Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

It) SALT LAKE FALLS TO BAILEY MAGIC By Larry Knop SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, August 23, 1970 - The Continental Motocross Association brought Gary Bailey to Salt Lake for a Saturday Motocross School and a Sunday Motocross race. By Sunday's end, there were over a thousand spectators thoroughly convinced of Gary's status as one of America's top riders, and there were over a hundred racers from throughout the Intermountain region wondering how motocross could be made to look so easy. Bailey won every moto he entered Sunday, but I10t without a contest. Local rider Bob Brown was waiting for Bailey, and he gave Gary a race in the Open Expert class that motocross fans will remember for a long, long time. The first moto was no forecast of things to come, as Bailey jumped into first and Brown got away a very dead last. By the time Brown fought his way through the pack, Bailey had too big a lead for Brown to challenge. The second moto was a differen t story however, as Brown took the lead and held it for the entire first lap to the cheers of every spectator present. Bob was pushing a little too hard however, losing a tenth of a second in a slide here, a tenth of a second there, and against a rider of Bailey's caliber that is disastrous. Bailey passed, and while Brown stayed close it was Gary Bailey taking the checkered flag first. Third moto, and last chance. This time Bailey took the lead, with Brown a close second. Around and around with Brown within touching distance of Bailey's rear wheel. On the next to the last lap Brown suddenly pulled even with Bailey in a sandy tum on the back stretch. Th~ cheers rose and then died as Brown hit a bump and Bailey found good traction into the straight. Once again it was Bailey home first. Behind the two leaders, but not far behind in each moto, were Preston Gerber, who was fighting injuries suffered the previous week, and David Crandall. Because of the heat and the roughness of the course, Bail'ey only Gary Bailey demonstrates the magic touch. rode two classes, the Open and 125 Expert classes. In an effort to make a more interesting race the 175 's were combined with the 125 Experts, but even 50cc's were not equal to 10 years of experience and Gary Bailey won this class in a walkaway, doing long wheelies down the straights for the entertainment of the spectators. The closest local riders were Kevin Croft on a 175 and Warren Spencer on a 125. In the 175 class it was Rick Hodges and Ted Strong following Kevin home while Ken Lobach and Darrell Jerome chased Spencer in the 125 class. The big excitement of the day was Gary Bailey, but even his performance could not eclipse the excellen t racing in the other classes. The 100 Novice 1:lass had its largest turnout ever, with riders showing tons of valor and ounces of discretion. The starting area and the , first comer were a disaster area for this class. Doug Brown survived a third moto tangle at the start to barely beat out Lee Mackey for first in this class, while Gary Chadwick took third. To complete a sweep for the Brown brothers, Del Brown came in with a convincing first place in the 100 Expert class, followed by William Terry and Jerry Davis. Bob, Del, and Doug Brown managed to find room in their truck for their trophies, bu t just barely. The 125 Novice class was another battle, with Leroy Fisher and Max Jensen each taking a first and a second in the first two motos. Fisher took the third moto however, and Max had to settle for second. Consistent Bob Best took third. The 250 Expert class seemed like a runaway for Steve Burgess again, until the third moto. Bike trouble hit Steve then, and he had to push (literally) to hang onto his first. Woody Lawhon was second and Sam DeAngelis came in third in his first ride as an Expert. Robert Plumb ran away from the Open Novice class, but behind him there was quite a battle, with Blaine Straw narrowly defeating Dennis Packard for second. There was no runaway in the 250 Novice class however. A large turnout came to do battle, and battle they did, with a different winner each moto. When the dust settled it was Gary Mikkelson first on points for the day, followed by Marty Kent and Kerry Fowler. In addition to the close racing, this class also took honors for the most spectacular crash of the day. Al Allen took a 30 foot jump followed by a 30 foot slide on his face right in front of the main spectator area. Fortunately he was wearing a Bell Star helmet, and the only unprotected area on his face was the very tip of his nose. He even recovered enough to ride the last lap of the heat - with a very red nose. Prospectors M.C. present I.IU. Distriet 37 Steen's Rickman "WIDIWiDDer" CONTEST SPECIAL DEALER CONTEST Pointsllotocross All dealers who become an appointed Rickman dealer during the 'Win A Winner' contest to be held on Thursday, September 24, 1970. The winner receives an expense-paid week for two worth $1,000. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• : • • : EmY BlANK STEEN'S 'WIN AWINNER' CONTEST . MICRO METISSE 100 TRAIL OR 125 NAME ~10TOCROSS AGE ' : ADDRESS _ ZIP • BONUS VALIDATION-COMPLETE SET OF COMPETITION LEATHERS AND HELMET • • DEALER'S NAME : : ADDRESS • : • MAIL TO: STEEN'S INC., 'WIN A WINNER' CONTEST. BOX 2276. ALHAMBRA. CALIF, Sept.13th • : • • • SIGNATURE At SOD. BayMare : : ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Mail entry: $3.00 Post entry: $5.00 Racing starts 9:00 AM Prospectors M.C. 302 Palm Drive Hermosa Beach, Calif. 90254 Directions: Take Ventura Freeway north to neW Fillmore 'Freeway to Highway 23, then left to Moor Park, 118 to Balcom Canyon Rd. & follow the signs to Bay Mare. 8. :. o ..... - a> I ti S- ,j; III ~ z ~ u ~

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