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/125556
A typical racing famlly are the Ken Yarbroughs. Yarbrough's wife, Elizabeth andson Kerr'y, 11, were pr ize winners in this year's event . Another are the Beganos of Trinidad, Colorado. Jim Begano, still recuperating from a back injury, competed nonetheless . His brother Bob and his son Randy, 10, were also riders. ' Saturday morning was spent in preriding the course - a must for riders in any trail race. After lunch the race began. First came the kid's race. This was participated in by young boys ranging in age from 6 to 12. At first, there was apprehension about children this young handling a 5 horsepower machine across the rugged 2-1 /2 miles course set for them. Only complaints heard were that some of them got lost on the trail. All winners in this event were from Phoenix: 1st-Kerry Yarbrongh; 2nd-Glenn High; and 3rd-Willlam Fleming. Next was the women's race. They, too, competed very well. Again all the winners here were from PhoeniX: Sandra Marsh (secretary, Arizona Venture Riders), 1st; Dena Murray, 2nd; and Liz Yarbrough, 3rd. MANY ST.ATES MEET AT ARIZONA TRAIL RACE Slory and Photos by Ernie Flores. Jr. The Annual Trall Race held at Squaw Peak. Phoenix, Arizona on April 6 and 7, though largely unpublicized, is becoming a crowd-getter, Participants and spectators this year more than doubled those of the first race in 1963. Moreover. riders came not only from the four neighboring states of California. Colorado, .Utah, and Arizona. but also from places as far as West Virginla. One factor that makes the Arizona Trail Race a Southwest favorite is the unusual topography of the Squaw Peak course. Used mainly as a horse-riding area, the course contains all the various land formations that a real trail rider can ask for _ natland, rocky and sandy washes, hills and ravines with inclines ranging from twenty to eighty degrees. It also boasts various kinds of s tones soft limestones to rocks as hard and sharp as iron pegs. All such obstacles add to the cha1Iengeandexcitementofthe race. Too, the area is compact. The total length of the course is 18 miles , yet the riders are rarely out of sight. A contestant may disappear from view behind one hill, but will reappear on the next. Onlookers have a more or less complete view of the entire race. ... ..;. W omen conles tants lake a pr.race Irla l run of the course before actua l co mpeti tio n begins. Arlzona Venture Riders presldenl Ken Yar· brough limes cou ntdown on young contestant In 5th Annual Arizo na Trail Race. Probably the most important factor is that this is the only race in the entire country where the trail scooter is predominantly used. Designed principally for irregular terrains, many feel thll trail scooter bas more maneuverability and climbing power than a Irail motorcycle. -Seeing it running across rugged country as if on paved roads is an almost unbelievable sight. According to Ken Yarbrough. president of the Arizona Venture Riders and a director of the National Trail Scooters Association, the two agencies which sponsored the race, the scoo ter has one distinct advantage over other trail machines, its low ce nter of gravity. As a result it does not topple over easily even when hitting rocks or depressions. Another advantage, he said. is that all the controls are manipulated by the hands . Trail scooters come in three br ands: "Tote Gate," "Twister," and IlWlld cat." The Arizona Trall Race was started in 1963, primarily as an inter-famlly sport. Although outsiders and professional riders were allowed to join, the family aspect of the race has never been lost. One of 21 trallblke riders enlered In a · cla ss. 2· day Squaw Pl ak 1.lnl gets the go-ahlad signal 10 start. AMALI E'S t oug h, rugged Pennsylvania oil is noted for control of heat and wear; fortified with exacting addit ives under rigid s pecifications it controls sludge, rust , acid a nd plug fouling in both 2-cycle a nd 4'cycle engines, (and transrntsslons), The 2·cycle oil is • designed for both pre:mix and oil Injection models. t The calibrated I . plastic b.o~t1e Insures pre-rruxmg accordi ng to manufacturers spe cifications. The oil mixes Instantly a nd uniformly with gasoline. Amalie gives your cycle the finest protecti on and lubrication on the street, over the road, and in competition. Ask for Amalie right away at cycle s hops and dea lers keep yo ur engine clean , cool, protected. The Junior Kid's Race followed, participated in by riders from 13 to 16 years old. The length of the course was five mlles . Winners here were Jim Langdon of California, 1st; Al Marsb of Phoenix, 2nd; and Randy Rhoades, also of PhoeniX. 3rd. The day's event ended with the Team Race. Each team was composed of rtders coming from the same area. One team. however, was formed from an entire famlly of participants. These were Mark Rowley, 15, and his brothers Paul , 13, and John , 11, all of Phoenix . The Phoenix team led by Benny Griffin wonfirst place in this race whlle the Colorado team got the second place. a little ..I.;.ur t:1._ motor oil can. _au-.; • &! • do bII things KOr an eDgUle UA\i; t'l-- MOTORCYCI£ O IL Refined by Sonneborn Divis ion . Wlte o Chemica l Compa ny, In corpo rated. Sales Off ic e , 2611 AndJ on Ro a d , Da ll a . , Te x••• 2575 Center Ridge Road, Cleveland, Ohio. On Sunday was the Main Event. This was the battle of the giants . The first race of the day was for 7 horsepower "AU class scooters, with ten entries. The first injury of the day took place in this race. Jim Begano, the guy still re cuperating from an injured back sustained a broken ankle but still managed to fini sh the race. There were other spllls too. One rider could not continue because of a broken chain . The trail machines prize for the first place in this category was won by Paul Thorpe of California who negotiated the 18-mile course in 55 minutes and 36 seconds. Second went to Dick Kenny of Phoenix and 3rd to Benny Griffin, also of Phoenix. finished in 57 minutes, 34 seconds and 57 minutes. 57 seconds respectively. Jim Begano, for completing the race in spite of his injury, won the Sportsmanship Trophy. Because of more entries - 34 in allthe 7 hp " BOO class scooter race turned out to be more exciting than the "Au class. Despite some spills , no injuries occurred except few bruises. The race was so grueling, however. that two riders could not finish; one lost his fuel bowl and the other broke his handiebars . First place went to another trail machine, plloted by Tom utz of Phoenix around the 18-mlle course in 58 minutes, 30 seconds. R. Wright of Utah and Johnny Murray of Phoenix wound up 2- 3. The latter two were a mere 9 seconds apart at the finish. The 5 horsepower scooter race had only seven contestants. Riders here were 18 years old and under . First prize was a mini-bike and it went to Steve Verhoef! of Phoenix with a time of 1 hour, 6 minutes, 23 seconds. Jim Neighbor s of Color ado and Jim Longden of California got second and third . Then came the spoke wheel machines. Twenty-one riders rode trail motorcycles up to 125cc's. The motorcyclists tried their best to match the records of the scooter riders , but just could not do so. The fastest motorcycle rider was about 15 minutes short of the time made by the fastest scooter rider. More spills occurred too. The first three finishers were all Californians - J. Haselwood, 1st (1 hr ., 6 mtn., 6 sec.); O.H. MllIerrunnerupand G. Bratek third. All rode Kawasakls. Two runnerups were also from California . Fallbrook, California added to the winnIngs of Californians by getting the Club Participation Trop hy for having the most number of riders - 18 in all. The tiring but excltlng two day meet was successful due to the usual sunny Arizona weather, cooperation of local authorities, participatton of several agencies and the able management and direction of rae e officials Ken Yarbrough. George Stevens, president of the National Trail S coo t e r s Association; Reed Vines, race chairman; and Sandra Marsh, race secretary. Pleased with their success, officials plan an even bigger and more spectacular race for next year. Hope to see you there. (Results on page 20) ********************j • t ~ t • ~ ~ SEE THE OSSA~ and'he l YANKEE"Bosr at the CYCLE WORLD SHOW • Exhibit # 19 & 80 VISIT EXHIBIT-18 ~ at the. • ~ Y~ o~C O~ 077 T~S= CYCLE WORLD SHOW t DEALERSIDPS NOW AVAILABLE • Distributor inquires invited P.O. Box 36. Schenectady. New York 12301 Phone (518) 372 -4727 ~ * ~ *" : *" *" *" : ~ ~ t SOLE U.S. DISTRIBUTOR FOR OSSA ~ *" ~~.~~~.~.~~ • • ~~~~• • • j