Speedway
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By Bruce Young
RENO, NEV., July 15, 1971 - AI
Lockett promoted this the first class A
racing event ever to be held in Reno.
The crowd was turned out for this first
race of a series was approximately 1500
strong and were very enthusiastic about
the program. There were several top
riders from Southern Calif. that came
up for the first nigh t and many from the·
Sacramento, Calif., area also.
The top local rider to do well was
Barclay Treehall coming out from
retirement to try his hand and looked
very impressive. Barclay won his Div. II
heat race and finished second in the Div.
II Main Event.
Mike Caruso won his Handicap Heat
race and also won the Handicap Semi
Final and finished fourth in the
Handicap Main.
Consistent Chuck Hatcher won the
Handicap Main Event with Dave Gifford
right on his tail all the way. Chuck
stated later that he was holding his
breath all the way hoping no one would
be able to pass him on his run to the
checkered flag.
Gifford was the star of the night by
winning four events out of six that he
entered to take away all the money. The
crowd gave Dave a standing ovation
with each win.
Sumner McKnight and Don Cullum,
two good friends, came to the line for a
special match race. Sumner won over
Don with little effort.
(Results on page 28)
Gen.ai Tops 2505; Smith 6505
By Bill Spencer
HAYWARD, CAL., July 17, 1971 District 36 point leader John Gennai
stretched his lead by two more points
over National Scrambles Champ Jim
Foley with a decisive win in the
over·populated 250 Expert class. Gennai
had no problem in winning the 15-lap
Main over Bill Budde with Foley taking
third over Rick Hocking and Steve
Hernandez. A hard fought sixth place
went to Pat McCaul, but much of the
action of the night takes place in the
heat races.
In the first 250 Expert heat, Steve
Foste·r returned to the racing scene
Riders Choose II Over SI
By Dick Sorensen
PETALUMA, CAL., July 17, 1971 Petaluma's Sonoma County Sport Cycle
Association, the sponsoring club of a
once-a-month TT scrambles, seems to be
falling apart. Most clubs seem to
develop a better organization as they
gain experience by sponsoring races, but
when you go to the promoter to check
the IT track out on Thursday and he
has made it in to a "short track, it sure
doesn't help matters, especially when all
the advertising had been completed for
a IT. The club insisted on a IT, so the
promoter changed the short track a
"'LELAND SPEEDWA'
Mendes, AlIen Thrill Crowd
By J. Noffsinger
CHICO, CAL., July 17, 1971 - Gene
Mendes and Little Joe Allen both took
double wins at Cycleland Speedway
tonight.
Little Joe really had an evening of
riding as he, in addition to his regular
rides, also rode his 100cc Kawasaki in
the Expert heats and Main Event. He
thrilled the crowd by placing second in
his heat in the 250 Expert class, and
then in the 250 Expert Main again
Foley, Budd
Big Winners
By Bill Spencer
MORGAN HILL, CAL., July 11, 1971
- Returning to the lower track of Uvas
Meadows, oft times known as Cycle
Hills, the Palo Alto M.C. put on another
tremendous show despite a low turnout
of riders and spectators.
Scrambles Champ Jim Foley had
little difficulty winning the 250 Expert
Main, as well as his heat keeping Cl~rren t
point leader John Gennai in check.
Going in to today's races, Gennai had a
two point advantage on the week and
with a 25 point lead extra points only
compounds Foley's attempt to close the
gap. Foley beat Gennai in the heat and
when the flag flew for the main, Bill
Budde, Pat McCaul, Rocky Malynn and
Pat Hennen were all between the two. It
looked as if Foley migh t be able to close
the gap, but don't ever discount Gennai.
On the second lap, Hennen and
Malynn were having their own battle
and didn't seem to notice as Gennai
went by into fourth. On the next lap it
was McCaul's tum to move going deep
into the short right hander in an
attempt to get Budde - too fast and he
high sided. Next lap, Gennai did just
about the same thing in an attempt to
pass. He held, however, and made the
pass. Now he charged Foley, but it was
all for naught as Foley crossed the line
first negating one crucial, point that
Gennai had on F oJey. Budde held on for
third with Hennen fourth.
The big race of the day was a
combined 500 and 650 Expert Main
with the Foley-Gennai showdown.
Gennai wasn't having too much luck
with the starter and had another bum
start. The go.od jump that Bill Budde
and Foley got weakened any chances
for Gennai getting a good point break.
Gennai worked fast to get into third but
couldn't budge Foley who Ii kewise
couldn't move Budde and that is the
way they crossed the finish line.
Results: even up between Genni and
Foley. Budde and Hocking gained a
point a piece.
(Results on page 28)
despite a crack in his collar bone and led
off for the first lap. While running in the
groove, this Sonny Kenyon racer
tangled with Dennis Spence, sending
Spence into the infield. Referee J.B.
Woods called Foster in with the black
flag for a consultation but by the time it
was decided that it wasn't Foster's fault,
the race was long over and Steve was
relegated to the stands.
In the second heat, Bill Budde led it
off with Gennai in close tow. Gennai
watched as Budde went into the last
turn too wide and on the next lap he
held back for just a second and then slid
underneath for a real neato pass.
poured it on. Riding against superior
horsepower he found the simply did not
have enough out of the hole to make up
for his fine riding sty Ie.
In the I 00 Handicap Main he had the
fortune to catch Brad Johnson, on a
Yamaha with a dead motor for a second
or two in the north comer, and passed
him with one foot to spare at the finish
line.
Mendes had his Bultaco on the groove
all night long. In the 200 Handicap Main
he simply ran away with the race and at
no time was challenged for the lead by
those behind him. He also won the 200
Beginner Main, and now transfers out of
the beginner class to high 'things.
Dick Turner, at times is back in form
at Cycleland Speedway. He won the
Expert Main with relative ease, only on
occasion being pushed by Jim Hubbard
and his small- 12.5 Suzuki Duster; Jim
can really ride. However, Turner had
too much out of the hole with his larger
250 Triumph.
Dick also grabbed an early lead in the
250 Scratch Main and appeared that he
might win this event running away.
However, Dave Veffredo and his tired
Bultaco kept hanging in there. Sure
enough, Dick had difficulty in the north
comer going wide. This was all Dave
needed to dart in there on the inside
and hold off Turner the remainder of
the race to take first place.
A near capacity crowd was on hand
and the riders really put forth fme
efforts all evening long. There were
several crashes with many sighs and
groans from the stands. Except for_ one
occasion all riders and their machinery
stood the wear and tear. It did appear
that Bob Ballinger may have either
dislocated or broken his leg in a two
man spill in the north corner. Bob really
got off hard and left his mark 'On the
nrth fence.
(Results on page 28)
little bit (no jump) and tagged it a IT
track. All the riders were quie surprised
to see such a track and after practice
there were some unkind words Heard
toward the track, promoter, and club.
A wlreelie contest was put. on
between the Semi's and Mains with
Gary Newman riding a PurSang winning
the trophy.
Expert Harry Dring, riding a Bultaco
for Cycle Stop in Oakland, was the big
winner and only Expert in the 250
Junior/Expert combined race. It was a
follow-the-Ieader for the Juniors with
Randy Booth, Jerry Ellis and Kim
Seidler leading the pack.
The 500 Junior/Expert Combined
Main was a little more exciting, with
Danny Leet of Mill Valley riding a
Montesa for Cycle Town and Ron
Kesler of Santa Rosa riding a 400
Suzuki for Cycle West drumming up the
excitement. Gary Newman from San
Rafael on a Bultaco was the winner of
the event right from the start. Ron got
the jump on Danny but then on the
fifth lap Danny got under Ron which
really lit a fire. For the next two laps it
was a see-saw battle between these two,
when finally Kesler got in front for the
checkered flag and Danny took the
third place spot. That is the kind of
racing spectators pay to see.
With all of the turmoil that was
created this week it is hoped that the
Petaluma club will get back to its
normally good track and organization.
(Results on page 28)
Walden Smokes
Lucky Spokes
By N. A. Williams
BRUSH PRAIRIE, WASH., July 11,
1971 - ,Ninety-three riders made up the
other four classes (no Open class today),
and many of these had falls during the
day but no injuries were reported.
Rupert Dykstra (Kaw) was once more
the big winner in the 100 class, taking
both the Trophy Dash and the A Main.
In the 200 class the Trophy Dash
went to Jim Curtis (Bul), but Jim
couldn't get around the two leaders in
the A Main and had to settle for third.
Charlie Brown (Yam) got a good start in
the A Main and held it to take another
first place in the 200 class.
Don Dodge (Kaw) usually rides two
classes but had bike trouble today and
just rode one. He wQn the 250 Trophy
Dash and A Main.
In second place in these 250 events
was Jim Walden (Yam). Jim also rides in
the 500 class and he did a little better in
that class and won both the Trophy
Dash and A Main
(Results on page 28)
In the 20.lap 650 Expert Main, Ron
Talbot took the early lead with Tiffen
Mullenax holding off Bud Smith. On the
sixth lap Tiffen was not running
anymore and Smith was pressing Talbot.
Dan Hughes was holding off Steve
Hernandez and John Gennai was
pressing Steve. Gennai tried the pass
routine on Steve but bailed again and
was out for the nigh t. That was all right
as he was the eleventh man in a ten-man
race.
On lap 13, Smith set up Talbot going
across the jump and out horsepowered
him into the spectator tum. His Cycle
City Triumph was firmly in control of
the situation as it had been last night at
Lodi Cycle BowL The remainder of the
distance kept Talbot in front of Hughes
while Bill Budde got by Hernandez on
the outside exiting the first turn.
Something that Gennai couldn't do
without bailing. Very interesting.
It was crash and burn for the start of
the 650 Junior Main as six guys bit the
dust in the first tum. On the restart,
Paul Leuty took over the lead chores
with Conrad Saxelby having to do a
catch up job, as usual. He did just that
too as at the half way mark he was
firmly in control of second and making
ready to try a pass. Then it happened,
he fell coming through the spectator
turn. The gasp in the stands attested to
the rarity of this occurrence but he was
so far ahead of second that he picked
himself and his motor up, got it going
again and was rolling down the road
before Larry Trantham hit the corner.
The one thing he did do wrong was that
he cut a couple of course pylons and
despite finish ing second, he was
awarded third for that mistake.
(Results on page 28)
Grant Leads
Spillway Foes
By Margaret Earnest
SANTA MARlA, CAL., July 18, 1971
- Nearly 150 riders showed up to share
in the Lompoc Sio-Pokes' motocross
today.
. ill the Open Srs., Gary Chaplin took
the lead and stretched it until the last
lap when he high·sided because of a
broken fuel cock on his Maico; he had
no power when he needed it. Gary came
back in the next two with first place but
Ron Bass took the first overall and Gary
had to settle for second.
Doug Grant (AJS) and Johnny
Grossini (Hus) put on a display for the
folks in the combined 125-250 Srs.
Although a 125 had the lead for a lap,
the real contest was Grant and Grossini.
Grossini had some back luck, crashed,
and was unable to complete all motos
with Ooug Grant the big trophy winner.
Friendly competitors John Caldwell
and Dave Czerwinski each had 'a first
place in the 250 Jrs. and Dave
discovered his front hub broken so
Chuck did the brother bit and swapped
front hubs so Dave could cope with
Caldwell. For all of the fast and hard
work between the two brothers; Dave's
Maico refused to get off the line! The
late start sewed up the win for Caldwell
and Dave settled for a fifth.
The warm weather didn't slacken the
pace of local riders and the reason was
the announcement of a whole new city
racing team. Riders will be chosen from
the top finishers today with the hopes
for a match between at least six teams
representing their city throughout
District 35.
(Results on page 28)
BROOKS BATTLES BACK--AGAIN
Lom, CAL., July 9, 1971
Heavyweigh t hustler Jimmie Brooks
made it two in a row in the 650 Expert
race with another come from behind
win. Brooks" Cycle Center BSA
performed flawlessly and came from a
fifth place start to blast past early leader
Phil Ray exiting the famed tree turn.
Ray led off the bungie cord start with
a quick run through the first tum that
held Bill Landsborough and Bill Budde
in check. Budde continues to ride
despite a separation of the wrist that
"hurts a lot," but doesn't appear to
bother his speed.
Brooks and Ray hit the first turn on
the second lap, but Brooks carne off the
second tum in front and stayed for the
duration. Ray held second over
Landsborough. Brooks finished the
10-lap feature with a good lead while
Ray and Landsborough fought it out
with much passing and sliding, to the
deligh t of the more than 1200
spectators attending.
Paul Leuty drove off first in the 650
Junior Main as Conrad Saxelby, sporting
a new plate, t,ucked in behind Tony
Gonzales. Gonzales tripped up from
Salinas, Calif., to give the Lodi Cycle
Bowl a try with his compatriot, Thorton
Smith. Smith bailed while running
fourth, but Gonzales held on for the
second place trophy. ,
The senior citizen of motorcycle
racing in this day and age has to be Ray
Huff. Just to keep the young troops
honest and hard working, he led for the
distance in the 500 Expert Main to beat
out National Scrambles champ Jim
Foley and Jeff Holmer. Foley's not a
spring chicken himself (tonight was his
25th birthday), kept the 40-year-old
Huff hard pressed. Holmar had a battle
for third with Brian O'Hagan until
O'Hagan started spinning off the
corners. In doing so he let Rick Hocking
et by for fourth.
Hocking was having none of that in
the 250 Expert run, though. A good
drive saw him pull away from foley and
Brill Groce. Groce got wide in the
sweeper and let John Redmond, Huff
and Mike Thompson by. Huff gave
R~dmond a run but could not pass and
settled for fourth. Two tropes are too
shabby for this guy who used to ride
scrambles with Dick Mann.
(Results on page 28)
