Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

! PO WELL CAN'T TURN WHITE en N N i '" ll' S ~ ~ u ~ By Dave Swift HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALlF., Sept. 13, 1970 - Experts Ron Powell and Tom White gave the folks a show that few who were there are likely to forget. The action took place Sunday at Huntington Beach Cycle Park on one of the best, and certainly the most under-rated, TT tracks in Southern California. Powell made a special trip from Palmdale to race White as a 250 Expert and to accept the challenge that was made last month. (For those of you who tuned in late, Huntington Racing Assn. official Donald England announced that $25 goes to the .flnt person that beats Tom in a special match race. Contrary to previous reports, Tom never aired any challenge; Tom White showing his skill. he merely agreed to race at HRA.s request.) Powell and White locked horns four times that day, incl~ding that match race, and showed fans and fellow riders alike some of the hottest action they'll ever see. While all four races were practically duplicates of each other, it was the third 250 Expert moto, not the match race, that brought out the best in both riders. White had beaten Powell in all three previous races, certainly no simple task, and this time Powell was determined to win. Powell took an early lead, as usual, and as soon as he felt White breathing down his neck, on schedule, Powell began riding like a man possessed. Both White and Powell pushed each other to incredible limits, Bultaco against Bultaco, riding as if their lives depended on it; it was a photographer's dream. Powell's only problem was a loss of traction due to a worn front tire. White t oak advantage of the additional fraction of a second and made his move. Once again Tom White had slightly bettered the finest effort by Ron Powell. Although. the 17-year-old Powell had to settle for second in the 250 class, Powell put his talent to work on his big Triumph and walked away easily with top honors as an Open Expert winning all of his motos by huge margins. Powell hasn't given up on Tom White yet. There will be another race between he and Tom White again this coming Sunday at Huntington, acco.rding to both riders. Novice John Rice emulated Ron Powell by. doing some dual-c~s hot-shoeing of his own. Rice rode his little Kawasaki better than the rest in the 100 class Main Event and, instead of shutting off his engine, joined the next main event and beat all the 125's. All legally, of course. Don Emmons rode a super-fast BSA Gold Star in both the NOvice~nd Expert Open events. Emmons ha no problem in the Novice class,- but an Expert took second. ----_.- . Ron Powell takes checkered by huge margin in Open Expert. ,. ; t I • 250 Novice, Rick Isbell helped himself to the big trophy in the Main Event. He was followed by Doug Perrault and Roddy Qualls. Expert Randy Baily took the 100-125 contest. In the second mota, his Yamaha was missing badly but still finished second, close behind Robby Burg, who ultimately rmished second overall The !rack conditions were superb, according to many of the riders. This is par for Huntington. Those who race there oft=constantly praise the track surface and treatment extended to participants. "It's dermitely a rider's course," said one Expert. Another rider said, "It's like a road-race with dusty comers." Tom White gives up District 3 7 point runs to race at Huntington; Ron Powell describes the course as "very smo·oth." Despite the good reviews, HBCP drew disappointingly few riders this week. Huntington is going to have to depend on top riders and enth usiast for the word-of-mouth advertising the track needs just to help make ends meet. And quite a few are beginning to spread the word. (Results on page 24) . • 1 ' if Tbe new European Worlds Cbamplon••• the Btdtaeo 8berpa T... as ridden by sammy MIller••• the grea~ trials rider the d bas ever kno1nL For the Master or the new Novice this is the one that wins them aU. or, if tnalscompetition suPerb is not your game, the Sherpa T is a general trail and fun bike. A new model. now available. Greeter gfOtlnd clearance. better throttle response. and a more comfortable ride. At your Bultaco dealel" or _ite for additional information: Bultaco 5erW:es Inc., P.O. Box 101, Santa Clara, Calif.

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