Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

California I Rice Cleans House In Ohio E Flat Track ; u Odem,Honda Do Illgain By John Blanton MANOR DOWNS, TEX., June 22, 1969After their severe beating last month by ninet&en-year-old Mike Odem on a 350 Honda, the big-bike riders vowed to not let it happen again. As proceedings opened at Manor Downs, near Austin, Texas, on June the 22nd, the prospect was not overly bright, for Hard-Chargin' Ronnie Doyle was not available to ride the Adrian Krumm-sponsored 750 Norton, and previous winner Wmston Stelter However, Mike was back in form in the 500cc Heat, winning on the 350 Honda after letting Alfred Teltschik (441 BSA) head him briefly. Winston Stelter seemed back on victory road again at the start of the open class heat, but local rider R.L. Ticer (650 Triumph) soon took over and set the pace, as it appeared that he would for the rest of the meet. After winning the 200cc Semi. Willard SALEM, O. June 21-This i:vening short track Cans at the Western ReseJYe Flyers track saw some flying of another type as Jim Rice, Expert SOY, showed up and did some California-style winning. Jim, wbo was probably the nation's number three Amateur last year, is slaying with his grandmother in Ohio while following the £utero Natiomls, and his cbCtI)'-picking opportunities have >.. u - been good. The crowd returned to Ilanor Downs to Odem eould do it alaln. He did. SII If madly into the turns and collided once with the Honda, then twice - the second time leaVing tire marks on Odem's leg. But it was the Triumph that went down in a cloud of dust and with it the hopes of the big-bike roosters, for, with only three laps to go, Stelter's Norton had a furlong of dust ahead of it. Finishing third was Alfred Teltschik followed by Mike Roseborrough (500 Triumph) and Richard Bergquist (450 Honda). In my previous race report I stated that the crowd would return to see if Mike could do it again. They did, and he did. (Results on page 21) In the first heat he ran away from Amateur Robin Martin and Novice Joe Oden. That looked good, but against the lower classmen it dido't prove a thing. So in the Trophy Dash be started making a few points. When the flag fell Jim blasted his BSA off the line in a long, fast, graceful wheelie, and that was the end of ,the race. ,Larry Darr rode bani to second with Novice Harry Wynns gradually gaining on him, but Rice was never challenged. To settle the issue, Rice repeated his perfonnance again in the final. Ronnie Rail, Bob Hinkel, Myron Nagorski, Riek Davies. and Robin Martin placed two through six, hanging it out and scrapping all the way. But" way out in front the CalifonUan was tuming . the cirele sitting bolt uptight, looking relaxed •and in total control. Winston (78m) Stltllr couldn't hold off R.L. Tic. thoulh Ticer fell off trylnl to catch Mike Od~ In thl Opln Final. broke the frame of his 650 Triumph during practice. But walt! This puts Stelter on the Norton, and the day Is saved! However, the challenge came from another quarter. As eliminations began Ray Dasch and Doug Parks finished one-two on their l25cc Yamaha singles, and Willard Kelley beat Jody Wells' Suzuki 200 on the l75cc Honda that he has been borrowing from local mechanic Jerry Ludwig for the last two meets. Kelley's own bike was destroyed in a fire that consumed his father's motorcycle shop some weeks previous. Joe Patton (Tri) surprised everyone by beating favored Mike Odem (Suz 250) in the first 250cc heat, and Larry Page won the second heat of that class on his Suzuki. Kelley advanced to the 250cc final, where he took a surprising third place ahead of Tommy Smith's 441 BSA. Mike Odem was not so fortunate, however, for, after losing again to Joe Patton in the 250cc Semi, he finished second behind Joe in the Final•. Meanwhile Mike had scored once more on the Honda in the 500 Semi as had R.L. Ticer on the Triumph in the OPen Semi. So, as the over-25Occ bikes came to the line for the Open Final, the crowd knew that it was Ticer and Odem. Triumph and Honda, and not a great number of spectators were rooting for the home team. At first it seemed that Mike had the track to himself, but soon Ticer closed in and began to press with vigor and finally in desperation as he charged 2nd Annual All Stales Scrambles Championships Dirt Diggers M. Co - San Clemente, Cal. June 28 & 29 1st Troy McKee - Hodaka Scramblin' Around By Maureen Lee We'll give a "Patience of Job" a ward to Sam Crooks this week for what he went through at his club's two day scrambles while handling the sigouP. it was unbelievable and he never lost his cool once. Rider: "I'm in the fifteenth race, when does it come up?" Sam: "After the twelfth, thirteen and fourteenth." Rider: "Oh. How do 1 know what time?" Sam: "Go down to the line and check numbers on the ready line and see what race is uP." Rider looked surprised that it was really that simple, then he grinned and went away happy. And if one guy asked at least fifty did, "How many heats do we ride?" so again Sam explained that you ride one heat and transfer (if you went fast enough) to the main or semi. So, after that weekend if you're a friend of Sam Crooks next time you see him don't ask "When does the 125 Novice race E2rt?" These large events such as the Dirt Diggers throw always run into some type G r problem. Because it was a Digger event a lot of riders thought it was a Grand Prix when actually it was their yearly scrambles and they had a gang of riders who dido't want to abide by the rules (and a lot got away with it, too) plus some disappointed ones who thought they were going to get desert or motocross points for it. We extend sympathy but gentlemen, take time to read the advertising clubs get out for their events and that way you'll know just what you are signing uP for. If the Diggers had adhered right to the rules all the desert brigade, etc. would have had to cough UP an extra three bucks for a scrambles number to ride that race regardless If that was their one scrambles a year or not. Maybe it would have been better if that rule had been enforced! After all, it was a point scrambles. We're half-way through the year now and have an idea what the point situation Is in the various divisions. Steve Nicbols has a neat lead built uP in the ultralightweight grouP aod no one can say he hasn't ridden hard for it. In the Lightweight, with two events missing but making a rough "guesstimate" on what the results show, Larry Taylor is still hanging on to his number one position but Wll11e Hockle Jr. is rightin there and it'll be interesting to see if he can catch Lawrence T. Larry wants to prove that an unsponsored rider can get that number one plate and the midnight oil burns very late in the Taylor garage every week. 10 the Heavyweight division right now Ch\lck Wheat has the point lead, aod even if he loses it, it proves what a threat this young Amateur is. Every year a COuPle of new names bounce uP on the scene aod another one is Bob Frauenllerger. He carrie;> #568x so you know he dido't campaign heavily last year, but he must have been doing a lot of homework like tralling because all of a sudden he has some of the real shoes talking to themselves and anxiously watching his performance each week as those points keep adding up. Right now he's unofficially in third! Maybe Taylor and Hockle should look behind them! Spoke Benders M.C. European Sa'ambles June 29. 1969, lOOcc AmlEx. Class 1st Jack Morgan - Hodaka 2nd Mark Rader - Hodaka 3rd Jeff Wright - Hodaka For a first-hand demonstration of HODAKABILITY,visit your dealer for a free test ride. = !I0()'''' !I0()'''' !I0()'''' !lOll'''' !I0(),,, , !I0I'\", 1101'\", 1101',,,, .,.

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