Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

By Cillf Boswell ~ r&I Photos by Bowell & Don Melvin :l: r&I SANTA MARIA, CALIF. May 30-Riders and bikes totalled 152 at the Memorial ::.. Day races sponsored by the Lompoc S10 to) Pokes Motorcycle Club. It was a full afternoon of racing which proved that bere Is a track to cballenge both men and boys - not to mentions girls. By the time all classes had run their three motocross, heats the sun was about readY to dip Into the nearby Paclflc ocean and riders were happy to wheel their machines to trailers and trucks and retire them for a spell. A falr crowd spilled out of the grandstand and lined the north wall of Santa Marla Speedway, but this event deserves much more In the way of attendance. It was a well-run bash - riders were gOod and enthusiastic, machines were welltuned, the show was good from a spectator's standPoint, yet aside from relatives arid close frl~nds, very few people were present. Starting Inside the walled oval of the speedway, a few sharp turns along a portion of the TT track gets the riders strung out, then they raced single file through a gateway and along the edge of the crash wall on a two-foot wide trail. Soon came the water hazard, followed by a steep rise, a dip and up the bill. First strokes had a great day. So many were on band that one began to wonder whether the heavier 4-strokes were made any more. There were a few Honda 90's, a Harley 250, BSA Victors, a few Triumphs and even one Matchless single. The lighter machines seemed to have the advantage on this course. After several hours of listening to the two-stroke screams, even an old truck sounded as smooth as a new Rolls. The girls ran their usual polite race using a modified course, but nonetheless putting on a good show of skill. The Powder Puff race drew six girls, all local and most of them members of a newly formed family riding grouP, the Brush Bunnies. These girls take their trail bikes and their families for weekend rides Into the back country of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. The Influx of vacationers Into this area over the Memorial Day week-end Is nothing short of phenomenal. Beaches, sand dunes, lakes all bring special kinds of equipment and different sports to make the best use out of these facilities. Motorcycling Is one of them, and this event should grow with the years. It was televised for the first time this year. Race results have not been announced by the sponsors to date. t3 one through always gained an advantage on the bill, while the nock experienced all kinds of trouble. Six laps for each heat was enough to try the endurance of any rider and machine. It was a good course, and the two- TEXAS MOVES TO REPEAL HELMET LAW "ThIs Is kllllng more people than IUs saving," said Texas State Senator Tom Creighton to the Senate Jurisprudence Committee of the Texas Legislature, referring to the hastily-enacted compulsory helmet law for motorcyclists. The Com mittee voted to repeal the two year old law requiring all cyclists to wear protective helmets, noting that seven states have repealed such laws and three major states, including California, never enacted them, without losing a penny of federal hlghway funds. The Texas l8.w, its author noted, was not fully complying with the federal requirements anyway. Surf (ify T.T. Scram NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) Inc:., 4010 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90066 By Mike Lovell HUNTINGTON BEACH, June 8, 1969Temperatures In the 70' s greeted the eighty some odd riders at Don and Hope (mother to be) England's, Huntington Beach Cycle Park. The action got under way at twelve o'clock. Jim Peters #52 riding a Triumph, jammed hls way around eight times to lock uP the first place gold In the 500-oPen Ex. main event. Young Bultaco mounted Lance Vallery #125 ate uP Jlms class "C" traction all the way and pulled In for a very fine second place. Lance also coPped a second In the 100Cc main event on a Yamaha behind Kirk Redding #70x who rode a Brldgestone, with David Boydston on a Yamaha a smooth third. The crowd pleaser was a lad all the way down from Las Vegas, Nev. who claims the mlnl-blke wheelie champlonshlp; #3, twelve year old Gary Wells. He brought nine of hls racing buddies from the gambling spa to ride hlsfavorite track and ride It they did. "We'll be back" was the last thing they said. Huntington Beach is the only track I know of where It doesn't hurt (the pocketbook that is) to fall. No kidding, Don England has It fixed with the Parker ambulance people for a guy to ride to the hospital free if he's hurt, also no charge for in-the-park cut and bruise treatment. AI Snow did a fine job In his first novIce ride as an announcer, he kept everyone right uP to date on what was going on, had some lively banter with the riders and even threw In an occasional laugh. (Results on page 21) Cycle Circus Road !!~~ur ~!!t~!'!t~ gR!!ues at racing speeds? What about 200 miles, then? If your machine lasts, andflnishes uP near the front In either of the two production road race marathons this coming June 14 and 15 at the Cycle Circus, you'll share In a$l,OOOprlzepurse. Go ahead. gamble $20 on the entry fee. Get a co-rider to spilt It with you (only $10 each) and zap your moneyofftoAFM Road Races, c/o Cycle Circus, Box 26, Carlsbad, Calif. by noon, Friday the 13th and you'll be entered. Post entry will be $30 for either the under-20OCc production road race (200 miles) on Saturday or the 300 mUe oPen class road race on Sunday. Practice starts at 8 a.m. Carlsbad Raceway Is 9 mUes east of Coast Highway on Palomar Road, Carlsbad, Calif. Be-there. It'll be ten ldnds of fun. Heroes af Marys,ille By Dale McKInnon MARYSVILLE, CALIF. JWle 7 - Three riders did a repeat Job of winning their classes at the weekly night scrambles. Jerry Willis hasn't lost a heat race or maln event In seven or eight weeks this year. Nobody can catch his sizzling Suzuki. Vic Krlll won his heat and main for the sixth time In a row aboard his rapid 125 Yamaha. And Ronnie Gonnella had to ride his 200cc Bulin the 250 amateur class, yet took the maln with no sweat. AI Krlll, riding bls first race In the Amateur class, snatched 4th place. The battle of the night had to be between Don Gentile (Hon) and Robert Kieffer (Bul) In the 200 novice class. They fought peg to peg, swapping the lead many times, as they do In every race together. Kieffer was In front when the checkered flag flew. Novice Charles Fairchild annexed the comhlned 15-lap sweepstakes to top off the night. His 50 Bul beat all the bigger bikes, as well as the little ones. Last week we forgot to welcome back Carl Cranke as he won his first race after a year's layoff. Welcome back, Carl. (Results on page 20)

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