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/125692
'" u o ~ w Z Houchins Top Expert At Big Tulare· Event W ...J U >- U By Bill Spencer TULARE, CALIF., Sept. 26, 1970 - A few short weeks ago, in early August, the Tulare Half-Mile played host to an AMA National that was doomed even before Keith Masbhurn put a wheel into the first comer. The track condition resembled a roughly hoed soy bean_ field, after only a few laps by the first crew of Experts and after three rounds of practice it looked like the Salinas sand pit after the 40 inchers had, run a 50-lapper. The rest is history and will be the subject of much controversial discussion for some years to come. On that fateful Saturday evening there were some riders who went just as fast as any other time. One of those was Lloyd Houchins. Houchins is a graduate of the famed Salinas sand pit and felt as equally at home at Tulare as he had felt in the past riding a heavyweight through the sandy Salinas hills. While the Visalia Ramblers had prepared the Tulare sand much' better, the track still had its holes as the ",lllle'.,l' AE3A4fjJiJli111fJW EXPANSION CHAMBERS ADDS POWER Firestone 'Grasshoppers' cut a deep swath through the comers. But most of the riders attending had little trouble and there were few spills and nq injuries of an y consequence. For the 15-lap Expert Main Jim Odom and Houchins were the two men to watch. As the flag went up, the two leaped to the front with Chuck Palmgren's Yamaha Iight there. Eddie Wirth, Frank Gillespie, Ralph Waldman, were .J!lso keeping close tabs on the number one spot but coming off the fourth tum it was HouchinL hauling away. Odom held second but almost lost it when Gillespie went by on the inside of the first tum on the last lap. Fast Frank had gotten by Palmgren on lap three and Palmgren blew coming across the line on the yellow flag lap. Wirth was sidelined euly with mechanical ills and Dewayne Keeter brought in the fourth spot with Waldman holding down fifth. Fresno's Too ·Sloane had no difficulty winning the Amateur feature event with a fast start over Kris Bakke. Dave Bellina caught Bakke on the second go uound and both riders' put on a great show for the near capacity fair goers. Dom Emde held onto fourth with Ron Davies fifth. The Suzuki twin underneath Novice Kenny Roberts did its thing again with a large lead separating Roberts from second place Steve Wilson. Jim Crenshaw was much closer though and nearly caught Wilson's twin on his Bull. (Results on page 22) from U.S.A. West C,'asl Distributors ORANGEVALE DISTRIBUTORS NYLON ANTI-FRICTION CABLES 919S Greeabadt LaDe Orangevale, California 95662 RACERS HEADQUARTERS FOR THE NEW F.LEXERCABLE IEPLAe, YOU. OLD fAS.,O.ED CAlliS wlr. rll' ".EST I1LO. nrl-f.,enO. U.ITS * ,NOT JUST NOISE Phone: 916-988.4725 (Dlliers Wrlle For Inlo. and Prices) : * * * * JOHN SMITH * *,* *: .. .. SPUN SEAMLESS CONES 10' 10' .. .. .. .. .. .. CUSTOM ENGINEERED MOTORCYCLE PARTS GOODIES 'N' STUFF JAWA'-eZ DEALER, 5 YEARS YOU CALL - WE SHIP MAIL ORDER 2512 Franklin (916) 452-2622 s,cramenlo, Calif. 95818 .. .. .. .. **** SMOOTHER eXHAUST FLOW -BETTER FIT GREATER STRENGTH ** ** - EFFICIENCV 527.96 to $42.96 "" ..... EXPANSION CHAMBER SILENCER $9.96 ON MOST UPSWEPT MODELS -+lI_ ON MOST DOWNSWEPT MODE LS FRED'S DISTRIBUTING UNITED SPORlS, INC. '8355. E. 3rd.' eor.ou... No.' Tun. . RoIld .......... COMPETITION ACCESSORIES H. PLUE II SONS At. 88 N. et At. 235 - x.... Ottio .5381 • (1131 3724S21 '820W. A II A MANUFACTURING COMPETITION PRODUCTS .. Dr.• Silt LMe CIty. ..,. ..'06·18011 _ _ Cal. res. add 5% sales tax. C&MSPECIALTIES-P.0.BOX717' MOUNTAIN VIEW CALIF 94040 - - - - IDISTRIBUTED B y - - - - 2"' El Cornl.... _ City. Coli!. 801061 -1.'51-'- '757 _ 2 TOOTH CZCounter Sprockets $9.25 . . ~ BERKELEY ~-- .. Ji. J.".5••'5 -HI TOROUE WIDE POWER RANGE BETTER Cow Trai' Jour a a .:;ft SDDOCIETS rlJDUIO rft ~e7330-I503I7S:J.4I58' 1:". Avo.· - . _ CoroII.. 28806 - 17061 2M-Q710 INSIST ON "THE QUALITY LINE" ·I303I_ AT YOUR LOCAL DEALER ED TUCKER, DISTRIBUTOR ~ CoI_ _ 308 E. _ - DIIla. A • A MAHUFACTUR_ CO. :& T_ 711203·121.,8012·'807 REDWOOD CllY, CALIfORNIA . .,... C/O ~ SALES • S~RVICE· 'AITS • '.SURAICE • (8)*9 2483 SAN PABLO AVE. (Corner of ChlnnlneWay) 841-0192