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/125721
C- o« ~ w Z W ...J U >- U By Dick Wright FOUR CORNERS, CA., April 4, 1971 - Rich Thorwaldson took his new Suzuki out for a desert race for the first time today and picked up a win for his new sponsor. After the race he said, "The course was bitchen. Those four lane sandwashes were something else, this bike is like a toy with forty horses. Just outa KAWASAKI ONLY! Draco's Motorcycles 1629 S. Standard Santa Ana, Ca. 543-9688 Best Avai'a"e in Kawasalri Parts and Service. sight." The race was set up as a forty-five mile loop which the riders would circuit twice. The banner dropped at 10:10 a.m. and the riders headed for the smoke bomb four miles out. Bill Bogner, No. 886 had the lead on a C.Z. and Larry Pfutzenreuter was second. He was followed by Thorwaldson and Mike Patrick who was on a new Yamaha. Thorwaldson passed Bogner when he fouled a plug and later was also able to get by Pfutzenreuter. He came through the pits for gas with a good lead after a one hour and five minute loop. Patrick was second followed by Whitey Martino and Tom Muto, both on big I-luskies. Then came the hot little 100cc Harley of Mitch Mayes. Jeff Wright was next on his 125cc Rickman. Jr~O SECOND ANNUAL IL MOTORCYCLE RECORD DRAG CHAMPIONSHIPS June 19-20 . Record Runs, June 19 Eliminations, June 20 The National Hot Rod Association will certify all records 'set at ~his event and they will serve as st~ndards for future competition. S3 000 IN CASH ... Plus Contingenc:es. . Any Company may offer contingencies . by calling David Garvin (502) 842-8102 ~ Dill 'PRE-ENTRY DISCOUNT Entry fee at strip will be $10'. Save $5 by sending name, address, type of bike(s) and check for $5 per bike to: ~ BEECH BEND ~llr:::IONAL The Nation's finest drag racing facility. Bowling Green, Kentucky The next loop took five minutes longer than the first loop because the course had really been chewed up, and everyone was trying to avoid those deep powdery ruts. Some of the riders didn't make it. At the finish line the fust riders to come into sigh t was the happy Thorwaldson. Rick does all his own tuning out of C&:B Motors. He said Saturday night while checking his new bike over, "I am going to win because the bike is really shaped up and it's ready," and he did! Whitey Martino was second on his Husky, eight minutes behind Rick. Something happened to Patrick and Muto because they didn't come in, to everyone surprise Mitch Mayes, No.3, on a 100cc Harley, pulled in third,as his tuner Dean Goldsmith said "out of sight, what a ride". Jeff Wright, 99x, pulled in fourth taking first lightweight on his 125cc Rickman. Bill Bogner was fifth, followed by Mike McCoy, No. 74, on a Husky. Dick Breaker took seventh on a 250cc Husky, Bob Dotson, No. 10lx, a hot Junior, pulled off eleventh on his 250 Yamaha. 'Second in the 100cc class went to Cordis Brooks on his Hodaka. These young kids do go fast on these ligh tweights, now that all the Juniors and Experts start together there's no stopping them. Ralph Garrett, No. 45, took first 500 Junior on his Husky, followed by Tom Brooks Jr. on a 200cc Hodaka. Close on Brook's knobby was Randy Milligan on a 100cc Harley Davidson. Arvie Blackstone pulled in off the hot dusty desert to take second 500 Junior, and he was just about like aU of the fmishers: Tired but happy to be able to finish a good day of racing. Of the 500 starters, over half of them were able to finish the hard grind. (Results on page 34)