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/125637
Pagan And Emde Inherit Wins At Anzac Opener ,. I '- ... ~ COl Cl... '" l&:l . ~ O!: ~-,.-- l&:l ...:l U ---1 • >. u r-.. . . . . . . . . . . ...... Jody Nicholas leads Don Emde in the 350 GP race at the Anzac opener. The pair screamed Georce (90) Kerker pours the cobs to his Commando to pUll within striking distanci of Roland Pacan's Trident. Georce lid the Open GP and Production races before a brokln 011 II.. and a throulh the hay bales In tandem until Jody's Yamaha packld up. Don went on to win followed by Ste.. McLauchlin. ' c r a s h put him out of the picturl. Roland captl.ed both cla..es. Photos and Story by Terry Pratt PALMDALE, CAL. Sept. 28 - Southern California bas a brand new road race course. The ACA premiered its new ANZAC track with a day of Production and GP racing higbllghted by tooth and nail dices in several races. Roland Pagan figured out the maze of haybales and pennant ropes right away and won both the GP and Production Open classes. Unlike too many road courses improvised out of a drag strip and a parking lot, the Anzac course bas enough esses, sweepers and general chicanery to be a valid test of a winner. There was another trial Roland faced on his road to glory: George Kerker's Norton. If itwasn'llor bad luck George wouldn't have any luck at all. Leaving the key turned off comes under a heading d1fferent than luck but that's what left Kerker dead last at the start of the Open GP race. George worked his way through the flock and was leading until the rocker box oller became the rear tire oller. The Norton was almost down and def1n1tely out. That put Pagan back in the lead at the niush followed by Mike Wozn1aJ< at a distance with his Norton. The samecast came back on stage in the Open Production act. This time George was going away and the race was between Roland and Mike for second place. Wozn1all: bad 11 for a wIl1.le but Pagan out foxed b1m in traffic so after George was crashed out of the lead whUe lapping the back of the field Roland and Mike f1nlshed 1-2 again. One of the most thrU11ng events of the day was the 350 GP fracas between Jody Nicholas, Don Emde and Steve McLaughlin. Don stayed in Jody's sUpstream for the opening laps before Nicholas started to pull away. Jody lost his rear brakes on lap three and subsequently retired with the Yamaha emitting ominous sounds from the rolling parts. Don went on to win with Steve McLaugbl1n waiting in the wings for his chance that never came. Dave Damron was busy all day winntng the 500 and 200 Production categories on Suzukls and using Ocelot Specials for the 200 and 250 GP div1s1ons. Bob Barker won the 200 GP and Ron tooIc the 250 GP loold.ng smoolil as sUll:. The 200 Production crown fell to Roger Wood on a Bridgestone and Steve McLaughlin won the 175 on an American Eagle. (Results on page 16) '\~~ Montt9a The Spanish Motorcycle of International PresUce Most Powerful M'·AICO W ..t of Mississippi Best Handling Cooper Motors 2115 W. 011.., Burbank,Cal ""'-""'-~"""-"""-~~~ ~~~""'-, ON THE ROAD AFM Road Race - 9/n Carlsbad Raceway Carlsbad, Calif. I I I I 13ftI I I I Open Production Class 1st Bill Manley - Norton 2nd George Kerker - Norton Open Grand Prix Class 1st Bill Manley - Norton ••• AND Mesa M.C. TT Scrllllbies August 11, 1969 Op. Expert Class 1st Jin Harmon - Norton Ri.... '""" - ....., Sidewinders TT - 8/22 Expert Trophy Dash T.lo Hoglan - Norton Expert Main Event 1st T.L. Hoglan - Norton Dri tiers Scrllllbies - 8131 Op. Class Trophy Dash 1st Mike Ellis - Norton Open Class A Main 1st Mike Ellis - Norton Drifters Motocross - 911 1st Mike Ellis - Norton Open Class A Main 1st Mike Ellis - Nor1III JOIN THE COMMANDO RAIDERS CODlDlandeer a CODlDlando at Your Norton Dealer I I I I I I