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/125628
Spirits Und6/11pened On Toppers Big Be6r Run YAMAHAS RULE 218 AND 251 CLASSES AT LUCKY SPOKES SCRAMBLES By N. WUllams BRUSH PRAlRIE, WASH•• July 27. 1969 - With a turn out of 111 riders 00 a hot day the races were bard and fast. This was the race with 20 l8p A MaIn events. Surpris1ngly almost all of the machines were In good shape and ran the full 20 laps If they didn't tall down. For a sportsman event it was very good to see almost all of the riders that started the race. f1n1sh In it. Yamahas dominated the 200cc and 250cc classes with MIke Ell1s taIdng the 200 Trophy Dash and A-l and going on t:ct take second In the 250 A MaIn. The 250 Trophy Dash went to Dale Hixson #21. (Yam.). and he also took thlrd In the A Main with Bob Lindauer taking rtrst In 250 A MaIn on his Yamaha. (ResUlts on page 20) ~~-~ ~'() Burn.y and D.bbl. CI.k t.am.d up with Jim and Todd MIII.r to win the ball pass ey.nt at the Topper's BI, Bear Scenic Tour. The couples pass.d tn. ball back and forth 26 times. The fi.ld .y.nts were n.ld at Meadow Park n.ar Big B.ar, California. Photos and Story by Robert O. Fee BIG BEAR, CAL. July 19 and 20,1969An eddy of moisture trom the Gulf of Meldco shrouded the San Bernardino with thunderheads that periodically dumped rain on the activities of the Topper'S Motorcycle Club 6th Annual Big Bear Scenic Tour, Saturday and SWlday. July 19 and 20th. A few fair weather riders cb1ckened out at the 51gbt of the _ clouds. cutting the number of paid entries to 427. That is down from last year's 480. The Ace of Clubs started the activities by performing their precision drill maneuvers for the enjoyment of Big Bear citizens who gathered In the parldng lot of the BanI< of Callfornia. The rest of the afternoon was devoted to the dress competition at Meadow Park on the shores of the .-rly overflowing Big Bear Lake. Showers dampened the uniforms but not the spirits of the 37 riders competing. LIght drizzle continued to moisten the cycUsts during the meal but It did not lessen their enjoyment of the del1ctnus fried chicken entree. Plenty ,of rolls. coffee, and punch accompanied the loaded plates. Trophies for the day's activities were awarded at the park before the rider s adjourned to the Good Luck Campground around the lake near FawnsJdn. The sides cleared during the evening' and the campers erected their tents and laid out their sleeping bags before wandering over to the store for the 10 p.m. wienie roast. No one was exactly starved after the huge chicken dinner, but no one was about to offend the hard worldng Toppers by refusing a grilled hot dog. Returning to their campsites, the riders gathered around the fires, quieUy conversing with their friends until about midnight. Around 4 a.m. a light shower justified the rider's foresight in providing themselves with tents or a motel. Sunday morning dawned clear and cloudless promising good conditions for the field events. Topper B111 Dean suPer-' vised the events back at Meadow Park assisted by all the Toppers and a few others who can always be seen lending a helping hand. Bill set uP four classes for the five events; the ball-pass, boot scramble. ball-Idck (POlo) and a bl1nd ride. The ball-pass and bllnd run were somewllat new. Burney and Debbie Clark with Jim and Todd Miller passed the ball between them 26 times to win that event. The bllnd run featured a paper sack over the operator's head and was run In s!J< Inches of mud and water as a thunderstorm subjected contestants and spectators to over three Inches of rain and spectacular pyrotechnics. Referee Andy Blanco wanted to call a halt to the games when the rain came but the contestants wouldn't allow It. Bob Decker. recal1in& the weekend activities of the tour. commented, .. Nen year. Pray for rain - somewhere else." RAINIER, WASH. July 26. 1969 - Riders totaled 66 at the Ra1n1er Rodeo Grounds first night race sponsored by the Ra1n1er Sportsmans Club. ' , The nights racing program started off with 5 mIn1-bikes going 3 laps each. Then came the 125'S. 200's and the big bikes running an ()pen Class. Each class ran 6 laps each. This was the best races yet with speeds getting uP to about 50 mph down the straightaways. The riders gave the spectators a good show with the most exciting race being the last race of the evening; the Open Class A MaIn. There were only 4 riders but wIlat a race it was. The 1st and 2nd place riders swapped places on every lap with each wanting the first place trophy. It was evident that they should fall and they did. Then they both scrambled back on their bikes and went at it again only In 3rd and 4th places. They swapped time and time again until on the finish l1ne it was too close to be anything but a tie. This was the 4th race held this year with the first race held on May 4th and only 39 riders on hand. Each race has a few more riders signed, uP as this track Is getting better known and since the only other track in this area is Shelton it gives the riders some other place to ride. There Is a total of 4 more races scheduled this year - two Saturday night races and two Sunday races. The majority of the riders prefer the night races. Maybe next year all night races can be arranged. (Results on page 20) Torslen Hallman Racing, Inc. W.st Coast DlsL for GENE H. MYERS Authorized YAMAHA Dealer NEW & USED SALES Paris - Service & Repair 4459 Redondo Beach Blyd. Lawndale, Calif. (213) 542-4041 PENTON Motorcycles Torstan Hallma. sp.cia' desicn leath.rs & racin, equipm.nt U.s. Dlst.for Trelleborg Moto-Cross tires For d.aler info. write or call 5345 Timken SL, La lIesa, Cal. 92041 (714) 460·1402 r Ek KEEp· AHEAD· with a plOvenwinner... 5eqd 50( for TWO R.f1 Day"oa Decals Hd Descrlptlve Brochun DAYTONA SPORTS CO. 7030 Dartly A.... P.O. Box "I R.s..u, California 91335 * Robert •• Law 'r~~ HIGHEST TRADE"N 23' N. Anabelm Blyd. An .... im. Cal., Pb...e (1..1.) 533-1309" Penton - Hodaka Yamaha - BSA Husqvarna Norton 1223 ' Ay•• I Lancast.r CI051 942-9624 36153 N. SI.ra Hwy. Palmdale - (105) 947·1365 Most Powerful MAleC W.st of III ssissippi Best Han dl"Ing Cooper Motars 2115 W. Oli ft. Burbank.Cal H.s".r.a & 'ar•• MI."cles SPECTATOR LIABILITY AND PARTI· CIPANT INSURANCE FOR TRACK OWNERS, PROMOTERS AND CLUBS ~ BUSINESS PACKAGES- MOTORCYCLE & AUTOMOBILE - LIFE & ACCIDENT. Tires DlsL tIy .......... t1onaI4790 PalmA••• La Mesa, Calif. 92103 s. HARRIS,PIIUKY OF IIICHAEL BENDER & ASSDCIATES, INC. 5225 WILSHIRE IIDULEYARD, Suit. 711 L.A., CallI. '0036 (213) 931·2011 BROKER INQUIRIES INVITED. VAN TECH are erh and chines lurc ower. 'fou \flhere other:""handling and a~tilUI broadratic. it' s ~? eand hold a be can cross sliQe. Lodi Cycle Bowl 6 straight Friday nights 100cc Am. Class 1st Dennis Robinson July 18, 1969 100 Ex. Class 1st Fred McFarland Sacramento Short Track July 12, 1969 100cc Ex. Class 1 st Fred McFarland All machines run Blendzall Tuned by Ray Hook roghr-vAN TECH 317 N. Victory Blvd. Burbank, Cal if. 91502 ~~: FUN :~~ur~!~~y Let an AROS CYCLETRAILER pUll your bikes out of the cities For information and brochure .rit. or call ARDS W.ldln,&II_f.,t"ln,. 379 No.JoIInSODAy... EI Cajon, Callf.9Z020. CALL 114 442-4&.1