Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

T60'lri'dSOR ~ ___ (Continued from po.ge ., 3) Monday." Taking another abrupt change of course, I asked Rich about his sponsorship in the desett races. Turns out that he actually lias two role she is hoping to abdicate as soon as Rich wins Number One and can negotiate a better deal. Rich, who can remember the days when he had to buy .~ar~ a! Well !!-~ gc :_=~ th~::::, ~~~cl ~ t ........~sPODsorslHpg.~ ... St~i.'TS, cli~·-NC~ iitile exasperated by' his wife!s distributon, have supplied him with complaint. Rich also pays his own three bikes. None of them wer", new. He expenses, such as gas and food on his uses the best one as his regular racing trips to the desert. bike, keeps one as a spare and Thorwaldson was somewhat annoyed cannabalizes the third one for parts by Maureen Lee's articles wbJch when necessary. Usually it isn't suggested that there were professionals necessary, because Steen's gives him all racing in the sportsman ranks out on the the new parts that he needs. Steens also desert who were doing it for the money lets him have the other itefus that they and risking the necks of the true-blue sell; such as the Endura leathen, boots, sportsman (read not.good·enoughgoggles and such. Rich says he uses to-get-paid) in the process. "Even most everything, except their helmets. He's of the class "c" riden can't even make a partial to his BeO helmet and won't use living racing," he said. "I wish she'd any oth,er. talked to some of us before writing that His other sponsonhip is CoB Moton, stuff." where he works. They give liim the run I didn't want to put him in the of the sh op to flX his penonal bikes and possibly embarrassing position of let him use all their machinery and denying (or confirming) that he received to.o~. My feeling was that Rich money from Steens for winning so 1 didn't ask him directly if he did. But he appreciates- this very much, and that is more on the order of a penonal {avor to volunteered, "I feel that I'm doing well him. They won't stand to gain very-· -.if I fmish well in one out of every three much from his successes. races. But -,it costs me $45.00 per Rich does all of his own work; it weekend to race and I ~an't e:ven break usually takes him the better part of even unless I win every third race. "ll y three evenings to prepare his bikes and brilliant bit of mathematical deduction he has to do it after his regular 8·hour you might figure out that Rich gets stint at C·B Moton. He says that on the about $125.00 for winning a race which whole his Rickmans have proved is comparaole to what is received by the remarkably reliable and his maintenance other top 30 desert riden. But don't say chores have been lighter on these bikes I said so - it's a secret. than on othen that he has owned. Steens does n<>t deliver parts, so To Be Concluded Next Week Patricia, his wife, is the chief gopher, a 1 o SOllle people .-J.... ...:_ Illean buSiness ~hen it cOllles to Christlll·as. :;; - ...~ ~ w Z W .J (.) > (.) a Puc6-B.W To Bui'd Nelr Biie Special from MOTOR CYCLE. England Firs-t details of new machines in the BMW.puch link have been announced. The machines are to be build by Austrian Puch factory in Graz to complement the bigge", BMW models. There will be two near identical models. both 250cc and 350cc vertical twins with single overhead camshafts. The 250 gives 26 BHP at 9000 and has a top speed of 89 MPH. The bigger maclline (same engine with bigger bore) gives 32 BHP at 9000; top speed 94 MPH. Both have six speed gearboxes and electric starters and weigh 353 Ibs. Production is to start early in 1972. They plan to build 25,000 the fi"'t year. The FIM has banned any type of aerofoil spiler on racing machines. That 750cc Suzuki three-cylinder. new machine produces 70 BHP. scene By Peter White Photo by Speedway Photo Service SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Nov. 19, 1970 - One of Australia's greatest solo riders, Gordon Guasco, died from injuries sustained in a crash at the Liverpool Speedway, near Sydney on Sunday, November 8. Guasco, a champion dirt track racer, was one of several big name internationals signed for the 1970·71 summer season at the track. He had arrived home from England after a two year stint in the tough British League First Division only a week before and was making his debut at the meeting. Crash occurred in his fourth race when a rider in front over-slid and knocked Guasco off his bike. As Guasco fell to the track he was hit by another rider who was traveling close behind. He suffered severe liead and chest injuries and had actually stopped breathing when ambulance officen reached him. With the aid of emergency oxygen they were able to get his heart pumping again and he was rushed to the hospital unconscious and in a critical condition. He reamined in a coma until his death some eight days later. The accident !"ld its tragic consequences has literally stunned Australian speedway. . Guasco was one of the country's best riders, a Test match necessity and a man of world class on the international scene. Perhaps the best of our current generation of competiton on ability, if not results. And certainly a fine man. Always willing to help a junior or assist anyone in anyway. ~ A former champion short circuit rider, he took to the speedway in 1962 and was an instant success. He rose to stardom rpaidly and in 1964 he set sail for England. Initially he rode for Sunderland, then for Wolverharnpton. In 1965 he missed qualifying for the Speedway Championship of the World Final at Wembley Stadium, London, by a mere point. He returned to Aussie in 1967 and swept all before him at the Liverpool circuit. Included in his list of victims was world champ Ivan Mauger and Americans Rick w.oods and DeWayne Keeter. Guasco went back to England in 1969 under contract to the Poole team and assisted them to the league championship that year. He then toured Poland, the toughest speedway nation in the world, and set the track alight with his devastating style. ' Undoubtedly Guasco was a genius with a motorcycle and it is a shattering hlow that he has fallen foul of the grim reaper. Gordon, aged 29, leaves a widow and a two year old daughter. His loss is a disaster for Australian speedway. Freflch t..'litic Louis Delluc. Wf'l.ltc in 192':;; "I thm\:. th:lt Rio Jim t~.; \\llh.un ~ n:rs~ n'!ol~ fi~rc f:SWblishl.J b~ th(> C'ill('fl).\ • o.hd hi, lift.' tLl" f<.n., ..... 11. li,dt \\,~~ ~IHt\\1t II lthe ..•......••.................................................. · · · · SUBSCRIBE TO CYCLE NEWS AT THE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS RATE OF $6.00 $6.00 CYCLE NEWS WEST (1 yr.) . . . . . . . (4 times a monthl 0 CYCLE NEWS WEST (2 yrs.l $12.000 Via 1st class mail for one year $18.00 $26.00 Via Air Mail for one year · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · o This is a new subscription. o THIS IS A RENEWAL_ o I enclose check or money order. o Please bill me. Offer expires January 6, " 0 0 A card will be sent saying this is a gift from _ 1~71 Enclose check or money order, and MAIL TO: CYCLE NEWS, INC., Box 498, Long Beach, Ca. 90801 Dear Sir: Please send me my subscription to the newspaper. NAME _ ADDRESS _ · · · · · 8: · · : ••...••......•.....••••.....•.•.....•............•............ 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