Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

First turn, lirst lap 01 the 125 miler. Baumann leads the rest 01 the pack. Mark Brelslord lelt line and said he loved the course but his broken collarbone began botherIng him and lorced an early retirement Irom the race. Art Baumann, on a team Kawasaki, edged by Ralph Whlte on a private Yamaha in the final'lfive laps to capture third place. Canadian Pete Kellond also had a good weekeDd"with a fifth place finish in both the 250 and 125 national aboard Yamaha 250's and 350's.Raybornbacked up Baumann for Kawasaki with a 6th in the 250 race. Grant rode the lone Suzuki entry in for a seventh. The 50 mile amateur race started as a two rider duel be,tween Dave Bloom on a Yamaha from Michigan and Jimmy Dunn on a Suzuki from Washington. Dunn led the first three laps before being passed by Bloom. Bloom appeared to have it wrapped on hiss Yaniaha 350 until he fell off on lap si~.Fl'om thatpointon the pint-siZed rider wheeled the team Suzuki with ease to his first win. The race was for second most of the way between veteran Jim Deehan and dirt tracker Don Castro. Deehan also crashed late in the race with Castro, riding in his first road race, taking the Norm Lee Triumph into the winner's circle. Third went to Maryland's Mike Sponseller, also Triumph mounted. ' The sidehacks made their flrstappearance at a national road race, running two heats on Saturday and the final on Sunday. It was a runaway and strictly no-contest for the Harley team of Dean Hummer and Rulon Gulbranson. The only mark on the entire weekend came early Sunday morning in practice when Markel, Gene Romero and amateur Lee Patterson became involved in a chain reaction type spill. Markel nicked a haybale with his handlebar and fell taking the other two riders with him. Romero received over 30 stitches in his chin and returned to ride a fine race and finish in 9th. Patterson, a veteran amateur from Fresno, received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the local hospital. Lee had twice flnlshed better than lOth in the Daytona 100 mile amateur race in recent years. (Results on page 20) Gene (20) Romero sullered a gashed chin In a pre·race accident but raced well to lin Ish ninth. Gulbranson and Hummer are in second here but not lor long. 250cc race. Baumann, 71, is about to catch Ra Iph (15) While lor third Eleventh Annual Sacto National This Weekend , The 11th annual running of the Sacramento mile takes place on September 14th. The track has long been one of the best prepared and smoothest ovals in cycle racing. The viewing from the grandstand with the roof is excellent, fans can see every turn of the wheel. Mert Lawwlll and Bart Markel are the only two former winners entered this year. Gary Nixon may come west to watch from the sidelines with his broken leg. Nine of the previous ten wins have gone to the Harley-Davidson riders. Gary Nixon and his Triumph 500 is the oniy combination to break the string and he did it in record time in '64. Only two Californian's, Lawwlll ('65) and Joe Leonard ('61) have ever beaten the eastern rider s. Only two eastern amateurs, Chuck Palmgren and Dick Rosswurm have ever defeated the Cali. fornia amateurs for the yellowplate win. Rosswurm did it in '59 and Palmgren in '64. Dick was on a Harley, Palmgren was riding a spare belonging 'to Nixon. One of the most amazing aspects of the Sacramento event is that it is held on what is known as a "Still" date. No state fair, no other added attractions to help draw fans. Yet, each year the attendance climbs to new records. The past few years the rumor has been that it is the last year for the race. Until now it was not true, not it is true. The grounds have been sold and a new Falrgrounds has been built on the otherside of town. People have been known to travel over 2,000 miles for the Sacramento race. It will be no dlfferent this year as another record crowd of more than 25,000 is already assured. In fact, everything ts assured except who will win the race. 75 Experts and 50Amateursareoffic1ally entered to answer that question. Going into the Sac race on the basis of the three previous mile events this year it has to be rated as a wide open event. Harley, Triumph and BSA have each won onQ. - >

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