Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

COOLEY'S COLUMN Left Open Expert winner Rusty Bradley leads on a Trident. Drags and Motocross made up a full program In Austin, Texas Kawasaki at over 100 mph and slid some three hundred feet to acquire more than his share of the road racers' common enemY,'asphalt rash'.It was really going around Sunday. In the lightweight classes Danny Forke (Honda) was the first racer to get the By Tom Beesley checkered flag in the 200cc stock production races. Danny was one of three AUSTIN, TEXAS April 20, 1969 - Austin riders who took first place for Dan AnDragway Park hosted a most spectacular tilley's Honda of San AntonIo. Bently display of motorcycle racing. Triple Hardwick, who later had a bad spill, won header action started shortly alter noon with the running of the drag races and _ second on a Suzuki. A charging newcomer from Houston, motocross events simultaneously and Lynn Kile (SUZuki), swept the 250cc stock then moved into the crash-filled road production races. RunnIng 2 and 3 were racing program. . Tommy Byars (Suzuki) and David Broyles The motocross races were held In the (Bultaco). infield of the road course and proved to The pace quickened and the crowd be a real challenge to the sixty-odd dirt came allve as the first of the threeriders that had assembled. Gary Bigley hangers debuted In the 500cc SP classes (Yamaha), Bill Kasson (Yamaha), and with Jody DeIgado(KawasaId)homefirst, George Parks (penton), emerged from JIm Schwartz (Yamaha) second, and Doug the swarm of 125cc bikes to take the Taylor (Kawasaki) third. And then as I! first three places. that was not enough, the climax came Young Austinite Jack O'Leary went with the running of the 750cc class. wire to wire winning the 250cc class on VIrgil Davenport (Trident) from Big a Yamaha sponsored by his dad. Ed Ter"D" Cycle Center convinced the doubters rell (Husqvarna) paced the rest of the that he and Triumph could handle them pack to take second. all. Holding down second for the entire Montesa mounted John (Light Brown) race was Norton mounted Art Nlnci of Lancione of Dallas outclassed the open Kansas City with Wesley Crane (BSA) class to hold down first place. rd lIIIIIIIII.thii • Three was the magic number for cylinders In the next race. Larry Beall (Kawasaki) moved out to lead the 500cc GP class, but was passed four times by the same rider before winning the eight lap event. Larry mentioned alter the races that J. C. Kiusmeyer (Ducati) of Odessa "just wouldn't give up" and at times wondered I! he would be able to hold him off., Running In third was another Kawasak ridden by Jody Delgado and coming in fourth was "Wild Man" Bennie Campbell on a Suzuki. Jimmy Anderson unloads at close to 100 mph on a 250cc Kawasaki. Jimmy walked asphalt rash. In the drag races the 3-cylinder jobs looked like the ones to beat In the bigger motors. A Trident prepared by Jack Wilson of Dallas took stock bike and a Kawasaki from Honda of San Antonio won modified bike. Top Eliminator was won by Dan James who has to have one of the largest "Hogs" breathing. The new r 0 a d racing three-hangers have brought more than just another cylinder and additional horsepower; they have created a new ball game all togetber. There is a great new sound, greater speeds, better course times, and a tremendous amount of newly generated enthusiasm among the dealers and riders. And then came the road racers, real mind-benders. Their show was tire smoke, horsepower, and guts. When these guys bust the throttle on and the tire bolls In a full lock broadslide the guard rail is always a good candidate to capture a few that get too close. Jim my Anderson of Dallas unloaded from his John (15) Simon of Copperas Cove, Texas on a Hodaka. After a breather the GP classes got underway with the start of the 100cc class. Four good riders and dliferent machines swapped the lead several times before the checkered flag carne out. It was Yamaha 1, 2, and 3 with Bultaco coming in fourth. Daryl Hurst, Willard Kelly, Johnny Cone (13 years old) finished In that order • Once again the tempo picked uP as the 200cc GP class came to the starting line and Mike Odem took the lead only to be ousted In lap four by Jim Lutz. Lutz (Bultaco) won putting Odem (SUZuki) second. Jet Thorp of Brownwood made his move in the last lap to win the 250cc GP class when Jimmy Anderson tookhis unexpected tumble. Jet, on a works Yamaha held off Winston Stelter (Yamaha) second, Pete Gibbs Yamaha rider from Cow Town third, and Lynn Kile (Suzuki) fourth. The 750cc GP class brought the Tridents back to the starting line and as the bikes stretched out, Rusty Bradley(Triumph) put a hole shot on everybody only to retire in lap four. Moving into first was team mate Virgil Davenport (Triumph), followed closely by J.C. Kiusmeyer (Ducati), with Art Nlnci (Norton) third, and fourth was John M1nonno on a Triumph. The GP Grand Final events were the most exciting of the day as the riders and classes were mixed allowing the three cylinder Kawasakis and Triumphs to do battle together. First round action saw the 0 to 200cc machines mix it uP with the winning expert being Mike Odem 01. Dallas on his potent Suzuki and the winning sportsman Jim Lutz of Fort Worth on a works Bultaco out of Curtis Terry's Honda. Jet Thorp dominated the 250cc GP expert riders with Bennie Campbell of San Antonio. blasting off all the sportsman riders with his factory Suzuki. The call Went out for all big motors at the starting line and the pits came allve, but above it all was heard the unmistakable sound of Rusty Bradley's Trident. After the Triumph quit In the heat Jack Wilson built another fire in the machine and Rusty was all smiles as he approached the mark for the start of the Open Grand Final. The flag dropped and twenty-one bikes charged the #1 turn with Rusty and Larry Beall rounding It first. Rusty of Dallas was the expert winner with Larry of Houston the sportsman winner on a Kawasaki. The next triple header will be held May 18, at Green Valley Raceway located north of Fort Worth, Texas. There will be drag races, motocross, and the regular road racing program. Additional Information may be had by contacting SMRA, 2507 TCU Avenue, San Angelo, Texas 76901. (Results on page 20) As they did last year, motocross riders and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to compete with and see the European Torsten Hallman, Frans Sigmans, TorleI! Hansen and Olle Petersson at Saddleback ..Park in Southern CallJornia on Friday, July 4th, then again on the 6th of July in Denver, Colorado and on the 13th of July at the Champion Motocross Track in San Francisco, located across from Candlestick Park. It looks as though this Is the beginning of a small summer international series to be held in several cities in the western part of the United States. The addltion of Denver, we hope, will build more motocross Interest in this part of the country. Dates are now being finaliZed for the Inter-Am series which will start In Pepperell, Mass. In October and come across the United States, with the last event again being at 8addleback Park In December. Adopt-A-Rider Plan Edison Dye, the originator of this Inter-Am motocross series, and one of the people first wiillng to bring Europeans to this country to participate, has come uP with a pretty fantastic proposal. In the past, most of the riders coming to the United States have been the top riders in either their country or the world, and there are many young enthusiastic motocross racers who would like to come to the UnIted States. But the tremendous cost of bringing them to this country, as well as financially suPportIng them here, makes it prohibitive for either Mr. Dye to bring them over or for the promoters to alford to pay the necessary guaranteed start money so these riders can live wllile they are in this country. Mr. Dye'S idea is that the promoters or he might be able to pay their way over here I! some of the local clubs in the United States would "adopt" a .rIder while in this country. Naturally, the rider would wear the club colors and would actually represent the club while participating in International motocrosses in the U.S. The club would re responsible for feeding and housing him and providing him with some of the bare necessities. The club could do this either monetarily or have the rider stay with the members while he is here which, to me, sounds like a great idea. There Is even the possibility that some of these young riders could represent the club while participating In local events back in his own country. It is a great thought and a thoroughly practical idea, once the details Ilave been worked out. Also, we might be able to work out an exchange where some of the European clubs could house our riders as well for short slaYs, and they could participate 10 local races there for experience. The in! tial cost of getting the rider trom one part of the world to another is not too great, especially since grouP ticket prices can be arranged, but the cost of suPporting him while in a foreign country Is the determining factor. Mr. Dye seems to have an excellent Idea. If any club or anyone reading this column would care to contact us, we would like to discuss some of the details with you. Ken Russell O.K. Many who were out at Willow Springs tor the road races on Sunday, April 27th, were probably very concerned about Ken Russell's condition. We are happy to report he was not very seriously injured; be suftered a mild concussion but was released from the hospital that evening. PENTON - 2 lOO-125cc Pentons only $&45. 00 Walt Axthelm·s Triumph-Suzuki Motors 1049 West 5th SL, Pomona, Calif. C7l4l629-8642

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