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/125698
~ I o ... '" ,.: - PATRICK, BOWERS TOP ~ By Bob Sanford Z BAJA PENINSULA; MEX., Nov. 3-6, 1970 - The Yamaha team of Mike Patrick and Whatshisnarne, ended up atop the Big Bike class during this year'. Mexican 1000, but their victory was almost totally ovenhadowed by the incredible reco.rd breaking effort. of Vic Wilson and Drino Miller in a V.W. buggy. Wilson and Miller pushed their Class 4 vehicle down the rugged 832 mile course in 16 hours 7 minutes, cutting four hours off the old record established by Larry Bergquist and Gary Preston on a Honda in 1968. As each year brings more paved highways, more experienced drivers and better four-wheeled equipment, it becomes increasingly more difficult for bikes to compete with cars. This year, for instance, seven cars beat Patrick and Whatshisnarne (actually, there are at least four people who know that Whatshisname is a mild mannered school teacher, named Phil Bowers). The eventual second place Husqvarna of Malcolm Smith and Whitey Martino took an early lead in the race, and by the third check in Santa Ynez, Smith had built up a 10 minute lead over another Husky, piloted by J.N. Roberts. The super hot Bronco of Pamelli Jones, though, was fast making up the one hour start differential between bikes and cars, ~d at this check was actually first overall on the basis of elapsed time. Phil Bowers was the third machine to the check, just a few minutes behind Roberts. However, the worst of Baja was yet to come,. For nearly 400 miles, there is nothing but a rough, rocky road, made out of necessity by farmers, fishermen and merchants and best suited for mules and wagons. At the mid-point in EI Arco, where the riden changed, the sun was about to set as the first bike arrived. Martino took over from Smith, still in the lead, but a high speed fall, shortly after getting aboard,lost some previous time made in beating the old record to EI Arco by one hour, six minutes. Then he was off again, the exotic array of lights trying to pick out rock., cactus, hidden curves and even an occasional cow. Everything went smoothly until Mattino's chain broke, and Patrick got by. It looked like a sure victory for Patrick and Bowers. But then, within sight of the lights of La Paz and just a few minutes from the finish line, the Yamaha ran out of gas. Patrick later said he was sure it was w W ...J o >o Thls·sideback ridden; tly Danielson & allover, until he looked up on the hill and saw a group of Mexican ~pectators. He ran up, somehow made his plight known and was able to convince them to sell him some gas. However, in paying, he reached in the wrong pocket and mistakenly gave them a 51 0 bill for . the one gallon of gas. Patrick then scooted on to take the checkered flag in 18 hours 31 minutes. Martino followed about eight minutes later, with Roberts' partner, Gunnar Nielson coming in with an elapsed time of 19 hours 34 minutes. Fra~ was the first ever to make the race. Patrick & Bowers were so swift that the only picture our photographer coul~ their bike \/lias at the impound area in La Paz. On the riltlt is the second place I Martino 8t Smith. ~1I""':,., ........ ~""' .. Jt;:~, .:..i··