Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

PENTON SCORES IN BERKSHIRE' "" MIDDLEFIELD, MASS. May 26-17 _ Early Saturday the fairgrounds were high in the Berkshire mountains and f111ed with nearly four hundred riders, for the sixth annual running of the Berkshire Trial. This event, scored in a way similar to the European Six Days Trial, becomes more popular and prestigious with each running, and this year Intersport sponsor ed the best show yet. The trail was well planned, marked, and marshalled, with practically every kind of terrain represented. Saturday's loop circled to the south of Middlefield and included steep, rocky slopes; water crossing, fast trails, roads, and mud as mucky as anything Jack Pine has ever had to offer. However , most of the first day was, as the better riders said, " A piece of cake, " and this indicates espec1ally good planning on the part of tntarsport, At fifteen til eight Saturday morning the first of the 370 riders removed their machines from the compound. At eight sharp the first wave departed and the run was underway. Mos t were Enduro riders from the Midwest and New England . However, in the fifth wave one observed the businesslike Harley-Davidson team. They were Jack Krizman, Dave Ekins, and Paul Huntfrom Van Nuys , California, and John O'Neil from Grand Rapid s, Michigan. No one gave them much chance holding to the opinion that Californians lack experience and know-how on Eastern --:=~.....:: terrain. At the end of the firs t day, only the native of Grand Rapids had not finished. Furthermore, the desert rats had turned in perfect scores. The Pe nton team showed a most sterling performance. Ler oy Winte r s , Doug WIlford, Jack Penton, and Tom PentO n all turned in fla wless scores, backing them uP with very consistent and quick performances in the special speed and h1ll climbing tests. Bultaco-s team sho wed good scores with Bob Maus being the only member to lose a perfect score. He had two points. Jeckel Indus tries was in a similar situation with the newly imported Dalesman motorcycles. Only one member of the team had a less than perfect score, and all finishes . Yankee's Ossa team was running well until motocross star Bob Thompson was lost just before the final section of the first day. Thompson fell hard on a rocky downhill slope and was seriously injured. The hospital would release only the statement that he is suffering from internal injuries. A hundred and eighty -nine riders r e- ~ turned their bikes to the compound ~ Saturday evening, and eighty- one of these had perfec t scores. Gunnar Lindstrom, ~ Sweden's fas test export, appeared to be ~ going for the overall win. Riding a Husq- :i!: varna in the Open class , he set the fast- ~ est ti me on the one and one-half mlle special h1llclimb test, and fini s hed third :... in the cross-country speed test. Ossa U r ider W1ll1am Buczek of NewJe rsey won that one. But everyone expected Sunday's loop to the Nor th to separate the gold from the br onze, and a heavy rain began during the night Saturday and continued all day . Sunday, confirming their expectations. First departers set off in a heavy rain Sunday, and all other suffer ed similar circumstances ranging from drizzle to downpour. However , the run continued at the same average speed, and all checks and special tests were completed. The trail covered about 150 miles the second day, 70 of which was through new country. Jeff Penton surpassed teammate Lindstrom to finish with the overall win. (Results on page 26) c3 Easterne rs bel ieve i n share and share alike, even the same rut. I HARLEY-DAVIDSON I O f Inglewood U d 901 N. La Brea (near se · Spor's'ers Centinelal 671·1609 or 671-7600 ~ USED ~ ~ . ~ ~~ ...... ~ \'~ Hodako MonteSll Gre ..es PARTS ALL MAKES Burb.nk, C.IIl. 849-5907 ar 145-1731 Ex. ' 7 Rickman IIotisse West.i.ster Sport C,ele . Guy R. Louis (714) 893-7057 rACo TUn. lOll - ...... .....,..t. ..... .h••1 p.rforme r - $219.50. Oth.r ...... " . . _ SI19.95 . Kits ... engine. dutch. duin •• $49 .95. s.nd2Scfor ........... " " ....... 1:JO.p.

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