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/125679
.... Killer Cable Takes Life t '" Q., By Kevin Hill Top R;~ers A tragic accident took the lUe this Sunday, June 21, of Ronald Selby of Edmonds, Wash. WhUe trallrldlng In a woodsy area frequently used by d1rt blkers, Ron and MIke Doherty came UP011 a cable stretched across the road In an IlIl8JlP8Cted place without any warnIng. M1ke later said that they were going about 55 or 60 mph and his only warning was when Ron, who was ahead, hit the cable ttrst. M1ke IIl8IUIged to drop his hike to get under but st1ll hit the cable with his· shoulder and received minor Injuries. Drawn To Wash. Motocross By Kevin Hill ZILLAH, WASH., June 21,1970- Usually known for Its fruit and other agricultural exports turned the tables th1s Sunday and Imported some of the Northwest's best motocross rlders to put on a fine show of racing In spite of the leO-plus heat. Although the hot weather may have kept a few spectators away It didn't slow the riders any as they fairly f1ewaround the well watered and dUst free course. The course was perfect from both a rider and SPectator point of view. LaId out over partly used and partly virgln ground by local riders Vernon Rank and Dick Poulln the course provided a fine challenge for the more than ninety riders and superb views of the rac1ng for the spectators. Racing started with the 14 year-old and under class with the machlnery restricted to l25cc. There were some real hotshoes In this bunch and the lead was often changed between MIke Tobla and David Rowe, both on Yamahas. The overall win went to Tobla, who won the ttrst two motos and second to Rowe, who won the third moto. Then a bard of Hodakas took off In the l00cc class. Here too, the Jead was hotly contested with Butch Kendall comIng out on top of the overall standings with two seconds and a first. Some of the day's best racing took place In the l25cc class when several of the real ace- riders showed uP to do battle. Overs ome terrWc competition, Norm Kopp put his Yamaha In the winner's cirlce three times In a row for the well-earned overall win. A huge field of five riders turned out to ride the l75cc class and, If nothing else, gave everyone a good opportunity to take a cooling dip In the Yaldma River which flowed right by the course. When the dust settled at the start of the ttrst 250 moto there was 16 year old Rick Poulin doing a blitzkrieg on the rest of the heavy pack. Rick Poulin took home the first place tropby.A wellearned second place went to Tom Morton for his very fine efforts.' Remember Norm Kopp, the fellow who made a clean sweep In the 125 class? Well, he did It to 'em again In the Open class, this time on a 360 Yamaha. In the ttrst moto he Just moved right out Into first place over M1ke Jaekel; another Yamaha rlder, who was kept honest by C Z- riding Steve Hall. Br1ng1ng uP fourth place In this parade was Doug Munson on his "spltfy" orange Montesa and that Is bow they f1n1shed. The second moto was more of the same except for M1ke Joekel's last laP disaster when his Yamaha flooded really good, letting Steve Hall romp home In second. The real race was on the last moto when heretofore unnoticed Vernon Rank jumped Into a surprise lead and really got with It for the ttrst bait 01. the race. Steve Hall got Into second and made a determined effort to get by Rank's Malco. Whlle Steve was maIdng his charge, Norm Kopp moved 1ntD third right behind Hall and the three of them went roaring around the course only a few feet apart to provide some of the day's closest rac1ng. Flnally, on the third lap, Kopp got by Hall on the startf1n1sh straight and then swept by Rank uP the hill. Kopp was never chanenged after that and M1ke Joeke1 then moved past Hall and Rank, who eventually dropped back with some kind of problem. Overall, Steve Hall was second over M1ke Joekel and Doug Munson. As the racers and spectators headed for the barn at the end of the day they all agreed that It had been a fine, well organIZed race on a beautiful course and they would look forward to the next event, a team motocross, scheduled for July 26. it should be a good one! (Results on page 22) Ronald Selby was only 26 years old, married and the father of two small ch11dren. He was well-Uked by those who knew him and his loss has been deeply felt by the riding fraternity In this. area. Even those of us who didn't know Ron personally are saddened by th1s event and struck by the sobering realization that It could have happened to any 01. us. But Instead of simply mournlng for a whlle and then forgetting all about It, let's do somethlngl Now that a fine young man has died needlessly the kWer cable has been clearly marked. Why not before? Why can't we, as riders, when we find a haZardous condition such as this, make a haIilt of br1ng1ng It to the atten-" tlon of the landowner and/or make our own dangermarkers befor an accident haPpens? From DOW on when we find a cable, ditch, washout or any other condition on a tra11 that could be a haZard to other riders to follow, let's put a long or rocks or something In the road to at least slow down our fellow riders who may not be so observant or lucky to spot the bazard In time. LegIslation Is the ultimate solution but until then direct action Is the only way we can prevent another death or Injury to our. friends and ourselves. ~~~~~~~~~~~~-1 ~. ~\VA. . ~ontt5a Vlkt THESE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA' MONTESA DEALERS INVITE YOU~I".A~ '''.~'~ '''.~C~ Ir••~J~ TO COMPARE Cannicllael: CARMICHAEL HONDA 1833 Fair Oaks Bouleyanl (916) 94H318 Frtlllont: CYCLE CENTER STORES #3 31A1I Fremont Bouley.1I (415) 192-1111 Vallejo: PELICAN DIVE & CYCLE 581 Braallway Shet nOl) 6*9184 Gilroy: GEORGE E. 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