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/125740
... ;::: ... it oj c( ~ w Z W ..J U > U T _ fiBt v- Expert Robert E. Lee _ the cllergeat Senta Fe's 25-Lap Short Track National. Trailing are Chuck Palmgren (Sl.r/im Rice (21 and OaveSehI (161. 'Little General' Wins Battle at Santa Fe By Peggy Dovd Dixie Cycle Newl Photo. by Dorothy &: Vince Mayer CHICAGO, ILL., Aug. U, 1971 - The "Little General" likes Friday the 15ths; he showed that tonight at the Santa Fe Short Track National championship. They fall him the "Little General" for an obvious reason. It is not because he ridee around the track with his hand tucked under his racing leathers' vest Napoleon sytle. It's because of his name, Robert E. Lee, and you know the gallant charges he made. Tonight. the "little General" made his own gallan t charge as a fint·year Expert. He charged right into the lead at the ltart of the 25·1ap National and kept charging all the way through to the checkered. He did it so weD that the real General must be resting very peacefuDy and proud. Barry Brigga, whoae hopes for a World Speedway Championship were all but daahed several weeki ago in England, hopped the Atlantic and made the National a prime target. He made the 25-blp feature and gave Lee the early acare. With R.E.L. methodically maneuvering hia way about the track Briggs was awing the capacity; standing-room-only crowd with high-illiding Ityle, riding the outside of the hard, black groove holding second for the fmt six IapL Then, another first-year Expert, Rex Beauchamp (H-D) got under Briggs on lap eight and started for Lee, who was well away by this time. There was just no catching him, though, aa Lee continued to stretch his lead. Neil Keen (Yam), that Mjd-westem rider who knowl how to psych riders ~ut and work up to win, waa running SIXth at the start before working up to third at the midway point. Keen had let fastest qualifying time at 16.11 and appeared to be the odds-on favorite to win the National after he won his heat with the fastest time and fonowed up with his semi win. But, 'way out in front was R.E.L. still, and he had other ideas, so Keen had to settle for third after a real battle with Beauchamp and Jim Rice (BSA). Of the four main contenden for the National Points Championship, only Rice made it to the Main to collect more points - 61, in fact, for his fourth and that moves him past Dick Mann. Rice now trails leader Gene Romero by a slim 25 with his current 657 total. Two other riders currently in the top Ten also managed to cop some points tonight. Finished with his brief 15-day suspenaion, Dave Aldana (BSA) guided his mount to a sixth-place fmish to retain sixth in the ltandings, edging d~ to Mark Brelsford. Keeping pace with the other member of "Team Mexican" was Dave Sehl (H-D) who liDished 10th to get a stronger hold on _ t h in the pain.. race. Chuck Palmgren (Yam) grabbed fifth place honors and cash and added his pointa to his previous total and found he was 11 th on the list, just a few shy of Australian Kel Carruthers, who has his chance at some more National Pointa at the next two Nationals: road races at Pocono and Talladega. Lee's win brought him tons of money as he snagged all the lap cash, the top share of the $9000 pune, and contingency from Carlisle Tires and Cycle News. It was just one of those lucky nighta for the Texan from Fort Worth. Now that Gary Scott has dropped off the Junior Circuit to stick around home in Southern Califomia, Kenny Roberta (Yam) has found the going much easier. Tonight, he just ran away from his second heat foes to keep pace with the first heat winner Berry Gerald. In the Junior Main, several riden had balancing problema and the race had to be restarted - several times. Roberta shot off the line in the firat but Keith U1icki and Ralph Duncan each went down to draw a reltart. Both were up and ready for it and again it was Roberta off the line holding the point. But, down went Duncan again on the third lap. Ed Salley was unaware of Duncan's plight however, and had to lay his machine down to avoid the scattered pieces of the fallen Yamaha. Out came the red flag. Duncan, ok, was not allowed to restart and Roberta picked up where he left off - taking the point and finishing out the remaining six laps to win handily. The real battle was for second between Darryl Hunt (Oss) and Ulicki (H-D). Neck-and-neck most of the way. Hunt caught the checkers slightly abead. Bill Morgan (Bul) picked up fourth. RESULTS 25-LAP NATIONAL Robert E. Lee Oss Rex Beauchamp .............• H-D Yam Neil Keen Jim Rice BSA Chuck Palmgren Yam BSA Dave Aldana Charlie Chappel Yam Roger Reiman ..........•..... H-D Barry Briggs , Yam Dave SeM 1I·D Royal Sherbet Bul Frank UJicki H-D JUNIOR MAIN Ken Roberta Yam DaayIHunt ............•..... Chw Keith Ulicki H-D Bill Morgan Bul William Schaffer BuI Berry Gerald 0 .. Gregg Morris 0 .. Neal Blochinger _ H-D Bob Robinson ........•........ Bul JohnMaiabaIJ Bul Ed SaIky , ...................• Oss NATIONAL STANDINGS (15001" more pta.) 1. Gene Romero 2.Jim Rice 3. Dick Mann 4. Jim Odom 5. Mark Brelsford 6. Dave Aldana 7. Dave Sehl 8. Eddie Mulder 9. Kel Carruthers 10. John Hateley 680 657 619 538 438 419 373 526 501 292 11. Chuck Palmgren 12. Don Castro 1$. Don Emde 14. Cal Rayborn 15. Tom Rockwood 16. Keith Mashburn 17. Dave Hansen 18. Rex Beauchamp 19. Dave Smith 20. Ronnie RaIl 21. Mark Williams 22. Terry Dorsch 23. Walt Fulton 287 282 279 232 251 224 221 201 197 187 165 157 156