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/125598
Cold In Snow and Sand I. (JIIII) Roberts and trusty Husky teamed lor wins In ~ class. . HOLIDAY, Cal. Dec. 29 - This Is one of the most popular areas in the desert for racing, as there are very few rocks and the sand Is not powdery, as in the Lucerne Valley. For these reasons, and the fact that this was to be the last District 37 point run of the year, a large entry of 470 riders came out to enjoy the benefits left by the saturday rain. JoN. Roberts was the big star of the show, taking the 250 Amateur-Expert race In the moroing and topping it oft by winning the Open Class race In the afternoon, astride Tracy's-tuned Huskies in both events. There were two courses; the Novice course was fast, with some great fire roads and fast, open boondock trails. The Expert course was to be a real test of the rider, with a fourth-gear fire road that wound up and down, followed by a steep, oft-camber downhill that threw some of the top experts on their ears. The Amateur- Expert trail bike event was the first race on the Expert course. It was a real crowd-pleaser, with the lead so closely contested that a blanket could have been thrown over the leaders throughout the race. Jeff Wright, #76, on a Crowell-tuned Hodaka, grabbed the lead, followed by Jack Morgan,' #1, on a Hodaka, and Wayne Ragland, #515, on an SoS. Hodaka. Wright held the lead for the first nine miles, when he was passed by Jack Morgan in the open boondocks coming Into the pits. Morgan, however, dropped a chain going over the road crossing at speed, and Wright took over the lead again with Ragland In hot pursuit. By this time, Dean Goldsmith, #39, on a very fast Harley Davidson, had moved UP Into third position; these three riders moved away from the rest of the pack to battle for the lead. Goldsmith was able to out-power Wright on the fire road and took command of the lead, but was not able to lose the two young Hodaka riders on the third lap. They were stlll bunched together on the fourth and final lap, with Goldsmith crossing the finish line with a ten-foot margin. Ragland and Wright finished wheel-to-wheel, with Ragland being awarded second and Wright taking third. These first three riders were all Amateurs; they held a two-minute lead over the next man, Gary Grltfin #112, taking First Expert on a Zundapp. He was followed by Terry Jetton, #3P, an Expert on a sachs. What is this HarleyDavidson that Dean Goldsmith Is riding, that it goes so fast? Seventy-six 250cc Amateurs and Experts were sent off next, and JoN Roberts took control of the lead, holding It all the way to the end and crossing the finish line with plenty of room to spare. Tom Muto, #71x, was second, both Huskymounted. The broad-sliding Steve Scott #843x, was next on a Bultaco. First Amateur honors went to Mickey Freeny, #252x 00 a Greeves. 0 Rocks The last race of the day on the Expert course was the combined Open and 500 Amateurs and Experts. From up on the hill two miles out it was obvious that some of the riders hadn't checked out the rocky area to the right of the course, and some spectacular endos were seen at the start. Don Bohanna, #158, on a fast Rickman, had the lead on the main trail, but JoN. Roberts put on a burst of speed and took over, building it up by the time he got to the f1nlsh line to take the over-win. Bridesmaid George Walker, #22!;m, on a Husky, took a solid second for the umpteenth time, and Al Baker, #13, was third on a Triumph, taking First Open Expert. Jack Byers, #3 on a Rickman, was next. The first Amateur in was Steve Holladay, #714, on a Husky, followed closely by another Amateur, Chuck Raudman, #893, taking first Open Amateur on a Triumph. The Trail Bike race was won by Tim Ryan, #272 on a Hodaka, followed by Mark Wilson, #422 on a V.T o Hodaka, and Jim Sparks, Penton-mounted#428m. So that is the end of the 1968 desert racing. season, and no doubt everybody will come out next year with even more enthusiasm to "sock it to 'eml". The three top riders in class were real winners this year: Mike Patrick, taking flrst spot in the ()pen Class on the Norton; Larry Bergquist in the 250 Class on a Bultaco, and Jack Morgan again taking the 100cc Class 00 his Hodaka. (Results 00 page 16) ... Larry Bergqui st, riding a 1969 Sultaco PurSang Moto-X Scrambler, and competi ng agai nst over 1000 riders took the AMA Oi strict 37 Lightweight Desert #1 plate for 1969. Larry, a 250 expert, ended the year 570 points in front of second place, with 19 first place wi ns. Quite a tribute to Larry, Fergus & Griffin M/C Service Center (who prepare Larry's machine) and Bultaco. .---- .....-----.----~ • ---_.• Litch Benefit TT - Ascot Park - 1/1/69 AMA Season Point Opener 250 Novice Main Event 1st TOO SLOAN. , •••••• , •••••••••••••• Bultaco PurSang 3rd ~ NOY SMI TH ••••••••••••••••••••• BulIa CO PurSang 4th NEIL WINSTON ••••••••••••••••••••• Bultaco PurSang ...---__----.'-----4•.----.. HAWAII INTERNATIONAL MOTO-X - 12/15/68 lsi MARCEL WIERTZ ••••••••••••••••••• Bultaco PurSang 2nd Joel Robert ••••••••••••••••••••••• CZ 3rd Rodger DeCoster ••••••••••••• , •••••• CZ .----.---_..-----..----. Perris Nite TT - 68 Season High Point Champions OVERALL LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONS VINCE GRAVES • • •••••••••••• t ••••••• Bultaco PUrSallg 200cc Comb. Champion LOYAL PENN • • • • • • • • I • • • • • • , ••••••• Bultaco Sherpa S 250cc Novice Champion BOB GREENSTREET ••••••••••••••••••• Bultaco PurSang 250cc Am/Ex Champion VINCE GRAVES ... " . Bultaco PurSang 350cc Comb Champion RON KILLINGSWORTH • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• Bultaco EI BandidD 1---·••----'.-----.1_---.. BULT.4CO AMERICAN, LTD. 2765 Scott Blvd. Santa Clara, Calif. 95050