Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

III~ .1~11.4~ C.R. And Chuck Wheat: Father And Son Racing Team. ::: C.H.' s r eply was " When he wants to race he'll tell me and I' ll put him on the best I can afford, but If all he ever wants to do Is trail, that's O.K." On his fifteenth birthday, Chuck decided now was the time and on a Hodaka and a Kawasaki he was quickly uP with the front runners, but still there was never that sensation you get with some riders of " go, blow or punch a hole in the wall." When dad came home with a Matco to check out for Frank Cooper that was the end of the lightweight division for Chuck. He rode It and lIked 1t, " i' m just made for a bigger bike, I guess," and soon there were two Matcos snuggled In the Wheat garage. In a lIttle over six months Chuck went from big bike Novice to big bike Expert so now he has to ride against his dad. They both admit they think about each other a bit out -ther e, after all, blood IS thicker than water, but they don't _ help each other. C.H. knows that Chuck must learn from mak1ng the mistakes that all racers make and Chuck knows this himself but with all the hours he's spent riding with his father he doesn't often goof up. Chuck has also found the happy balance of enjoying racing while not concentrating his whole l1fe on it. His grades are high 10 school and when he graduates this year It's Junior College for him. They are almost opposites 10 temperament. C.H. Is a big, good natured outgoing man, Chuck Is quieter, more relaxed but just as good natured. He also has a head on his shoulders. Mary Wheat says that the truck Is often loaded for them to go tralling, C.H. Is roaming around dying to get along, and Chuck Is workIng patiently at the tabie and won't budge until he has all his homework finIshed. There's more to l1fe than twowheels for this young man. TIlls Is the Wheat family racing team. Chuck and his Father, C.H. haye become as familiar as a checkered flag around Southern California TT scrambles tracks. Stor y and Photos by Maureen Lee Like father, lIke son the old saying goes but all too often you see this lead to conflicts, especially If the son tries too hard to copy his father. There are always exceptions however, and the WheaUamlly is a prime example. Watching them at a District 37 scramble IS almost funny because they are so relaxed about the job in hand. When It's time to go to the ready line they just look at each other, get on their ridIng kIts, fire uP their Malcos and putter off. If something has to be done on one of the bikes after practice the pair of them work so calmly that you'd think they had all the time In the world to get it done. Once on the line you'll see that they usually sit side by side only because. C.H. knows all the best places to start at all the tracks and has coached Chuck well. C.H. started racing at sporting events In the fifties makIng quite a name for himself at De Anza, Rusty Nalls, Spencer, Prado and doing It twice in a row at the Catalina Grand Prix. He turned pro and earned National Number 6 with wIns at the Peoria TT and the Torrey Ploes road races to name just two showing that he was a good all around racer not just a spec1al1st. Always a big bike rider, he has ridden Triumph, BSA and Har1ey- Davidsons In his career and although the big fast tracks like Prado are gone he st1ll has a TT Triumph. He prefers the big two-strokes lIke his Matco for the current tracks. There's also an ancient Indian lurkIng In his garage. . Does a man lIke this make his Ilvlng' In the worldofmotorcycl1ng? Not always. . C.H. doesn't although he actively Is engaged In it. By the way, the C.H. doesn't stand for any names, that Is his name. He Is a regional supervisor for a firm selling all types of Industrial cleansers, chemicals and glues, one of which he says can keep a jet airliner together. But what he could turn Into a full time job anytime he wished Is his consultant work on engines. He has built record w1nn1ng engines for everything from SK class boats to go-carts and racing bikes. Firms like Triumph, Steen, Mateo, and BSA turn him loose with new models or " pr obiems" to find out what makes them tick and If they are sultabie for the American market. Some of the goodies that Webco sells came from his Ideas. With a father like that It was only natural that Chuck would turn Into a bike rider but C.H. never put the pressure on him and that IS the secret to their relaxed days at the races. Dad Isn'Uorcing Junior to do any1h1ng, Junior has made his own cholcel Years ago weaskedC.H. " When' s Chuck going to start racing?" W inners go w ith Bell . . . lik e Mert Lawwill G rand N at ion a l C ham p ion 19 6 9 ANO TH ER FINE PRODUCT OJ., w llllle el h.'· Speciali zed Tr iumph - Honda Repairs· Custom Racing • Engines Machine Work • Melisse Kits Cyl . Boring • Head Porting MIKE BURKE M otorcycle Specialties 15178 Raymer St. Van Nuys, Cal. 91406 T elephone (213) 780·0779 Ossa - Greeves - Bultaco. Hockies Motorcycles, 22025 So. Figueroa, Torrance, Ca. (213) 328-1242. Bullaco We specialize In only Bultac o Milco Bultaco 7241 W. Orangelhorpe, Buena Park .(114) 522-6109 Penton - Hodaka Yamaha - BSA Husqvarna Norton M Greeves otorcycles Kawasaki Westminster Sport Cycle Hodaka Mont esa Guy R. Loui s (714) 893·7057 7574 Westm inster Ave. Westm inster, Cal. PACIfIC COAST HONDA 2013 W. Pacific Coast Hwy. LOMITA 3 2 6 -3 810 USED PARTS ALL MAKES 40% TO 60% OFF ':' YAMAHA DEALER" SCRAMBLER MOTORCYCL ES 1801 Yt. Burbank B lvd. Burbank, Cal if. 849 '590 7 or 845~738 E,I•• 7 5;'::;;1 MEXICAN 1 000 FUEL BOOSTER FOR GASOLINE FUEL BOOSTERFOR GASOLINE INTRODUCTORY OFFER - $2.45 4 oz. bott le treats 40 gals. Cal . Res. Add 5% Sales Tax "FAST" S HOWS AN INCREASE OF UP TO 10% ON 2 & 4 S TRO KE ENGI NES ON DYNO TESTS ! New & Used Mail Orders 8m Stmppe's (check only) to:,• • • • • • • • FAST 2818 East HiU St. 1 - 2 - 3 bike trailers Please RUSH with the Long Beach, Cal. 90804 bottles or FAST 10: Name Aragon Circl e of Ex cellence 223 W. CAM IN O REAL . MQNRQ VIA . CALIF . 91016 1223 Ave. I Lancnl8f (80S) 942-9624 Ope n 7Days Buy - Sell - Trade Wholesale ONLY 70's Are Here DESERT SET UP SCRAMBLES • •••• • • • - Motorcycle Trailers The whole famlly, who r esides in Sunnyvale, consists ofC .H., Mary, Chuck and Karen. Their home is the Idndyou can lie on the floor after a rough day and bench race . Trophies won by both the Wheat gentlemen are displayed, In the living room and some of them are racing history. Chuck plans on turning pro when the time comes. They're a team to do District 37 proud and If you've ever watched them shoot off the line and into turn one you know what we mean when we say they each ride their own race. Address City -- 213-447-8 342 _ _ _ state Zip _ : t\"

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