Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Wirth Woos 'em At Ascot", Be(Jts Skip And Eddie i By Maureen Lee GARDENA, CALIF. Sept. 6, 1969 - Fans who think TT racing is the best kind of motorcycle racing around certainly weren't disappointed in the monthly go at Ascot. It was action all the way including all the preliminary heats. Ted Longwith (ossa), a rider who is really starting to hum on the Gardena track really walked away with the first heat but lost the second one to Tod Sloan (Bultaco) atter holding the lead for a while. Another pair with possibilities of the Novice win were John Hateley and Jim Raymond, both on Montesas. Hateley won his quallty1ng heat but Raymond wasn't far behind. It was in this heat that B1ll McDowell'S troubles started and he must hold some kind of record of how many times you can fall off in a TT. He went down and lay there. The ambulance moved out to check him over but he got up re- mounted and made it back to the line atter the race was black-flagged and earned himsel! a transfer position to the Main. In the Main he dumped it again, another mack flag and another re-start and it was only a few minutes later than he was off agaln but this time for good. It was time to retire! Eddie Mulder (Triumph) back from location on "Then Came Bronson" won his heat over Skip Van Leeuwen (TriumPh), Eddie Wirth (BSA) and another BSA rider, Dallas Baker who was making it around the half-mile turn very quickly with his feet up! In the Amateur division, David Aldan'1(BSA) took off like Jack the Bear, but Keith Mashburn and Bob Ferro IY..th on Triumphs looked very fast. FE'=ro, who hasn't been back from Viet Nam very long is getting to be a real force to be reckoned with and he's about the only professional rider who still wears his Sportsman club colors, the Checkers, on the track. Steve Bast (Triumph) held the lead in his heat but Ben Fakkeldy took it away from him and although Bast tried, it was no go•. Eddie Mulder and Skip Van Leeuwen had set the fastest times with Mulder earning the pole for the Trophy Dash but neither would ride so the two alternates, both Amateurs, Mashburn and Aldana moved onto the line alongside Mike Haney and Jack Sim mons (Norton). Haney and his Triumph ended up in the winners circle, followed in by Simmons, Mashburn and Aldana. Ted Longwith on that potent Ossa took the l'/ovice MaIn lead with John Hateley hot atter him and the two put quite a bit of distance between themselves and the other riders. Disappointingly, Tod Sloan who has built uP such a good Novice record this year, developed ignition troubles early and had to retire. What a race It would have been 11 he'd been up there with Hateleyand Longwith. HarleyDavidson-mounted Tom Jones and Jim Raymond scrapPed for third and fourth Here Is your chance for a grease rack view of Jimmy (Hey You) Raymond's Montesa. That's third place John Hateley comIng up behind second placer Raymond. a must or every serious enthusiast CATALOG & HIGH PERFORMANCE MANUAL .~ Equipment and modifications for Hodaka, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Bridgestone, Sachs & others. rDBh~rD. VAN TECH 317 North Victory Boulevard, Burbank, Calif. 91502. (213) 842·4847. SACHS and then Hateley decided he could pass Longwith. Leaning into the turns it looked like he didn't lean quite far enough and his front wheel connected with Ossa's rear and down he went but he was still able to finish in third behind Jim Raymond. It was Keith Mashburn who took the Amateur lead with Aldana right behind him. On the fourth lap Mashburn went wide and there went the BSA into first. Meanwhile Bob Ferro had been working at passing Wayne Hosaka (Triumph) and finally did, taking the third place spot when Hosaka goofed a bit on the first turn. Ben Fakkeldy was moving too and so was Steve Bast and they also passed Hosaka. Ferro was atter Mashburn by now and nalled him on lap nine to end second over-all. Jack Simmons' big Norton put him Into turn one first but in the come the Expert Maln and in the lake turns Eddie Mulder took over. It wasn't too long before Eddie Wirth was right on Mulder's rear whe~l with Van Leeuwen chasing him followed by Mike Haney. On the sixth lap Wirth moved into the lead and Mulder appeared to be tiring, and a few laps later he moved over to let "The Flying Dutchman" by but he never lost his third place. The best little scrap of the race was between Bill Manley and Dusty Coppage on Triumphs with Jack Simmons for the t1tth place spot. On the yellow flag lap Van Leeuwen really pulled up on Wirth but just couldn't make it when Wirth missed a shift coming out of the leftbander onto the hal!-mlle, wobbled momentarily slowing Skip from making his full drive and probably making it a wheel to wheel finish. If some of Skip's fans thought he was missing some of his usual sparkle that night, he was. He was riding a road bike on the Angeles Crest Highway in a bathing suit yet and unloaded! Get the picture? He showed some of the "ouches" and with a rueful little grin added, "Man, you should see the ones I can't show you! That jump k1lled me every time over." (Results on page 20) Eddie (12) Mulder led most of the way but Eddie Wirth zapped both Mulder and Skip (59) Van Leeuwen at the checkered. OHIO PROMISES LARGEST AMA MOTOCROSS Battle for a $2,100 purse will be fought by the nation's best motorcycle racers at the AMA Motocross on October 12 in Croton, Ohio. Not only will this race boast the largest AMA Motocross purse ever, but will set the stage for who will be the "Big Guns" in the Pro Motocross. Highly sk1lled Sportsmen and Novice riders will have the opportunity to acquire professional motocross licenses and challenge the top stars. Expert and Amateur competition licenses are valid for the race, but Novice license owners must have their licenses endorsed by the AMA for the motocross on the basis of either (1) having been an Enduro rider, (2) having been classified as an Expert in Sportsmen scrambles competition, (3) having proof of two years active Sportsman scrambler competition, or (4) having recommendation of an AMA district ott1cial. All riders may obialn license applications by contacting the AMA or their AMA district referee immediately. Applications must be submitted before September 29. The Ohio Motocross will feature classes 0-239 and 300-0pen, which will be raced on the natural terrain at MotoPark. Riders planning to follow the Inter-Am series may find it convenient to Journey on from Croton to Pepperell, Mass., the next week, then back to mid-Ohio the following week for the Ohio Inter-Am. Those wanting further information may write to: Ohio Motocross, 119 Yorkshire Court, Elyria, Ohio 44935, or phone (216) 365-5070. NORRA CONTINGENCIES Kawasaki is offering %5,000 to the first place fintsher in Norra's Baja 1000 if the winner is riding a Kawasaki, and $500 to class winners if they are mounted on Kawasakis, according to Olie Hunt of Norra. SACHS WINS TRAIL BIKES CMC Motocross - 8131 125cc Expert Class 1st Mike Runyard - Sachs 2nd Gene Cannady - Sachs Daylon Nevada Motocross - 8117 100cc Class 1st Bill Fain - Sachs Sac!ls' new 1969 Enduros, K-100 and K-125GS, are successors to the famous Boondocker K-80GS, which won the greatest number of national events in the 1967-68 season. Whether your bag is trailing, racing, or general fun, check out the new '69 Sachs at your dealer. [SJ SACHS Dealer Inquilies Inviled IlIIporter and Western Distributor IS: HERCULES DIST. LTD. 1812 Colorado 51. Santa Monica, Calif. 90404 PH: (213) 45t-8728

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