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/125693
'" t> o ~ w By David Swift Z W ..J U > U Rod Cornell fights off the charge of Mike Hauss in 250cc Jr. competition. Jim West has a sli!tlt edge over the rest of the Experts shortly after the start. MOORPARK, CALIF., Oct. 4, 1970 Bay Mare Park looked a little charred around the edges, but the wounds were only superficial. With every structure intact after last week's inferno, wternational Racing Enterprises and the Ventura County Jay Cees co-hosted a motocross'for-money event that arose from surrounding ashes with the grandeur of the Phoenix. There was $1,000 for the riders to earn and the sponsors tended to the job of handing it out to both Juniors and Seniors. Juniors, except the 500's, raced on Saturday and the top 15 riders from each division were chosen to compete for the hread on Sunday. All the SeniQrs and Open Juniors had to do is show up Sunday morning with some post-entry cash. The Juniors raced in the morning. The motos were scheduled and the first three in each race would get some of that money. ($20-$10-$5). Beforeha!)d, the 500cc Juniors had one race, sort of a dry run for the important contests. In the afternoon, the Seniors went three motos, with money going to the first five finishers ($50-$30-$20-$10-$5) in each race. The day was topped off wi th an All-Star spectacular featuring any Senior who wanted to race, and the first four fmishers would receive, so you guessed it...still more money. IRE had a little surprise for the racers that day - a new starting method. A small trench the width of the starting area was dug the night before. The riders were to put their front wheel in the ditch; they could have their clutches in and transmission in gear, but the front wheel must rest in the ditch. Riders didn't exactly voice unanimous approval, but starts seemed to be very -fair and the IRE may adopt this method as standard operating procedure. Race fans were all set for a nifty battle between 250 Experts Jim Wilson and Bill Clements during the third mo to. Each had a first and a second under his belt, and Bob Messer, with two close thirds, was also going to try for some of the action. An abrupt start left three riders, including Messer, still sitting on the line. (Later, Messer quite angrily said that the starter signaled while he was still putting on his helmet. The starter evidently didn't bother to check if everyone's engine was running when he waved them off). Wilson was off to a clean lead but unloaded at the top of the hill. Clements hadn't even showed up. By the time the dust settled, the leaders were Bryar Holcomb and, somewhat farther behind, Bob Vacca. Holcomb jammed his CZ through Bay Mare like he owned it for the next few laps but was quite surprised to receive a visit from none other than Jim Wilson! Wilson had passed every other rider in the race and knew Holcomb wasn't expecting anybody. The two riders went into the last lap with Wilson about 10 seconds behind. Holcomb finally realized his challenge and, under pressure, selected the righ t combination of speed and accuracy all the way home. Wilson, going _all out, rode brilliantly -and closed Holcomb's lead to less than