Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Four Riders Tied For CMC Anniversary Series Lead Photos by Larry Thure ORANGE, CAL. Aug. 31,1969- The point race in the CMC Anniversary Series is taking form and the thirdroundatCarlsbad on Sept. 21 will probably determine a leader. After the second race, held at Saddleback Park Sunday, four riders are tied In the competition that will mean a Greeves Griffon for the victor. Patrick John De Benedetti turned in two class wins Sunday, but riders gain points for only their best performance in a single class so he Is tied with Jim 0' Neal, Bill Urban and Ruben Benites in " the overall standings. Patrick John and O'Neal were heel an toe all day in the 500 Junior race. Jim led the opening laps but Pattrlck John wore him down and put hIs Maleo over for the win. 0' Neal and Patrick John won their respective 250 divisions and the next race will be a tie breaker since they will be pitted in the same division. Jim O'Neal in 250 dlYlslan win Is tied with Patrick John De Benedetti lor the lead. ~~~~~~~A1I/IJ Jim Rice lit Son Jose By Dale Wm. Ivan SAN JOSE, CALIF., Sept. I, 1969 - Racing fans turned out in throngs today to watch the professional half-mile dirt track race held at the Santa Clara County fairgrounds in San Jose. The event presented by Barkhlmer ASSQ.and J. Soares offered a $1200 purse to the Novice, Amateur and Expert wlnners. Several national numbers and some lower state riders ventured up to try their hand at beating the local boys but were unable to do so in the feature events. The heat races were run smoothly, and the results were as follows: The first Novice heat was taken by Southern Californian rider, John Hateley, riding an extremely fast Kawasaki with H-D plIot, Neal BlochInger coming In third. The second Novice heat race fell to local area riders; first to Dave Bellina (Yam) from Hoillster, and second to Steve Wilson 0 Half Moon Bay, CaIlf. Pre-race favorite, Don Castro, won the first Amateur heat event after taking over the lead on the restart. Castro, fast Amateur qualifer, bent second place, whIle Terry Sage and Dwayne Scot came in third. Harry Dring riding a hauIlng Yamaha won the second heat ahead of Frank G1Ilespie and Ray Gatne. The first Expert heat was barely taken by Gene Romero, who led a very anxious Jim Rice, owner of the San Jose track. The second Expert and the final heat race of the day was won by national number 38, Chuck Palmgren. Chuck defeated national number 77, Jimmy Odom, and the rest of his fast competitors. The Novice main event got underway late in the afternoon with the drop of the white flag. Robert Morgan took over the lead at the start of the race and quicklY proceeded to put daylight between hImself and the pack. BehInd Morgan was a tight battle for the number two position between Dave Bellina and Neal BlochInger. Bellina won out over Neal on the sixth lap, passing hIm down the back shoot. John Hateley turned in a fine performance during this race by charging from the rear of the pack and up to a third place finish behind Dave Bellina. Amateur Don Castro repeated his San Jose national victory taken earlier this year by once again winning on hIs hometown track. Castro was the pre-ra!:e favorite and proved why when he wonhis heat and the main event that day. Castro got hIs usual fine start into the turn, and he took over the lead coming out of the first turn. He was followed by Dwayne Scott, Joey Soto, and Frank Gillespie. ThIngs really started happening after lap one with Gillespie passing Soto and then Scott. Then from out of nowhere came Ha!:ry Dring swooping past riders as he came to them Dring caught Glllespie in second and proceeded to make his move. However, try as he might, Harry could not get under G1Ilespie, and they finished with Castro In front, Gillespie second, Dring in third, and Joey Soto in fourth. The final feature of the day was the 650 Expert event whIch quickly followed. Down into the first turn was Dan Haaby followed by Jim Odom, Gene Romero, and the rest of the talented field. The action really got furious when the boys started to sort themselves out. In the lead during the early laps of the race was Palmgren, Romero, Odom, Haaby, Rice and Dallas Baker. Palmgren and Romero went at their old feUd, dicing it out just inches apart. Half way through the race, Romero slipped off the groove and was quicklY passed by Jimmy Odom. Odom's victory was short liVed, as he retired the next lap with mechanical problems. Rice, fresh from hIs victory at Sedalia, began to move. Rice moved up to challenge and pass Romero. Then Gene tried too hard to get Rice back and went crashIng off Rice's rear tire. The crowd really went wild when on the last laps their home-town boy moved up on Palmgren and passed him. ThIs was a dramatic finish for the BSA flyer, for Rice like Castro had repeated hIs many wins at San Jose. (Results on page 21) .. off at Carlsbad. Mike Pritchard won the U remaining 125cc division. Unofficial timing sbowed the Junior races being run faster than the corresponding Senior events. From here Itlooks like a Junior will be on top of the point heap at the end of the series. Walt Axtheim won the 500 Senior race aboard a Rickman BSA. Riding a Yamaha was Jim West who was the fastest 250 Senior. Mike Runyard buzzed his Sachs across for the 125 Expert win. Bill Urban was pressured all day by Eric Critta on his Sachs. B1Il held off the challenge but it was one vf the better shows in a day filled wlthhotperformers. (Results on page 20) ENTRIES COMING IN TO NORRA FOR BAJA 1000 Twenty-two bike entries have come in to NORRA for the Baja 1000 so far according to Olle Hunt. They Include Gary Preston and Larry Bergquist, Skip Van Leeuwen and Mike Nesmith, Mike Patrick and PhIl Bowers, and Gunnar Lindstrom and Claes Nilsson.

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