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/125553
"') -, Eapmess evident, Paul Johnson (5) moves by one rider on iIle out slde and sights In on Miles Anderson (46). Johnson went on to win the 250cc Expert lIaln Event at Helvetia. story and Photos by Dale McKinnon The Polka Dots M.e . at Sacramento only sponsor a tew races a year . The ones they do are outstanding and the event on Sunday, March 10 was nod1.tfj!r ent . The 16D-pl us riders really out-did themselves on the two. tracks provided _ one tor lightweights and one tor big bikes. Carl Cranke was a hard-riding 2nd In the 250cc Expert go, but wasn't satisfied with IUnneMap posltl on. By tar the outstanding races at the day were in the 250 class. The Amateurs got to run by themselves as did the Experts . Bob Haustine was ott the line tlrst with Stan stanton right on his tall, with the eventual winner toward the r ear. Joe Henry was moving up tast while Stan almost had Bob on the back stretch. Joe rode It a three-way go tor tl rst and coming over the jump you could have covered all three with a beach umbrella. They r ode nip and tuck the next several laps, when all at a sudden a rider they were lapping went down. Bob had hi s choice at which way to go and took the outside which proved to be the wrong choice. Joe took the inside and came out slightly ahead and tlnished the last ha1! lap that way , beating Bob by th e narrowest at margins . Talking to Bob afterwards he sald It was no disgr ace to lo se to Joe Henry, who always gives It his all. They had to start the 250 Exper t Main several times as Paul Johnson was so anxious to go and kept cr eeping as it he needed a little extra tor his Suzie. A s i t worked out he got th e lead anyway and held I t to the end. But not until he beat back repeated attempts by Jorgy Jorgensen and Carl Cr anke; they push ed him all the way wtUle exchangin g second place several times . Itwasadown-to-the-wire battle between Carl and Jorgy. Carl Cr anke made a valiant comeback in the 360- 500 Exper t go. He took a quick lead with Miles Ander son, who had some bad l uck in the heats and was tryi ng to change It in this one, almost sitti ng on his back wheel. Ji m Saltone was in there close on a 360 Bultaco just waiting tor a mistake••.and It happened. Miles lost It SOLD THROUGH GARTNER ENTERPRISES 2073 West Pac i fic Coast Hwy. Lomita, Californi a Pbone (213) 115-1802 or 326-3810 Distributed by 1816 Geor ga St . L o s Angel es , C alif. 900 15 (2 13 ) 749-515 3 ( D ea ler I nqu i ri es ONLY) and Ji m moved up on Carl . The next laP around It was Ji m in the l ead with Russ Powell in second. Miles came dragging in tor a thi r d, qul te a surpr i se tlnish . In the 500 Novice Maln It was Steve Young all the way and he rode llke a champ, Steve and his CZ have had some tough l uck in other races but not today, as he had a commanding lead all the way . In the 500 Amateur it was Ashley Jettery staying in the winner's circle which he seem s to be making his home, while Tom Murphy and Elmer Kraus had to make i t a little interesting by riding peg to peg times over the Jump and around the corners. For once the 200' s got to run by the mselves and they put on a good show. Gene Curr y , Don Simmins and Joe Barzill made It a tight threesome tram start to tlnish, with all three doing some specta cular riding. In the 200 Amate ur event It was Rober t Young and Mike Ellis battlin g tor fi r st . Several other r i ders ma de their bi ds but departed tor gr eener pastur es, the pits . Ron Davies m oved up on a 160 Honda right ott the street- mufflers and all - to gi ve Young a hard way to go for second af ter he l ost out to Mike Ellis . • Numerous spill. and restarts spleedthe day's racing actlvlUes at the Helvetia scrambles sponsored by the Polka Dots M.C. of Sacra' mento. Two tracks were provl ded - one for lightwei ght s and one for big bikes. Competltlo n was heated on both. The Novices all made a wi ld bid tor the first turn. It was 13-year-old Al ex Jorgenson, an up and coming young star, showing the way out and he hel d it long enough to make It bis second win i n a row. An other young rider to watch i s John Grant. He got a third In the Main in his first r ace and he may be giving Alex a bad time when he gains a little more experience. A t last the 650' s got their chance and i t was Bob Pollard in the l eader' s seat with Dave Kess and Manuel Fer nandez battling i t out t or second. All In all It was a very good show especially after two mo tos in a row. (Results on page 16) ..-ronr-....... YOUR AD HERE .................... For as li ttle a s •••••••••••••••• • $5. r on Ca l l: HARLEV- DAVIDSON Of Long Special We Have Many New J968 XLCH &XLH's In S'oe' Now __.•... :~~~..~:;.~:nl.!:a~~. ~~ydiz.~~~.-!!2! •.•.•.•.•" (2J3) 42~043J JlJUI.JI..l.l.LlI