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/125658
Th. wid. Astrodome has room for five rld.rs sid. by side. So, of cours. someone tries to fIlln six. By Chuck Clayton Photos by Dan Mahony & Don Woods HOUSTON TEXAS Feb. 6 - At times , down there on the Astrodome floor It looked like scenes from "Laugh In.'' A curious track composition, rumored to be Texas mud mixed with flypaper, made for some stop-motion antics worthy of the great "Blue Maxie." Worst pratfall of all was taken by World Speedway Champion Ivan Mauger in practice for a $500 winner-take-all match .r ace, Ivan steered into a haybale, stopped and fell on his Kawasaki . Earlier in the night's TT races AMA aces Earl Myers, Ron Pierce, Dick Mann and Jim Raymond did approximately the same in the heat of battle. They 'd start to slide a turn, stop dead and comically tip over. Mauger took it all in good humor, "The track's the same for all," said the brave New Zealander. Sixteen thousand race fans from all over the nation watched the first of 30 professional championships that will decide the number one motorcycle racer in America. And judging by his performance in the indoor TT tI tle chase this evening, blond, bold Jim Rice has his sights firmly s e t on that rigid digit. Last year, Rice recovered from a serious crash to capture three National titles In his first Expert season. He'S gotten off hard and come back strong••• that's a mark of a cham pion. Rice is not only strong, he's smarter. And the backIng he gets as Captain of the new BSA Wrecking Crew Is first rate. Rice won the 20 lap TT chase by a Io-o-ong margin after a cool, close second In his heat to Paul Bostrom. in the final both fast-timer Skip Van Leeuwen, the favorite, and Eddie Mulder were looking for their 5th TT Champ ionship win. Eddie took his usual early lead with Skipper nipping at his wbeels while Rice cooled It in third and waited. He didn 't have to wait long. Skip lostground in the second lap, letting Rice and Bostrom by. Rice took Mulder on the fourth lap and so did Bostrom. Then Jim just stretched his lead. Skip meanwhile had been passed by Dusty Coppage on one of the new 650 Yamahas but soon repassed the Duster and the places settled down at the halfway point. Terry De.-sch (65) started his Amateur career with a big win In th. Amateur Final at Houston. He was riding a Triumph. Here he's dogged by Tod Sloan (lSz) and John Hateley (43). MERT GETS FIRST 1910 WIN FOR H-D HOUSTON, TEX. Feb. 7 - Names made the news at National Indoor Short Track Championship this year: Mert Lawwtll won the 25 lap feature after dogging the wbeels of Dick Mann for 18 laps. Mert's Harley-Davidson was built by the heavylidded Grand National Champion himself and Jim Bellam. Mert collected the winner's share of an $8,000 purse plus $200 from Bell- Toptax for wearing their favorite helmet. Mann's Ossa was prepared with the help of Jerry Scheffer while third place Jim Odom credits A&A Motors' Ray Abrams for setting up his Bul. Fourth placer Jim Rice, beautiful in new red, white and blue BSAteam colors, worked carefully up from a seventh place start after Dave Hansen and Odom showed some heavy duty dicing. Chuck Palmgren clung to fifth with his ne w Yamaha while defending champ Ronnie Ra1l trailed all night on his Bultaco, Easy slider Steve Scott returned to the National scene with a place in the final, even if it was only last place. Dan Haaby won the fastest preliminary heat. Keith Mashburn set fast time qualifying but falled to transfer from his SemiflDaJ. race. Both Dan and Keith rode Yamaha. California rider John Hateley bagpd 2nd spot In th. Am. T.T. Final. Agl~