Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

• ., ... ::s ::s -e ~ r.l :i!:: r.l ..;J By Carol Sim s Photos by Dennis Greene WELL, WHADDA'A INOW? an d taken thtrd In the Trophy Dash), h1s BSA went out early with a minor wire problem- and no money. But LadY Luck smiled on runnerup Keeter, last man to make the dtsputed lineup. Albert Is reported to be out of dangei and alreadY sitUng UP. Since the semi was stopped and never completed after the accide nt, there was some rather heated dtscusslon over transfer positions to the Maln. Four men shoull! have gone, but to keep the troops hapPy, five were allowed to start - with the understanding that only ten would be paI d. Unfortunately for Paul Conserrlere (who had won hts heat race In fine style · Amateur Win. Record to Emick MEL MAlES IT NINE IN A ROW' G GARDENA, Cal., July 18 - Displaying almost unbelievabl consistency - of purpose, skill and machine - Mel Lacher hurled his Harley-Davidson to Main Event - victory last Friday night at Ascot for the NINTH straight week. His performance, unequalled in Ascot annals, was accompanied by quickest heat race time of the evening and a flag-to-nag Trophy Dash win, too. But plenty of battles were going on behtnd Lac;her all the way, with DeWayne Keeter (BSA) eventually windtng up second after transferring from the semi. In a most aggressive performance, BSAmounted Ralph Whtte came from a distan t 8th to overtake Shorty seabourne and Ron Krusem an for thtrd. Kruseman wound up 4th ahe ad of seabourne, RandY say and Chuck Jones, all on BSA's . Randy Smlth(162) and his Suzuki took Novice M ain; #102 Don Castro (Kawasaki) wound UP 3rd. Cycle News' pick lor best·looklnl bike In the parklnllot went to Dick Crldell's ' 68 Triumph Bonneville; It's run 101 mph In 13.09 seconds at the dral strlt. HI' s receIYlnl his trophy Irom bounteous Anl el,· exotic dancer at the Black Hand In Lonl Beach. Smith Nails Novice Foes Novlcls round the bend: #201 Terry Donaher, #102 Don Castro and #139 Davi Stroman. Gunter Injured Eleven men, lustead of the usual ten, started the 15-lap flnal, due to a mix-up that occurr ed durlng the semi . 'The race was black-flagged on lap three when AI Gunter, r iding Shell 'Thoot's Ro yal Enfield, crashed hard In the nor th turn whtle attempting to pass ChuckJonesfor second spot. Gunter was hospitalized and found to have sustained a fractured collarbone, two broken r ibs and a punctured Trophy daslt winner Mil Lacher (37) won 9t11 stral&:ht Main. Amat8llr #27r GHz.r Emick was 2nd l ung. 'Though st11l under intens ive care, Pi a iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilniiDiashii#9;Yi ;U=conserrlere 3rd, #95x CIYde_L.ltch~4!th!!'!-Ii!!IIi!!!!IIIIIII!!!!I_!!IIIIi!!!!!IIIIi!!IIi!!!!!!!Ii!II ' l i The Tuner Dick KeIrn earned the dtstlnctl Ol! of having THREE ma cht nes nntsh In the money and one of the m broke the 10-lap track record held, coincidentally enough , by another of hts riders. 'The rapid BSAB were piloted by Experts Keete r and Seabourne, while young Amateur Geezer Em ick took over the number 3 bike for the fir st time. And what an evening Emick hadl Not only was hts Amateur heat race time second fast to Lacher'S, but he nnts hed second to Mel In the Trophy Dash as well, ahea d of Conserrlere and Clyde Lltch (Triumph) . Then, In the Amateur Maln, Geezer grabbed second spot Immediately, harassed Harley-mounted Don Harms for two laps , and assumed the lead on lap three. From that point on, Emick stretched hts advantage to about ten lengths over Harms at the checker, while Harms, In turn, finished far ahead of Reg Chos ney (BSA), Bill Cody (H-D) and Marshall Jennings (BSA). It was no surprise to learn that Emick had sailed to a new 10-lapAmateur track record after hts flashy, crowd-pleasing performance. His time - 3:55.41 - bettered Seabourne's old 1966 mark by over three-quarters of a second. '68~ PurSangs are here HILLTOPPERS HARE SCH. -1/14/68 1st PI. OVERALL - LARRY BERGQUIST on a '&8112 Pnng Moto-x ser. 1st PI. 250 Am. - KURT LUHMEYER - Pursang JACKRABBITS EUROP. SCR. -1/21/&8 580 - OPEN Am./Ex. Class 1st PI. OVERALL Qst 500 EL) STEVE STAATS - EI Bandldo 3rd Pl. OVERALL (2nd 500 EL) LARRY BERGQUIST - EI B..dillo 1st PI. 2&0 Am. - TOM POTEET - PurSaag MANY NEW IMPROVEMENTS See "e. a' Yo., learest 8.il' • To • Go Dealer NOW For Your Nearest Built·To-Go Deal. Call TR.7-2400 or PO. 9-0441 "HOLE SHOT" T AKES'-250cc CLASS AT CHICO By Ltsa Wlllls c m c o , Cal., July 6 - GetUng the races underway again at Cyc1eland Speedway on Saturday night were 36 r iders, readY to ride, and a very cute trophy girl, 11year-old WendY Cook, readY to give out the trophtes. 'The program started with the 100cc Beginner's MaIn won by Pat Rooney ( Brtdges tone). Pat took over the lead right off the line and held It all the way. He also won hts heat. 'The 200Cc BegInner-s Main went to Milan Vickers, Kawasaki-mounted, who had no real trouble holding the lead once he took over. 'The 250Cc Beginner's MaIn was won by Dan Erickson (Bultaco). Dan Is a new r ider at Chtco Cycleland, but seems to know hts way around the track well enough. Next came the SCratch MaIns, and they started with the 100cc, which was taken by Steve Goff, Kawasaki-mounted. Steve had a fight on hts hands from John Grant ( Molo-Beta), though. John was right on Steve's tall all the way. . 200cc SCratch Matnwastakenwire-lowire by Ted Bare (Honda). Ted ls adam good rider who makes w1nn1nglookeasy. Vatne Varooms 250Cc SCratch MaIn was won by Ray (Hole Shot) Vatne on a Harley. In second was Mike Corcoran, on a Bultaco, who appeared to run over Bob Vaughn's foot in h1s haSte, but It dtdn't seem to bother Bob much. Mike doesn't make apractice of running over anyone; thls was justone of those unexpected things that happens when riding. Now for the Handtcap MaIns, which started with the 100Cc class, and Pat Rooney held firm to first spot until steve Goff came uP from behind to take over. But Steve had a rough ride all the way, with Pat still close behind and tryIng hard to win, though wiable to get by. The next Handtcap Mal n was the200Cc class, taken by M11an Vic ker s who had earlier won the Beginn er's MaIn. He had no trouble In thi s race, stretcht ng hts A three-man go for first livened up the Novice 8-lap Main Event, and Suzukl mounted RandY Smith emerged on top, but not before repelling the thrusts of early leader Don c a8tro (Kawasaki) and Ya maha r ider Terr y Donaher. Castro charged Into the lead on lap one, held It until Smith got by on the third time around, then had hts hands full with Donaher. Terry finally overtook Donwith two laps to go, and closed up the gap on Smith, while Don fought off the attempts of Bob Fulton (Suzuki) to take over third. Despite the close battle, positions remained the same for the final two circuits, and the windup found Smith, Donaher, Castro and Fulton running 1-2-3-4 ahead of RudY Gallndo (Yamaha). (Res ults on page 16) _ iead to about a half-lap ahead of everyone else. Dick Tunner (Honda) came fr om the 45- yard line to take over second. And Mike Rockwell (Yamaha) also came from the 45- yard Une to wind up third. 'The last Handicap Main on the program was the 250Cc class, which usually proves to be the most exciting. TakIng hts second trophy of the nigh t was " Hole Shot" Vatne. Ray grabbed first place on the third lap , and just kept moving out. A Chtco regular and a very good rider, Vatne had been h8.v1ng bike trouble 1ately, but seems to have worked It out because he Is going even faster than befor e . !41ke Corcoran also made hts move In the third lap, winding up second, with Mel Nichols (Kawasakl) third. .(Results appeared last week) BUCO POSTS $&,000 IN CONTINGENCY AWARDS Six thousand dollars In contingency prize money w1ll be shared by leading r iders In 26 major events sponsored by the American Motorcycle Assocation durlng Its 1968 rac1ng season. Races In 21 cities w1ll have prize money posted by Buco Products, In amounts ranging fr om $25 to $200, with prizes going, In most cases to r ide rs In win, place, and show positions. HIgh scoring rider of the year w1ll be el1g1ble to receive the top money award of .$1,000 at the close of the rac1ng season providing he has been a regular Buco helmet wearer In all events from the first of July on. First and second prizeS are posted fer all 26 assoc1ation races, wh1le third place money is offered In all but SeveD of the events to riders nntshtng In those positions whlle wearing a Buco helmet and " color s " In the form ofa Bucodecal. Awards, estabUshed for events being held through mid-october , are subject to modlflcations should any changes In the pre-pubUshed schedule occur. 'Theaward of prize money, In each case, Is made contingent upon the wearing of any Buco helmet by the qualifying rider . A schedule of prize monies, and the events where the y will be offered, ls avaIlable fr om Buco Products, 21620 Coolidge Rd., .Oak Park, Michigan 4823'1 , •

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