Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

ram _-=;;;-:' -,"--=_;,llll__. Jeff Wright found the going "wet 'n' wild'-· scorching the dust from the ground, after fInally locating a super type of high gear. However, the bid was a little too late. West got the win, Jones was second and Blackwell nursed his ailing machine to third. The day's final score: Jones $350 to the good for gO minutes of fast and furious racing. Almost $4 per minute. In the 125 Sr. event, a whole host was on hand to contest the rapid comeback attempts of International Motorcycle's own Larry Shoemaker on his unbelievable swift Yamaha. Yet, this was not Larry's day. After dropping his expansion chamber a few yards from the start line, Shoemaker watched as 35 other riders poured past. But, in spite of the handicap, Larry was able to garner a sixth overall finish. The race was won by the brilliant Dave Rodgers, who rides for Steve's Bultaco Shop. The next four positions - after a heated see-saw type of battle - went to Billy Payne (Yam), Allan Peppel (Pen), Bryar Hokolm (Pen) and Jeff Wright (Ric). The 100 Sr. were tow-roped by the Harley mounted desert ace Terry Clark. Jeff Wright (Ric) and Dave Montgomery (Ric) fInished behind him. Danny LaPorte, a 10-year-old whirlwind, led the I OOcc Jrs. all the way on a Rickman that just doesn't seem to make any mistakes. Danny turned back John Skustrom (Suz) and John Betts (Hod) in winning a trophy that was bigger than its victor. N orrhridge rider, Rick Salmon, looked more like a test pilot than not as he defeated Mike Stanton (Yam), Jim Bauer (Sac) and Tracy Oswell (Pen) for the first place finish on his high-sailing Yamaha during the running of the 125 Jr. program. Mike Keena (CZ) was again unbeatable in the 250 Jr. class. Kenny Cook (Man) and Allen Beaman (Yam) were directly behind him. The Open J rs. were led to the flag by a new Dunes racer Don Katlrc on a bullet fast AJS. Dick Menbolia (Yam) and Oswell (CZ) turned in excellent performances behind the winner. This weekend will feature another of the popular Indian Dunes doubleheader, as ACE Enterpriises will offer a race for Junior riders on Saturday and an all class race on Sunday. (Results on page 30) By Maureen Lee After sun'iving the two days of the Elsinore Grand Prix, I have to come to the conclusion that the human race is degenerating rapidly into a bunch of idiots. Here is the greatest kind of race in the world for its type, and some forms of humanity probably blew it for all time. Congratulations. The problems were varied. Crowd control was a handful to say the least, the Gripsters, the International Racing Crew and the Deputies were all in there pitching but the idiots would just shuffle back after they had come by with their warnings, right back to where they were standing before. Even worse were the ones watching happily from the outside of a turn, seated on haybales with their legs dangling in front of them. They have to be morons not to know what thos.e haybales were for, as long as the rider didn't get hurt it would have been interesting to listen to them when a bike smashed in and crushed about five different people'a legs! Serves 'em right! Another thing that always amazes me is they have no conception of how fast a bike is traveling. On Sunday the leaders were starting down that fast hack straigh t and the sheep were herding back up, right along the straight from watching the start despite the orders of officials to get off the track. Best hit we liked was when one of the leaders (won't tell who) came flying along, here's a moron with a little kid sitting on his shoulders walking along, who turns and walks closer to where the rider is heading, but the rider swerves a hit, heads right at him and gives him a big kick in the legs. Bravo! Bravo, too, to the chap who kicked the gal in the backside when she was lah-de-dahling across the tracks as if he should stop for her to cross. Jim Foxe, the Gripsters referee really laid it on the line at the riders meeting Sunday morning. Everyone at the race should hold themselves responsible. If you dropped one can or threw away a piece of paper, you were just as bad as anyone else. The spectators in the town were reponsible for the mess up there but some of our own kind were involved in the "pit activities" that went on overnigh t. Crowd can trol harricades were tom down for camp fires, clubs like San Bernardino Valley and the Jackrahbits who had set up their gas pits properly so everything would be ready, had their big banners stolen. One rider had S 1.50 of camping equipment pinched, and two of the Racing Crew had sleeping bags and their food for the weekend taken. I realize that an event of this size is going to have its prohlems, but if people would just think a bit we wouldn't have so many. One deputy, who worked last year is reported as saying he would stay over-night both nights in the impound area rather than having to cope with that crowd. Don't blame him. After seeing some of 'em, and what was going on I'm glad to be Establishment, thank you! Grady Lafferty of the Racing Crew asked us to come on hot and heavy on this thing of staying back when bikes are coming through. All his people had problems, it's their job to take care of a rider when he falls, and it gets doubly complicated when the spectators get mixed up in it too. Grady says this also happens in the desert at easy to get to checks, people all crowding forward to get that fIrst glimpse of who is coming in. Please, when you do move at a race, and who doesn't like to go from turn to turn, keep your wits about you when you do. Maybe the sky is blue, the Gallo has tasted wonderful and you're groovin', that rider on that fast bike heading at you at some 80+ is racing. Don't lose him a chance at a win because you don't care. Malcolm Smith learned that the hard way last year and to be perfectly blunt about it, I never did bother to ask how the spectator was who walked out right in front of him! Racing is my business and Malcolm was more important personally than an idiot. Let's start policing ourselves a bit better and, like Jim Foxe said, if you see a guy doing something, then if's your job to have a word with him and get him straightened out. Well, the tea is ready, this week didn't use a soap box, it was a pulpit! This conversation was overheard at the start of the recent Desert M.C. Hare & Hound (inspite of the high wind). HI, HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD AN AMATEUR PLATE? O~ly 3 weeks, but the way I'm scooping up points I'll make Expert by mId-summer. GOOD FOR YOU, BUT WHAT'S GOT INTO YOU SO SUDDEN? Well, I was determined to get a European bike. I finally decided on this Ajay just before Christmas. YEAH, I'VE SEEN A FEW AROUND LATELY. HOW IS IT? Man, I love it. You haven't experienced good handling till you've raced an AJS. YOU COULD BE RIGHT. ONE ZAPPED ME IN SOME WHOOP·DE-DOOS LAST WEEK AS IF I WAS STANDING STILL. YEAH BUT I CAUGHT HIM ACROSS THE DRY LAKE - WENT PAST THAT LITTLE ORANGE SCOOTER LIKE A DOSE OF SALTS. MADE ME 'N MY OLE 400 FEEL A LITTLE BETTER. You realize that Ajay guy was on a 250 don't you? Anyhow, he could probably pull a taller gear If only he knew. I'm 4 teeth higher than the stock 57 which gives me over 70 down a Fire Road. Heard Doug Douglas used a 48 when he did that crazy run down Baja. GALPIN FORD'S FREE RECREATION YEHICLE SHOW MARCH 11-22 IS THAT SO? THAT WAS A DOGGONE GOOD EFFORT FOR A 4 SPEED 250 IF YOU ASK ME. HOW IS THE TRANS ANYWAY? . It .seems really tough so far and the all metal clutch will take any abuse. The thll1g I lIke best though is the neat action of the shift. YEAH, I MUST ADMIT I HAVE TO PUMP MY LEVER QUITE A BIT. The Distributors are giving a new Ajay to the first Ajay rider to win a big Desert Run. That shows they're really taking an interest although I don't suppose it will be me who takes 'em up on the offer. DON'T BE SO MODEST! No seriously, their idea isn't so weird because George Zeber and Whitey Gregory are gettll1g pretty close. . WELL, I'D LIKE TO SEE A NEW BIKE GIVE THE ACES A SCARE. AND HE WiLL . Ilt! HANDLES HARE AND ~~:\ l @~~ HOUNDS BETTER! U Special Cycle Displays· Campers • Trucks & Trailers· Mobile Homes Free Trout Fishin' for the Kids and a chance to win free use of a Galpin camper for one week! GALPIN FORD SQUARE 15505 ROSCOE BOULEVARD, SEPULVEDA (Just off the Son Diego Fwy.) ;r . ,,..,~~9:!' ~el.!rs.:..~ ~.rn·.: 10 p.:m;...Mo,n -.fri.:- ?oJ:!"- -7 p.m. Sat & Sun Si MN ~ '" ::;; !,@ w Z ~ ~ U

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