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/125604
Yamaha pilot AI Bake, will concent,ate on moto-c'oss In' 69. Gary Bailey snatched the 2505,. win. Photos by John Shedd Turner Takes Saddleback Class, First Time On Maico The 'Flying Hawaiian' was flying. ORANGE COUNTY, Cal., Feb. 16- With rain coming on the Friday and Saturday before the ACA's first moto-cross at Saddleback Park for 1969, it was doubtful if the race would run at all. Wes Cooley, president of the ACA, and Vic Wilson of Saddleback Park decided to run the event as scheduled even if the ears and trucks in the pits would have to be pulled out with the park's four-wheel drive vehicles. Some staggering mud-holes were found in practice, and the actual start time for the first race was moved uP so the course could be changed in a few places. With the sun out the track began to dry fast and the 100-125cc Jr. and Sr. combined race got off to a good start, Gary Balley and Mike Runyard leading the field. Bailey maneuvered his Penton into a first for that moto, followed by uP-andcoming Runyard aboard his Norm Reeves-sponsored Sachs racer. Overall, these two riders finishing in the same position. Hodaka man Frank Rowe was first 100cc Sportsman; another Hodaka pilot, Dan Smead, took second. The 250cc Sportsman class was a real bear to score since many riders got stuck in an atrocious mudhole in the b~ section of the course. Russ T.urner, his first time out on his new Malco, copped first overall. His ridlng buddy Bill Harris, also on a new Malco and his first time out, f!nished third overall. Both of these riders are sponsored by Bob Balley's Service Center and were wearing the new team jersey. Larry Geese managed te squeeze between the two Malco m en aboard his trusty Husky. Gary Bailey' again showed the way around the demanding Saddleback course in the 250 Senior event, with an overall win aboard his Nick Nicholson sponsored Greeves short-stroke. Greg Smith gave Balley a good fight in the first two motos but fell out in the third. Dave Aldana and his Ossa copped second with Al Baker' taking his Yamaha to third. Al says he'll be concentratln~ on mote-cross this year, rather than desert. Montesa ace John De Sote had problems in the 500 Senior class with a flat rear tire in the practice and another in the second moto. He won the first mote with Montesa-rider Bob Grossi in hot pursuit. A fast-closing Malco ace Tom Rapp was third. After De Sote's flat in the second, Grossi took over and snatched the win with Rapp behind. On the third mote found there was no De Sote.He'd run out of tubes. So Grossi and Rapp battled it out, Rapp getting the win. He also got the overall 500 Sr. win, with Grossi going te a third overall. Montesa-sponsored Tim Hart was waiting in the background, and got the overall second. Gary Jones kept plugging away on his BSA for a hard-earned fourth. Jon Nelson made his mark in the 500cc Sportsman with the overall win, fending off second place Husky-rider Carl Cotton and thirdplace Malco pilot Reg Flaming. (Results on page 16) SCMA Happenings By Rob Robbins NORWALK, Cal., Feb. 3- Ellis "Smitty" Smith began the 12th meeting of the Southern California Motercycling Assn. by promising better and more complete books this year. The final word on the SCMA's bulk malllng permit is affirmative. Henceforth, the association wl1l mall all member club fiyers at a costof4~each te the club, quite a saving. A plea was made on behalf of the clubs in the Bakersfield area for moreparticipation from L.A. area riders. 10 return, they will patronize as many L,A. area runs as possible. The Arvin Travelers MC has a Poker Run Feb. 23 as the first SCMA sanctioned run of the year. (see Calendar of Events this issue) It wl1l be followed by the 1st Annual Poker Run sponsored by the SCMA itself, March 9. Doug Berger, SCMA Vice President, has taken on the chore of printing a monthly newsletter. It will be malled with the flyers each month. Address for correspondence is 6029 Farrington Ln., Los Angeles, Cal. It seems the corporation license is not too far away. It is in the final stages of red tape, in the hands of the attorney. Balloting for next years officers will be done by mall, as planned by Berger. He !nitlated quite a few adjustments te the SCMA's method of operation. One of these is a three-month membership drive in the near future. Another explanation of the security patrol was requested by outrider, Jerry Blackshear. Shammie Street (Oxnard) and Al Reynolds (orlglnals) are in charge. But it is uP to the referee of each club te appoint and supervise the patrol for their run. Thanks te the So. Cal. Harley Davidson Dealers Assn., the billfold size 1969 Calendar of events wl1l soon be available.