Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

MEET THE DEALER Don Rhodes Don Rhodes, owner of Auburn Suzuki In Auburn , Washington hopes to have the Number One Novice riding for his establishment by the end of the coming racing season. The young man's name Is Jerry Robertson and he has compUed quite an Impressive reccrd In Spcrtsman events since beginning to ride as a high school freshman In 1965. " I started racing on Valentine's Day In 1965," Jerry recalled. " Dad bought a Honda 50 for Mom and I got to riding It. Our neighbors raced and I ldnd of got the bug from them. At first my parents were dead set agaJnst 11 but I finally talked them Into leWng me try and they're as big as enthusiasts as I am now." Jerry has over 130 trophies already and he is just beginning his third year In competition and his first year protesslonally. Last season, young Robertson won the Jolly Rogers Northwest Cham- plonshlp In the 250 class; the Evergreen Championship at Graham; the Main Event at Sunny Valley, Oregon; the Novice opening at Gold creek; the Woodland, Oregon track Open 250 class Championship and was all-aroundh1ghpolntchampion at Shelton, Washington for the season. In 1966, at Olympia on a fiveeighths mUe oval he won four trophies In two days In the 100 and 250 classes. Last year he had a string at the Maltby Motorcycle Track of 22 straight heat, semi and Main Event wins. He has raced all over the Northwest, including Canada and California. Jerry ts a good student and an active member of the CYO. "I never race withoUt my st. Christopher Medal," he said. "In tact, Mrs. Rhodes thought we should have one fl%ed to the front of the bike as a sort of figurehead." "Jerry will be - er y active In his v first year as a pro," Don Rhodes said. "We hope to see him finish as the Number One Novice, wI11ch means he will have to ride in every race he can . enter ." Jerry owns his own Bultaco 250 scrambler but It will be completely maintained this year by Auburn Suzuki. The professional machine provided by Auburn Suzuki will also be a Bultaco 250. "My wife and I were looking for a r ider," Don exp1a1ned, "and we watched Jerry at a couple of scrambles and were quite impressed. One day after a scrambles he came and asked about riding for us. Strangely enough, my wife and I had Jus t decided to approach him that same day. Since that time we've also found two more riders wI11ch we will be sponsoring In the Novice ctass.; In other words, we'll be up to our helmets In competition this season." Don Rhodes has always been very active In area. competition. " Sever al years ago Eddie Johnson rode for us and won 11 out of 12 races at Graham. He actually won 11 out of the 11 we entered but we missed the first race of the season and couldn't quite make a clean sweep. He set the track record on every track he raced that season. At Graham we were protested after Eddie won his ninth In a row and I believe it provided one of my most satisfying moments at a track. At a night race when someone is protested usually everyone goes home and you're left there with the officials as you tear down your machine. This wasn't what happened that night. At least s everal hundred people stayed around to see if our mach1ne was legal or not. Everybody thought It was going to be Illegal but, of course, It was not. It was just a good combination of machine and rider that year and nobody ever even seriously challenged Eddie all through that season." Don stated that the amount of activity 'In the Washington area Is Improving but the crowds and purses are not keeping UP. "We need some good promoters and Indoor tracks," he said. "We need to generate customers and spectators who are not motorcycltsts or friends of motorcyclists. We need a promoter with enough guts and money 10 be able to withstand the losses he would incur unW the crowds built up. Dealers and clubs simply cannot put In the time and money required to promote a ble track and get large crowds. We've got the talent and the Interest In this area but nobody has ever really buUt a good spectator track here." Don was once the president of the Sea Fair City Motorcycle Club. "However," he said, "we've since made a ruling that no dealer can hold a club office. We didn't want our club to end Up dealercontrolled like so many clubs do. Clubs run Into trouble when they become controlled by a dealer and their growth usually Is sttned. However, clubs are Important to a dealer. Without a club there Is no activity, and without activity there are no winter sales In this area. Probably two-thirds of the riders In this area are club members now." Don starled riding on the streets In 1948. In 1953 he got a competi tion license and began racing. His racing was interrupted by a hitch In the m11l tary and he did not get his Expert's license until 1959 . He has won most of the area events at one time or another In the past few years but never competed on the scale that one must compete on to reach a national ranking. He entered into business for himself In . 1962 after working four _ years for a SeaWe motorcycle dealer. "I like road racing the best," Don said. "We've got a good track In Kentand In road racing being young and eager Isn't as important as experience. You have time to watch another rider, set him Up to be passed and taltJ

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