Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

DESOTO STARS I N TEXAS MX ai N ., e: .., ~ ~ w Z W ...J U >U CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX., June 13, 1971 - Forest Glade Cycle: Park today featured John DeSoto taking on the best riders in the state and when the day's racing was over DeSoto had defeated each of them. Today's temperature was hot and so was the competition in the 250 Sr. class. Jack O'Leary on a Maico took the lead at the start with DeSoto on his Macio and Wyman Priddy on a Husky in hot pursuit. The leaders held their positions until the third lap when O'Leary missed a turn and was forced to go off course. This is all DeSoto needed and he took the lead and proceeded to stretch it out with a super fast ride even though he had lost rear braking. O'Leary held on to second place with Priddy taking third close behind. The second heat started just like the first with O'Leary exploding into the lead foDowed by DeSoto and Priddy. DeSoto got around O'Leary on the third lap and held on for the win. O'Leary By DOll Strasheim and Priddy battled for second and the Bob. Graham (AJS), Richard Bigley (Malco) , and Bill Kasson (CZ). Priddy fans were treated to some fine racing by two of Texas' best racers. O'Leary held took the lead at the start of the second off the challenge of Priddy and took heat foDowed by Kasson and Bigley. second. Halfway through the heat Kasson was The final heat had DeSoto and Priddy . thrown off the right side of his bike on into the first turn together but DeSoto a high speed jump and when he came was out fllSt with Priddy pushing hard down he stiD had a firm hold on the in second and O'Leary in the third spot. handlebars with the remainder of his Priddy stayed right on DeSoto's rear body dragging along the right side of the wheeJ [or i:h~ fir;t few iaps and then bike. After travcli:lg about 30-40: Vds. in appeared to tire out. ... fairness to this position Kasson let go of the bike as Priddy it should be explained that he he approached the fence. He sustained a minor cut on the arm and a small was competing in both the 250 and Open classes which is a feat in itself on a amount of hurt pride. day as hot as this. DeSoto went on to Bob Graham cut a little too close to win the heat and Priddy was second the inside of a turn and struck a lYee with O'Leary third. This was the fastest with his left hand and appeared to have racing ever witnessed in south Texas and broken it. Priddy maintained the lead the fans were amazed at the skill of all and finished fllSt foDowed by Bigley the riders. and Greg Laves (BuI). The final heat The Open Sr. class provided some Priddy again took command at the start very exciting racing with close with a slYong challenge from Kasson and competition and a few spectacular spills. Bigley which is the order they finished. The first heat had Priddy (Hus) in the The 125 Jr. class was won by lead at the finish foDowed by Houston's 12-year-old Joe Witter (Pen) from Austin who just out rode everyone in the class. The third heat proved to be the toughest of the race for him as he had to work his way up through the pack taking the lead on the final lap about 100 yards before the finish. The 250 Jr. heat had Brad Adari (CZ) in the lead at the start fonowed by Lonnie Plough (Kaw) and Allen Bigley (CZ). These three fought for six laps, but as-the heat ftni!hcl !hey held Wf"C'" same positions. The second heat had Gene Brown (Hus) charge into the lead after riding a steady race held on for the win. Plough held off Adair to take second place. The third and final heat had Bigley (CZ) ready at the start and when the rubber band was released he immediately took conlYol of the lead with Gary Norris (AJS) and Plough pushing hard. Again the leader off the starting line held off his challengers for the win with Norris second and Plough third. (Results on page 48) Experience Aids OCA 's Program 250cc Novices can put on just as good a show as anyone at the Sprockets' Benefit MX. June 6. Morgan Gains Fails By Carol Witt Photos by Karen Hartman WICHITA, KANS., June 6, 1971 Seldom do we hear of the benefits reaped from the activities of a motorcycle club, especially in our parts, but on this date the Sprockets M.C. held their third annual Benefit, this year for the Starkey Development Center for Retarded, Inc. The Starkey School works to develop programs to teach both children and adults to function better in today's world. The Center was presented a check of $1000 by Art McNew, President of the Sprockets. Also, the club wishes to thank Gene Whitham for the many hours spent building the two l)ew bleacher sections, which were filled-with spectators on this beautiful, bright spring day. Riders from as far away as Pontiac, Mich., and Pampa, Tex., turned ouL Gary Sievers of Great Bend, Kans., on a Kawasaki, took first honors in the 125 Jrs. with a day's total points of 1025. Leonard VandeGrift from Wichita on a Yamaha swept the 250 Jr. class, and his total was 1025 also, as was Wayne Lee from Benton on a Maico in the Open Jr. class. These races were filled with mishaps - one rider even finishing minus the cycle seat. The Senior riders once again had spectators on the edge of their seats here at Sprockets Field. Mike Berry, from Wichita on a Maico, squared his front tire as he blasted off the starting line in the 250 class, hitting a bad spot, slid sideways and did a perfect cartwheel over the handlebars, but came out of it with a limp and a smile. Mike Krebs fell in the infield, jammed the throttle-<:able and almost melted the engine before they could get-the motor stopped. Star of the day in the youngsters eyes was Eddie Morgan of Wichita on a CZ. As the riders lined up for the 250 Sr. class, many observers did a double-take at Morgan's helmet, to which he had added two "Mickey Mouse" ears. Riders took the green ligh t to the strains of "M-I-C, K-E-Y, M-O-U-S-E". Youngboys and girls who were there with their parents, immediately became rooters for the ride.r who finished in second place. Gary Witt, our 250 Sr. go-getter, came in first in all heats. The Open Sr. class was domina"ted by Rob Knoettgen, Wichita, on his new 400 Husky. Knoettgen grabbed the opening lead and stretched it out from there. Dave Graves from Edna, Kans., had ridden in the previous 250 Sr. class on an AJS, but was on the starting line on a Ducati, and took second for the day. (Results on page 48) ON THE MOVE The Amer';can Moto-Cross Team has a lot to be proud of. So far this season, our team captain Bryan Kenney has succeeded in displaying in Europe that same enthusiasm that we all feel very much about our sport. We now have available AMXT color decals. They are replicas of our team patch, and every bit as beautiful. Approximately 2"x3" in size, they can be displayed on your car, truck books, windows, or where ever you want to show your proud participation. The decals are sold in paris, of which one is an inside stick and one is an outside stick_ The price if 2 for $I or 12 for $5. All members should receive a special team bulletin and order form this week by mail. If for some reason you are a member and do not get a bulletin, simply remit a check or money order for the amount to AMXT, P.O. Box 3276, Hollywood, Cal. 90028. Include name, address, etc. Limited supply. By Shirley Knop OGDEN, UTAH, June 6, 197\ Conditions were excellent for the Ogden Cycle Association's first TT of the year. This was the fITst sunny Sunday in at least a month and the pork-chop shaped track was in good condition and very fast. Best of all, there was hardly any dust until the end of the day. Bob Brown and his 400 Maico were clearly the fastest combination on the track today, finishing well ahead of second-place Craig Williams in all three heats of the 500 A class. In the 250 class, Ossa rider Woody Lawhorn did likewise, forcing Craig to accept another second here. Woody was doing some beautiful sliding around those comers aD day lon~. The 200cc class, especially the 200 A class, was unusually large this race, as many Experts have moved into this formerly Hweak" class. I t is weak no more. Jon Henry took first in this class on his 175 Yamaha with Bob Best and Kevin Croft battling it out for the 2nd and 3rd place brass. ' Del Brown literally ran away from the LOOcc class on his super-fast Hodaka, but a protest was filed against him for running a knobby rear tire. Bill Dennis was the next candidate for the first place gold. After leaving all the other 125's behind to take the top place tropy in that class, Phil Bernard demonstrated the speed of his Dalesman during the small-bore sweepstakes when none of the winners of the 200cc class could catch him. In addition to the regular program of racing, OCA had several special events on tap. There were two classes of minibikes. Mitch Rasmussen won the small minibike class on his Honda, while it looked like Doug Brown won the larger class. But the official score sheet said David Knudsen got it on his Yamaha. Jeff Kingsford won the bicycle wheelie contest on a Schwinn, while Dick Beus wheelied his Kawasaki farther than the rest of the motorcycles. The OCA put on a good race - their organization seems to be improving greatly. There were a few problems, but all in all, they produced a pleasar afternoon in the sun. BEARD FIRST AGAIN AT MANlY By Jeff Coker PHOENIX, ARIZ., June 6, 1971 Butch Beard won his fifth main event of the season tonight to take the lead in the Open Expert point standings. Jim Nutter finally got things going and led most of the race· until he unloaded into the retaining wall He was not hurt seriously and is expected to be back next week. Sellers took second in both the heat and the main but it wasn't enough to keep the lead in the season standings_ A new Expert, Cliff Allison, is doing very well in the Open class as wen as the 250 and 125 classes after voluntarily moving up from the Amateurs_ Gary Wells ran away with the 250 closely by Matt Tipton. Art Fredinburg, Expert races while Tommy Halford and who tried to finish the main event Brian LaPlante fought for second. sliding on his new leathers, took third. Halford finally took second in both the heat and main. Woody Higgenbotton won the 125 Gary didn't fare so weD in the 125 - Amateur heat and narrowly lost the Expert as Allison, th en Dan Croyle, main to Doug Schnieder. These boys kept him in second place in the heat and really get with it. Tom Miller also beat main respectively. The 125 Expert is out the Schnieder brothers to win the finally starting to have some good close 100 Amateur heat and main. races. Rex Blackwen has finaUy found the The 500 Novice Main fell to Steve groove in th e Mauzy mud. He took first Wilks after Ken Hegland won the heat. in the Open Amateur heat, then won In the 125 Novice races Glen Palmer the main with a gearbox that barely won fllSt in the heat then fonowed Dave worked. Rex is really starting to ride Meeker to the line in the main. Glen that Maico. holds a commanding lead in the 125 This writer/rider took wins in the 250 Novice point standings. Amateur heat and main, foDowed very (Results on page 48)

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