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/125668
CI) is By Maureen Lee As you can well imagine, the last District 37 Competition Committee meeting was quite something, as it was the first one following the Elsinore Grand Prix. 'There were naturally quite a few protests fUed,"il1us some disqual1f1cations and some of our lociU scrambles riders were involVed in these. 'They were Ralph Porzult and Terry Moriarity, who ride regularly every Sunday and Larry Shoemaker, who used to ride more scrambles not rides a lot of the motocrosses, Second Speedway Events Scheduled For April 26th ~ :<:: LANCASTER - 'The second Speedway :5 motorcycle race of the 1970 season has t..l been booked for Sunday afternoon, AprU ;:.... 26, at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds o here. Steve Bast, the youthful U.S. Speedway cycle racing champion from Sherman oaks, will be cast In the role of defending champion. Bast won the main event to climax a wUd opening show on the 300yard dirt course at the Fairgrounds last Sunday. Indicative of what was to corne was the first race of the day when all four entrants crashed spectacularly on the very first turn. Later on in the program, two riders hit the outside crashwall so hard, they knocked over portions of it. Fortunately, only one rider had to be hospitalized, with a broken leg. ~ Honda Rec'all To Remedy Throttle And Chain Trouble On CB7S0 Recent articles in CYCLE NEWS and the L.A. TIMES have made note of problems of breaking drive chains and sticking throttles on Honda's four cylinder CB 750 and the campaign of the Four Owner's Club, a consumer group largely made up of Honda owners to have the defective machines recalled. After making a careful study of the problems reported by dealers and owners, Honda has issued special replacement parts to dealers and recall cards have been sent by registered mail allowing Honda four owners to have their bikes modified at no charge. Spokesmen for American Honda said that the firm is always receptive to complaints and suggestions from owners but that the Four Owners Club had nothing to do with the callback of the CB 750. ijonda's study of the "slow return to idle" throttle problem began in October and after work both in Japan and the U.S. replacement parts were available to dealers in late January. 'The callback is dated March 16th. Honda dealer John McLaughlin of Duarte, Cal. told CYCLE NEWS that replacement of defective parts at factory expense is a long standing feature of the Honda waranty and is not new with the Honda Four. He pointed out similar cases with other Hondas, one of which was a gearbox problem found on the S- 65 model in 1964. Honda dealers report that new rubber rear wheel damping units have been provided to eliminate chain breaking and new throttle cables and carburetor parts stop the slow throttle return problem. Fours still in dealers stock have been modified and the recall will be in effect for bikes already on the street. Corrections will be made on Honda Fours even if they have changed hands and are being ridden by a second owner. . 1iII"'-------- scram Sammy Tanner, Long Beach veteran who is possibly the biggest name in Southland cycle racing circles, showed up unexpectedly at the opener and his performance indicated he will be as tough at Lancaster as he has been at Ascot Park in Gardena. 'The "Flying Flea" is the winning-est rider in Ascot history with nearly 400 wins to his credit. He bagged the .consolation final and finished second to BID CodY in the handicap race. Other standouts whO'll compete include Sonny Nutter, Culver City; Rick Woods, Huntington Beach; Paul Conserriere, Redondo Beach; DeWayne Keeter, Pasadena; Mike Konle, Granada HUls; Stu Morley, Topanga; Ron MUler, Lancaster; Greg Haserot, Whittier; and LarryHeinselman, Culver City. ' 'aroun e Terry was the one we felt the sorriest for. Just to finish a Grand Prix gives you an enormous number of points over a regular little Sunday scramble, and Terry went the whole way. Well, almost! He pulled in for gas at about the same time the checkered flag was waving up in town for the winner and then was not allowed to leave the pits so he could take the flag himself. 'Therefore, no finish, and no points. Terry, who is constantly right up there each season in the Open class could really use them. 'The Committee voted to uphold the Gripsters stand that by the time the checkered flag fell it was dangerous to allow any more bikes out onto the track, as by then the spectators were wandering around in droves. We can see that point too but feel it would have been fairer to give him some credit for the number of laps he did go, under the circumstances. He didn't puf in' one lap then rest in the pits for the rest of the race, getting ready to pop out just in time to take the checkered flag and therefore finish (we've seen that pulled!) he went the whole way. And all for nothing. Poor Ralph Is just as bad off. He even took the checkered flag and isn't listed as a finisher even though he went the whole way. Larry was naUed for bike switching which he didn't. Well, technically he did but not with intent to gain. Hts scooter was down and out and he brought an injured friend's bike back to the pit area and watched the rest of the day's activities from there and was able to prove it so his name was cleared. II his bike hadn't quit we'll bet he would have been right uP in there because he has fantastic endurance and goes like hell. ' 'There were numerous other squawks, some resolved happily, some not. But we'll say 'again 'what we suggested a couple of weeks ago. Maybe If Grands Prix did not pay points there might be a little more peace over them. Less strain on the host club, who have to work like dogs to throw a big one, and less strain on the riders. While still on the subject of points the race is on now for those 1971 number one plates. 'These standings are more or less un-official, but younr Gary Scott is right in there in both lightweight divisions. He's leading the ultras and is second in the lightweight and If there's ever a rider who can get that number one with just the aid of good luck, it's Gary. He has the ability and the machinery. Current number one Larry Taylor Is in the lead again and Jim Connolly second but Jim re-appears again as leading the heavyweight brigade. How's that grab you, Open class bike lovers with Jim riding a little 360 Greeves! Still, we hope we never see the day when all you hear at any race is the sound of ring-dings I ' Opera';on Coopera';on Ecology Editorial Scltedu'ed In 'SanD,·ego (Continued from Page 4) SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - A massive desert clean-up campaign, called "Operation Cooperation", has been scheduled here by members of San Diego county off-road vehicle clubs, it was announced. Sighting the possible closure of favorite riding areas, a spokesman for the group said that the clubs will corne together on May 2-3 and remove litter from the Ocotilla Wells area. 'The group will consist of motorcycle clubs, dune buggy clubs, four wheel drive clubs, as well as anyone else interested 10 the project. Anyone interested in helping has been urged to join the group at the clean-up area, or contact members of the group at (714) 745-3542, (714) 745-7302, or (714) 745-8753. • terested government officials, such as Superintendent Whitehead. Additionally, we should not waste time in letting Russ Sanford know - financially, as well morally - that we are behind him 100 per cent. And laslly, we should set a realistic, yet not too distant goal for delineating our right. The summer of 1971 is not any too soon. This Is the way we feel- the way we think things have to go. Wewelcome your comments, but, even more than that, we welcome any positive action you can take In this extremely critical matter. We are your newspaper, and will gladly serve as a sounding board and communications center for your suggestions and efforts. Correspondence along these lines should be directed to Cycle News, Ecology Dept., Box 498, Long Beach, Cal1fornla 90801. (213) 894-9218 WARREN WILSON MOTORS SOulh Dr :-;o,dolf in MOTCHICYCLI 5l1L15-5IRVICI s.'puh"da. ( 'aJil. 9000 SEPULVEDA BLVD. "The WINNER'g All Event Figures Available WONDERLAND' NEW. 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