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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125704
DESOTO DEfROSTS INDIAN DUNES
By John Grout
:;; INDIAN DUNES, CALIF., Dec. 12,
M I 970 - America's top ranked motocross
rider, John DeSoto, Long Beach,
unveiled a two-wheeled CZ snowplow,
.., tossed mud, snow and ice into all
~ corners of Indian Dunes reservation. He
w enjoyed such a cushy lead in two of the
Z
three races, that the rest of the tribe
~ could only mow his treadmarks along
~ an empty trail.
U
At the base of hills capped by an
unusal overnight snow storm. DeSoto
crunched his way across a frosty surface
to post 40 and 45 second victories
against a talent-loaded group which
included Tim Hart, John Rice and Bill
Payne. If that doesn't sound impressive
just study the sweep hand on your
watch for an equal time.
So wide were his winning margins in
the previous snorters that when the
heavy horsepower assembled at the
starting line for their 3rd and final go
around, the flying Hawaiian would have
been a 10 to 1 favorite in the same ring
with Ali Clay. He could have made
pineapple juice the National drink of
Ireland. On reputation alone, the crowd
unquestionably would have elected him
the first Spanish King of Hawaii.
The engines revved to a point just
short of seizure. DeSoto didn't need
luck gimmicks like shamrocks and 4 leaf
clovers. He followed tradition and he
had a couple of giant coconuts in his
cock pit.
The starter threw the flag and the
"Big goods" flung at that poor wet devil
for the 3rd time that day. The
spectators that lined the hillside fell
silent. DeSoto was not in front as the
machinery roared up the ramp. Bryar
Holcomb, a seeming pretender to the
day's 500cc crown had the lead and he
was smearing goop on DeSoto's goggles
with the brashness of King Kong. After
g
all, Holcomb had annexed the day's
250cc honors, why shouldn't he do well
in the Open class, even if he hadn't
raced a butterfly flutter in a hurricane
during the previous 2 races of this
bunch .
But, Holcomb's hoax was for reaL His
determination was that of a barefooted
man, alone and walking a barbed wire
with a bob cat tucked beneath each
annpit. Four laps later, DeSoto had
tried everything short of switching
bikes, but Bryar's vravura was still
overwhelming.
Then during the 5th and final lap the
break came. DeS.oto 'pulled alongside
the tenancious wildcat and both riders
tackled the last big jump in perfect
unison. The _only difference was that
DeSoto was 12 ft. above the ground,
while Holcomb relied on a 5 ft. spread.
That was all she worte. DeSoto passed
his opponent while they both were still
in mid-air, rounding out a perfect day of
3 for 3.
Steve Marcl, a 14-year-old youngster
from Newhall, also scored a grandslam
taking 3 impressive wins from the
"A-division" 125cc novices, while the
"B division" crown went to Jeff Wecker
for his 3 victories.
Indian Dunes will host 3 big racing
days from Jan. 1-3rd.
Jack Ross of the Greyhound M.C. (left) looks on as Richard Davis, with hat, and
Dennis Willis show the contingency awards they won at the Ponderosa Hare
Scrambles held Dec. 5th & 6th. Leslie Anderson, trophy girl, is waiting to present
trophies won at an earlier race. Leslie rode her first race Dec. 6. S~e is Wes Sr.'s
daughter. Richard and Dennis won MacHal helmets for being the highest scoring
Novices on Sat. and Sun. Richard rides a 250 CZ and won the big bike class. Dennis
won the trail bike race on an S S Hodaka. Photo by T.H. Willis.
Deadmans Poi nt Gets It On!
By Dave Brown
APPLE VALLEY, CALIF., Dec. 20,
1970
Although the cold kept
everyone bundled up to keep from
freezing,
165
riders
braved the
inclement weather to show up at the
Point. It wasn't raining but we thought
for awhile it might snow, as it did on
Saturday.
.
Earlier rains left the track 10
outstanding shape and the water truck
(213) 894-9218
WARREN WILSON MOTORS
South of :"ordn" in
MOfORCYCLI
SllllS- SlIVIC.
S,·plth~da.
('alif.
9000 SEPULVEDA BLVD.
Hodaka.
The 250 and 500 Seniors and'
Intermediates were also combined and
produced some good, fast racing. There
were
no
250
Seniors
or
500
Intennediates, but Jim McDonald on his
CZ, who is a 250 1ntennediate, managed
to win the first and second moto overall
with Bud Feldkamp on his 400 Husky
taking the third moto. After some hot
racing and several spills, the wins went
to Feldkamp on his Husky in the 500
Senior class and the 250 lntennediate
went to McDonald on his CZ with some
excellent riding. Looks like Jim might
ride his way right into the Senior class
pretty soon.
.
As many of you know, promoter Bob
Oresslar will be starting his Hi·Desert
Racing Association as of the next race
day, which will be January 3, 1971.
Membership will cost $2 and entry
blanks may be obtained by calling Bob
at ·(714) 247-7473. The membership
will allow a 50 cents discount on race
entry which' could amount to a $12
savings per year.
Track entry will remain at $2, and
race entry will be $2.50 without
membership or $2.00 with membership.
Members will be riding for season points
with contingency awards going to the
top men.
He is also trying to work out a 10%
discount at several shops for members
but this is still in the fire. These changes
are now in effect so call Bob for the
membership fonns prior to the first
race.
(Results on page 42)
COLISEUM CYCLE
........IA
wasn't seen all day. With a smaller
entry, the riders got some extra laps and
everyone enjoyed the track and they all
seemed to get their fill of riding for the
day.
The 100 and 125 Seniors and
1ntennediates ran together and in the
ftrSt race Tony Rogers, aboard his
Yamaha got a beautiful start and began
to pull away. Dirk Wambold (Yam) got
a bad start and was caught up in traffic.
Dirk managed to work through the pack
and began to give Tony some
competition two laps from the end: Try
as he did, however, he could not find a
way around and Tony held frrst for his
S.Y.Z. (Screaming Yellow Zonkers)
racing team.
The second and third motos both saw
Tony and Dirk get off the line side by
side. With these two dicing for the
lead, Dirk managed to get out in front
in both motos and hold with TOllY right
on his tail all the way. They finished
with Dirk taking first Senior and Tony
taking first Intennediate The 100 class
was a toss up as almost everyone had
trouble in one moto or anoth-er. Frank
Wilsford Jr. did well on his Hodaka in
the frrst two motos but had trouble in
the third. Frank Sr. had throttle
problems in the first two motos, but
managed to take first 100 in the third.
Close behind the two leaders on their
125's, Frank Sr. was also H!>daka
mounted. Frank Jr. managed the win
with his good placings in the first two
motos. The 100 1ntennediate win went
to Ed lrsik on his Honda as he managed
to stay in front of Jim Harwood on his
'llEIEllt'.lE'
u.s.
-
and
MAIL
ORDE!l-
Sole
Distributor
Prices and information on request
OraAgeVale Distributors
9198 Greenback Lane
Orangevale, Ca. 95662 (9.16) 988-4725
ACCESSORY CO.
Va·le·ri·an's Two Cy..,le City Ltd Iva'lir-e-an's/'tiiJ 'si-kall
'sit-el ltd! n. a motorcycle shop. Known to deal in sales,
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~KAWASAKI
MOTORCYCLES
3958 E. 14th ST., OAKLAND, CAL.
(4151534-5461
••
94601
GORDY WILLIAMS Authorize d Dealer
~
Cy ~ gC1T'V
(415)
939.4988
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263.1 N. MAIN.WALNUT CR •• CAb
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los Angeles, California 90064 - Telephone: (213) 475-4541
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