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/125676
• SEHL INVADES LOUISVILLE By Don Woods LOUISVILLE, KY. June 6, 1970 - The invasion of Europe was not the only thing that happened on this da,y, as the Canadian invasion of American dirt tracldng reached a high point tonight, with Dave Sehl w1nn1ng the 10 mUe National Championship race here at Louisville Downs. The Louisville race is one of the most spectacular on the championship traU, drawing fans from a wider area than any other dirt track Nationa,l. This year there was S,R.O., and the weather was a just perfect 70 degrees for the fans and riders. Several days of rains hadpacked the llmestone track and it was in the best shape ever for the bikes. As practice and quaJ1ty1ng got underway, 62 Experts and 64 Amateurs were entered, and one Expert commented that he would have to really gas it to make the program, which was llmited to 36 riders. Another rider replled that he would really have to gas it 1f there were 37 entriesI And did they ever gas itl Dic Ie Mann wound UP fastest qua11f1er but onlY by a fraction of a M.P .H. All of the riders that made the show were right in there behind him. The track was so smooth that many were getting their feet UP about baIl way through the turn and sI1d1ng out of the corners with their feet on the pegs. It was really spectacular. Dave Aldana came out to quaI1fy and made his laps without ever putting his foot down. Sometimes he had it on full lock, and it was probably the prettiest ride since Resweber was racing. Fonner national star George Roe!ler The first Expert ellmination heat got underway, with Gene Romero taking the lead in the first corner and Jim Rice right behind him. Fast quaI1fier, Dick Mann, had a loaded UP engine and was ret~rns to a9tion in top form. .. bringing UP the rear with Bart Markel, who was having the same problem. Rice was trying to catch Romero, but Burrito' wasn't having it. Romero took the win, with Rice second and Keith Mashburn taking third, and the last spot to make the feature. During the race, Mann's bike got cleared and he just let it bang out all the way around, passing enough riders to get a spot in the Semi. The second heat saw a surprise threat make itself known. Cal Rayborn, looking llke he was at Daytona, just ran of! and hid from everyone. Earller in practice, Cal bad gone to school from Bart Markel, riding right on his rear wheel for the whole practice session. Rayborn was looking more like Markel than Markel does. Larry Palmgren and Mark Brelsford were second and third. The third heat was a Harley race between Dave Sehl and MertLawwtll.Lawwill just couldn't catch UP with Dave, though, and it looked like Sehl had an easy win. Then, on the last laP, Dave's engine seized and he backed of! the throttle for a second. When he got back on it, it seemed to free and run all right. But Laww1l1 was gone by this time, and Sehl had to settle for second. Third was Ronnie Rall. The Semi was the last chance for three riders to make the National. This year it seems that every Semi at a National is about like a National in itself. This one was no exception. Mann bad his engine _ problems cured but couldn't cure Don Castro. Castro was movingl Larry Darr; Chuck Palmgren and George Roeder were stuck together in the race for third. Dave Aldana was going thirty mUes an (Continued on page 24) Harley factory rider Cal (25) Rayborn raced with eventual winner Dave (SOT) Sehl for several laps. Dave Sehl was one of two Canadians in the winner's circle. Maurice Fraiser won the Amateur event.