Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

~ JOHN I .. (Continued from page 13) ,... '" en Now he is looking forward to a trip to Europe. Says Rice, ''Ted Lapadakis is going to send his best riders over there this summer to compete. Man, 1 m world c.. N ~ ~ ll' :$ ~ ~ u ~ -' 1 I' scene l-.--..s~way_ gonoa go." I asked him when he felt we would be able to beat the Europeans. "Never. We have nobody that can go as fast as Aberg, Roberts, and so on. The only wayan American can ride as fast as them, is to live there for five years. Billy Clements is fast, right? hip him over Lhere, now. "When the European. are over here and ride our Mickey Mouse stuff, they aren't going half as fast as they could. They don't want to get hurt. "If you went to Europe, you wouldn't believe it. Long straightaways that look like a rough IT, off-camber turns, all kinds of stuff. We have no true motocrosses here. Take a empty field and lay down some stakes. There's a motocross. European motocrosses aren't just rough-and-slow or rough-and·fast. "Indian Dunes is about the best thing we've got. A beginner can learn hard turns and berms - just about everything but.cIownhills." John R. figures he's good for another 35 years. So does Tam, and a lot of other people. In auto racing, or most other sports, a person will maintain a peak about five to ten years later in life than a motocross racer, which calJs for the absolute in strengh, relfexes, and stamina. "I'm just a kid." He's fond of saying that. He knows h ow to be earefree and responsible at the same time. He is tough. intelligent, and above all, happy. He has worked for Long Beach Honda for several years as a "Ounky mechanic", turning down opportunities for economic advance so he can devote a maximum amount of time to racing. Someday, perhaps, he'll announce his retirement from full-time racing and live easily off his laurels, but that won't be too soon. It's a good bet that he won't low down a bit, either. It is a shame that few of us can accomplish what John R. can, and discomforting to realize that we won't be in as good condition at 35 years. Still, I'm riding a bicycle to work these days • By Peter White Kiwi comeback king, Ronnie Moore, heads the list of qualifiers for the British final of the 1971 World Speedway Championship following two British zone semi-fainls in England late last month. Moore, the ageless and stilJ·immaculate veteran from New Zealand who twice won the World Championship at the Wembley stadium, London as far back as 1954 and 1959, was in scintillting form in the first semi-final at West Ham (London) and spreadeagled a top class field, including Barry Briggs and ace Australians Jim Airey and John Boulger. Moore scored a maximum of 15, points and showed that Top British qualifier, Ron Moore. he may yet prove a formidable force in the final reckoning later in the series. Early indications were that the World final, set down for Sweden on September 10, would be a three-way battle between current champion Ivan Mauver. Rri....s and Danish hot-shot Ole Theonl~ thing ~ou need to know allout Valerian's is how to get there: , I_-I---:O~L:.:Y..::M:::P::.IC~B::L.:VD~.:.-....... _ -g+ -' III W -' -' w H..~ PICO/OLYMPIC OFF RAMP PICO BLVD, MAY CO,. • &Ai CAL-FED ~AVINGS > < ~ ~ o g ffi 1) c Z ~ SANTA MONICA FRWY, \ OVERLAND OFF RAMP DOWNTOWN LA" NATIONAL BLVD. 2415 Brown R

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