Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

DUST I MUD BOTH DAYS Above: 500 Elpert winner J.N. Roberts. Far lefl, Presion Petty on the Sachs. . ... ... i: ~ t- ~ z >< iL ... a: o ~ .... ~\ Bingham and Ed Wade temporarily forsook Harley-Davidson (or a lighter Montesa rig ••.Ed Morris who wi th Rodger Emmons took second on saturday couldn't make it Sunday a(ter getting centerpunched In the pits by a buddy riding his own hack, yet_.bruJses abound so Ed had to cool Jt Sunday. The combined 350 class went to John Mynard with Larry Shoemaker (Bultaco) second and showing great style through the water splashes .•• Three dJilerent makes 0( machines finished the 500 Amateur class, Steve Bast won handily on a Triumph, followed by Steve Ellsworth (Bultaco) and Rick Hall (Yamaha). Bast led all the way on a 1955 machine, electing to rJde that instead of a two-stroke because "no one told me it was a two-stroke course." J.N. Roberts lived QP to hJs reputation In the 500 Expert class. He and fellow Husky rider Lars Larson really put on a show for the first few laps until Lars' new engine stuck, but the Swedish rider wasn't able to get around the flying J. N. One thing we spotted was that both these men picked a completely ditferent line than anyone else once they got through the two water splashes, they swung to the right and crossed the water two more times Instead of heading for the bank like eve r y on e else ••• Jim Wilson (Greeves) made his way up to second over-all with Bob Friant on a Husky took thlrd ••..Ray NJchols (Matco) looked real great in the rough as did a rider #49 on a Montesa. Gary Bailey had tunJng problems in this one. Despite riders competing out of class (we caught ine of 'em in the Open Novice class, all on lightweights) there was good racing with Stan Barrett on a Husky (see what we mean, a 40 Inch Husky?) winning and Ed Walker (TrJumph) taking second •••there were also some Yamahas and a 250 BSA running in the same class. Jesse Goldberg was the star 0( the Open Amateurs. He grabbed of! the lead and never lost It but he didn't slow down either when he found out how far ahead he was. The plan for the day was to run the 12 Open Experts with the Amateurs and save some time because turn-out In both classes was poor. But one Expert didn't want to do this, complained bitterly so the Viewfinders let all twelve Experts grind around on their ownsomes. Gene Smith took the lead, this was his type of racing but the nut on the countershart back off before the first lap was over. Gene re-appeared for the Holligan Race and he and BaIley really had a go with BaIley finally sucking him Into overshooting a turn! Gary Jones on a Triumph, followed by brother Dewayne (BSA) won first and second open Expert, proudly watched by a trim-looking father, Don Jones, who had competed earlier, all wearing matching shJrts •.•Bob Bailey ended third despite having to stop once for adjustments in the wash. The Hooligan ended the day, and a hooligan it was. Things got pretty sticky coming up the hill as machines of all sizes ran against each other •••Lana Paige from the Open Novice class went down in an unfortunate accident as she'd done so well earlier and had to be carried out 0( the mudhole•••John Rice (sponsored by Uncle Ben) on a Sachs kept going strong while It was BaIley and Smith who puton the show up tront• . Odd 'N' Ends The weekend was a success but we're sorry to report that we may not be able to have any more racing at Westlake because some yo-yos got onto the property and chased cattle the week before ... 0 i s t ric t President Ron Sloan who worked so hard to get this land would like to wring their necks and says "We're our own worst enemies." The host' club's fine idea 0( hiring a troop of Boy Scouts to clean-up and these youngsters from the Moorpark Troop did a wonderful job•••the wash was In much better shape this year, no pea-soQP mud but It was still a challenge •••all riders liked the course, the down-hill was eliminated this year ••.very few complaints, but two were too many 250 novices starting at once and the lightweJghts who rode the big bore classes. Tut tut, gentlemen, we have our District rules y'know. Who probablY had the most fun? The youngsters hunting frogs in the waSh, they got some good ones too, and who had the least? Must be Al Baker. After doing splendidly both days, he had his front wheel collapse on his Triumph when tryIng to better his jump record from Saturday. He walked away, but superouch! And to you smarties who thought you were getting away with something while cutting the course •• .beh heh••• we bet you didn't know there were two hidden checks out on the boondocks•••the Viewfinders are too good a club to leave anything to chance! (Results on page 21)

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