Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

DeKeeter Comeback; Dor.sch Hot at Corona Baker, Moore Thrill Crowd By David Swift GARDENA, CAL., June 25, 1971 Unique and ironic circumstances led to DeWayne Keeter's win of tonight's 15 lap Expert Main at Ascot. Keeter had won his heat earlier but at the start of the feature event he lolli-gagged around nursin!: a sick machine. "A rock flew and knocked loose my ignition wire," said DeWayne later, fingering the d.isconnected terminal. uThere wasn't much I could do but sit out. Then Hart fell. " A t the start of the Expert Main, Mel Lacher looked to be on the road to another sweep. After easily winning his heat and the Trophy Dash, he moved to the front of the final with the same ease. Short Seaborne and fast qualifier Lloyd Houchins were pumm eling the second position when Houchins, looking for bis second win in that many weeks, dialed on all the beans and put both Seaborne and Lacher behind him. With ten more laps to go, the pleased crowd stood up to watch the beginning of what should have been a heart-stopping duel between the two evenly-matched racers. That's when Ch uck Hart fell. Hart was running a tight fifth in the fast-moving field (fast-moving except for Keeter, who was on the verge of being lapped) when he gently wen t on his duff going into lap six. Up in the pressbox, Sandy Reed watched him lay there for a few moments, then casually reached up and jiggled the "stop everything" switch, thus setting the stage for Keeter's victory. . The single-file restart saw Houchins in the front, followed by Lacher, Seaborne, Glen Adams, and Terry Dorsch. Keeter, that loose wire secured, shared the rear with Hart. At the green flag, Houchins pulled the trigger and found nothing there. His BSA had soured badly during the wait and he would end up limping a couple of laps and quitting. In the meantime, Mel was out front again getting in some hard laps, this time with Eddie Wirth. Keeter hadn't been riding hard until now, however, so everything was a bit fresher. He cat-walked throught the field and, with two laps to go, passed both Lacher and Wirth on the outside. These two were helpless to DeWayne's aggression, for the hard riding had gnawed away most of their inside rubber while Keeter's looked just dandy. I t was Keeter's first win of the season. Ron Moore was fastest Junior qualifier, setting the clocks at 23.28 seconds, just a taste off of Houchin's 23.25. Moore was the man to beat and AI Baker barely did it. Baker and Moore scurried to the first corner and quickly separated themselves from the rest. Al put a sizeable gap between himself and Ron, one that Brelsford Nips Quick Nichols AI Baker blasted his way to the Main Event win as at Ascot Park Friday night. Moore soon closed up. Baker's Triumph started doing some nasty wobbles as he powered out of the turns, and finally he actually came off the machine, recovering brilliantly but dropping behind. With two laps to go, Moore appeared a cinch. Suddenly Al took a series of giant steps and they went into the last tum with their elbows in each other's eyes. The entire city of Gardena sprung to its feet as both racers wrenched their throttles well past the stops. Only those sitting on the finish line could tell Baker had won it, and probably some still had their doubts. The Novice Main was no competition to the other two features, as far as sheer excitement goes. Steve Nichols, lonely after 'Scott Brelsford broke in the first heat, won it all the way. Gary Caldwell and Denny Carlson clattered over the second spot for the initial laps, but soon every0'le settled down. Few riders bothered to change positions during the balance of the race. By John Bethea CORONA, CAL., June 26, 1971 Terry Dorsch rna y soon set up permanent residence at Corona Raceway. The speedster Expert is thus far undefeated in all nine races he's competed in during the three weeks of professional half-mi1.e races promoted by J.C. Agajanian. Tonight, he broke three of his own records he set back onJune 12's opener with a 22.99 .c1ocking in time trials, a 5:43.83 time in the 150-Lap Main and a 1:10.39 showing in the Trophy Dash. The only mark he failed to better was his 5-lap heat time of 1:57.10 set two weeks earlier, he missed that by .34 of a second. Lloyd Houchins did his best to defeat Dorsch, but all he came up with was a second place in the main after holding off Nick Theroux in a tight finish. Junior Loyal Penn, after running third on the first lap, finally tallied at fourth. Novice hotshoe Scott Brelsford again aced o~t Steve Nichols in another tight one which these two have been coming up with both here and at Ascot Park. Nichols took the early lead in the main, but out of tum two of the third lap, Scott got the inside as Nichols went wide and took the lead. Brelsford then opened up a sizeable lead before Nichols again put on the charge. As it happened at Ascot a month ago, Scott went a little high on tum four on the final lap and Steve got the inside line to drag to the finish. The crowd jumped to its feet in this tight one and Brelsford just barely held on for the win. "I really. was scared there .. bit," Brelsford SaId later. "In fact, today I wasn't really sure I'd be able to race tonigh t. We blew some parts and my tuner, John Claudino, had to fly up to San Francisco to get some new ones. He flew back this afternoon and got them to me about 3 0 'clock." Brelsford intends to continue making the weekly trip from the Bay area down south to Ascot on Friday and Corona on Saturday "because I want that Number One Novice ranking. Steve's got it on me because he's got one extra day on setting up his machine whereas I don't. It showed tonight as the Yamaha seemed to be getting hot and loading up a bit after three laps. Like, I'd turn on the throttle and it was nothing like the first few laps. But, John and I will get it going for next weekend." (Results on paj1;e 28) GRi4~ilent ... 7(ynCWide. NOISY MOTORCYCLES RESTRICTIONS Recognizing that noise pollution by unmuffled motorcycles is a serious problem, the AMA has decided to set further restrictions on such equipment used ill AMA sanctioned competition. The AMA Executive Committee has broadened restrictions for 1972. All Amateur events with the exception of Terry Dorsch collects his Trophy Dash brass before going on the win his ninth consecutive race at Bonneville land speed record attempts Corona Raceway. WIll be run with mufflers as directed by the 1972 AMA Amateur ACtivities Rule NEW DUNES TRACK DYNAMOMETERS Book. In addition, all professional .Indian Dunes Park in Valencia, Calif., motocross events wilt be run with Hanson Engineering Co. * WIll now have two separate motocross mufflers meeting standards set by the P.O. Box 2354, Canoga Park, Cal. 91306 tracks. A second course, which is under AMA. (213) 882·2667 . construction to the east of the track The AMA will enforce a standard of currently being used for racing activity, DISTRIBUTORS WANTED 92dB(A) measured at a distance of 50 IS expected to be completed and in feet for all amateur events plus operation soon. professional motocross. "This new course," according to With the limited restrictions Dunes manager, Walt James, "should established in 1971, the 130,000 remove much of the burden which is member AMA has experienced strong now being placed on the first track. support from its 2,000 chartered Particularly, on race days - which are Sport Lube Specialties, P.O. Box 629 motorcycle clubs in enforcing this rule_ on schedule for both Saturday and So. Gate, Calif. 90280. 213-863·7786: Executive Director Russ March states Sunday through the end of August. This Poly-Oil and Lube Distributors, 4610 W. "Our experience in 1971 indicates that will provide the space for those who Indian School Rd., Phoenix, Ariz. our membership will be more than don't want to race, but would like to 85019. Ph. 606-278-6368. happy to assume additional gc:t a .. little practice, or tune their Cycle Speed, 3201-0 Orange Grove Ave., North Highlands, Calif. 95660. responsibility as to the noise emission of bIke... 916-481-0808. their mo torcycles. AMA members are The new course, which is Competition Products Co., 1757 well aware of the harm that bas bee~ approximately 2 mHes in length, is being Foothill Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah done by irresponsible motorcycle users, cut through virgin ground and allows a 84108. Ph. BOI-484-5524. and I am positive that they will do all rider plenty of action as he, or she wind Texas Cycle Distributors, 5216 they. can to' improve the quality and their way beneath large cotto~wood Whitesettlement Rd., Fort Worth, Texas publi ceq> of the sp'Oft and ., sh.ad~·trees. •• 76114. Ph.817-732-5181. hobby of motorcycling." .----------I I I I I * I I I ----------,C~ ~~~~'~~!M & " 0. cD > :; ..., ~ w Z w ~ U ~ U

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