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/125696
~ Q. R '" M ~ Z g2 ~ Z ~ u ~ THORWALDSON REGAINS LEAD WITH WIN BARSTOW, CALIF., Oct. 25, 1970 Rich Thorwaldson pounded his way to victory in the Shamrock's HaTe and Hound this Sunday, but more important, he regained the coveted Number One position in the desert point·standings. The course was made to order for Thorwaldson's Victor Metisse: very fast. In the second position, according to our unofficial scorekeeper, Judy Egbert, was Frank Russo while in third was Tom Muto. Fourth overall and first lightweight was Wes Anderson Jr. Running approximately 13th overall and first in the 125cc class was Eric Jensen on the super Sachs from Yamaha of Eagle Rock. Some of the trailbike riders have been getting a little overeager lately and have been starting with the big bikes, a practice which is best described as CHEATING so the Shamrocks pulled a switch. They marked all trailbike cards twice, the second time after the big bikes had gone so any trailbikes without two start·checks are disqualified. If they all have two start checks, this is the way the trail bikes finished: 1. Terry Clark, 2. Mitch Mayes, 3. Tom Brooks, 4. Jin. Summers. . The entry at the Shamrock's run was not supposed to be limited but apparently it was, at least somewhat, by the degree of skill required to find the area. Directions presumed that riders would know that' the Fort Irwin Rd.. was not really the Fort Irwin road, but simply nicknamed that. And that once on the road, that one spot of lime every two or three miles would be sufijcien t to assuage doubts, even though the race was 20 miles from where it was supposed to be. Fortllnately the liming of the comse was much more generous than the liming of the way in so that most of the 644 riders didn't get lost. The penalties for getting off the course were fairly severe, as two riders fOllIId out. Seems the Shamrocks have this mineshaft...According to them. it was a full mile and two ridges away from the course. According to the two guys who· rode into it, it was only 100 yards off course. Anyway, Randy Lindberg WTote us a very nice letter expressing his thanks to all those riders who stopped and helped him and his bike Ollt of the forty-foot deep shaft. He isn't su,re just why he wasn't killed, but maybe it was the fact that another rider's bike cushioned his fall. In any event, both riders are o.k. and if we have space we'U print his letter next week. As hare and hOllIIds go, this one apparently was not too rough. It started out with a rough ride to the smoke bomb and then about two miles of . rocks but then it smoothed for the remainder of the 40·odd miles. The second loop had one featUTe that the Shamrocks have been saving for the Checkers all year: a tight, rocky, steep, nasty, bad, bad, bad downhill. After that it was fairly smooth going. Most of the 400 who finished thought it was a bitchin' race. We note the presence at this race of a new desert club. They cal1 themselves the Snivelers. May your path be paved with Checkers and Shamrocks be YOUT traction. (That's a fme old black(and white) Irish curse for you.) Messer, Cram, Wright Claim Ascot Honors New from Indian ... two-wheeled excellence. Performance, quality and reliability are what these motorcycles are all about. Built to exacting standards to meet the needs of the American enthusiast, these two stroke machines are proving their superiority on the race courses of America as they have for years in Europe. A _cfl:...-I..__ carefully selected combination of winning components, these motorcycles are gathering trophies at every turn. Power, handling and dependability add up to trail riding excellence or tear-em-up competition wins. Ride one ... they tell thei r own story. GARDENA, CALIF., Oct. 23, 1970 Bob Messer, Maico mounted, again took all his 250 motos, to sweep the 250 class. Messer grabs the lead in the ~irst turn and just turns it on with fast power slides in the wide turns and big wheelies over the jumps. Bob has class "",d should give the Europeans a good go next week. Jeff Wright (Ric) took all his motos in the 125 class, but not without a real wheel-to-wheel battle from Greg Cunningham's Yamaha. Greg had th'e lead in the second moto with Wright pushing hard, trying to put a wheel in where he could. Finally, Greg bobbled on the fourth lap and Wright came in for the win. Wright also took the last . moto coming up from sixth place. The 500 Expert class was a mild affair with Mike Cram on a Maico taking the lead in the fiTst turn of the flfst moto and Mark Blackwell on a Husky holding a close second, and Rich Thorwalilson, on his Rickman, in third and not liking it. Rich tried to pass them all on the outside in the north turn, and went down in a big slide out. Crain won the first leg with Blackwell righ t on his rear knobby. Rich ended up seventh. Thorwaldson won the second moto with Cram third. It was anybody's race going into the last moto. Fred Gualda grabbed the lead in the first turn with Cram second. Blackwel1 went down in fOUTth spot sending everyone to the bushes. TQorwaldson started his drive from seventh spot and took the lead on the third lap and won with a good lead. Cram was second, Gualda was third. This gave Cram the win for the night with just a couple points over Thorwaldson taking second. (Results on page 22) RAY MANUFACTURING - - - - - - , FOOT For further information contact: ~ MOTORCYCLES fRfEWA Y BARS INC. - 1535 WEST ROSECRANS AVE., GARDENA, CALIF. 90249 1. Mini Mini is 18" high, weighs only 57 pounds. 48 c.c, of miniaturized motorcycle with automatic drive and full front and rear suspension. 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