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
Bailey Provides Co rse & Win At Fresno Story by Barbara Taylor Photos by Kip Zimmerman *********************** I I FRESNO, CALIF. March 22, 1970 - Explorer Post 305 put on their first Motocross at Dunlap Cycle' Park today, and after a slow start at sign-ups, races got underway fifteen minutes late and ran smoothly the' rest of the day. Gary BaUey laid out the course Friday before the race, and many of the riders complained about the course and its,extremely difficult sections. But by the time the race was over, most riders agreed that it was a very f1ne course, demanding skU! instead of the usual bonsai tactics used by SO many riders. In the 125cc Junior first division, Jerry Johnson (Bultaco) took top honors w!l1le ' Bob Wade rode to second place. The second division of the 125cc Junior class saw Russell Fuller ride his Yamaha into first place, with Jim Dleu (Sachs) taking second. ' Gary Balley (Sachs) won all three motos in the 125cc Senior class, with plenty of pressure from RalPh Crabtree, who took the second place gold. During the first moto, BaUey was thoroughly enjoying himself and pleasing the crowd with his wheelles, when he glanced back and saw Crabtree right on his trail. The Southern California Motocross Expert then decided to work a llttle harder and playa llttle less . Jim Schmidt (Malco) won all three motos in the first division of the 250 Junior class, with Stanley Fisher (CZ) taking second after a good.race. Harvey Bakker (Bultaco), usually seen on the smooth track events, won the second division of the 250 Junior class. Balley was back in the 250 Senior class and held on to the lead all day. Carl Nelson (Ossa) stayed right behind BaUey's Greeves, for a well deserved second. Watch aut for that TREE·E·E. In the Open Junior class, Robert Parkhurst (CZ) and George Snider (Malco) really scrapped it out all day with Parkhurst taldng first in the final results. Jim McCracken (Bl!!.taco) stayed with it for a first place in the Open Senior class with Mike Thompson (Husky) got the second. The races were a spectator's dream . From one hill, the observer could see the uphill start, the Jump, the rough sand and mud sections, as well as ravine crossings, stralghtaways and tight turn sections. The presence of Gary BaUey. and some of txe top local talent provided an exciting, day of racing for riders and spectators alike. 125 riders aoss the Dunlap river. EX-CHAMP TO HOST CYCLE '10 FORUM Former A.M.A. National Champion Joe Leonard has been added to the list of celebrities for the Cycle '70 show scheduled for San Francisco's Brooks Hall, AprU 1-5. Leonard, most recently acclaimed for his performance in the famous STP turbine powered indianapolis car, was Number One for three consecutive years back in the mid-fifties and rode for Harley-Davidson. Living in Northern California, Joe is one of several'speedway drivers partt, c1pat1ng in Champion Spark Plug's Highway Safety Program touring high schools around the country. The Cycle '70 Forum, a new feature this year, wUl consist of an interview of the featured guest followed by questions from the audience. Mert LawwUl, currently Number One, will be featured for the first two nights of the show, Wednesday and Thursday, but he must then depart for the National roadrace at Kent, Washington, to defend his title as 1969 National Champion. Leonard will be the featured guest on Friday evening as well as Saturday afternoon and evening. Host emcees will consist of Bay Area motorsports writers representing the major daUy newspapers. Gordon Martin, current president of the Motorsports Press Association and culumnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, wUl host the opening night forum with LawwUl. Leonard, now 36 years old, wUl have many nostalgic recollections of his rnotorcycllng days. He wUl be open to questions from both his bike background and his more current championship car experience, including his near win at the Indy 500 in the turbine car. The Cycle '70 forums are tentatively scheduled for 7:00 p.rn, each evening, Wednesday through Saturday, and 2:00 p.rn, on Saturday afternoon. Gary Bailey •.• MOTO-X SCHOOL March 28th Cllenged to Plymouth Near Santa Cruz 7 Mi. No. of Freedom on Greenvalley Rd. INFO: (415) 682-3543 Starts 9:00 a.rn, - $15 Fee for .Individual & Group Instruction Ossa rider gets a coaling bath as part of a hat day of racing • • Hangtown Motocross' Two Daysl Apri I 4 & 5 2 Honda Minis ' $ to be given away 1,000 PURIE 2nd Annual Over $3000 cash & merchandise Seniors ride for $1000 cash plus merchandise • Juniors ride f... trophies and merchandise (Ughtwelght Mall To) Dlrldiggers North P.O. Box 699 Loamls, Ca. 95650 ''''0: (916) 652-1800 Dlrtdlgger entry blank only (Heavyweight Mall To) DIRT DIGGERS NORTH P.O. BOX 338 ORANGEVALE, CA. 95662 ' CLASSES: - 125; 250; OPEN for Jrs. & Srs. Mall entry: '$5 -Jr; $10 Sr. Past entry : $10-Jr; $20-Sr. "ORTH CHAUE"GES SOUTH • Plenty 01 place to stay· Contingency Awards • Decals hirt • Complete sanitation facilities · ·Classlc Souvenir T S s at 'LYMOUTH - ON HWY .16 E. of SACRAMENTO , 49 13 mi. N. of JACK SON ON HWY .... .... : 0...