Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

.... '" ~ w Z W ...J U >- U Odom (18) and Brelsford battled this close for much of the main. Brelsford leads a potent bunch on way to winning his heat. Junior champion Kenny Roberts' Yamaha is sponsored by A&A Motors. Try as he might, it was not Mark's night. HOUSTON, TEX., jan. 30, 1971 After experiencing what was probably the worst night of his life the night before, a determined jim Odom fought his way to his first National Championship victory by winning the 25-Lap Short Track event before the largest crowd, 35,452, yet to watch a race in the Astrodome. Odom, who had spent the previous evening in the same position, this time had a resolu te Mark Brelsford right beside him for the entire 25 laps. It was the closest National finish since the tie at the 1948 Atlanta, Ga. National. Brelsford used everything he could to get by Odom as the two were never more than a couple of feet apart. Mert Lawwill had taken an early lead as the event got under way and looked as if he was going to take the race as he had the previous year until his bike slipped out from under him in a corner on the 12th lap. Brelsford and Odom had exchanged positions up until this time and after Lawwill went down Brelsford broke into the lead. Three laps later, Odom pulled by and for the This is what over 35,000 fans paid to see...Action! Mert Lawwill drops it. A little over-exhuberant, there. remaining distance the two were locked together in a duel that ended with Odom's Bultaco having a couple of spokes ahead of Brelsford's Harley-Da.vidson at the checkers. Charlie Chapple, a second year Expert from Flint, Michigan, fiercely worked his way up from 7th spot to get third at the end. The leaders had the advantage during the race by not losing traction in the first turn. As the qualifications got under way, the foreboding of a close race was evident as the loss of a hundredth of a second would keep a rider from making the program. Brelsford set fast time of 15:10 seconds. Teh qualifications were so close that five riders tied for 4th fastest time. Riders were given two attempts at qualifying and Cal Rayborn, who had a time good enough to make the program was disqualfied when officials said he made three runs. Rayborn was very upset at this and claimed he had made only two runs. Maybe the new number system now in effect confused, someone. Lawwill had the fastest heat time of the night when he took the 2nd heat ahead of Frank Gillespie and adorn. Brelsford had won the first heat by edging out Rex Beuchamp and Tom Rockwood. The other two heats were won by Dan Haaby and rookie john Hateley. The first Expert semi saw Lawwill jump to a quick lead ahead of Haaby. Keith. Mashburn got by Haaby only to have Odom come by him two laps later. Dick Mann had his luck run out as he went down in the first turn. RAce . veterans could not remember the last time they had seen Dick falloff. A hard charging Gillespie passed Mashburn to finish third behind Lawwill and Odom. Brelsford took the lead in the second semi but was passed by Hateley on the fourth lap. Hateley was out front only a few seconds when Dave Aldana, working his front wheel back and forth in the corners to keep from falling, zoomed away with the race. Aldana, not having the speed on the straights, just brought out some brace and found a way around. Hateley stayed in second ahed of Brelsford. The junior feature was worth the prace of admission as Gary Scott took his Bultaco to an early lead. Last year's top Novice in the nation, Kenny Roberts, hung right on his back as they The National Champion outdistanced the field. Roberts could not get his Yamaha around Scott after 8 laps of trying in the 10 lap race. Finally, the young rider just laid the left handlebar to the growld in the corners and made it by to take the win. Scott. the junior TT winner from last night, finished in front of Mike Kidd to take second. After the duel of the century in the' feature, the excited crowd had an added treat as five of the nation's best TT ride.. put on an exhibition of close TT racing. Odom, Brelsford, Van Leeuwen, Rice and Coppage raced around d:e TT course, revving and wheeling their big machines to the delight of the crowd, who stayed glued to their seats even though the National was over. The experienced Experts were having a ball, passing numerous times during the event. The two who had just finished the duel in the feature race suffered some misfortune on the last lap as Brelsford went down and Odom ran into his bike. No injuries, just some bent up equipment as Van Leeuwen look lhe checkers. The riders, after spending so much time together in the previous race, just could nol seem to keep apart. (Results on page 18)

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