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/125657
MULDER 911 Bob Ferro leads lellow Amateurs Into turn as Ascot season opener produces some new winners In the Ilrst rides 011970. By Maureen Lee Photos by Dennis Greene GARDENA, CAL : Feb. I, 1970 - Some black flagS, an argument between a rider and the referee and a quotable quote from Fddle Mulder after that gentleman's s nashlng win all served to add spice to the first TT of the As cot 1970 season. The Novices opened the program with the fastest time being turned in the third of the three heats (three men trans_ ferring, no main) by Modesto's Ken Roberts and Ron Moore on a pair of 'Bul's with Roberts winning. Craig Cove (Ossa) turned in one of the best novice efforts coming all the way from the back row to the front position in less than one lap in his heat. But it was Paul Johnson and Gary Scott (Bultaco) who finished in that order in their heat who did the deed and finished in the same order in the Main. Scott took the lead but Johnson took it away. Looks like we're in for a good Novice season if Sunday's opener shows what the boys can do. The Amateurs put on one heck of a show with Bob Ferro and Terry Dorsch staging one of the best scraps we've seen In a long while. Dorsch tried every trick in the book to get around Ferro, but even both of them belonging to the Checkers M .C . didn't help, Ferro just wasn't having any and Terry had to settle for second with the pair of them building UP quite a nice lead over third and fourth place men Tod Sloan (a new Amateur) and John Hateley. . 11 was during the 'Expert events that things started to get'even more exciting. First, It was rookie Expert Keith Mashburn (Triumph) and nursing a case of 'flue who came under the official eye first. In his heat he and others were black-flagged for jumping the gun "before the starter got Into the box." To a lot of watchers, the flag was dropped before the starter got In the box and to a racer, when that flag moves, you GO babylFfrst guy in the turn didn't get put back but then that's racing. Mashburn didn't hang around however and worked UP to a third behind Sonny Burres and Dusty Coppage. In his first Amateur ride Don Emde led the Semi Irom start to the IIrst turn on the last lap pUlling In mistaking the yellow flag lor . the checkered. Better luck next time! Come the third expert round, things got even better for the fans. Jack Stmmons (Norton) jumped and was put back into the third row. A few laps later three guys tangled going into the back chute. The riders moved away although a couple lay "ouching" for a bit, their bikes were cleared away and the ambulance didn't move. Then with the track clear, out comes the black flag. Referee Chub Kellam insisted Simmons start in the third row again with a regular start while Simmons equally insisted that the rules say when a race is black-flagged before the half-way point the re-start lines UP riders in the same position, single-file as they were when the black flag came out. Things got a little UPtight for a while and Simmons finally refused to ride. The trouble with arguing with an ,A MA ref is that they AL WAYS have the last work! Bob Bailey did 'em in the Expert semi and after intermission It was off to the Northern Novice rider Paul Johnson led the Bultaco charge In the Novice Main Event. Skip Van Leeuwen accepts another Trophy Dash trophy Irom Ascot love Iy as Tunner Danny Macias and Promoter J.C. AgaJanlan looks on. Turner Expansion Chambers . THE TWO-WHEELER Ready For IRI11ediale Delivery! 867 W. Colton Ave. San Bernardino, Cal. (714) TU 5-3445 *********** SPECIAL \ Jan. 25th La Grande, Ca. Amateur- Expert 100cc 1st. Nei 1 MacDannald XC100 District 35 100cc Poi nt Leader tst, Neil MacDannald XC100 MB SPORTCYCLES. 311 E. ALEXANDER AVE., TACOMA, WASHINGTON 98421 DAYTONA CHARTER fLIGHT $235 Call Arnie or Doug at: (213) 122-5243 *********** S pecialist in tuned exhaust for most two strokes.Port, Polish and...five_p or tlng, also comp lete hop-ups for Hodaka. 6025 Maywood Ave. Bid. 11, Hunting ton Park, Calif. Three blocks all Slauson 589ยท7717 Hours 10-6