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/125737
.... Roberts, -Plutz Leads MX~Like Euro Scrambles '" M ::> < ~ w Z W .J U >- U '. Rich Thorwaldson - he's the one on the Suzuki. -' ~ ,;, By Dick Wright BARSTOW, CALIF., July 25, 1971 The Hilltoppers M.C. picked a little valley ten miles out of Barstow, with mountains all around, and an altitude of 4500 feet. It was circled with beautiful Joshua trees and the higher altitl.\de kept the heat down to about 94 degrees. Since this was a European Scrambles, each race ran about forty five minutes, around two courses, each about ten miles long. The Novice course was fast, with a long fire road, and lots of open trails. The Amateur-Expert course was very tight; everyone geared down for this rocky "riders" course. Also there was to be a special Rescue 3 race after all the regular races, with a $10 entry fee and Rescue 3 getting a good share of the money, and the top finish·ers getting the balance. The lightweights went off at 9 a.m. on the top of the hill a mile out on the Am/Ex. course. Larry Pfutzenreuter (Bul) took the lead at the start and held it until the end. Young Tom Brooks had moved into second spot by the second lap on his red 125cc Carabela and Jeff Wright was third on a 125cc Rickman, so a real race was shaping up for second overall and first in the 125cc class. By the fourth lap, Wright was running a strong second, and everyone gave Wright the "turn-it-on" sign and Pfutz's pits gave him, his "closing in" sign, but it didn't matter as Jeff got a flat front tire and had to let up a little, while pfutz stopped coasting and got with it to come in for the win. This makes it 15 wins for him to date. Wright was second overall and first 125. Tom Brooks was next on his 125cc Carabela taking fust Amateur, followed by Wes Anderson, Jr. on a Bultaco. Next was JiIp Brown also Bultaco-mounted. In the pits, after the race, Pfutzenreuter said, "That Wright goes fast on that 125cc, I'm glad I have more power on the start because he is really good on the tight motocross stuff. " The Novices lightweights were running at the same time as the Am/Ex. race so we didn't catch the overaJl winner but first I25cc was Ed Wright on a Bultaco, and second 125 went to Geroge Eggleston. Both are members of the Antelop Ramblers M.C. The Open Amateur-Experts were up next, and it turned out to be a real battle between Rich Thorwaldson on a Suzuki, and J.N. Roberts on a Husky. Rich grabbed an early lead and led it for three laps and i~ looked like he was going to win it as he was holding a three-hundred-yard lead on J.N., but on the third lap Rich did a bad endo in the rocks on the b'ack side of the course and landed on his head. He was knocked out for fifteen minutes, it looks like he will have to get a new Bell helmet, but he was OK after an hour of rest. J.N. came in for the win and asked about Rich as did all the leaders who saw him out there. Bill Saltzman took second. Art Knapp was third and Bill Walters was fourth. All were on Huskies. First Amateur went to Rich Richardson on a Husky, who caught John Taylor (CZ) on the last lap. John had kicked a rock and broke his foot on the last lap. but Rescue 3 had him in hand and he looked OK. According to several of the riders, the course was characterized by motocross turns at the bottom. Miss the .... tum (or forget which way it turned) and it's into the rocks. It was probably a situation like that that KO'd Rich Thorwaldson. Meanwhile. the Open Novices were doing their thing on the other course. Rex Coday was able to take the lead on the last lap and come in for the win on his Husky. Mike Marsh (Gre) had to settle for second, a a very hot Forrest Wrigh t took third. The 100cc Amateur-Experts were the last to go and there was a good battle going between Cordis Brooks (Hod) who grabbed an early lead and Mitch Mayes (H.D) who jumped on the main trail in front of Terry Clark, who was also riding a Harley. Brooks held the lead on the second lap, but Mayes was able to catch and pass him on lap three. Clark was pushing hard from third spot. On the final lap it was Mayes in for the win. Clark passed Brooks to take second and Brooks was third. Rich Marl was fourth, and first Amateur went to No. 456 with all the hair on his helmet but he didn't stop so we could ask his name. The 100cc Novice event was a wild mixed up affair. Kevin Hamblen, No. 536, was the winner on a Hodaka. He came in on the last lap with his number plate in his teeth; they waved a black flag with a white border around. it and he went on for another lap as did a couple of other riders. I bet his teeth were sore. Steve Cohen took second on a DKW, and Mic Thorpe was third on a Hodaka. At I p.m. all the riders (with a few notable exceptions) lined up for the special Rescue 3 race which was to use both courses and start on the Novice course. At the drop of the banner, Art Knapp, No. 17, grabbed the lead on his 400 Husky. Jeff Wright was next on a new 250 Rickman followed closely by Jim Brown on a 250 Bultaco. Two miles out they all turned onto the long fire road. At one time Wright was able to lay his Rickman into the side back of the fire road and get good traction and take the lead. He turned the big Rickman on all the way down the fire road and built up a good lead, which he held all the 1/ ~ 1 lJ.. I ~ ~ " '."".' "'Larry Pfutzenreuter picked up his 15th win of the year. phew! way to the finish line, where his first place money was waiting and a rather please Team Rickman manager, Jack Byers, was also waiting. Jim Brown, No. I9x, was second on his Bultaco and Rick Mark took first Amateur also on a Bultaco and Tom Brooks took first 125. Ron Hall as fIrSt Open Amateur on a Husky. And Rescue 3 picked up a nice check, to help put more good things in their big truck to help the desert rriders. Rich Thorwaldson was injured and unable to compete in the Rescue 3 race. J.N. saw Rich fall and was apparently shook. He asked about Rich after the race, found out he was okay, packed up and left right away. Larry Pfutzenreuter also elected to skip the special race. (Results on page 28) J. N. Roberts performance brough the crowd to its feet ...or seat. ... 1 ~ ,I • , ..