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
.. WIDOWMAKER WINS THIS CLIMB The idea is to go as far up as you can. By Larry Knop Photos by Terry Newfanner SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, March 28, 1971 - Widowmaker is invincible again! For those of you who don't know, Widowmaker is a 600-foot hill. A BIG hill. For six years the annual Bee's 1.C. climb was run absolutely no one made the top. Widowmaker was invincible. Last year three riders conquered it. This year everything was back to normal. Milpitas, Calif., rider Frank Durso was k;ng this year on his super powerful BSA, winning the exhibition class with a run of 509 feet. Mjchigan rider Lynn Postema on a Triumph strongly challenged Frank for the exh;bition class trophy, as he topped 500 feet twice, but his best: 504. Larry Huber from Inmana also had his Harley running strongly, but his best run stopped 5 feet shorf of the 500 mark; he settled for third h;ghest. More than 4000 spectators lent encouragement to the nearly 300 riders present. . A nasty hump at 100 feet was followed by 75 feet of scattered scrub oak stumps, making riders very, very '" M C. « \@ w Z W ...J U >- U 'l'BB OUTBIDBB The OUTRIDER is a unique new Helmets, goggles and gloves. Leathe" and riding boots. All styles, colo" and accessories, equipment and apparel. Here sizes. now, for the first time, is a full service "accessories only" department·store installed on our premises). Windshields, type operation designed and equipped Saddlebags, shocks and special fork assemblies. Tools, spray paints, custom specifically for you, the motorcycle rider and enthusiast. So, come on over - we want you. Come see for yourself. Over 1,000 popular (and not so popular) items to choose from. For road riding or track, desert or trail. For all makes and Tires, tube, and batteries (all luggage carriers, handlebars and mirrors. seats and Hangtown Motocross April 3 & 4,1971 125cc Expert Class 1st Bill Urban - PUCH 2nd John Rice - PUCH gas tanks and many other items you're wanting. Open 9 am to 6 pm daily (to 9 pm Thu".> and 10 am to 6 pm Saturdays. model$. .,.B.OUTIUDBB motorsport accessories 10545 W. Pico Blvd.. Los Angeles, California Phones: (213) 474-6650 or 879-3350 WHY PAY MORE? 80 .. l1. ;::: careful. At the 450 mark there were clumps of sagebrush and near the top a few large rocks. Horsepower alone would get a rider about 100 feet, and that's as far as many riders went. It took fantastic tontrol, good power and luck to make a good showing on Widowmaker's A route. The B route by contrast was almost a freeway. But then that was for the B rider who still mdn't get as far as the A riders. The best way to get an idea of Widowmaker is to compare it with the famous Southern California hill, the Matterhorn, topped by a I25cc. Today, Jon Henry rode his Yamaha 125 further than any other rider in his class, 197 feet, less than a third to th e top. Surprisingly, Del Brown in the 100 A class went 194 feet on his Hodaka to win his class. Can a 100 top Matterhorn? Kcith Rossler made a great ride on h;s Ossa, finally stopping at 350 feet, to take the 250 A class and then came back on an Indian to take the 500 A class. He had twice the ilisplacement, but only climbed 393 feet. It was left to the Open bikes to break the 400 foot level. Frank Durso did it in a big way on hjs BSA: 467 feet. Larry Brisbin from Anoka, Minnesota on a Triumph took 2nd with 423 feet. Local Cra;g Williams on a Honda 4 was third also at 423 feet, but his biggest problem was wrestling 550 pounds of motorcycle down the face of Widwomaker. At least he still had that big disc on the front to hdp him. Widowmaker 1971, however, was almost the race that wasn't. Widowmaker is on private ground, normally used for sheep. The landowner, willing to allow the Bees to use the hill, naturally wants mimmaL damage to the land nor does he want riders on the land during the rest of the year. The Bees md everything they could, it was not a good year for cooperation. Another year like it and Widowmak.er hill climb will exist only in memories, a setback for all forms of cycle Taeing in this area. (ResUlts on page 34) Puch Win concept in the retailing of motorcycle M N Puch Dist. Co. 9825 Mason Chatsworth, Ca. 91311 (213) 882-8860 Dealer Inquiries Invited