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
.. By Maureen Lee If you count up on the calendar you'll notice there are more motocross' scheduled than scrambles and last year the demand by the end of the season for motocross numbers was very high. ' We ch ecked with D1ck Kouns about how the s crambles numbers are going this year and it's plain to see, scrambles are failing more each year. There was a time when they ' d be up in the high numbers by now, so far this year they have 475 lightweight numbers and 265 ultras, and a lot of earned numbers haven't been picked up yet. In contrast the lightweight desert steward, we hear, is up to 206 mx (translation, one thousand, two hundred and six!). While on the subject of numbers guys, in a situation like a Grand Prix coming up s uch as the Gripsters bash at Elsinore, you've had ample time to send in and ge t your permanent number by now so you can complete ,your entry form by the deadline. Ridi ng a classic like that ls not something you decided to do on the spur of the moment and you can't expect a steward to come up with a number for you like bringing a rabbit out of hat for you to meet the deadline. You've had all the time in the world. Another thing (and it sounds like we're doing nothing but grouse today, but this is important) if you're a club member in charge of getting results to the stewards, pulease make sure you fill out everything and even more important, print names clearly. And as for you riders, take those few extra seconds on an entry blank to make sure your name can be read clearly. Some of ' e m are awful and that's the truth. I almost made a new year resolution that in 1970 if we couldn't read an entry blank for result purposes, I'd list you in the paper on Tom Chic kensc r a tch r iding a Yo-yo. ' The first Asco t TT had a good share of famiuar faces out on the track a nd it was good racing. We told you a couple of weeks ago to keep an eye on Gary Scott and if you were at Ascot you'll know why. Probably the saddest scrambler there was Ted Longwlth . Walking around with a cast on his arm , Ted had the tale to tell of two sponsored motorcycles to ride at the Houston Astrodome, so checking them out, Ted unloaded. lt's those parking lot crashes that get you bad every time! ..- Kawasaki Offers Y2 Million ,In Contingency Cash Prizes Kawasaki's Nor th American distributors are offering the largest racing purse ever In the history of motorcycli ng. A total of $500,000 is up for the winning during 1970. The la r ges t portion of the half-million dollar purse 'will be awarded during AMA Nationals held acr os s the country. A total of $349,500 In cash will be awarded to the winners if they are riding a Kawasaki. For the Green Horn and Jack Pine National Enduros, Kawasaki-riding winners will each r ec eive a New Kawasaki Mach III valued a t $1,000. The only eligib1l1ty rule is that the rider must be r acing a Kawasaki at these events. Providing further incentive to race the big K, Kawasaki is awarding a Grand National Championship prize of $5,000 in cash to the professional r ider who ea rns the highest number of AMA National expe rt points during 1970 while riding a Kawasaki. ' Additionally, $34,500 wort!t of Kawasaki 100cc Trail Boss bikes are earmarked to be awarded to the winners of the 69 classes run during , Bonneville Speed Week. Riders who establish a new 1970 World Record in these class es mus t be riding a Kawasaki. Also, Kawasa ki is offering $25,000 in cash to the Kawasaki rider who establishes and retalns a new two- wheel World Speed Record for 1970 at Bonne ville. The record must be acknowledged by either the FIM or AMA rul1ngbodies . Other cash prizes are offered to those Kawasaki r ider s who win in the following upcoming events: If the Senior Main Event winner of the Inter Am Motocross Series is astraddle a Kawasaki, he w1ll get $2,500. And to the winner of the total 1970 Senior Inter-Am Series, Kawasaki will award $10,000 if he earned all points on a Kawaski only . In the AF M Road Race Series, the r acer placing first overall in the Senior Main Event receives $250. Overall highpoint champion for 1970 earns $5,000. All winners must be riding Kawasakis, and points for overall high-point champion must be earned on a Kawasaki only . The same prize money - for winners of the same events - will be a warded during the AAMRR Road Race Series. For the NORRA -Baja 500: Firstoverall winner receives $3,000; first lightweight motorcycle, $500; first heavyweight motorcycle, $500. For the Baja 1,000: Firs t overall winner receives $5,000; first lightweight motorcycle, $500' fi r s t heavyweight motor cycle , $500: All three divisions can be pai d to the winners riding a Kawasaki. For the Mint 400' First over all winner , received $3,000; first lightweight motorcycle, $500; first heavyweight motorcycle, $500. Again, if the winner did it on a Kawasaki . Other events are Included in AHRANHRA quarter-mUe drag races, with $5,000 cash awarded to those riders winni ng on a Kawasaki. When asked why Kawasaki Is offering such a large purse, Advertising Manager for Kawasaki Motors Corporation said: .. Kawasaki is taking this gigantic leading step for ward in the motorcycle industry in order to encourage other motorcycle manufacturers to actively participate in this fast gr owing spor t ." .~ ,r:J, Ward Wins Elfin Forest Trials DRAGSTERS TUNE UP FOR GAS AND FUEL NATIONALS Entries from the four corners of the nation are pouring in for the Fir s t Annual U.S. Fuel and Gas Motorcy cle Nationals to be held at Irwindale Raceway on March I , 1970. The nation's quickest and fastes t Fuel & Gas Drag Bikes w1ll be on hand at this, the first all motorcycle drag meet ever held athat offer over $6,500.00 dollars in cash prizes and the opportunity to set official National Hot Rod Association National Records. Among the over forty Top Fuel and Top Gas entries are: Sonny Routt of Hyattsv1lle, Maryland, Runner up at the Eastern Championships at Atco, New Jersey at 9. 10 seconds and 164 MPH; Guy Learning of Elmer, New Jersey, Top Fuel Eliminator a t Stuttgart} Arkansas last Sep tember; The M1ller Br os., triple Top Gas Eliminators from Chi cago, Illinois; Joe Smith Of West Covina, Calif., holder of Irwindale Strip Record at 9.39 seconds and 164.50 MPH; and Boris Mur r ay of La Verne, Calif. with his twin-powered 165 MPH Drag Bike to name but a few. A majority of the low 9 seconds, 160 plus MPH bikes are twin-engeined, however, a few such entries as Leo Payne and Clem ' Johnson'S " Barn- Job" are exceptions to the rule and have both run in excess of 160 MPH in the quartermile. Irwindale Raceway is located in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley a short twenty' min utes from downtown Los Angeles via the San Bernardino Freeway. """" Rich ard BI.d so. picks his way up a st ony hili . Ric hard has won his c lass In t he las tt hre. trials a nd wil l b. promot.d to Expert his ne xt ti me out. By Vic Conaway Photos by Red Richardson ESCONDIDO, CAL . Feb. I , 1970 - The Second English Trials of the year at Elfin Forest, sponsored by theS.D.T.R., was a rugged crourse with many natural hazards, including, mud, rocks, water, sand, steep banks and canyons . According to s ome riders the famous DevUs Stalrcase in the Scottish Six Day Tr ials has been re-Iocated In Escondido. The Masters Class was won by Jack Ward, John Walters and Bob Grove all riding Bultacos. The Experts, who have to ride the same sections as the Masters were not far behind. Gary Ste wart in great style won the class without much problem . The 125 Master and Expert clas s was the most interesting event of the day. Gary Barton on a new Saracen and Vic Conaway on an American Eagle fought • nip and tuck all day. The two r ider s .. .,.•....••.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•......................-•.•.•.•.•.•.•5 WINNERS IN MEX ICAN 1000 FUEL BOOSTER FUEL BOOSTER FOR GASOLINE KAWASAKI SPEED KI TS 120cc " 175cc wrll. or call $46 :00 up DRACO'S MOTORC YCLES 1629 So. Stan dard Ave. Santa Ana, Cal. 92707 (714) 543·96a& were tied with 117 points at the end of the day . Both riders had the same num ber of cleans but Gary had one more • one than Vic to give Gary the edge. The outs tan ding Richard Bledsoe won his third straight Trials in the Amateur Lightweight division. I would like to pass on a compliment I r ece ived on behalf of the Tr ials riders from the owners of the Elfin Forest. The cooperation of the participants was greatly appreciated. The owners said they would be more than happy to have another Tr1a1s event. With so many areas being cut off and declared offlimits to moto rcycles, 11 is refreshing to fi nd s omeone that feels motorcycle riders can and will be responsible. If you are Interested in riding Trials, the next event w1ll be atSaddleback Park, . Cal. Feb. 22nd. . · 5-10%hp. Increase · Broadens Power Band · Eliminates Plug Fouling · Less Carbon BUild-Up " Im proves Mi leage' INTROO UCTORY OFFE R - $2.45 4 oz. bollie tr eats 40 gals. FOR GASOLINE ' FAST" SHOWS AN INCREASE OF UP TO 10% ON 2 & 4 STRO KE ENGINES ON DY NO TESTS ! Cal . Res. I\dd 5% Sa le s Tax - - - - - - -Mail Orders (che c k only) to: - - - Bill Stroppe's FAST 2818 East Hill St. long Beach, Cal. 90804 Please RUSH Name bottles o f FAST to : _ Address CI ~Y _ _ Slate Zip _