Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

!I .... 0> '. that at the finlsh he had a full straigbta way plus a full tllrn lead over Peterson (BSA) and the Triumphs of otto, Fakkeldy, Ron Pierce and Rob Harrison. Record-Breaking Novice Night The track records fell by the wayside as the Novices presented a full, tastmoving program of small bike events. In the Trophy Dash, Bultaco-mounted Rick Newby turned back Dave Hansen (Kawasaki), Jim Thomas (Bultaco) and Kelth Mashburn (Yamaha) to break Mashburn's 2-lap record by over two full seconds. But in the Main Event it was a different rider on top, Hansen's Kawasaki took the lead at the start of the 8-lapper, and was never headed thereafter. Mashburn held second until the sixth time around when Newby grabbed the runnerup spot and stayed there. Keith was followed to the checker by L'ave Aldana (BSA) and Jim Thomas (Bultaco) . In winning the Novice final, Hansen shaved nearly FIVE seconds off the track record set in 1966 by Jim Odom, and turned in a truly impressive ride while doing so. .As an extra added attraction following the Expert Main, dune buggies took to the course and presented two 6-lap heat races for the first time at the Gardena twist and turn track. A wide variety of equipment was to evidence, from VWpowered rigs to a va Chevy rail, but they still have some"sorting-"out" to do before actually becoming competitive on a closed course. (Results on page 20) DITTO FOR SKIP AT ASCOT TT story by Carol Sims Photos by Dennis Greene Skip Van Leeuwen is making ~ such a habit of winning the month~ ly Satnrday night TT Steeplechase ~ events at Ascot Park that people Co) G aren't even wondering who'll win anymore -they bet on who's going to get second. First Amateur heads Into the south turn. Van Leeuwen and the swift Danny Macias Triumph scored another clean sweep on June I, winning heat race, Trophy Dash and Main Event wire to wire. There were plenty of battles going on back in the pack to keep the customers interested, though, including a hardfought duel for second between Jack Simmons (Norton) and Dusty Coppage (Triumph). Coppage got by on lap 6, but Simmons relentlessly applied the pressure throughout the 15-lapper. Fourth spot went to Triumph-mounted Paul Bostrom, who worked up from 7th, and L'ave Palmer (Norton) nalled down fifth. Rice Roars Amateur action shaped up as a battle of the BSAs - those of two Northern California yellow-plate wa 11e r s , Jim Rice and Mark Brelsford. So rapid was Brelsford's heat race time that he earned a berth in the Expert Trophy Dash and ran a good, close third til nosed out by Jack Simmons on the final go-round. Then in the Main Event, Alex Chinowski took the lead off the line, only to lose it almost immediately to Rice•..and Brelsford was right on his rear wheel. Chinowski experienced mechanical difficulties, faded and fell out on lap 5 while the top two built up a big lead over Ben Fakkeldy, Rick O.tto and Jim Peterson, who were swarmmg ali over each other and swapping positions constantly. On lap 6 of the lo.::lap feature , Brelsford slo.wed noticeably, retiring one Iap, Iaterand leaving Rice so far orit tofront #32 Dusty Coppage (Triumph) and Jack Simmons #88 (Nort on) fight It out for second pla ce with Coppage winning. " Skip Van L eeuwen #59 (Triumph) taking the checkered flag just In front of (Triumph) . Suzuki makes -i' I • WILLOW SPRINGS RACEWAY MAY 26, 1968 200 GRAND PRIX CLA SS 1st DAVE DAMRON SUZUKI 250 P RODUCTION CLASS 1st DAVE DAMRON SUZUKI 200 PRODUCTION CLASS 1st DAVE DAMRON SUZUKI 125 PRO DUCTION CLASS 1st ALLEN SPEARS SUZUKI (Dave an d Allen are both membe of the T eam Ocel ot rs of Ocelot Engineeri ng i n San Bernardino. ) VIEWFINDERS GRAND PRIX MAY 25 & 26,1968 250 EXPE RT CL ASS 1st PRESTON PETTY SUZUKI ORANGE COUNTY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, 'JUNE 2, 1968 U. S. Suzuki Motor Corp. SUZUKI 13767 Free'ray Drive San ta Fe Springs, Calif. 500 GRAND P RIX CLASS 1st RON GRANT SUZUKI . 500 PRODUCTION CLA SS 1st RON PIERCE SUZUKI (Ron rides for Custom Engineering in Beketstield. },

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