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/125586
MID-OHIO
Photos By Dick Bingham.
INTEINATIONAL
Ray Ninness.
MOTO-CIOSS
AMEIICANS
SHOCIED
Bob DWDrek .
By Paul Cosner
The start Df a 500 Int ernati Dnal MotD shDWS (511 Torlief Hansen. Husky. onee _ in in t he Ieee!. Hensen seemingly was u _table tD t he first turn w ith his jack-rabbit sta rts. He was very fast and
f lash y unti l his throttle cabl e brDke in the sec ond 250cc MotD. FDII
Dwin g him is A b8rgI521. RDbert (58) . Bickers (561 and Wei l (160 1.
.,
mixed with snow. Alth ough this undoubtedl y
contributed to the lack of spectators it didn 't
seem to dampen the riders spirits one bit.
In the first 250cc series Ronald Moore of
Dayton, 0., came out top dog. The Brothers
Shrover, Bob and Bud, rounded out the top
three on their identical Yamahas.
The second 250cc series went to Donald
Bannerman, Barkley , Mich. , who was riding a
Bultaco, Following him in was CZ mounted
Joe Higgins from Dorch ester , Mass., and Jim
Merkner, Crown Point, Mich., on a Bul.
First 3 finishers in the 5000c class were
Norm Richens, Clarkston, Ont., on a CZ, Bob
Oury, Elmhurst, Ill., ridin g a Triumph and
Rich Burleson, Ann Arbor, Mich., who rode a
beautiful race on a BSA Victor Grand Prix.
The 125 event went to Penton riders Jeff
Penton, Tom Penton and Fl oyd Beatti e. In
the entire day 's racing only one rider required
hospital attention. He broke his collar-bone
but was back at the track in time for the
awards ceremony .
Promoter John
Penton eithe r has
conn ections in high places or fantastic good .
5th in the 250 International was retiring CZ team rider Dave Bickers of England. Dive. who is
30. fee ls that he is nDW tDD Did t D eornpete, He has twice been 250cc WDrid ChampiDn ridi ng
Greeves machines .
luck. After the absolutely horrifying weather
on Saturda y , Sunday dawned bright and clear.
This almost perfect fall day contribute d
greatly to the 10,OOO-plus spectators that
lined the track 4-deep to view the most
spectacular brand of racing this country has
ever seen. It was also beneficial to the Dayton
T.V. crew filming tii~ . races for distribution to
other stations.
The Europeans, who had practiced at the
track on Wednesday and Friday, foun d it
much to th eir liking. Th ey were of th e
opinio n that this was the first moto-cross
course they had seen in the Il.S, that
compared with the European circuits. The
course was 1'% miles lonz in contrast with the
short 7/10 mile course they had run at
Pepperell the week before. On some of the
straights the y were pushing 80 mph.
The 125 race Sunday had a surprise winner
in Walt Axthelm, an Expert from California.
riding the flrst of the 125 Sachs Moto-Cro ss
machines to be seen in this area.
The Penton brothers, Tom and Jeff, gave
Axthelm a run for his money but neither
finished both Matos. Second was James
Jerles, Zanesville, 0., on a Suzuki-engined
Sachs and 3rd was Bob Grodzi nski, Avon, O.
on a Penton.
Europeans copped the first places in the
250 International with Bengt Aberg ta king his
Husky for the win. Adolf Wei!, West
Germany, had a great ride on his Maico to
take second over-all. Third was 250cc World
Champion Joel Ro bert of Belgium.
The first American to finish was Dick Mann
in 7th place on a very rapid Ossa. Bugsy was
also the highest placed American at Pepperell,
where he also fin ished 7th. Barry Higgins and
Joe
Higgins two
CZ
riders
fro m
Massachusetts, were 8th and 9th.
There used to be a saying quite common
among midwestern riders th at went, "If
you've seen one wheelie, you've seen them
all. " After watching Joel Robert in the 500cc
International we're pretty sure we won't be
hearing that one again. Robert ,actually had
the crowd , and the other riders, in the palm
of his hand. Towards the end of the final
Mota he