Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Sage Hoppers Hit The Beach AI Rosarila --~- CI) ~ By Steve Fisk Photos by Terry Pratt r.:l :i!: r.:l -l ROSARITA BEACH, MEXICO, Sept. 7, 1969- Terry Davis was the Open Expert U winner and Dave Smith had two wins in the 250 and 100 Novices classes, but the Beacb Master at Rosarlta Is Martin Tripes who won the combined 125 and Open race on a Penton. The Sage Hoppers -JDoved District 38 to Mexico for their European Scrambles on the orlg1na.l Rosarlta Beach course. Althougb not as large as the Rosarlta Grand PrIx of years past, just under 200 riders were on hand. Two beautiful tropbies were donated by Mexican companies. A tropby for the overall Open Expert winner was donated by the Corona Beer Company. A tropby for the overall Open Novice winner was donated by the Ford Motor Company of Tijuana. The course could be described as a rougb and dusty one-way motocross course with a bigb speed return road. After scrambling UP and down the dirt banks and trasb aumps, the riders leaped ott a tidal bencb and slithered through dry sand to the beach. The sllghtly curving strand was atop-gear, tucked-in stretcb all the way until time to cut away from the flat, wet sand and begin a new lap. The transition from fast beach to soft sand Is like drlv1ng into the road's shoulder at b1ghway speeds. Lots of snakey, shUey action here. The Sage Hoppers came \lPOn tb1s site after their old course at Enc1n1tas was sold for a housing development. Carlos Ir1be of the Tijuana Racing AssocIation procured the site for the Sage HoPPerS. in the Novice class the 125's and the Open bikes were combined because there were enough 250' s to run by themselves. Riding a 360 Malco, FrankRoberts1ed a close three-way race for first with D.E. Molitor on a big bore Husky and Martin Tripes on bis Penton. 19n1t1on break down slowed Frank's Malco, so D.E. and Marty went by. TbatPenton was flying. Not content with second overall, Marty passed the Husky too. Molitor crasbed onc e later but didn't lose any pos1t1ons. In true giant-killer form, Marty Tripes slew the whole field ot 36OCc-and-1IP blJces with the lithe Penton. incredible? Hold on. There's more. Marty Is a first year Novice and Is 13 years old. He probably won't even start shaving for three or four more years. Dave Smith slipped his Husky in for the win in the 250 Novice and Dave unlimbered his Kawasaki to wrap UP the lOOcc race. Marsha Metz used a Yamaha VanTech to win the distaff portion of the loo's race. An !lour long race Is an endurance test for the scorers as well as the riders, but from bere It looks like Kim Gifford took the second honors in the 250 Novice. After running about third for the openIng laps, Terry Davis wore out the opposition and moved his Husky into the front of the combined Expert pack. With a tittle belp from the attrition factor, steady John Kenyon weeded through the other 250's to make bis Suzuki a class winner. Bob SUverlhorn had another sparkling Penton and took the 125 Expert class. One man seemed to be laah1ng out at the current motocross and cross-country establishment by riding a 1964 30.50 Trlumpb. The rider, Joe Stemmer, said that he likes his mount for Its good handling and most of all Its reliability, bence be had named It "Mr. Dependable." (Results on page 20) U :>.. TOP: As the surf crashes In the background Terry Davis crests the top of one III the dirt banks along the rough and dusty Sag. Hoppers Ela'opean Scrambles cola's•. LEFT: Winner of the 12S and Open NovIce Is 13 yoar old Marty Tripes of Sant.., Cal. His Penton lapped the cour.. In times comparable to tho.. of the best old men In the Open Expert race. BOTTOM: BefCl'e an approving gallery of local residents, D.E. Molitor leaps his Husky to a second overa II and first place In the Open class. SCHWElM PUTS HIS FIRST AWAY By J. Noffsinger CHICO, CALIF., Aug. 30, 1969 - BW Schwein of Cbico captured his first victory in the Handicap lOOcc Main Event Saturday at Cycleland Speedway. Bill has bE>en riding faithfully for at least four years bere, and l1na1ly made the winners circle. John Allen of Palermo placed second, followed by Dave Searing of Cbico. John Grant from Rio Linda. captured another Scratcb Main bere to 110 one's surprise. In the 200cc Handicap Maln, Palmero's MlJce Rockwell was first ahead of Dan Toby of N. Highlands, and Dick Turner, Red Bluff. Joe Allen, from Palermo won the Scratcb Main, leading from beginning to end. Ron Chesney of Redding earned first place brass In the 250Cc Handicap Main, edging out Jim Crenshaw from Davis, and Randy Scott from Cbico, Cal1f. Sacramento's Joe Henry captured the 250Cc Scratch Main. The lOOcc Beginners Main was won by Jim Brewer, the 200cc Beginners Main by Ron Alves of Princeton, and the 250Cc 1legInners MaIn by Ron Cbesney from Redding. There are two fInal races at Cycleland ~way, with the final nIghttor awardIng those tall, handmade season tropbies to Handicap and Scratch event winners. (Results on page 20) MLSON PICKS UP ENGLISH WINS "American Cleans Up In Essex," reads tbe hea.dl1ne in the September 3 Issue of .. Motorcycle News", English counterpart of "Cycle News". Jim WUson cleaned up all but one of the events be was entered In. He rode his Greaves Griffons to first place finishes In four events. The races took place in Hadleigh, Essex. ~.M~~.M.8~.M_8~8WMW).R¥QM8~¥R.8.M~W8~~~.M.M~¥QM8.M. Mrse National- Number Thirty-Three I feel, to be a racer's wIfe, you have to more than just like motorcycles. You have married a guy who breathes, eats and sleeps motorcycles 365 days of the year! I am one of the wives who realIy dig motorcycles and motorcycle races. As far as the races go, I feel there's more to It than just being there, saying "I'm Mrs. Racer So-and-So" and sitting in the stands yakk1.ng with the gats about things that don't pertain to racing, and not even watch11lg the races. I go to the races to watch my husband and bis fellow competitors RACE. Prior to the races It's sometimes very bectlc. Wb11e my busband Is busy working on bis blJces, getting them ready,I'm busy getting his leathers cleaned, ma.Idng By Eia1ne sure all the zippers work, seeing It any repairs are needed, getting together the proper face sb1elds for the event, plus clean'rags to polish the shields and wipe bis bands on, and face sbield cleaner. I also chase after parts when needed. When we ~vel (and we do a lot) I have the responslbillty of getting our van packed and ready to go, getting our clothes ready, and take our daugbter to the babysitter. I do the majority of the driving when we travel. ThIs way my guy can get some sleep and rest, and be ready to go out and do bis best at the races. Besides, I like to drive. At most professional races women aren't allowed in the pits during the races. I feel tbIs Is best for all concerned, for most of the gats would just BaIley be 'underfoot and not any help. Wbile 'up In the stands you'll find me with a stopwatch In one band, a pencn In the other and a pad of paper on my laP. With these Items I check out my busband's times per lap In practice. I usualIy check with bim a couple of times during practice to let b1m know whatbis approximate speeds are so be can make changes It necessary before time trIals. During the races I keep track of who's in each race and what position they finIsh In - also the times for the events. During the Main Events I keep a running account of each rider's position on every lap so I can cbeck beck on individual performances and have an accurate finIsbing list, since sometimes the announcers don't give all the fin1shing positions. After the races are over It's time to go into the pits. I bead for my husband'spIt area and usually try to have sometbIng cold for bim to drink. Then we get bis bikes and equipment loaded up In the truck and spend some time visiting with some of the other racers and race fans. After the guys get their money and licenses, It's ott to get cleaned up and have something to eat. Usually there Is a big party . after the races where all the racers gather and do a lot of bench racing, drink a few beers, dance, and have a good time. Then we bead for bome, prepare for the work week and get the blJces ready for next weekend's races. ThInk you could handle a routine like tbIs? I wouldn't trade It for anytbing In the worId.

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