Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Cycle News 1969 05 13

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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IfW '.AGf ((0." ••• 4) By Mike Capallte SAUGUS, Cal1f.. May 2, 1969 - Great co-operation trom the weatherman broueht a perfect raclng D1gbt to the Saugus Speedway last Friday as the invasion by the Class A clodbusters produced some starWnc IIPsets over the top riders, movlng some favored racers Into the B main. Greg Haserot (Jawa) was plagued with adhesJon problems, went down in the first heat atter he had received the checkered flag for the win which he had taken from Rick Woods atter Rick had unloaded in a most class1cal way - he power-slid into the corner too hard and lost It in a laydown that was so smooth It looked like he planned It. The second heat was all Mike Kon1e's (Eso) as he seemed to take to the track now that It has been better-lighted and widened quite a bit. Steve Bast (Eso) had to give lIP his laurels in the heat to his brother Mike Bast (Eso) as he hooked a foot on the inside and almost lost It, then while trylng to take the lead back from Mike, he laid It down, but he dJdn't feel lonesome, as Joe Chanky (Eso) and Marty MacDonald (Eso) both unloaded in that heat. The Semis were the real IIPsets as the A riders were reduced to B's by riders who were making their first A maJns for the season. It started with Sonny Nutter tak1ng the win over "Champion" Rick Woods, then Roo Miller aced out Mike Bast, Mike KonIe turned back the efforts c:I John Carter and Greg Haserot put ot! Steve Bast to complete a series of UPsets for the evening. Sonny Nutter (JAP) was able to cop the Trophy Dash win from Mike Bast (Eso) John Carte, (Dan Mahony phOtD). atter a spectacular spill by Greg Haserot (Jawa) and Mike KonIe (Eso) who tangled on a corner, but lucklly ne1ther rider was injured. The C main turned into the first maln event win for Joe Chanky (Eso) who seemed to respond to the larger track as he beld back Harlan Bast(Eso) and Larry He1nselman (JAP) 1I1th Jim Ashworth having eng1ne trouble with his Jawa and having to settle for fourth. The line lIP in the B maln looked all the world like an A maln card as It pitted four c:I the top riders in speedway raclng includlng U.S. Champion Woods and 1969 point leader Steve Bast along with MIke Bast and John Carter. There was no dJsaPpo1ntment for the tans as the Bast brothers and Rick exblblted some of the most spectacular raclng yet seen on this Bonelli Ranch oval. John Carter took an endo but the win was settled in the last lap atter a terr1f1c duel between MIke, Steve and Rick when Mike pulled away and Rick bobbled a little. So Steve had to settle for a second behind his little brother with lbJrd place money golng to Woods. After this Impressive B maln, the A maln ·should have been rather anticlimatic, but everyone was in for a big surprise as the four riders were very evenly matched, and the larger track seemed to give them a feeling of confidence as they would "back them into the corners" In four-abreast slides thathad the spectators' hearts In their mouths and It was anyone's race unW Mike Konle (Eso) was able to pull away with a tremendous drive out of the corner and kept the lead until the checkered flag with Greg Haserot (Jawa) and Sonny Nutter (JAP) making It a photo-fin1sb for the second and third slots with Ron Miller (JAP) copplng fourth. ThlIJ track may prove to be the biggest advance for speedway racing yet as this weekly Friday nlgbt program gets rolllng. Motorcycle butts in the NewballSaugus area, here Is your chance to see some of the most exclt1ng racing In the world In your own back yard and It starts at 8: 30 every Friday nJcht. ~ coD1a off1c1al, wants the striped sb1rttbat goes a100C with the duties of the 100MIle natiollal. Offtc1&l1y, the Dtatr1ct Referee Is Charlie Watson, a popular New Jersey dealer. ThIs 1a an example of the IdDd c1 problems that occupy much of the AMA Directors' time. WhIle It rema1ns unsolved, many of the New Eneland clubs are staging a "sanction strike," and refuslng to send dues and fees money to AMA headquarters. Kon'e taies Saugls :f Q> Q., CI) ~ Co:! :c: Co:! ti :.. U F.I.M. Affiliation Prospects for co-operation betweea the world sanctioning Federaelon Internatlonale D'Motocyclist and AMA, ooce bright, seem to be dJmming. AMA execs are begJnn1ng to wonder whY Amertca sbou1d want to deal with the reportedly sagging, corrllPt, F.r. M. anyway... They should want to atfll1ate with US," It was remarked. Other Business Discussed The Board voted to .. study" (read: reject) a new Insurance proposal to replace the present satisfactory, but expensive, carrier. Agreed not to solicit contingency prize money for professional racers, not to sanction professional events or record runs outside the U.S. borders. Before they adjourned for lunch, they resolved to prepare and cost-out a public relations program and appointed Executive DIrector WlllJam Berry to present such a proposal at the next meetlng In mid-June. By Eric Ralts FONTANA, CAL., May 3 - Fontana's raceway and the Cal1fornla Moto-Sp,ort Club hosted the first, night motocross ever held In this area. A bleacher-full of cold enthusiasts didn't seem to mind that the course was more like a scrambles and cheered anyone who tried to pass on the soft, rocky track. The brand-new course was bulldozed along the drag strip and used the strip's lights. Riders sald there wasn't enough light to tell the dltference between a bump and a chuckhole and the tricky shadows made many ride cautiously. Wlnner of the drag race to the first corner generally came home first as the rest got In each other's way or bogged down In the soft dlrt. The surface changed each time they came around so only the biggest bumps and deepest holes could be memorized. Between motos the COIlO'se was really changed. Dune buggies and the 4X4s ran a Sunday-n1ght-at-Ascot type of destruction derby. It was possible for the bikes to pass each other, but the buggles really pushed and shoved to get around. Gary Jones passed Lars Larsson In one moto, making It look easy. Gary BaIley sutfered trom night blindness, but managed two seconds. Three motos were scheduled but only two were run; Fontana's finest arrived a few minutes atter 11 p.m. to enforce the curfew. It appears that the curfew Is a matter of principle as the raceway Is a distance from the nearest sign of habitation. The black-and-whltes carne screech1ng lIP, loaded for bear, in case the crazed motorcycle riders and fans had any thoughts of emulatlng the latest campus craze. There was no hint ofdJs~ order in the quick-paced program. (Results on page 20) Sidewinders Sto'e Up ,for Springtime Action By J.K. Lacey PORTLAND, ORE., Apr. Z7-Delayedone week by rain, the OregonSldewlnders M. C. staged their 1969 opener under warm, sunny skies, and set the stage for the professional handlebar benders for the year to come. ThIs was the first time the new AMA four-place pay-off was used and many atter-race comments were heard. Two thlngs quickly became apparent: l)everyone seemed to have forgotten this was only the mIn1mum $600 purse, and Z) no one was forced to ride. Hence, riders may choose to stay home and walt for those bigger purses that seldom appear but I doubt It. Sportsmen that they are, motorcycle racing Is In their blood. A small percent c1 somethlng Is still somethlng. Here In the Northwest there 15 one chap who Is golng to be one of the top Novices for this year. ThIs will be nothing new for the wash1ngton-Oregon area as we have had Nationally ranked Novices be- ,Uff.SrUff s.oof'ers n-CROFORKS FOR HODAKA EE YOUR HODAKA DEALER Class C Mainstay Reinforced Gary Bailey fore, but perhaps not one like Chuck Joyner. ThIs lad Is smooth, real smooth, and barrlng Injury or mecban1cal trouble, Chuck should be the biggest Novice threat at any track. Joyner easily won the Dash today then went on to take the Ma1n atter chaslng Dan Brecht (C- Z) for five laPs. These two out-distanced the pack. Last year's top Novice returned as an Amateur and went through the yellowplate crew like a hurrl~YouthfulJack Mott, aboard his BSA- Western sponsored Birmingham twin, swept throughtheclass with the same aggressive style that brought him fame last year, w1nn1ng his heat, the TrophY Dash, and the maln. David Yost (Tr1.) tra1led home second, and another Triumph, ridden by Jim slack was third. Another repeat was in the making In . that the top Expert at Sidewinders last year returned for the opener and took home all the dollars. National number 14, Gary Davis (trl) dJdn't win the Expert Trophy Dash .but when the maJn was flagged he grabbed the lead and won with a w1re-to-wire ride. Ross Roberts (trl) dogged Davls'rear the whole way, never more than two lengths baclt, while Dash winner T.L. Hoglan(Nor)andMark WIll1arns (trl) fought a good'un for the show spot. Whlle Davis sat out front with his slim lead, forsaJdng the fun and excl tement c:I a good dice, Hoglan and Williams mixed It lIP with the Norto. getting by just before the half-way point. Then Hoglan seemed to tire and the new National number got by and Into third for good. T.L.looked good and we'd have to say he went better than he has In the One of the mainstay AMA principles was relnforced that afternoon, which should helP to prove once and for all that the Harley-Davidson Motor Company no longer dominates the AMA. At Issue was the rule requlrlng a mlnJmum of ZOO mndels of a motorcycle to quailly for professional competition. The rule 15 designed to prevent fac tortes trom constructing limited-production, "fire engine" specials that the average rider could not hope to compete agalnst on ava11able equ1pment. 10 the past the rule was loosely Interpreted, so that 1f a reputable company promised to manufac ture 200 copies for sale and the machine was otherw1se acceptable, It was approved for racing. The Board In Its wisdom Interpreted the rule to mean that 200 Identical machines had to be completed and already avaIlable for sale, to quallfy as Class C aPproved. Whether Harley-Davidson can produce enough ot Its new 750cc overhead-valve models to comply In time for this raclng season remalns to be seen. We suspect, however, that If they do there will be no shortage of customers for the bikes. SALES HOCKIES MOTO.ClCW HODAKA YANKEE OSSA GREEVES Complete 1I1d1lne Sllop Facilitle. 22025 So. Figueroa Torrance, Cal ifornia .... <2U) 328-12~ This Space past. The OPener was a good one as It brings out all the new equipment and riders and the fans certainly got their money's worth. May 9 starts the weekly Friday n1ght TT at 8 po' m. and each c:I them should be equally as exciting. (Results on page 20) SERVICE ONLY call <213> $6.50 lIer week Ask for Tom 423-043 '--

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