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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125694
'SDT
Steffan, Al Eames, Bill Dutcher and
many others whose names I have mislaid
in my memory. Without their help and
the good uffices of our juryman, Jack
Krisman, the roles of the participants
would have been more difficult still.
Perhaps even impossible.
[ would like to give a special word of
thanks to the Cemoto East and Bultaco
services for providing new Buls for the
use of the press and team managers.
They really did the job.
(Continued from page 3)
teammate Bob Maus won a Bronze.
Gene Cannady, (Sachs) and Steve Hurd
(Puch)., both members of the Checkers
West Team won Silver medals. Bill Uhl
(Puch), sole surviving member of the
ill-fated International Silver Vase "B"
team, won a Bronze. Two members of
the Prospectors Team, Bill Friant and
Bill Messer, both won Bronzes. Other'
Silver mdeal winners were Bob Hicks
(Ossa) East Coast journalist and member
of the ACA East Team, and Max
Switzer (Sachs) a member of the
Checkers North Team. ACA Midwest
Team members Don Cutler (Hus) and
Mike Lewis (Pen) won Bronzes.
Altogether, 323 riders started, and
137 were either disqualified or
otherwise eliminated. There were 86
Golds awarded (6 U.S.) 61 Silvers (5
U.S.) and 39 Bronzes (8 U.S.).
When you make up your mind to go
the Six days, your spirit must resolve
and endure whatever Go~ or man points
your motorcycle into, for as long a time
as it took the Diety to create the world.
The Americans attempt at this year's
Six days was a holiday for most of us. If
we won, we'd win the right to Iiost the
next Six Days in our country, bringing
in a lot of much needed tourist dollars
for the American economy. We'd win
the honest admiration of the European
countries for whom cross-country
motorcycling is the national sport. And
one can only guess what effect it would
have on the minds of the American
public to see our Enduro Sport
accorded the world wide attention of an
Olympiad. Cross-country motorcycling
of the Six Days caliber is the best
picture of what motorcycling is really
about. The easy rider and the rough
rider merge in the man in the
waterproof suit, equipped for taking
smooth pavement or jagged peaks
equally in stride. Who else but a
motorcycle rider is so suited to moving
over the land on time? Who else is as
free on earth?
Ivan Wagar headed the support crew
who kept track of time for the riders
and handed them their cup of hot tea or
cold Gatorade. He was assisted by Tom
McGeachin, Pete Martin, Tom Heininger
of Webco and J.R. Kelley of KK
Supply, Bob Hopfer of Puch, Peggy
Voices
(Continued from page 4)
by, can purchase at your local dealer, if
you hurry) that won this grueling
contest all by itself, (almost).
You get my point; admittedly
overdrawn, then again, anything that is
felt strongly usually is. [ admire the
fact that you are not afraid to take a
few shots at people, but first make sure
that these people are really the bad
guys. After all, life would be pretty dull
without the AMA, in more ways than
one.
Thank you for hearing me out; [
remain, yours truly:
CHUCK LANTZ
Reno, Nevada
Thank you for a well written, well
reasoned letter. Generally, my policy is
to let letters of criticism go unanswered,
believing that we have about 30 pages to
say our piece, whereas the readers have
less than 30 inches. However, .J'm going
to suspend the rules in this case because
of obvious importance of the issue. I'm.
sure, as you p'?inted out, "the AMA is
trying its best to promote a safe,
exciting sen'es of races... " The point of
the editorial, however, was to make the
series even more safe and exciting,
while, most importantly, suggesting
ways to make it more equitable. I, too,
would prefer spending my money to see
Gene Romero muscle a CZ around hills,
gullies and mud. I would also like to see,
say, Spiro Agnew do the same thing.
But I would not like to see him end up
as the AMA National Motocross
Champion if he is not, in fact, the best
American motocross rider. And that's
exactly what could happen. If we're
going to have a circus, ohay, let's have a
circus. But, if we're going to try to
determine the National MX champion,
let's do it as best we know how. Now,
concerning the point system: First of
all, it is all but impossible to compare
the Trans-AMA series to the National
circuit, if, for no other reason than the
majority of good motocross riders are
not full-time, professional racers. Maybe
in the future we'll have a cadre of MX
pros, but at this point in time we don't.
And while I am also interested in having
manufacturers and distributors "loosen
their purse strings ", I don't feel pressure
should be brought to bear on them at
the expense of the "little guy".
Actually, though, I think you
misunderstood at least part of what I
was saying about the points system. I
still would much prefer the
championship to be decided on the basis
of the best four or five showings, but if
this is not instituted, I think the AMA
should at least change the system of
distribution. Briefly, 1 feel that a system
that awards a 10th pUlce finish only
1 7% fewer points than a first place
finish is not equitable. Even on the
National Circuit, which you refer to,
points are more widely distributed, with
a 10th pUlce finisher getting less than
half as many points as the winner. So in
summary, Mr. Lantz, I am not, against
the AMA's new series. QUIte the
contrary. I am simply for equitable ,:ules
in establishing our first AMA NatIOnal
Motocross Champion. I am, as you
indicated, for the little guy... ed.
....
N
8.
Costa Mesa
(Continued from page 21)
the win with Cody taking it by inches,
Carlin settled for a second. Steve Bast
was able to cop a third.
[n the Scratch Main, Steve Basts'
chances were cut somewhat as he broke
a primary chain when his machine was
push-started and had to borrow a ride
which always hampers a rider somewhat
to be on a strange macbine. As the gate
went up, it was Bast on the inside, Cody
in the middle and Shaw on the outside
as they went through the comer
three-abreast. As they carne out, Cody
took the lead and Shaw drifted wide
and banged the wall which slowed him
down enough for Mike Bast to slip into
third spot behind brother Steve. These
positions remained all through the race
.
"~
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Big Bear
(Continued from page 11)
outcome of the races were generally
unpredictable.
It ought to be mentioned that the
course, by order of the local fire
department, was changed at the l~st
minute. There was an extra half mIle
that penetrated a wooded area covered
with pine needles that would have been
splendid, but the extreme fire hazard
made this a bit unpractical.
(Results on page 22)
PROFESSIONAL
SAFETY HELMETS
,
IrU.DIIN CAUPORNIA
HRLGoesto Bonneville
Th. FiR' -American
Full Co~ H.lmet
DoraI Eckhardt of Long
Beach, sets 3 speed
records using HRL
Products.
CLASS
Aps·AG·l00
A·AG·l00
",·A·l00
-
NEW
RECORD
OLD
RECORD
OPEN
CC
100
100
100
79.774 mph
84.816 mph
...
INCREASED
95.728 mph
90.078 mph
91.639 mph
THE MOST COMPLETE LINE
OF THERMOPLASTIC HELMETS
10.304 mph
6.823 mph
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