Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

~ D. eats ; fIe ents At ~ Willow Springs ~ '-l ::... tJ Photo hy Clltf R1ndels WILLOW SPRINGS, Cal., Feb. 23 - Sunday wUl go down In memory for many road racers as the day that shouldn't have been. With 30 mile per hour winds and rain, and temperatures In the thirtY's, 60-odd road racers fought the elements to ride at Willow Springs along with a cOuPle hundred spectators. After a brief riders' meeting and much discussioo, the ACA decided to hold their opener road race for the 1969 road racIng season. After a cOuPleofhourspract1ce session many riders found the greatest ditt1culty they bad In riding In tile pouring rain was their hands became cold and numb; however, the adhesion 011 the course was excellent, and the riders were able to get around the course In record time. At tl.rst, It was decided to run the normal schedule which consists of heat races and main events; however, after several of the heat races, the riders decided that the cold was the toughest competitor and decided to eliminate the heat races and go directly Into the main events. TIle tl.rst main event was the Lightweight Production. Leading In the first lap was Lawrence WakatsuklonaSuzuld. TakIng over In lap two and overall winner was Roger Wood on a Brldgestone, and finishing In second place was Rod Schmidt on a l75cc Honda. Finishing third over-all, riding a little 100Cc Yamaha, was Pat Evans from El Cajon riding out of Don Vesco's. The second event was 350cc, 500cc and Open classes; first off the line was Roland Pagan on a Triumph. Passing Roland and leading on the second lap was Dave Damron riding an OCelot Special. Coming uP behind on the last lap and finishing second over-all was Don Harms on a Harley-Davidson. Harms plans to compete at Daytona this year on his Harley which looked Rememb.....en lIIe ble Daylona race Included a stretch 01 beach as part 01 the course? Photo~apher Cliff Rlndels manaps to catl:b this photo 01 a start at Willow Splines Raceway In the middle 01 the Calilornia d..ert with .... at could pass lor a strip 01 ocean and beach as a sellin&very strong, and he was getting a little practice in the rain since, It everything runs true to form, Daytona wUlprobably be run in the rain. One machine which participated In this event and was of a great deal of interest to spectators and riders was a 350Cc Yamaha ridden by Don Emde. The machine was being run only to shake out some of the bugs and see how well It handled in the water and rain. I imagine you wUl see a great deal more of this type of equipment running In Grand Prix racing in the United States. From just outward appearances, this looks like a real winnlng piece of equipment, and it didn't do too badly, finishing second In Its shake-down run. The next event was 50cc through 200cc G.P. bikes. The over-all winner of this event was Don Emde on a Hodaka, riding for Mel D1nesen. Emde got out In the lead and was only challenged In the last three laps by Roger Wood on his :!oocc Bridgestone, but with Wood's bad start, he just wasn't able to catch Emde. Taking third over-all and first In class as Bob Barker on his Ducati. Bob has been riding the local road racing circuit for many years and did well In the rain. The Heavyweight Production, for 250, 350, 500cc and Open macllines was next. The leader In lap 1 was Roland Pagan on his Triumph, but he wasn't able to maintain It. Passing Roland and taking over the lead on the second lap was Mike Lane on a new BSA 3-cylinder. Mike continued to stretch out his lead and was not challenged for the remainder of the race. Pagan finished In second place. In third spot was Jack Harney on his 350Cc Brldgestone. Next came the sidecars. Bob Bakker and Bob Bender got a head start on their BSA. Oswald Auer and Bob Cummings were in hot pursuit on their 350Cc Yamaha. Amzingly enough, the 350Cc machine was almost as fast as the BSA. Most of the difference In speed can be accounted for by the weight difference; Husqvarna &Penton BSA naturally being the heavier machine. To see the sidecars with their flat automobile type tires sliding through the corners In the rain Is quite an exciting experience. Both drivers and passengers saId they really enjoyed the ride and the added excitement of the rainy sliding experience. The tInal 250cc GP. Last year's toP ACA road racer, Dave Damron on an OCelot led the pack for the first two laps. On lap three Don Emde passed Damron on his Yamaha. Damron was able to recapture his lead on the fourth lap, and continued to lead the event until the end. Emde finished second, and third spot 'spot went to Tim Macy, also Yamaha mounted. In fourth spot was Bennie Riddle on a Ducati. Mike Lane on a Yamaha got ott to a bad start, and in trying to make up time ran Into a large puddle on -Turn 9 and lett the course, doing several carwheels and smashing uP his machine. Luckily Mike was unhurt. (Results on page 16) ICE Complete line of Torsten Hallman Racing Equipment Largest Stock of Motorcycles & Parts in lIIe Los Angeles Area ALSO Suzuki, Zundapp, M.Z. & Monlesa CITY ~fd"t4ll'" 2 CYCLEAccesseries Mot.. (2J3) 415-454J 1 & E..ipaN!llt 10673 W. Pico Blvd., West Los AnQeles. Cal. UWASAKI SPEED KITS \lOce .. 175cc ..lie or call $46·00 l1li DRACO'S MOTORCYCLES 1629 So. Standard Ave. bnu Ana, Cal. 92707 (7\4) 543-9&81 LOMITA HOlDA Sal. . • Parts· Service COIII,lete lI.e 01 Sp.d Equipment Cus_ Palntlnl, Fra.. Works, Frame Desiplne" Bulldlal DiSl*llt Prices ID All sales 2073 Pacilic Con! Hwy. 1----326-3810 or 326-3816 - - -... INTENslfliii =: =: =: =::::::~ :~~ HODAKAS BY CROWELL ~ Circle Spear cafe The lamlly motorcycle me.tlne place Corner - 230th" W. Hwy. 138 Lancaster area I Fine Food & Cold Drinks Phon. available lor Emereencl.. I Dir.lnter. 5 to 138 Hwy-Approx.l~mi. HUSKYxPENTON Parts - Acces. - Used Bikes ADDOCK'. --- .......... ---New Short Stroke motor -30-40 HP New Gear Ratio Now"'torL.. Out......rld New Shllting Mechanism New Clutch Hub - Plates- Chain Wheel Large Rear Cha In Large Alloy Cyllncler Large Air Cleaner 2300 W. Cont HI way - Newport Beach (714) 645-1562 Ride what the winners ride Equipped with these competition extras Girllne shocks - 19" Front Wheel n·Cro Front fork - Skid Plate B\ E Air Cleaner - Fork Brace Crowell Tuned Pipe - Number Plate Solid Alloy R.ar Sprocket Choice 01 tires IE A LEADER' GO CROWELL 10427 Prairie, Inglewood (213) 613-5562 .- Duplex Prj Chain Steel Rims with Large Sp~.s 4(0)(18 Knobby Rear 350)(19 TrialS Front SprIng Loaded Fool Rest Brake Rod Inatead 01 Cable ..., ... CJeI. <*ltef Float Carb Taper Timken Head Beari"9S Gear box can be worked on wi thOut removing the engine from frame & splitting one. 1161 CI••llce Sal. . . . . "' , . _ V.p. C)'CI. L.. V.p. OrIllP.I. C,cI. Y_~"""IM ......, 0,.,..,.1. IIwIlaat Tri. ..... Sej., ..... '....1."... ,le-U. "'t.•• 0 ..1_ . . . .111... s,ort e.t., •• dIII...., ... Deel• •• 0"'. .-0..0 .11 ....,. Slew H_'IIIC II. L,.-M ....... lUI. La_lilt ...- .........s ...... CIt, .............. 3 gal Tank ttwa case which Is necessary with most other 250 & 380 unit type engines. Also there is a large air space between cases & gearbox which eliminates heat transfer. Cerlanl forks or Greeves forks give you the best riding & handling bike on the market. Ask the person YlIlo has a Greevas how he likes his. Try one and you'll buy Large 650- Type Gear Box COMPETITION READY V. Turn Throttle 5- thick seat "Ick T.,.I...nS w. Los,-".,u 8udICltJ HoMa ,,"c_ ...... FA . . "icloel. . MoWs 11573 Vanow... No. Hollywood, cal. (213) 764-8674 - 22 yrs. 'Iql• More Winning Greeves Results 250cc Expert Class So. Cal. Tr 'lals 2/9/69 lslJlm Wilson - Greeves ACA Malo-Cross 2/16/fl9 250cc Senior Class t st Gary Bailey - Gr.eves San Diego Trials 2/16/69 1st Jim Wilson - Gr..v.s Carlsbad Grand Prix 2/23/69 lst Gary Bailey - Grenes MI. 51. Helens Moto-Cross 2/16/&9 Open Class lst Dick Jaeow - Greeves

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