Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

~ CAL EXPO PROFESSIONAL w MOTOCROSS ~ Some of the most spectacular -' motocross racing ever will take place ~ Sunday, Sept. 5 at the Cal Expo o Fairgrounds to highlight the last week of the Fair which will run Aug. 20 through Sep L 8. . Pre-empting the former Sacramento Mile National, this first of what is planned to be an annual event already has signed the top ten professional racers in the United States and the total number of racers participating is expected to reach almost 400. Professional contestan ts will vie for a $3000 cash purse as well as outstanding trophies. Three racing divisions are planned; 125cc, 250cc, and unlimited with entry fees for Amateurs pegged at $5 and Professionals at $I O. The actual track covers a full mile and includes hills, jumps, gullies, sand and mud, straightaways, and rugged turns. Admission fee to watch the races will be only $3 in advance and $3.50 at the gate. A total of 45 races will be run throughout the day beginning at 9 a.m. Gates open at 7 and practice will last until 8 :30. Races will run from 9 through 2 :30, with one half·hour break when the professionals will put on exhibitions for the crowd. Three hours of professional racing will begin at 3:30 leading up to the awards presentations at 6:30. The races are being sponsored by Olympia Beer and presented by the Dirt Diggers North, well known for their Hang Town evenL Management of production will be handled by Leisuretech Incorporated. Plenty of shady picnic grounds and play areas will be available for the spectator's benefit. Additional attractions at Cal Expo include continuous entertainment at six different stage areas, sailboat and scuba diving demonstrations, custom car show and a rock band perfonning at the Motocross. The entire day of motorcycle races promises to be one of the most exiciting events to take place at the year's California Exposition and one that motorcycle en thusiasts will not want to miss. McCaul Rides Mann Replica to S1 Win By Bill Spencer CAL., July 18, 1971 - San Jose Novice Pat McCaul rode his Bob Swamson, Dick Mann Replica Ossa to his second straigh t victory in less than a week. The Merced County Fair hosted the second Novice/Junior short track put on by Bob Barkhimer Associates and a health y crowd turned out in 100-plus temperatures. McCaul led for the entire 15 lap Main and was never pressured by second place finisher John Emerson. Emerson, aboard an ET Cycle Ossa was firmly in control of second for the distance MERCED~ Konle Ends Woods Sweep Bid By Sportphoto BAKERSFIELD, CAL., July 21, 1971 - For the second straight week here at the Kern County Fairgrounds oval, Rick Woods was just harely held back from sweeping the program. Last week it was Dave Gifford in the Match Race and this week it was a super inspire 'Big Mike' Konle in the Handicap Main. . The 50-yard marker was pretty crowded with Woods, Steve Bast and Sonny Nutter all waiting for the starter to throw the green flag (the gate had gone kaput in the semis). At the flag, Woods was away like the wind, holding down fourth spot coming out of the fust tum. He slipped into third spot going into the second tum, but in the attempt to get around Ed Williams and into second he got way out against the fence, losing much valuable time. Meanwhile, Konle wasn't letting any grass grow under his wheels and was riding the best race of the season, opening up a considerable lead, too much lead for Rick to overcome as he followed Mike to the checker, ahead of Bast, Nutter, Williams and Stu Morley. After some problems with the track surface, or lack of it, last week, this week the track was as smooth as it has been all year and the swiftness of the racing was very loud though unspoken testimoney to the condition of the oval. 'Big Mike' grabbed another win in the Scratch Consolation, leading from wire to wire in front of a hard pressing Dave Gifford, then Jim Gresham and John Fishburn. Ed Williams showed Sumner McKnight the way home in the Feature Match Race, leading from start to finish, although, Sumner was never far behind and one error by Ed and Sumner would have been past him. (Results on page 28) despite being closely followed by A&A ace Scott Brelsford. Brelsford rode a Yamaha twin that wasn't quite the righ t machine for this rough and hard \4 mile short track and spent much of the day racing in the air. While his machine is the greatest on tracks like Ascot and Corona, it is not ideally set up for hard tracks. The day's activities consisted of qualifying heats that transferred everyone to four heat races and even though only 31 riders showed up', the program had its thrilling moments. In the first qualifying heat, McCaul bailed and nearly became the first casualty when Dennis Huff plastered a tire mark on McCaul's Bell Star, but the young rider was unhurt and was able to remount and finish the event. Intermission broullht out the water truck bu t it was ineffective due to the rising h eat and the track was still in fairly rough condition as the Trophy Dash was lined up. When the flag flew, Brelsford let loose with a great hole shot that nearly put IUm in the bleachers. No lack of horsepower for his Yamaha. He managed to get it settled down. and easily won the three-lapper over Tim Thomas, John Brumond and a falling Snider. AFter heaping young lovies and trophies on, Scott was given a few minutes to get cooled off for the Main. From the pole McCaul settled down to getting a good start and holding the groove and with Emerson in tow, he did just that. Brelsford from a sixth place start to third but was unable to pass any farther due ·to the roughness of the track. (Results on page 28) PETERSON RETURNS TO SILENT LOBI By Bill Spencer Lom, CAL., July 16, 1971 - With that Huff put his Zarkarian Bandido most of Northern California tracks into orbit and worked all the way up to requiring mufflers for motorcycles, second and was ready to try for the things have become very quiet, at least National Scrambles Champ when the checkered came out. as far as the bikes are concerned. The racing is still hot and heavy as the point In the 500 Junior, Dennis Simms battle for the topp twenty starts into rocketed hiS 400 Suzuki into the lead the last half of the season. over Rich Anderson and Dave Scott, but Tonight's 250 Expert Main had a that wasn't good enough for the victory surprise winner as Erik Petersen though as Anderson's Triumph got returned after a four-week layoff due to underneath at the tree tum. a crash and led for the entire distance to The 650 Expert show was another win h is first Expert race. The race thriller as Jimmie Brooks turned his resembled a three-ring circus as it Cycle Center BSA loose at the onset and required three starts to get it going. The took a commanding lead that surely third start saw Petersen in the lead and would put him up for his fourth straight Jim Foley failed to make the top five. Main Event victory. But this was not to He was right behind Petersen on the be as Brooks dumped in the tree tum second go, but it seems that tonight was giving the lead to Mike Sarandria. On not to be his night, at least for this class. the next lap Mike went wide at the same Petersen held off Bill Budde, Rick turn and let Bud Smith take over the Hocking and Jeff Holman for the first chore of leading the ten-man main half of the ten laps as Foley started to around the slippery grooved facility. work his way up from sixth. On the last Smith liked the lead so much that he lap, he was in fourth ready to make a held it for the rest of the distance and pass attempt on Hocking at the tree beat out Bill Budde and Dennis Spence. turn when a tangle ensured letting The 650 Junior go was a liard fought Dennis Spence get by and the finish was battle for second as Paul Leuty won it, Petersen, Hocking, Spence and Foley. but just barely as Conrad Saxelby really It wasn't all bad for Foley though as put on a charge exiting the last comer in the 500 Expert Main. He leaped into after having to work from fourth the lead and literally tore away from the through a tangle past the infamous tree field to a fast and furious pace that kept tum, and then nearly nipped LeUty at him a half a lap in the lead, until the the checkered. The battle between these end was in sighL Honda ace John Hall two is great watching as both riders are started off second to Foley with very smooth, but Saxelby doesn't get Hocking in hot pursuit. Third spot was off the line well and Leuty does. held by Selby team rider, Brian O'Hagan Consequently, Leuty -has less work to with ancient age Ray Huff in hot do than Saxelby. pursuit. It wasn't too many more laps (Results on page 28)

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