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/125608
... .. :0 1 Q. U) ~ foQ :i!: lOl .. ~ . -.J U :>-0 U The Drag Race Scene By Dan Zeman WILMINGTON, Calit~Harley-Davidsons dominated Lions Drag Strip on March 16th. H-D took all divisions. Ed Mc Dooald tool< Top Street. Ed had a modifled carburetor but changed to a stock one alter being protested. Next, he was protested for having open exhaust, so he borrowed some muffiers from Steve Ke'ldsh. After all this, Ed's bike finally met all the requirements for Stock Street (as far as the eye could see) and went on to take his class and division. Ed's closest race of the day for Top Street was with Bob Nelson on his KawasaJd 500. Bob worked his E.T. down to the high twelves and 103 mph. This machine is getting a little quicker each run. Steve Bracke.tt took Top Modified. steve is st1ll turning in the low elevens. TJds machine is owned bY Bruce Miller wbo also owns a fuel burning H-D. Other actioo in Modified D1v1sion was in C class when Ron Sommers on a 500 Suzuki staged with Old Man Murphy, mounted on a 500 KawasaJd. Ron had to shave the llgbt close to take th1s one, but be shaved it too close and turned 011 the big red light. Murpby says he plans on taking th1s class every week. Tom Petry took E Modified. 1b1s is Murphy's old Suzuki and Tom turned it 011 real stroog and made some faDlaBtlc low twelve secood runs. carl Morrow took the Top Gas money 011 his H-D. Carl has been absent from the strips lately. He has been hard at work getting all the bugs worked out. carl will be mounting a fuel injectioo system in a few weeks, so this is a bike to keep your eyes on. SALES SERVICE HOCIIES MOTORCYCLES HODAKA YAcr~IE GREEVES COIIIplete 'bc:llin. SIIop Faclllll.s 22025 So. Figueroa Torrance, Cal ifornia F Gas had the most entries in the entire division. Jerry Ramer took this class on Bob Braverman's 12Qcc Kawasaki. This was Jerry's first time at drag racing. Jerry is sixteen years old and bas been waiting for a chance to prove himselffor a long time. If this was a record-setting daY, or an A.H.R.A. Event, Jerry would have set a few records. Runs in the m1dfifteens is quick for a machine of this displacement. Top Fuel Joe Smith bas been tearing uP the local strips lately. Joe tool< InrindaJe Saturday and came to Uons (or their goldSunday. This is ooe of the fastest bikes 011 the West Coast. Joe broke his transmission on a single run, so decided to run one gear only. This worked pretty good. Joe turned a 9.70 E.T. and 155.97 mph. This is the tastest mph Joe bas ever turned. There were six bikes running for Top Bike honors. Big Bike Meet July 4th is the date set for the BIG ONE! 1b1s is a sure th1Dg now. Uons put uP a THOUSAND DOLLARS! I would like to see th1s the biggest "AIl Bike" drag meet ever held 011 the West Coast. I am accePting dmations to increase the purse. This is also a chance for some good advertisement. All donors will be listed in Cycle News right uP to the week of the event. To get the ball on !be road 1 will put uP the first donation. This will be twenty-five dollars. Anyone else wanting to contribute please send money order or check to Dan Zeman care of Cycle News, Box 498, Long Beach. Callf. 90805. There will be more information on entry fees; pre-entry, etc. in the next Drag Racing column. (Results on page 20) MEET THE DRAGGER By Betty Nichols When the club" kitty" is looking pretty Two drag racers are such good friends rich, they alI vote on how the profits and do so much together that it wouldn't should be spent. A big portion goes to seem right to interview them separately. help the small charities and organizaW1ll Hodges is 32, married, with three tions that they consider could really use daughters, aged 3, 5, and 12. He is a the cash'. They also donate to any needY mechanic for Chaffey Ford in Hawthorne, cause that is brought to their attention. Calif. and lives in Los Angeles. Will and John spend a lot of time at John Willhite is 30, married, has a son Rich Budelier's Harley-Davidson at2531 aged 11 and a daughter, 3. He's an airS. Main St. in Los Angeles, drinking free craft assembler at Douglas and also lives coffee and shootin' the bull with the other in Los Angeles. guys. They buy all their motorcycle parts They belong to a m'otorcycle club there and pick up a few ideas to improve called the "Magnificent 7". The club, their drag speeds. They do all their own incidentally, is three years old and still mechanical work and really keep their boasts the original seven members. All . machines in tip-top running condition. the members are married and their They have proved this by walking otf wives are included at the twice-monthly with many trophies. Will mentioned that meetings. It's a social club for the seven he came into the money once, and is couples as well as being a motorcycle looking torward to it again. club. They all get together for dancing, You can guess by now that both fellas bowling, family picnics and alI the fun own Harleys. They are licensed so they things young couples enjoy. They also get can be driven on the streets as well as together to travel the state so they can the strips. This way, they serve a dual attend the d1fferentdragevents. The guys purpose. perform - the gals watch. They each own their tam Ily cars, and Will has a 1950 Ford pickup to carry the bikes back and forth to Lions every Sunday. Wlll said he started out by dragging on the streets, but decided it was too dangerous and expensive. He picked up nine traffic tickets in seven months, so he wised up and started taking his bike to the drag strip. He said the judge downtown was getting mighty tired of looking at his face. John and Will both agreed on the best advice to offer the bike riders that still insist on playing around on the streets. "If you want to race, take your bike to the drag striP. It's safer, cheaper and you will get home in one piece. Not always so if you goof off on the highway". One thing nice about the drag striP. There is always a chance of picking up a nice trOPhy (instead of a ticket) or a little cash, plus the advantage of meeting a lot of nice folks. The streets sure can't beat that. L.ft, John Willhite, rlllll, Will Hodp .. SEEN ON THE DAYTONA SCENE S.en at th. Daytona show w.r. (below) Ih. n.w American Eacl. Molocross 250cc and (bottom) th. 175cc Penlon sl.-speed, soon 10 be available. Whll. al rlchl, this Harl.y dr.w crowds on th. slrHIs. "Hey buddy, col a IIChl?" (213) 328-1242 For Your Nearest "Built 'TO' Go ". Dealer Call TR. 7-2400 or PO. !Hl441 Bu.'aeG We specialize In only Bullaco Mitco Bultaco 7229 W. Oraneelhorpe, B..... a Park mil) 522-6626 -- -- Circle Spear Cafe seE YOUR DEALER J The fami Iy molorcycle meeling place Corner - 230lh & W. Hwy. 138 Lancaster area Fine Food & Cold DrinkS Phone available for Emergencies Dir. Inler. 5 10 138 Hwy-Appro •• 16~mi. --- - - - - DESIGNED