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/125686
NOVICE DAY AT H.I.e.l!! t.J z t.J Story & Photos By David Swttt HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF., Aug 16, 1970--Motocross butfs got a swell work out on the sllghtly improved and chaIlenglug track at Huntington Cycle Park today. Huntiugton RacIng Assoctationput on a very smooth show consIsting of three 15-mInute Moto- X's which brought out a lot of fine local talent. Derek McLeish, 23 year-old student, ran away from the pack on the fIrstflag, but gave hIs lead to Jim Brown when he fel1in some mud. He nearly regalnedhIs lead when somebody bumped Into hIs Yamaha 90 and broke off hIs chamber. This was no ill omen, though, for he spent the rest of the day ~thering three wIns, and capturiug the 250 Novice Class. Ralph Bellamy, Jr., Larr.y Tremblay, and Jeff Koble battled It out in the first 125 Novice contest. Things would have been kept closer if a downright rude Chuck Viviani had let Tremblay and Koble pass after Bellamy had lapped hIm. McLeish jumped into the lead on hIs 250 Yamaha and kept in this time, despIte Gary Wickam' s threat. McLeish even ...:I U ;:... U had to hold onto hIs expansion chamber with hIs foot during the last four laps. liRA officials decided to run 100-125250 Experts along with the Open Novices making a pack of 20. Bill Barnes nearly turned the race uPside- down when he passed Steve Garl's big Malco and Greg Wickam's Bultaco 250, but soon retIred thanks to a bad plug. Barnes, Incidently, was piloting a Hodaka. In the next 125 event, novice Tremblay and Bellamy both got the green Ught and gave the fans a race every inch of the way. Tremblay- proved to be the stronger of the two this time, but finished the day 3rd overall with Bellamy finish1ng fIrst. Bellamy was also one of the most colorrul riders that day, setting unoffic1al hIgh- jump records over the fast humpbacks. Novices Gary Wickam and Derek Mc Leish put on a show of theIr own on the 250 Heat event. McLeish went down--in the mud--and gave Wickam the lead. But the 175 Yamaha with Wickam a'boardwas not quite powerful enough to keep him It was a fine day for Derek McLeish as the Seal Beach, Calif., racer powered his Yamaha to a third place finish in the 100 Novice and a first in the 250 Novice. Richard Bellamy Jr. sparked his Yamaha to an easy first place in the 125 Novice. . - there. McLeish finally pulled In another win and later finished third to take first overall. Wickam ran second overall. Whiie Gary Wickam was gathering points in the 250 Novice Class, hIs brother; Greg, was showing a fIne flat tracking style while w1nn1ng on the 250 Expert. His only competition seemed to be Steve Garl and Bill Barnes, There was little competition, as It turned out, withIn each class for the big points. Only one mIshap marred the entIre meet. Lloyd Quintard went under seconds after the first all-Expert-Open Novice contest began, The ambulance stood by apprehensively until Lloyd decided he was in one piece. Shaken, he spent the rest of the day watelling, his badge of courage being ban d age s amd knobby marks down his back, A strong contender, he is currently leading In liRA poInt standings. Huntington Cycle Park features Motocrosses on the first and' thIrd Sundays and TT races on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, It Is located on Talbllrt Avenue, one half mIle east of Golden West Avenue in Huntington Beach. (Results on page 22) " i..;" .• ~'~.-s::s'~i....!..ht>~::=..-~ Gary Wickam (55) has easy time in this moto. However, he managed only a second place-o.v.er.aJUn..tb.e250 Novice class. Unidentified racer works feverishly on his downed bike... 1""d.:.A~. ;~ 'a ,l.¥ '.1 "",- . •..... "I"' ~i ";0,