Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

CARLSBAD BACKWARDS ~ Story and Photos by John Shedd 0) ..... CARLSBAO, cai., J uly 28 - Moto-cross ~ enthusiasts f 0 u n d racing around the ~ Carlsbad course in the opposite direction '" a big change, at the California Motoei Cross club's latest meet. The CMC is ~ always full of surprises, but this race boasted much more than a reversal of '" the course. More sprinklers had been ~ added to the course, and throughout the ~ long daY, with many, many bikes, dust ~ was almost nonexistent. A permanent -J p.a, system had also been installed, and U needless to say, this makes a great difference . To go one step farther In making Carlsbad the best moto-cross course in Southern California, and perhaps the United States, showers arenowavailable so that riders may wash off the Carlsbad mud before heading home. To wiloess the fantastic job that Is being done at Carlsbad by the CMC, makes It hard to realize that this club sponsored their first moto- cross on February 4, of this year. On this day, only 23 riders showed up for the event, but undiscouraged, the club planned two events for March. J uly was the seventh event for the CMC, and It turned out ten times the number of riders that were on hand for the first, six months ago. There were 193 mail entries, and 37 post entries accepted before It was frozen at 230, so that the races could get underway. G There are times In this business when we wish we didn't even have to look at another motorcycle or even watch another race and times when everything just jogs along In the same old pattern. Then there are times when things happen to make you know that everything is really worthwhile. One of those times was Friday night. We often wish we could attend trophy presentations but usually they come up on nights when we have to toddle to Ascot or some other location but Friday night we were able to accept the Viewfinders kind invitation to attend theirs at Warner Brothers. Now, what would we find? Would we be in a big barren sound stage that would still be exciting to someone not in the film business? Nope. instead we were transported for a brief time back ' 'home" to the old country. The presentation was in the Great Hall set from the shooting of Camelot and almost defies descriptionl Instead of lute-playing minstrels we had a great band who could play longer than anyone we've ever seen without a breather , and for KnIghts of the Round Table we had Clint Walker (sigh!) and Captain Kirk (sigh!) of the Star Ship Enterprise (alias William Shatner), It was neat to watch the presentation of the beautiful trophies, each bearing a big film spool, because we never saw so many lady winners of races In our livesl When it was made known who the presenters were the gentlemen gallantly allowed their wives or girl friends to accept the trophies for them. Darn itl Wish the Viewfinders had thought to give a trophy to The Biggest NEW WEBER HIGH PERFORIIANCE II0TORCYCLE CAli HANDBOOK ONLY SDe Here is a handbook needed by every bike owner. Explains in detail how cams are engineered for racing . Tells how a motorcycle eng ine works . Explains Hard weld Process and show s you how to get the right Cam for your bike . Easy to understand . fun to read . Send only SOt. for your CO~py SPEED EQUIPMENT . 310 S. Center Street . Santa An.a20. ~ hfornia 92703 phone 714 547·2595 Like everything else, success comes from hard work, and the two big' work horses In the CMC who deserve a vote of thanks, are Stu Peters and Kelvin Franks. Larry Grismer, one of the Carlsbad raceway owners, has also done a superb job of promoting moto-cross, yet he stays in the background. Larry has also done his share of the hard jobs and has worked hand in hand with the CMC to make Carlsbad the greatest thing going. <1t rained Saturday night and sprinkled Chicken in the Powder Puff class; I would have won that hands down! Anyway, it was a night to r emember and once again we salute the Viewfinders. They threw a marvelous Grand Prix and then topped that effort with a great presentation even if all of them being professionals in one way or another does give them an advantage over the regular mortals in our sport. We just wish that one of the big dailles could have witnessed the affair and given coverage of it, but good news is not news, as the adage goes, and it seems you still have to crash in flames or be a H.A. before you make a headline. Other good news is that the Desert Phantoms have been allowed to reschedule their event (it rained out) to August 18 at Adelanto so we haven't lost that point race. Speaking of points, the race is on in earnest now for those single-digit plates next year. Newbridegroom Fred Edwards is way ahead in the lightweight division with Gary Scott holding down second. The Lightweights M.C. are the club point leaders. In the heavyweight division it's Terry Dorsch (479) followed by Ben Fakkeldy with 450 points. Jim Hunter (446) comes next with John Rice fourth (425) and Tony Denius with 326. In club points the Dirt Diggers are the leaders; they have 27 heavyweight club members riding, but we give a pat on the back to California Gophers Ben Fakke ldy. Almost singlehandedly he's holding his club in second position with 855 compared to the Dirt Diggers' 1615. Then It's the Shamrocks (Terry Dorsch was one but isn't any longer), then O.C.M.C., the Stumpjumpers and the Viewfinders. If the Viewfinders ever make a real concentrated effort, watch outl They are one heck of a big club but because of their individual members working commitments they can't always ride as much as they wish to. Before we end this column we would like to go on record about our opinion of those types who rode the Dirt Diggers scrambles in classes they didn't belong in. Last week "Voices" had a letter from an unhappy gentlemen who thought the D.D.'s didn't care enough to do anything about the situation, but as we look at the results we find that more than one rider got busted for such conduct. The Dirt Diggers referee and other club officers decided that rather than make a public thing out of it the riders in question would just get their lumps quietly. There was also another case of where a certain lightweight rider switched bikes for the Main. Nothing was said publicly and other riders in that class didn't file a protest although the fact remains that if that machine had finished the Main (it blew) the rider would have been told as he pulled into the pits, "we've disqwilified you." Buttogetback to our personal opinion again, we can't say what we'd like to about guys whoride Novice when they are Expert or Amateur (or ride any other class than Expert when they are Class C Amateurs or Experts) because we don'twanttheoffice inundated with letters like they received on the " cher ry" .sr tua ticn, We'll just go along with " ain' t you got no pride?" Lars Larson, first time oul on Ihe new 360e e Maleo, winner of a ll 3 molos, lak. . downhi ll hair pin usln, bank of dlrl to his advantage. Hodaka ·mount ed Tom Rapp disp lays new cornerln, slyle, fool down, bot h wheels olf the ground. several times Sunday, but Carlsbad still had their biggest molo-cross yet . The l25cc Expert class was the first to try out the course. Eric Jensen (Hodaka) took the lead in the first moto, followed by Tim Hart (Guz), Gary Bailey (Hodaka) and Tom Rapp (Hodaka) . Penton mounted Lars Larson was behind Rapp but soon took over the lead, where he and Bailey fought it out for first position. It was a nip and tuck battle all the way with Lars beating Gary to the flag by half a wheel . In the second moto, Larson got a bad start, and had to come from next to last to take the win. Bailey had plans for Larson in the third moto - all bad. Gary grabbed the lead and constantly widened the gap over the pack . Tom Rapp did a beautiful job of keeping the more experienced Larson behind him . When Larson finally did get by, Bailey was so far ahead , there was no chance to catch up, Larson took the class win with Bailey finishing third behind desert ace, Jack Morgan, who finished third in all three s Oee Experl moto, J ohn OeSolo (Monlesa) losl foolpel In 2nd (sh own), benl front rim In 3rd, stili fin ished 6th . On your way to Saddleback Park never close enough to be a threat to Peterson who won the second leg. Peterson and Olrnell had switched positions in the final leg with Walt still running third, and DeSoto still having troublea smashed wheel this time. Darnell won the final moto, but Maico mounted, Walt Axthelm won the class with three third place finishes . Lars Larson was out for the first time on a new Maico, and had no trouble at all in capturing the cash in the 500cc Expert class. Montesa's Ron Nelson was Larson's hottest pursuer in the first moto, but Don McCarley (Montesa) and Gary Bailey (Greeves) were also front runners all the way. In the second leg, Larson was again out in front with McCarley and Bailey putting on a real scramble for second spot. In the third leg, Larson had a good lead, and Bailey had his hands full with Nelson whom he foughttooth and nail every inch of the way. It was one of the closest races of the day, but it was Bailey who took second position. Larson seemed to have little trouble in taking the class win, but McCarley, Bailey and Nelson really earned their first, second and third places and put on a whale of a good show in the process. The daY was crammed with many good races, and the crowd (740) of spectators on hand enjoyed every minute of it. If you have been wanting to see a good mota-cross, be sure you make it to Car ls bad on August 11, when the CMC throws one for charity. If you do not race, but would like to take part, the CMC has extended an offer of free admission and a five dollar b1ll to anyone who is interested in being a flagman. 4200 E. CHAPMAN AVEo - 538-4212 (Results on page 16) motes, The first 250cc moto was a gasser. The Honolulu Ha u I e r , John DeSoto, gunned his bright orange Montesa into the lead, followed by Gene Canady on a Bultaco and Russ Darnell on a Husky. The smooth, consistent riding style of Olrnell soon put him in second, where he and DeSoto diced it out for the first slot. It was close all the way, but John was ahl e to hold off Russ and take the moto . CZ mounted , Lon Peterson took the lead in the second moto, and Olrnell again held down second with Walt Axthelm third. DeSoto had problems, such as losing a foot peg, and Darnefl was MOTORCYCLE SUPPLIES NGK PLUGS (1~ !l.~CERS .15~ PIT STOP MILES EAST OF NEWPORT FRWY)

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