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/125567
NEW TRACK AT CLOVERDALE, B.C. Stor y and Photos by Vic Ebbutt Eighty-seven r ider s and approxima tely 2400 spectators initiated what well may be one of the fine s t half-mile tracks on the West Coast, Sunday, June 23, at Cloverdale, Br itish Columbia . The track, though not new, was opened to motorcycle s for the fir s t time with the stipulation that the surface , which was designed for trotting horses , was not to be damaged In any way. At the end of five hours of hard r iding, the smooth surface was still in magnificent shape, ther eby helping to open the door for future races. Na tional Number s 69, Sonny Burres, and 80, Emil Ahola, compared It favorably with any track they have r idden. Sonny Burres (T ri umph) takes checkered fl ag and Expert Trophy Dash. Sonny al so snatched top honors In Main Event. Originally a half-mile oval, the race track was converted to a TT with barrier s erected in the hackstretch, but time trials still ranged from the high twenties to 30 seconds for the Amateurs and the Exper ts , so It can be seen that it Is a ras-s-st track. However, only two r iders spilled, despite the speeds, and neither was hurt. Sonny Bur r es, 1967- 68 high point TT r ider In the United Sta tes, was king of the day, sweep ing the Exper t Dash, heat and Maln on his s weet-running Triumph. Jim Greenwood of Vancouver, British Columbia, whosingle-handedly promoted and spons or ed this event, Is to be heartIly congr atulated for this fast moving and well - r un event and we in the Nor thwes t have our finger s crossed that he will be abl e to r un many more events at the Clover dale Speedway this summer. (Res ults on page 16) Novice Main event winner J 1 mCayou (Yamaha) leads second place Jerry Robertson (Bul) through north turn. Ike Reed (Tri umph) here leads Amateur Main and on to top heners; OREGON KID COPS BURRES GRABS CASTLE ROCK TT GRAHAM WIN Young Cappy Skene shown here leading Jim Jones (Trl.) and on to first In Amateur Trophy Dash. ) .~ 1967-68 high point Novice and now battling the amateur ranks Is Ike Reed fighting off J im Jones. Nlneteen- year- old first yea r Expert Mark Willia ms fro m Eugene, Or egon ma de his debut on the Cas tle Rock, Wash. TT course in spec tacular fashion June 15. He won his heat r ace In re cord time , stole the Trophy Dash and rom ped to an easy win In the Exper t Mal n Event. Veter an Sonny Burres paced himself in s econd place for the early r ounds of the 15-lap Maln, but the Oregon youngster was abl e to match Bur r es ' late cha rges. T.L. Hoglan took a steady r ide for thir d. Emil Ahola, aboard Injured Don Mc Leod's H- D Spor ts ter , made a gallant effort aft er losing a p1ug wire at the start. Spotting the pack a half-a-lap lead, Ahola s wept by four riders and ·was within reach of thir d or fourth place at the checkered flag. Making It his s econd win of the weekend, Jim Jones showed the s tyle that will make him a contender for Amateur National TT honor s . Coming off the li ne badly, Jones was In ninth place at the end of three laps . Moving thr ough the fie ld s teadily , he snuck Into the lead on the tenth lap• . Ear ly lea der Cappy Skene couldn't matc h Jim ' S speed and trailed into second pla ce . Roger Stanley , showing a flash of the style that made him Washington State Novice Cha mpion, char ged up for third place. (Res ults on page 16) MAKE IT LOONG with the A.C.E. ADJUSTABLE FORK CROWN made to lit all motorcyc le s and all forks PATENT PENDING Por tland, Oregon's Sonny Burres has broken Graham Speedway' s cycle of a new winner every week by copping his second win of the 1968 season on the Tacoma , Wash. short TT cour se. Burres sc or ed his firs t win on opening night In May and has bee n s hut out since. The wily Or egon racer broke from the pac k In the early laps of the Expert Maln on J une 14 and was never headed to the close finish . In s econd place, Dan Holton seemed to be banging on des per ately as for mer track champi on Emil Ahola and Trophy Dash winner ~ Sandy Saunders charged at him for the entire 15 laps. It was a blan ket finish for the four leaders. Amateur flash Jim Jones picked off his third win at the Graham plant. Jones easily handled his competition and had a long lead at the finish. Little Cappy Skene looked very impres sive in his s econd place finish on a borrowed Triumph. His own H-D mount had been badly damag ed when he left the track at Bellingham, Wash. the pr evious Saturday night. Squlr e " Tomasle ' continued his win s treak with his ninth MaIn Event win in the Novice cla ss. Honda- mounted Dave Yost was a closing s econd, while John Bro mle y got a last lap third. The three Novice leaders ' engines were meas ur ed by AMA officials and all proved to be legal. ( Results last week) leI RETAIL PRICE 50 - 200ee $62.00 250 - up $12.00 SPECI FY M , M AKE ODEL& FORKS W Ordering hen D ealer - Dis!. Inquiries Invited view S Baldw Park, Calif. (213) 962-43 1 t., in 9 5046 Clam