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/125732
... N & :. ,.. Ol a> N " .., C ::l ~ w Z W ....J (.) > (.) TRASK TRIALS GOLD GOES By Ron Schneiders McMINNVILLE, ORE., June 18, 19, 1971 - The Penton family scored a dramatic victory over one of the finest collections of enduro riders ever assembled west of the Mississippi today in the small Oregon town located about 40 miles south of Portland. The PentaDS, loosely defmed to include close friends and cousins riding not only Pentons but all the Penton-distributed bikes, took the first three overall positions, lst & 2nd in the Open class, lst, 2nd and 3rd in the 125 class and lst and 2nd in the 100 class as well as 2nd and 3rd in the trade team competition and 1st in the club team contest. The event was the Trask Mountain 2-day Trials which was sponsored specificially by the Motorcycle Activities Club of MCl\-linnville, but in a larger sense, by the entire town of McMinnville, which cooperated magnificently in its production. Even the town police cooperated to the extent of not arresting any of the contestants on their quasi·legal competition machines wbich were being ridden at somewhat optimistic speeds through the streets of the town at the beginning and end of each day's run. Several riders, however, were stopped and asked to turn on their headlights to comply with the Oregon Vehicle Code. The purpose of this event was to help the AMA select a trophy team for this year's International Six Days Trials which is to be held on the lsle of Man in September. In order that it be a fitting qualification round, the Trask Mountain Trials was made to resemble the Si x Days Trials as closely as possible. They John Penton. Lars Larson and Jack Lehto talk Huskies had-to·hand. All three won Gold medals. Dick Burleson was the hero of the day. He came screaming into finish all crossed up six different ways on a shredded rear tire. But he kept his gold and his team's trophy by mere seconds I even referred to the various officials of the club by their European designations. There was a "Clerk of the Course" and a "Scrutineer". The day before the event, amid much speculation about the weather and course conditions, the contestants submitted their bikes to the "scrutineers" who checked the lights and sound level, and dabbed green paint over thevarious major components. The inspection was only pro-forma, intended to indicate what contestan Is would face in Europe, and not to ensure rigid compliance with the rule. A Boeing 707 would probably have passed the sound test, as it was conducted, with 3 db to spare. My Sachs which is quieted to a marginal 90 db with its J&R silencer, scored a whispering 81 on their decimeter. After the inspection, the bikes were impounded for the evening. Covering the bike was prohibited: the bike had to start even after a night standing in the rain. Unfortunately, it didn't rain during the night so that test went by the board. If the Six Day Trials demands anvthin~ it demand attention to details. Ron Murphy learned this right on line where he lost his gold medal because he left the key to the ignition of his Yamaha in his truck. The spectators enjoyed his wild sprint, but it's a hard way to lose a gold. The course started with 20 miles of pavement and gravel road at the end of which was the first check. :\lost riders arrived with 15 minutes to spare and waited impatiently for tougher terrain. It wasn't long in coming. Fifty feet after the first check was the fiTst special test. about 6 miles cross-country through the forest. The trails was slippery beyond belief. Even Charlie Vincent, a veteran Berkshire rider, admitted that he had never ridden anything quite so slick. Even walking was difficult in the slick red clay. Between the fiTst and second check, the distance was just a few tenths short of 50 miles and there was no relief. Beyond 'check 2, the going was somewhat easier. but not greatly so, and John Penton referred to the section between checks 3 and 4 as the "tightest" of the day. Slippery, deep muddy ruts were the most predominant feature of the terrain, with low overhanging branches contributing to the occasional mayhem. There were several very nasty places such as a deep hole in the trail which fell away to nothing right in the middle of the trail. To get around it the riden TRASK MOUNTAlN INTERNATIONAL IX DA YS TRIALS QUALIFYING ROUND McMinnville, Ore. June 18, 19,20.1971 By Ron Scheneiders Chief scrutineer Larry dabs green paint all over a Yamaha while Diana Caukins keeps a watchful eye on him. HODAKABILITY IT'S BEEN PROVEN YEAR AFTER YEAR Viewfinders Grand Prix Indian Dunes April 17th 81 18th, 1971 100 Expert Class 1st Tom Zahnter - HODAKA 100 Noyice Class Rocky Morrison - HODAKA Danny Sanchez - HODAKA Steve Pinner; - HODAKA Elsinore Grand Prix March 6 81 7. 1971 100cc Expert Class 1st - Jack Morgan - HODAKA That's two years in a row Simi VaUey M.C. Hare & Hound Cornellotorners April 25, 1971 l00cc Novice Class '1st - Ken Hemstreet - HODAKA 2nd - Steve Stevens - HODAKA 3rd - Don Eide - HODAKA Trailbike Class 1st - Jack Froleich I Expert) - HooAKA 1st - Thumper McDowell (Amateur) - HODAKA CMC· Motocross Carlsbad April 25, 1971 Team Motocross Indian Dunes Park May 30-31. 1971 l00cc Class 1st Tom Zahnter I Tom Pinner; - Hodaka 100 Junior Class 1st - Mike Dubbs - HoDAKA CMC Motocross Ascot April 22. 1971 100 Junior 1=1355 1st - John Reggi - HoDAKA 1971 125 Expert class 1st Tom Zahnter - Hodoka Deadman's Point Motocross Apple Valley lB, 1971 April 100 Senior Class 1st - J. Flores - HoDAKA 2nd - F. Wilsford, 5<. - HoDAKA 3rd - J. Harwood - HODAKA 100 Intermediate Class CMC Motocross March 28. tOOCC'. o' had to jack their bikes up a near-vertical muddy bank, pivot around a tree and slither precariously back down the bank. Another such hole required the riders to ease their bikes down and across a couple of rotten logs to avoid the deep pit. The second special test of the day was a timed hill climb that had a nasty left hand bend right in the middle of it. Once past that, (if you were able to get up it that is) it was fairly easy to for the rest of the day, with only a couple of wicked little trails left and lot of pavement. The leaqer of the day was Jeff Penton, riding one of the new 6 speed Pentons. He accumulated a mere 900 points in the special tests and lost no enduro points. Right behind him were brother Jack and Dick Burleson, both on the new Pen tons. John Penton, had already blown his chances for an overall win by picking up 1022 points. bUl he still had his gold. A fantastic battle was shaping up for the variou awards, particularly_the team awards. Riding for Puch on new 175 's were Leroy Winters, Gerald Pacholke, and Dave Mungenas!. All were still on their golel with a respectable points total. Leadinl( the Puch HODAKA ... Trail Might PABATCO. Box 3X1. Au.... Oregon 97813 1st - K. Hemstreet - HDDAKA 2nd - R. Eliot - HDDAKA 3rt! - L Brimer - HODAK'A TRADE TEAM YANKEE MOTORS Oss Ariz. Dave Lathem Don Cutler Oss Conn. Charlie Vincent Oss Conn PIASECKI M.C. SALES Dick Burleson Pen Ohio Mi ke Lewis Puc Okla. Jack Lehto Hus Ohio AJVlERICAN PUCH LeRoy Winters Puc Ark. Gerald Pacholche Puc Ohio Puc ~1issouri David M ongenast CLUB TEAM A."-IHERST MEADOWLARKS Jack Penton Pen Ohio Jeff Penton Pen Ohio Dane Penton Leimbach Pen Ohio MlSSOURJ l'AT'L. COMPETITION RIDERS Yam Mo. Gary Surdyke Raymond Biesk Yam Mo. Edward Schmidt Hus Mo OVERALL Ohio Pen Gold Jeff Penton Pen Gold Ohio Dick Burleson Ohio Pen Gold Jack Penton OPEN CLASS Ohio Hus Gold Jack Lehto Ohio Hus Gold J oltn Penton Mo. Yam G Id Raymonrl Biesk 350 CLASS Carl Berggren Hus Gold Cal. Hon Silver Cal. Jay Tullis Kaw Bronze Ore. Billy Toman 250 CLASS Conn Charlie Vincent Oss Gold Don Cutler Conn. Oss Gold Idaho Bill UbI Suz Gold 175 CLASS Ohio Gerald Pacholke Puc Gold Mike Lewis Okla. Puc Gold Dave Mungen..t Mo. Puc Gold 125 CLASS Jeff Penton Pen Gold Ohio Dick Burleson Pen Gold Ohio Pen Gold Jack Penton Ohio 100 CLASS Dane PentaD Leimbach Pen Gold Ohio Craig Young Pen Bronze Cal Tom Ericluon Hon Bronze Ore.