REPUTATION ON THE LINE FOR MONTESA? -I sell Intesa because it's a good playblke,· says Skip Van Leeuwen, ace salesman for Bill Robertson & Sons Motorcycles, 6525 santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. "They are lightweight,· Skip continues, ·and a lot of fun.· Skip should know. He's been riding motorcycles for 12 years now, 9 years as a professional racer. He's a national TT champion. Skip is eatered in the Hopetown G.P. on a Montesa. Vival IVA At The Beach On Sunday the race for toP bike In both street and gas divisions produced a variety of action at Lions Drag Strip. De Salvo's Harley-Davidson was not closely contested, for his 10.88 second elapsed times produced a two second edge over the competition. TIle top gas honors were won by De Salvo at 126.40 mph. Bruce Miller's sponsor "Brackett" ,Is really doing the tricks with a 55-incber. Bruce won top street honors with a 12.12 - 110.86 time ticket. Tbe very close contention was provided by Dick Strickland and his 650cc BSA. DIck's elapsed time was a 12.95, while he tripped the mph clocks at 103.60 mph. Strickland also won his bracket at Lions, thus went bome with about $20.00 more than he had arrived with. Not bad for a casual day of Sunday fun. MONTESA MOTORS, INC. Sole U.S. Distributor 3657 _ I y Boulevan! Lo. Angeles, CliUfornl1 9OQO.t Before And After Thoughts Dont't forget It's only one week before Fontana Raceway is again open to bikes. November 5th, Is the exact date, and the sums of money that are to be paid out would cover this page of Cycle News. After considering the overhaul expenses necessary for my machine, I issue a call of help to Bill McClurkan. Please contact me when you can. (Results on page 12) TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN CYCLE NEWS REMEMRER- A molorcycie is Oll1y as safe as you ride U. And people judce tile sport by tts riders. Be a COOd sport. TTR EVERY SUNDAY 1/2 Mlle.Co...se OPEN SATURDAYS FOR PIlACTlCE ............. FIRST RACE ~~. stutSlt Wlt.,.d & II;: Maln!lln.d TrKlr Sa rfiC• 10:30 ):I• • • • • • • • • • • ............. Cone lon .. ClllllpI lie. ............. ADIII $$ION: $I par blk. Peopl. F_ ............. SUNDAY SCHEDULE: Prlctlce a to 10 I.m. BAY MARE TRACK ~\V'0 ,,\0\" VE=N:.:...:;TU..:;.::R::.:A.~':,:C-=:#l01 FOR INFORMATION CALL EVENINGS (8n5) 495-8928 1000 0 Vern Gorman -.."7I100lt ~~s 1021 Call. Tullpan, 1000 Oaks, <:'111. "14c ~IJ • ......N'rI'lN\""......W\~ ...