Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

HONDA 500 WINS 24·HOUR 'RODUOION ROAD RACE .... M rf. By Sharon Oxner Cycle News East NELSON LEDGES, OHIO, June 19-20, 1971 - Preparation, skill, concentration and team work seemed to be the key to victory here at the 24-hour Production Road Race this weekend. On Tuesday, less than a week before the event, Cycle News had a call from a local gentleman who wanted additional information about the .event. I told him that I would have to c·ontact the promoters and return the call. After scrounging up a copy of their advertisement, I contacted the phone number listed. It so happened that the number was that of a team that was entered in the race. Well, to make a long story short I was asked to accompany the team and possibly even ride. The following evening I went up to Ashtabula Cycle Sales, The Home of the winning Honda 500 Team. Uust about the only new Honda 500-Four in captivity). When I arrived the machine was still in crate condition and had about 153 miles on it. Other than the few miles on the speedometer the machine remained untouched by human ingenuity. The entire evening was spent measuring for a new location for footpegs and brake lever; one that would be comfortable for all riders. Handlebars were also an important topic that would have to be compromised before the race. Handlebars were changed, footpegs and brake lever was moved, and number plates were mounted. After a quick preparation session the machine was ridden all night Thursday to put a few miles on the machine before the strenuous 24-hour. We arrived about 10:30, a little behind schedule. Tech inspection was made and everything was GO! Steel City Speedway. the setting for the event since its inception three years ago once again was made available to the eRA. Twenty-five teams turned out to try their hand at the challenging course but only 12 finished. At 3 :20, riders were given the go signal and after they ran to their mach incs for the LeMans start, it was nothing but rough going to the end. The number 6 team mounted on a 750 Norton took the lead early in the race and held it for what would have 100 ked like a clear cut victory for them. Darkness was beginning to take its toll as the fog settled down in the early morning hours. The pace remained steady, but had slowed somewhat. I was suddenly awakened at 7:16 a.m. and informed by a very excited pit master that the number 6 team, the Norton that was ahead of the Honda 500 team by 9 laps, had crashed. The miracle that seemed almost impossible had happened. The Norton team spent 28 minutes in the pits trying to repair the damage that had been inflicted on the machine in the crash, while the Honda team charged on to what seemed almost eminent victory. Still confident, bu t not overly so, the Honda team kept a close watch on the Norton and also kept up the pace on the track. Finally after a rather lengthy pit stop the Norton was back on the track, trying, but never regaining the lost ground. Every 15 or 20 laps the Norton now had to pit for oil. Their pit stops were averaging about a 1 :45, while the Honda team was averaging 40 seconds. The race continued and the Honda team seemed to be the only one that hadn't crashed sometime during the course of the evening. About 10:20 a.m. Wendall Swagen crashed the. Honda in the final stretch before the checkers' tower. Members of the pit crew were already half-way down the field heading toward the downed rider and machine when Wendall remounted and the machine was once again back in contention, having only lost about 25 seconds. Wendall rode a few laps and was given the pit signal so that the machine could be checked for an y damage and also to check on th e condition of the rider. Everything checked out OK and a relief rider was assigned the rest of his hour. What a close one that was! The lap coun ts were holding steady and everyone was beginning to feel the stress. The run continued and the teams were holding consistent. The only machine to fall out during the last hour was the Harley-Davidson team. The machine quit about the last hour and the team tried desperately to get it to run but it proved fruitless. The 24 hour was at hand and the checkered flag was shown first to the team that had conquered the overall victory; the number 36 Honda team. After the entire field had passed the checkered flag, the Harley team pushed their machine back out onto the track and pushed it over the finish line to complete the run. The bike was mounted by a rider without a helmet, wearing a Husqvarna hat, and just as it crossed the line the machine fired. The announcer blared out in his usual manner '''lbe Harley-Davidson Team has been disqualified for not having a helmet." All in jest, but a wonderful ending for a truly amazing race. (Results on page 28) > :; .., ~ w Z W ...J U >- U

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