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/125733
.... By Ken Dunlap Cycle News East BOWLING GREEN, KY., June 19-20, 1971 - It took him two days, but Boris Murray shattered both ends of the A/F Quarter-Mile Drag Bike Record during the NHRA Championships, held at the Beech Bend Raceway. During regular qualification and record runs Saturday, Murray's twin Triumph-engined bike blasted to a blistering 174.08 mph in 8.87 seconds, but Boris was unable to back it up with the necessary within-two-percent Tun when he wheelied off the start line. Officials allowed him one more pass Sunday; this time he upped the speed end of the record to 174.75 mph. His runs were also the top times of the meel. Murray made three straight runs at 174 mph, which would have insured him the top eliminator spot, if his drive chain hadn't broken on the final run. He was lined up against Larry Welch, who was riding Sonny Routt's twin Triumpb dragster. When the light turned green Murray was I~ft two feet in front of the line, while Welch soloed to 156.52 mph in 9.34 seconds. Murray wasn't the only one to rewrite the record books at Beech Bend. A total of nine bikes set new marks, three of them in street bike classes. Ron Fringer, whose Harley-Davidson A/Gas bike holds the American Motorcycle Drag Racing Association record of 10.05 seconds, set a NHRA record of 9.99 seconds. John Neidengard set the top speed record in that class with a: 139.53 mph run on his Harley. Two tearns established the 750 Honda as a bike to be reckoned with. The Action Fours team, with Bill Hahn riding, set the C/G bike speed record at 121.45. Their B/Street machine now holds both ends of the record at 11.69 and 118.57 mph. Ron Teson, riding for the Tedder, Muldon, Teson team, ran the quarter in 11.19 seconds on their four. The bike later solo d lo the Junior Eliminator win in 13.77 seconds at 98.79 mph, when Kenny Stiller pulled the dead man switch on th e start line and was unable to kick slarl to make the final run. Saturday's qualification runs were made wilh hardly a hitch; almost 400 bikes were timed. But Sunday's eliminations got started late. The officials candidly admitted the delay was caused by a misplaced plug for the Chrondek timers. No one was more eager to get the bikes started lhan the officials. though. After the bike drags, Beech Bend held its regular Sunday afternoon drag program; and after that there was to be the stock car event on the adjacent quater-mile oval. (Results on page 28) '" !D > :; .., ~ w Z W ...J U > U ~ Ron Teson of Hawthorne, Calif., accepts congradulations from Bob Daniels, Division Director of NHRA for the Tedeer, Muldeon and Teson victory in the Junior Eliminator bracket at the National M/C Championships at the Beech Bend Raceway. Photo by Tyler. WHITEY MARTINO * BENEFIT RACE * JULY 5, at INDIAN DUNES EUROPEAN SCRAMBLES 4 MILE COURSE WATER & HILLS $5.00 Post Entry - Riders will receive a ticket for the Benefit Raffle for Whitey Martino - Drawing will be held at Indian Dunes on July 5. Prizes include - Mini-bike, Leathers. Helmets, Oil and others. " ~HJ[&knt...~~rle. Additional raffle tickets available $1.00 each. $600 Cash to Seniors (Amateurs and Experts will ride Senior Division) CASH· BREAKDOWN 100cc SIMI VALLEY JAYCEES PRESENTS 2nd ANNUAL MOTOCROSS For All Jrs. at ROUGH RIDERS PARK Aug 7 .. For more info: call 805-522-2380 100's 125 250 500 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 250cc 125cc $45 $30 $20 $15 $10 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th $50 $35 $20 $15 $10 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Open $60 $45 $30 $15 $10 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th * $65 $50 $30 520 $15 SPECIAL EVENT - - - MATCH RACE * V IEWFIN DEIS vs CH ECK EIS "100% Of Entry Goes to Whitey" 40% Trophies to Juniors 4 Ft. Club Trophy to the club with most entries FIREWORKS - - Night of July 4 Camping Permitted Showers for riders JOHN RICE SAYS "No Desert Rider can beat a Motocross Rider"