Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125626
Elsinore Sat. Night JT Not all the nlpt races at Elslnoro are run under the IIpls. Here, riders take the jump durlnc the cool twlllcht hours. An, Sun.mer. Story and photos by Ray Cooper ELSINORE, CAL, July 12, 1969 - Have you ever raced Elsinore on a Saturday night? It not you are in for a blast. Elsinore in the day time can be just a little warm, but at night•••wellit's sori ofllke you remember as a ldd "back home". Shirt sleeve cool with plenty of stars overhead, that is if you have time to look uP. Aod the races•• J! you didn't knowbetter you might mistake some of these riders for Sammy Tanner and the rest of his professional followers from another track. Someone burned uP another m1n1-bike for the second straight week. It took the infield crew about 5 minutes to come uP with a fire extinguisher. First they threw dirt by hand, then used a COuPle of shovels. They trIed to smother the flames with a blanket, they even backed 20-Mile Championship Santa, Rosa Return of the American Motorcycle Association to the one mile track at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa has been set for Sunday afternoon July 27th. The event, part of the National Championship circuit held throughout the nation, w1fl teature a 20- mile National race, double the distance of last year's race on the exciting dirt oval. The 20-miler will feature the top motorcycle riders in the United States with most of the major brands of cycles in competition. Triumph, Harley-Davidson, BSA, Kawasald, Honda, Yamaha, Montesa, Royal Enfield, Bultaco and Suzuld machines are represented in the nation's top llne uP of professional riders. The Harley-Davidson factory team w1fl be well represented by San Francisco's Mert Lawwill, Bart Markel of Fllnt, Michigan, Dan Haaby of Orangevale, CalI!., Cal Rayborn at San Diego and Fred Nix of Franksv1lle, Wisconsin. Nix is the defending Santa Rosa Champion, hav1ng won the 10-mile National last year. Triumph's hopes lie in the hands of the very capable Gary Nixon, defending champion of the national circuit. Nixon, of Baltimore, Maryland is backed by fellow Triumph riders Gene Romero of San Luis Obispo, Chuck Palmgren of Freehold, New Jersey and Paul Bostrom of Pacillca. In addition to the prestigious 20-M1le National, the program w1fl consist of Amateur and Expert heat races, an Amateur Final, and the Expert Semi. The Amateur Final extends points that lead to the eventual National Amateur Champion. Qualify1ng begins at 1:00 p.m. with the first race set tor 2:30. The Sonoma County Fairgrounds are located on South E Street within direct access from Freeway 101. Some futuro hot shoes peel off In formation durlnc the EI slnore Mini Bike races. What IV. happened to kids with an apple crate and a broken roller skate? When a bike catches fire you do what you can; you throw dirt, tIlen shovel dirt..• uP the water truck. Finally, someone found a fire extinguisher and "Presto", it worked. E. Newcomb on a RuPp took the mW class. L. Moorewood on a Powell had to settle tor a second. This week they didn't have to put uP with those big guys and their Hodaka 5 sPeeds, although the older CBM CHANGES HANDS Inactive for a long period due to the lack of interest and projects, the Committee for Better Motorcycllng has been re-organized under the leadership of Howard Eble, well known road-rider of the Hi- Way Kings Motorcycle Club. Originally activiated as a think tank and pressure group for the better'ment of motorcycling, the CMB was effective and successful In nearly every project it undertook. Eble did not announce his immediate plans but promised news In the near future. He also gave assurances that the basic purpose of the organization, the betterment of road riding motorcycling activities, would be continued. Jerry Thrasher on a 250 Bultaco went down twice during the evening. The last time in the 250 malo while try1ng to avoid someone coining towards him in mid-air• He went off the' track, jumped over the rocks and sald there just wasn'tanytbing to land on. He was shaIcen but played it cool after the restart. In spite of the mishaps he tb1nks it's a great track. Number 27e and his bike were run over by three others. He was willing and able tor a restart but the bike wasn't In as good a shape. De Benedetti was carted off Iio tile hospital with a bruised side. M. Hannon on a Bultaco won tile 250 Novice class followed by L. Gino on a Kawasaki. Ray Vanderpool with a Bultaco won the third mota of the 250 speclal and then came up with a 3rd In class. "Louie" Merrilleld does such a magnificent job of laP scoring that she deserves a lot of pralse; she's just great. (Results on page 20) you roll back a f10wlnc water truck and when somebody finds a flro extlnculsher you cet tile flro put out. one did have the audacity to come back and want Iio race. They put him in with 100cc Novice and showed him in a hurry what was what. Two guys passed him so fast and so close that it must have pulled all the air out from under that mini bike because he just seemed to float and wiggle as they went by. Now if there were about 9 other guYs with Hodaka Mini's•.• what a neat track. In the Powder Puff it was D, Jarman on a Triumph who jumped to the lead each time to run a way very smoothly from the rest. K, Porter followed her around on a Hodaka. Larry Hardison on a 175 Yamaha raced with the 250 class. He would start with an additional handicap by starting back on the jump, but he did very well gaIning a fourth and two thirds. Larry "Jackrabbit" Shaw won 250 Novice Malo and the second Semi. He led all the way. SADDLE BACK PARK FOR SALE We have it on good authority that Saddleback Park, the nation's first commerical motorcycle playground is uP for .sale. Built on a lease from Orange County's giant Irvine Ranch, the stockholders include J.C. Parkhurst, publisher of Cycle World magazine, dunebuggy builder Les Meyers and earthmover Vic Wllson. Wilson says the corporation has pumped over $100,000 Into the faclllty and it has great potential. .lULV23 .lULV30 P(ltriclt's Competition Enterprise Competition Headquarters for the San Gabriel Valley . .--S-an-B-.-n-.-di-no-Freo-W-y----.. .... .: --------....;.-+--- ,STse' of Bar•• 'ires wit, p.rc'ase of lew H.sq.arla or .-z ·Satu • SUQ.tu • "'MUOeser' - Mo'ocross - Scra.b'es .. 1 .'i o oJ .. . c: c: ! ~ ;;; u N c • u c: > Walnut Cr.... Pk. Wy. 1208 W. S,',aa W. Co'ina, Ca'if. ~---------------------------(213) 337-&811