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/125664
(Continued from page 3) ~ <.J Final Installment in a series of three articles about Mert Lawwlll, the 1969 AMA Grand National Champion . In this segment, LawwilI talks about the races , leading to the coveted AMA crown, as well as some thoughts about his life. both present an,d future, In last week's edition of Cycle News, the CalHomia riding ace described his early successes and slumps. Previously , Lawwill detailed his start as a pro \ra c er . and his initial agreement with Harley-Davidson. 3.81 mile course. As many as 90 riders Laww11l started off the 1969 season in a big way by w1nnJng a National Chammay line up at the start of the race in plonship and setting a new record at positions determined by their quallfying Cumberland, Maryland, on a hal! mile time. In road race, riders do not put their dirt track. Then on July 1 on the last foot down on turns, but most of them race of the eastern circuit, he won his equip their machine with a cowling or second National Championship In 1969 at wind breaker which some cla1m inColumbus, Ohio and picked up $2,000. creases their speed potential. Daytona Lawwlll says that he prefers a dirt Beach Is a fast course. Speeds of 155 track partly because this is where he has mph were clocked in 1969. Laww11lprechalked up most of his successes and dlcts that In 1970 with the larger motors, partly because he Is convinced that there 60-70 h.p., speeds should go up to 160is a greater chance of skidding on a 165 mph. Laww11l f1n1shed in fourth paved course. But the worst course of place in 1969 at Daytona Beach. all, in Lawwlll's book, is the track at "Three weeks after the Columbus Louisville, Ky., which is surfaced with race," Lawwlll resumed, "I won the ground up rock. Castle Rock National for the second time -, ' • , , ~ most hal! mile tracks take around 24-25 seconds to complete a tap, For the enlightenment of the un1n1t1ated, a t- t track is a race course which has both right and left turns and a jump. Most of the turns on a hal! mile dirt track are to the left. One side of the oval has a concave section which give rise to the 2 right turns. The jump is over a mound built across the track. "You must land with your rear wheel first," Laww11l deleared, " If you want to avoid trouble." The victory at Ascot Park made Lawwill CaI1fornia State Champion motorcycle racer and his share of the purse was $1,600. "I'm sure," Laww11l said, , it was the experience I gained In previous years that helped me to win at Ascot. That was where I first started riding like an expert." Of course, he had already clinched the Grand National Championship, a week earlier; at Oklahoma City, by accumulating a greater number of points than any other motorcyclist In the U.S. So the win at Ascot vias In the nature of a grand encore, slgnal1ng the end of his biggest year. When asked, what next? Laww11l replied, "my tentative plan Is to retire rrom motorcycling and try automobile racing. A friend, Cal Rayborn and I have gone together and bought a ear which we are learning to drive. We plan on enterIng it in the Transarnerlcan sedan races. My reason for the switch Is to make more money. At present, I have to keep right on the top to make $40-$50 thousand a year. I figure If I was good enough at auto racing, I would make considerably more than that. Also, I am 29, an old man in the motorcycling game, and besides, Grand National Championships are held ouly about 2 years on the average. I believe I would have, at least, 10 more years left in ear racing." For the last 2 years, Lawwlll has been sponsoring Mark Brelsford. age 20. In 1968, as an amateur, Brelsford won 6 National Amateur Championships. Using Laww11l's equIpment, in 1969 the young rider was the only first year expert to finish In the top lOin the nation. "I am grooming Mark to take my place as Grand National Champion when I retire," Lawwlll declared. "I feel that he is a smart, able rider and will go far • Sponsoring In this case," Lawwlll expla1ned, "means helping him with his equipment, giving him advice and criticism. teaching him what I know." Mert Lawwlll sits astride his H-D In the winner's circle at last year's Ascot 8 mile National. That's Dud Perkins, Mert's sponsor on the right and promoter J.e, Agajanlan at the left. "This type of track," Laww11l commented, "Is hard on the body of the rider and on the machine too. The front motorcycle throws up a screen of rocks which the other riders have to run through. It can get pretty painful. Sometimes, the stones take the number and paint right off the front of the machine. All road races are run on paved tracks. A prime example is the 200 mile Daytona Beach, Fla. road race. It Is run on a in my career. I didn't win again unt1l October 12th at Ascot Park - myoId stamping ground. That night, I set all new records and now hold most of the hal! mile records at that track." Ascot Park Is a hal! mile, hard clay, t-t · track. F 1n1shtng the race consists of complet1ng 20 laps. Ascot is considered to be a very fast course. Indeed, Laww1ll ran 1 quallfy1ng laP in 22.30 seconds, Indicat1ng just how fast, since New & U.ed 323 W. MAPLE MONROVIA. CA . CUSTOM CAR, MOTORCYCLE AND DUNE BUGGY SHOW by the Tridents Car Club, at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Info: Custom Show Headquarters, P.O. Box 400, Maywood, CaI1f. Ph. (213) 588-4551. SUNDAY, APRIL 26th AMA PROFESSIONAL TT at Old California State Fairgrounds on new 1-1/2 mile TT course, $3600 purse, 33 Experts go 50 laps, Agajanlan Enterprises. Nov., Am., Ex. MOTOCROSS by the Feather River MC at Marysville, CaI1f. located under E MOTOCROSS by the Feather River Me at Marysville, CaI1f. located under E Street bridge at Marysville. AMA sanct, Sign-up 8-10 a.m., first race 10:30 a.m, Into: (916) 742-7785. MOTOCROSS by the CMC North atApple Tree Motocross Track, 7 mi. north of Freedom, CaI1f. on Green Valley Rd. Sixth and last raee of CZ series with free C Z motocross bike going to points leader. Info: (415) 682-3543. TRIALS by the SeTA at Saddleback Park SIgn7UP close 9:30 a.m, Into: 697-9441. MOTOCROSS by the Sledrlders MC at Deadman's Point, Apple Valley, CaI1f. AMA Sanct. Dlst. 37 points. Three motos all classes. Course and bar both wet. T. T. SCRAMBLES by the San Bernardino MC at Perris, Calif. Dlst, 37 points. Sign-up 0-200 7 a.m., 250 10 a.m, and Big bikes noon. 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