Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Fathers Day Campbell M.C. Hillclimb 'Plck a track and loll ow It to the top.' -Grab a handful and then ""at?' Waldman Takes Sacto Win SACRAMENTO, CAL. June 14, '1969 OYer 1000 tans cheered Fa1rt1eld'sRalph Wa1dmaD as be came trom beb1Dd to take aver first place and win bis fourth consecutive short track motorcycle race at Saeramento Raceway. Waldman bad to overcome a fifteen yard handicap imposed becauseofblsprev1ous wtns. Comlog loto the last lap Waldman was running 10 fourth place beb1Dd Dick Hardmeyer, Allen Lauer and MerrU Beideman when be showed the fans bow be earned the nickname "Rapid Ralph". Waldman, Lauer and Hardmeyer, reminded many of the old timers of days of class A racing at Hughes Stadium, when the broadSllders like lam my Lameroux, Sborty canUon and the MUne brothers were drawing crowds of ten to fifteen thousand fans. On the new track surface at Sacramento Raceway the riders are able to hold their macblnes in full slides throughout the entire turn, providing the spectators with a very exciting program. Each week the number of tans bas been increasing and the track Is in the process of obtaining more seats. The mini bike races continue to be a great drawing card and each week the number of participants bas been increasing. If the number of m1n1s locreases, they will have to be broken down further for various classes. rcame her Hold -II N.wt, Gordon Mill. took 2nd In the SOO Novic.. sh.' s rari n! • AI mo st 200 rl der s c.... to take a crack at the 240 It. hili. UVAS DAM, CALIF. - Campbell M.C. bas done It againl Fathers Day brought hundreds of spectators and close to two hundred riders to take a crack at that 240 ft. bill. The meet lasted until past dark, ending with a protest by Don Cody against Frank Durso's BSA. Durso was unable to ride the 650 amateur class, but just couldn't pass tlP the chance to race his bike, which bas taken 1st nearly all season mak1ng Frank Cal1forDla's top billclimber. Riding the wlnn1ng BSA was Larry Smith owner of the new Cycle Mart 10 MlJ,pltas. There may never be another Durso, but S~lth rode like the roaring crowds have never seen him ride before. Don CodY, coming 10 secood and doing a great job of it, seemed to f1nd a slight discrepancy in the ride and suggested a protest-teardown. The crowd went wild tlPOD this announcement. It bad been coming for a long time. Durso was more than w1lllog to prove be was running a stocker. A top mechanic on hand after a (JIiet measurement announced to the waiting audience "It's as legal as the day It came out of the factory." ' Young Larry SUva Is still carry1ng a first tills year in the 200 novice class Bakersfield's Mel Cunha picked ~ a 1st 10 the 250 and the 500 novice. Roger VOYle~ still bas 1st 10 the 350 DOV!ce over Clay catlett's 2nd. It's been a wheel-to-wheel year for these two. Gordon Miller bas really bung on to bis great comeback better than ever since bis motor-1Il1sbap last year. ' The 650 novices surprised many excepUor Jim Thompson timing 2nd. Bob Myers, Jim Leale and two new-comers ChrIs lotravla and Carl Dunivan fOUDd Fathers Day pretty rewarding by taklog home their memorial victories: The long, hot day ended with no lojuries - not to the riders anyway. But there must have been a lot of busted-up bikes from the looks of the spills. Dick Oxford's Harley looked like a pretzel. (Results on page 20) sprained wriSt, suttered 10 a fall during last week's race, to take home the first place trophy In the Powderputt race. Ginger Burrola, last week's winner bad to settle for second. Over 120 riders took part in the eveniog's program. The next race Is scheduled for Saturday • Sign ups and practice start at six p.m. with the races scheduled for eight thirty. Sacramento Raceway is located on Excels10c Rd. between the Jackson Hlway and Mather AFB. (Results on page 20) Montana's Jorgen.son Memorial Motocross By Charlie Rossell GREAT FALLS, MONT., June 8,1969Ed Virostko of Helena, Montana pulled a hat trick to take the points lead in the first meet of a four meet Moto Cross series sponsored by the Great Falls Motorcycle Club. Virostko won the 125, 250 and the Troy Jorgenson open Moto. The 125 class developed loto a hassle when one Yamaha mounted rider, who bad power to spare, was protested and pulled down. He was fouod to be illegal and was diSqualified. ./ Pursued by Jack "Hodaka" Fauth of Vic's Cycle Service, Ed Virostko won the 125 class with Timmy Sack naU1ng down the show position on a Kawasaki. Vlrostko bounced backagain,in the 250 class, on an ultra-hot Bultaco with Jim Slack of Slack's Cycle giving him a real battle on a stlPer tuned Green Streak. Bultaco mounted Mike Weatherall from Helena, Montana was witb1n strlklng dIstance but was unable to do any better than third. The OPen class saw Jim Slack back again and picking tlP first place gold on a new Matco with Jim Klemenclc ona Triumph placing second. Dan Rankin of Missoula placed third ona B.S.A. Victor. As the top three riders 10 each Moto lined up for the open race a sudden shower turned the track Into a spectator's delight as the riders slipped, swore and slid for the three foot trophy. Perpetual winner Ed Virostko took the gold, followed by Jim Slack and Mike Weatherall. The Troy Jorgenson Scrambles, which kicks off the Great Falls summer scrambles season, Is dedicated to Troy Jorgenson who died of a heart attack wblle competing at the Black Eagle track 10 Great Falls at the age of fifty-five. (Results on page 20)

• Cover