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/125702
By Maureen Lee Photos by Gene Lee ·Press Tries, But Nicholson SU'cceeds SADDLEBACK PARK, Dec. 3,1970 The Norton ViUiers people decided to bring here a British traditi'on, a trials for members of the working press and the industry. This is stricLly a fun-type thing, nothing serious intended although the scoring is kept reasonably accurate, the traps aren't too hard and everyone has a good Lime.. Some of the boys took it a little too seriously, but it's the first time this type of event has been run here and next time around perhaps they'll calm down a bil. I was thoughtfully provided with a Montesa Cota which promptly terrified me, but oh, my, what a great machine! Makes even a clod feel like Sammy Miller. But my riging experience would make me feel happier bashing around on the motocross course. Norton Villiers saved the day. They needed some help and so Chicken Lee was glad to Funniest part of the day was the Peterson Publications award for the best headgear. Jady Nicholas had a Viking hat on, [van Wagar was unbelievable in a German war helmet imitating Arty Johnson, and then up came Webco's Neil Holt in an unbelievable bit of gear, like a rocket nose cone with visors, rear view mirrors and goggles. He won hands unbelievably cleaned the first lap of 8 traps on a COla, seemed to get stage fright in the second round and lost a few points there and then being young he lost a bunch more off his final score. Hero of the day was Greeves' Nick Nicholson who won the over·all "Laugh·ln" Trophy and ended up with a minus three marks, probably the first time ever that a trials has been won with a minus score. As if that wasn't enough he also won the Longest Balance Trophy. This was held on a bit of a steepy downhill, the rider entering the trap and then seeing how long he could hold it before riding to the bottom, dead engine. If you dabbed once you lost any time gained. Nick turned in a total time of 24 I seconds and except for riders piling up behind wan ting a chance at the trap, I think he'd still be there. At one point we even offered to send out ~~. AMA Racing Director Tom Clark is an accomplished trials rider. Only competitor in the Publishers-Under-40 class, Bruce Cox comes close to a dab. withdraw gracefully from competition even if some of the observers offered to catch me before I ever hit the ground and confided that their score sheets would show a clean trap even if I dumped il. People signing in at check-in read like a Who's Who of motorcycling, and these were just the officials: Smith, l-Iickman, Banks, Nico)), Roberton, Davis, Farnsworth, Bickers,and DeCoster, Rob Taylor and Dick Robins and the Southern California Trials Association sent along a party of volunteers. The scoring wasn't exactly "true" trials. Riders were peanlized if they were under forty years old and given extra consjderation if they were over. Then marks were either gained or lost for using trials niversal tires and silencers. The age handicap was a bit stiff and made some differences in the over·all finishing results. If you were over forty you were credited with 3 marks per year before you even got on the course, and if under, you lost three marks. That took some computing, I'll tell you, and I suspect some of my fellow compatriots lied! I t really hurt Tony Murphy of Peterson Publishin~ Co. who for tea and sandwiches for him. It was something to see! The AMA's Racing Director Tom Clark, riding an Ossa, won the Best Observed Rider Award, donated by Saddleback Park, and a good performance he turned in, too. He was in contention for the best headgear of the day award when he appeared with one of those leather road rider type caps well decorated with badges. The only lady rider of the day with enough intestinal fortitude to try it (I said I was chicken) was Susie Mann on a Kawasaki who got the Norton "Bilious Award," a box of candy.. .if you don't get the Bilious bit then we'll have to explain the British sense of humor to you! There were two hillclimb events, one that was part of the actual course which was won by Chuck Minert with a Lime of 11.8 seconds, which we all anticipated, knowing that when "Feets" and his Beezer get pointed towards a hjl1, that's it. The second one was a sort of spontaneous thing at the end of the day after it looked like all were in a reasonably sound condition to continue. Off everyone went to "Eiger Wager fIill" which hasn't been climbed before, and a plaque will now be installed at the top with the illustrious ones' names inscribed for all to se'e. The Europeans were allowed to ride tFiis one so they sort of scrounged bikes to ride...one dirty dog in the profession pinched my Mini·Traii so I couldn't even get over'to see the thing but my grapevine brought the word back. The Europeans had to completely clean it, no knobbies were allowed and it went to Dave Bickers on a Bultaco in 14 seconds. He got California champagne. Th~ best attempt by a Californian was made by R. Rehkof on an Ossa; he got European champagne. First American was the good old AMA's Tom Clark again, so he went home witb two trophies and a bOllle of that good amber super-fuel they bottle in Scotland, Naturally there was a Boob Prize for the Worst Rider and here is where it gets funny because some of the traps were pretty wretched after the rain; one had mud flowing down in like a river of lava! But three noted pepple sort of took turns vying who was going to get the Boob Prize by crashing magnificently, wallowing in the mud, running through bushes, going off the course, all that sort of thing, although theif actual scores weren't bad. It was just that when they did do something wrong, they did it splendiferously! It went to the wire witb Cycle's Gil Brown, Motorcycle Weekly's Bruce Cox and Cycle World's Ivan Wager, with Ivan emerging with the trophy. Personally, I think these· kind oi happenings are wonderful for the sPOrl. Most of the tension is off, we can all get to talk to each other and it's the kind of affair we've needed for a long time. And then, at the Trophy Presentation what a, surprise! Norton Villiers came up wiLll two boxes of chocolates. one f"r me and one for Darlene Bailey because without .her the scoring system would still probably be in shambles. But gosh, Norton, there goes my power-lo-weight ratio! o ~ ID~ u ~ ~ ~ w d ~ BELL STAR SPECIAL Unidentified trialster attempts a trap with an ancient Norton Single. That's once.... ,------------------, ! YAMAHA SPORTCYCLfS I NEW & USED SALES Parts-Accessories·Service I I With each Star Helmet you will receive a pair of $9.95 motocross gloves free. Sizes 6% to 71f:l white or special order orange $59.95 each, plus $1.00 for Financing·1 nsurance MASTER CHARGE·BANKAMERICARD Discount to Ascot Racers postage & handling, Pro·Formance Cycle Products 1303 Branham Ln, San Jose, Ca. 95118 GENE H. MYERS 4151 Redondo Beach Blvd., Lawndale, Ca. (408) 269·7924 (213) 542·4047 1971 catalog coming soon. NOV 29TH' MX RIDERS San Hard time getting parts and accessories? WE STOCK EM! Uliversity Honda Bultaco Kavvasaki & e/z 5908 Roosevelt 'Nay NE seat tie 'IVaf)") 98105 SEND FOR FREE CATALOGUE ___ _ _ ~ • 1111 ~ .._... I- f '-' ~ .. . '.", "'t's a Micro·~~!::":.. Francisco I nter·Am A very tough 3 mota program at Cycle Hills saw 5 different makes of machines finish in the first six places. It was no big surprise that Andy Roberton (370 Stormer) was one of them. D··.. ,··""', -~---,-!-~-=================:::=::