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/125697
N 1 o .... Huslrys Dominate Desert Race '" o By Bob Grant misfortune. OCOTILLO WELLS, CA., Oct. 25, the-second row a Gordon Jaspar on a 250 Husky, an > 1970 - Forheld here week in a desert 0 Z race was in this Amateur, was first overall on the f11'St recreation area not far from the Salton lap, but faded to twelfth at the end, but ~ Sea. This week, on the other side of the did manage to be f11'St Amateur. Bob Grant ",as first Novice riding a Husky in ~ highway, the Brush Barons M.C. set up w a triangular 23-mile course- and sent the Open Novice class, and ninth <3 about 150 riders around it three times. overall Don Cerveny was first 250 > The Brush Barons employed an Novice and Randy Collins first 125 U unusual desert race start, live engine, Novice. bike in gear. With 150 riders on the line (Results on page 22) it looked like a giant sidewinder as everybody got the "creep-ups" before the flag was finally dropped. The success of this type of start with that many riders is dubious, to say the least. The course was generally very fast as most of the terrain was flat. Quite a bit of the course was soft, however, making the smaller bikes work harder. Usually the first small bike is in the top twenty, but today it was 20th for the Yamaha of Roccy Tuggle. Picking the fastest trail was Bob Rodine bringing his Husky across the finish first overall and first Open Expert. Second was Randy Hodges on a 250 Husky. Close behind was Jeff Willis on a Montesa. Number one Gene Fetty must have had his mind on the upcoming Mexican 1000, which he'll ride with partner Bill Silverthorn, as he ran out of gas on the second lap. But Gene still .Gene Fetty had gas problems. finished in the top ten despite his ~ If Don Vesco's "Big Red" is covered with Utah snow. Snow Cools Vesco Run By Bruce Flanders BONNEVILLE, UTAH - "The salt is too rough now let's go home and get ready for next year." That was what Don Vesco said after about a 230 mph warm -up blast across the salt of Bonneville this past week. This drew the curtain on one of the busiest years the motorcycle scene has ever had on the salt flats. you are Vesco and his crew were at Bonneville for their third trip this year in an attempt to better the AMA mark set by Cal Rayborn and the Harley bunch. Rayborn had no sooner arrived home from his record breaking trip when Vesco set out to regain the title of world's fastest mo torcyclist. . In between the H-D and Yamaha battle, the Triumph of Bob Leppan met with near 'disaster while traveling at around 260 or 270 mph. A part of the suspension collapsed and the vehicle pulled a self-destruct number which injured the left arm of driver Leppan. The latest word is that Leppan is improving beautifully and is busy drawing plans of IUs new liner. Bob and the Triumph.Detroit crew held the record from 1966 until this year and they feel that it can be theirs again with a new and more slippery liner. New liners seem the off season topic as Dennis Manning, who owns the current H-D liner, is also building a new beast. Other rumors link Leo Payne and other such go fast names with streamliners for assaults next year. The salt is normally good for racing from late August until late October and we should see the record go from the current 265.492 somewhere past 280 or 290 by this time next year. With the new AMA·FIM linkup tbere should be no problem getting approval for absolute speed records under both sanctioning bodies. This fact in itself makes the record more important as far as the motorcycle companies are concerned. It stands to reason if the big guns are more concerned then more money will flow toward record attempts. This has been the. major stumbling block in the past. All things considered the H-D record is a great effort from a team that went faster than anyone else this year. But the record is on shaky ground come next speed week. Mifeo ••'faeo Ie specialize In onl, 811ll1co 1241 W. 0..&11....., 818a Pft (14) 522-6111 Motorcycle Dynamometers • ENABUS M:CUIfATE DETERM INATION OF TDR'QUE & HORSEPOWER CURVES • ACCOMPliSH ENGINE FINE TUNING • CONTROLLED ENGINE BREAK-IN • PERFORMANCE fESTlNG Of .ENGINE MODIFICATIONS it isn't our PERSONALIZED T-SHIRTS, AND WHERE TO GET THEM Custom shirts for your shop, t8'n or club as made by Collegiate Pacific for 35 yeers. Creative anwork for non~rinkSVlea~lirts,wash & wear jackets, custon1 Mota-X jerseys. Wholesale prices for shops & clubs. Another product from Ire ~C() ~rotlaet. nu-. Los AflIIIIes (2~ lMN716 5eettIe C20IJ 284 5561 who also make the worlds finest finishers pins PhOenix (602) 284-3201 INCLUDES: HYDRAULIC WATER BRAKE & FRAME • UNIVERSAL MOTORCYCLE SUPPORT STAND • GAUGING • INSTRUMENTATION A - · ·... EYE SYSTEM HANSON ENGINEERING CO. P.Q Box 2354, Canoga Park,CaI. S485.~ 91306 (213) ~-4570