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/125701
-WORLD'S BIGGEST MOJAVE DESERT, Nov. 28, 1970 - J.N. Roberts is a jackrabbit, darting ~ith dusty grace across the face of the desert. He is favored by the gods in this, his third straight overall win of the 4th annual San Gab.riel Valley M.C. Barstow-to-Las Vegas Hare 'n' Hound. J .N. is a dragonfly, buzzing six directions all at once and always finding the fastest tr.ail leading to the big jackpot in Las Vegas. He is a plume of dust on the horizon, a deep, metallic roar approaching ,the Viewfinders pits. He goes past you so fast you barely even see him, you'd have to be a helicopter to keep up with J.N. Roberts in his home territory, the California desert. Two thousand motorcycles thundered away from the starting Iin.e at Yermo, Calif., just east of Barstow, with 145 miles to go to the finish line at the foot of the mountains separating Las Vegas, Nevada from California. All the Experts and Amateurs, trailbikes included, got away in the' first wave at nine a.m. on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. About 20 minutes later, the Novice ranks, nearly 1,000 strong, disappeared in a wedge of dust, pointed toward the smoke bomb. At fIrst, the trailbike contenders found the going a little bit hairy, with 500cc and Open class 40-inchers beside them on the trail. It was difficult for a little 100cc to take command. Bu t once settled down, the trailbike riders liked the starting procedure - no problems with passing hundreds of bigger, slower scooters in the opaque dust. Terry Clark, Mitch Mayes and Jeff Wright were slugging it toe to toe in the trailbike class, close to 40th overall at the first gas check, 45 miles out. Clark and Mayes pittted, handing the lead to Wright, who gassed up at a later check. J.N. was the first to arrive at the number one ga~ stop. "1 guess 1 took over the lead about six or seven miles out," the winner recalls. HI knew I'd passed everyone but [Tom] Muto. I thought he was ahead of me, so I really turned it on. But I guess he was crashed in the weeds somewhere, because I'd passed him." Kirk checks in ... Muto was 2nd into the first gas ch~ck, followed by Dick Camp on a 250cc Bul, then Rich Thorwaldson on his Rickman. "I was only worried about Tho.rwaldson and Poteet," J.N. revealed at the finish. "Those dudes are both -,. racers...they charge all the way. The rest of the guys are just Sunday riders." Compared to J.N., I guess that's so, just as Aberg, Kring, etc. are just Sunday riders compared to J.N.'s near-namesake Joel. But Steve Kirk didn't look like he was just out for a pleasant ride as he blasted his Montesa into the 3rd gas ; check at the state line just 10 minutes 'behindJ.N.He seemed to be all business, as was Rich Thorwaldson, 3rd at the time. The leaders took on gas in a hurry and spun off toward the last stretch and the mountains. J.N. and the president of his fan club. Meantime Wright and Mayes were having bike trouble on the trail. Clark moved up to 26th overall at the' 2nd gas check, only to lose his lead to Tom Brooks. But it wasn't until the finish line that the hotly-contested trailbike race was settled. Bombing in 31st Motorcycle Dynamometers First Amateur finisher gets helped in. love ey INCLUDES: HYDRAULIC WATER BRAKE & FRAME• UNIVERSAL MOTORCYCLE SUPPORT STAND • 'GAUGING • INSTRUMENTATION A COMPLETE SYSTEM HANSON ENGINEERING CO. P.O. Bax 2354, Canoga Park, Cal. 91306 (213) 883-4570 S485.1!!! . . ai ~ ~ w Z w >- t.l And here comes Tim Smith. •• ~.t .~. ~ .:. ••t ••t ••t ••t ••t ~..t ~.t ...t ~.t ~.t ~.t ....t ~..t f ...t ••• ••t ••• ••• ..+ ••• ••t ••• .~. ~ """","" .• • • ••• t:t ..t t:: ...t ...t .i. :~: Sout" Bay Motorcycles (213) 319-3344 --------_ .. _-- ~ t.l ....t • .IJJ... "US RACING" Glove made of fine pigskin. Washable - never hardens best blister protection. Unique knuckle protection. Natural cork color, will not fade. Dealer Inquiries Invited. $9.50 J.N., of course, was first, only 3 hours and 45 minutes older since the race started. Four minutes and 45 1 o -' II .:::. ..•:: . .I. Ride a COUBe that hasn't been chewed up by the big guys - ride the RV Enterprises California Trailbike Championship races on Dec. 5 just 5 miles north of Adelanto on Hwy. 395. Very well marked coUBes and. no big bikes to get in the way - this one is designed strictly for trailbikes (O-loocc). ••• • ENABLES ACCURATE DETERMINATION OF TORQUE & HORSEPOWER CURVES • ACCOMPLISH ENGINE FINE TUNING • CONTROLLED ENGINE BREAK-IN • PERFORMANCE fEST.ING OF ENGINE MODIFICATIONS •· ...... u ... overall on his Hodaka, it was persistent, consistent Jack Morgan, the 100cc class winner. Brooks finished 2nd Trailbike. ... .:. .:::. .. "":. .IJJ.. .... ~ .." .. f t ~t. t SCHEDULE ... Practice 7:00 - 9:30 Non-racers} Powderpuffl 10:00 CouBe "A" Novices 11 :30 CouBe "B" ~:t All COUBes . CouBe "c" Amateur/Expert 1 :30 t:: t..t t . .I. ....t *Within each class is a separate class for rideB under 16 or over 40 ~• • Post Entries ($6.00) close % hour before race time. Info: (213) 370-8234 or (714) 735-4641 t~: ~t • t::SUPER fINISHER PINS & TROPHIES~:: t::1015 of camping rooll - no a"lI;ss;on clrarge f~:: • ...t •• ••