Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

N Nortb .... '" M g. « ~ w Z OTTO, GENNAI w ..J U > U REIGN SUPREME AT SALINAS TT SCRAMBLES By Bill Spencer SALINAS, cal., Aug. 22, 1971 - Ten years of racing a t the Salinas Rodeo Ground has brought only a few changes. This benefit scr,ambles, put on by the Salinas Ramblers M.C. in conjunction with many local groups has had all the bad labels a track can have. A killer course, too rough, too dusty, too fast for sportsman competition. But with all these bad factors, the racers turn out in ql,lantities that defies imagination. The race was billed as the largest scrambles event ever and at any- track. For this year, a limit of 500 riders was put on the entry and it was all done in the mail by July 15, over one month before the race was scheduled. In past years nearly 700 would 'show up to race and over 10,000 would pay to watch. But the factors of safety weighed heavy on the club and for 1971, safety would be the keynote. Only 14 men to a race, better track conditions and a quick program would set the pace. Only 400 riders pre-entered and although some were turned away at the gate and unhappy, it was for the best. Riders come from all over to ride this The action was tight in the Salinas Benefit Scrambles. one big event. A couple of young riders from Ukiah worked their way south racing until they got here. Southern Californians are rare bu t Nevada riders were presen t. To pick a favorite for the two big events, 250 and 650 Experts is a tough job. Last year's 650 winner, Rick Otto, has been out with a leg injury for a month, but in practice he looked all repaired. The man that has been winning most of the races is John Gennai and he is probably the mos): likely to do it. Not only in the 650, but also the 250. The fastest rider clocked in practice was Rick Hocking, on his 250 Bultaco, at 34:50 secs. The rest of the fast guys were righ t around 35 sees. and so, to the heat races. Under the watchful eyes of AMA Randy Scagliott holds advantage over 350 Jr. winner Eric Bengston. ~ - t ;:'" Amateur Director, Mike Vancil, the heat races were run. In the first of four 250 Expert heats John Gennai took an easy four seconds win. The second went to Rick Hocking with Pat McCaul closing in for a close second spot~ Hocking dazzled the fans with a wheels tanding finish. Mike Renslow won the third with a tlLree second advantage at the checkered and Dennis Spence ducked under Mike Franco for the fourth. In the final McCaul led it out from the outside but went wide exiting the first tum and Renslow took over with Gennai tucked in for second over McCaul. On the second lap, Mike missed fourth gear, three times and had to tuck in behind Gennai going into turn one. Mike made a low pass on the next lap, before the jump, but couldn't hold it and Gennai crept away for the win. RensJow fell after the checkered on a slickspot and was late for the ~..l"'""""UI ".:_ _.m.p.r.e.se.n.tal~tionof 10 trophies. \ ,. ""'" Mike Renal' roIts4o the'outside"lQ .memPHo-hold off-oIotll'H3ennai (3) in the 250 Expert elMS. Ger.mai wasn't quite so lucky in the 650 heat. He Led out the first heat over Rick Otto but exiting the first turn, he got slidewise and dropped to fourth. Rick ran away and hid. Bill Budde pulled in for second in front of Bill Landsborough and Gennai got disqualified for cutting the jump. In the second heat, Tiffen Mullenax led off but Dennis Spence came up with the win. Bruce Anderson won the third after a battle with Jim Brooks. Otto proved king of the 650's again in the eigh t lap Main with a wire to wire win ,after three starts that left Bill Budde second over Landsborough. Budde came up with a loose foot peg on the third lap that plagUed him but he held on in fine style. For Otto, the record stands six wins, one second and one year out with a broken leg. He won in '64 and '65 as a Novice, won in '66 as an Amateur, won ~ in '67 as an Expert, took a second in '69 to Al Kenyon and won in '70 and '71. Truly, the kIng of the 650's. Conrad Saxelby, Otto's partner in crime, took a second in the 650 Jr. behind Thorton Smith. Smith dialed him in on the fourth lap and held a slim lead to the finish. Tony Gonzales looked like an easy third but dumped it one lap from the checkered, giving Paul Karpinski the trophy. The 500 Expert batfle was all one way for John Silva. Silva led it off in front of Craig Filmer and Duane Spence. On lap 5, Filmer lost his chain and Spence closed the cap on Silva, but not enough. Jack Crider led off the 350 Novice .Main but succumbed to gearbox problems and was bested by Harley flash Eric Bengston. Eric is definitely the winner wILen Crider is sour. Gary Trammel won the 500 Jr. class on a brand new 500 MX BSA beating ou t Steve Langston and Dave Scott. Trammell had to come from behind to do it but showed a lot of fortitude in his passin~ ~ '( esutu on page 28)

• Cover