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/125743
It) Gregory Ruts It To Foes At Baytown S(rambles By Johnny Warren BAYTOWN, TEX., Aug. 22, 1971 John Henry Gregory of Laredo, Tex., invaded the Baytown Scrambles for the second time this season and breezed to a one-sided victory in the first heat and final of the - 100 class. He also electrofied the largest crowd of the season in the 125 class by destroying all competition with his Yamaha 125. After the final tum both races were a one·man race. Gregory lapped several slow riders in the final. In the 250 class he finished a distant fourth in the first heat and third in the fmal on a Yamaha 250. Richard Dillard, number one rider at this track. had his problem at the Proto Yamaha Gives Witt Win By Janet West WICHITA, KAN., Aug. 22, 1971 Daryl Cox, 14-year-old rider, had one first and two seconds in the different motos to win the 125 Jrs., his first time here. David Dixon (Yam) parlayed a third, eighth and a narrow first to get second. Another new face took third, Dudley Biddle (Pen). In the 125 Sr. class, Yamahas took the first three places. The first seven laps of moto one were dominated by Craig Bills. On the eighth lap he just didn't seem to have enough power and Gary Clements took him, placing first in that moto. In the second moto Joe Shad, a 15-year-old Wichita rider, was first off the line, riding a Penton, with Clement second. Clement passed early and won. In the third heat Clement completed his sweep to win overall. First off the line in the first 250 Sr. moto was Steven Babm riding a CZ. Second was Gary Witt, then Jim Huff (Oss). By the time they came around to ' the stands, Witt had taken the lead on his new yellow Yamaha Proto, and from this point on walked away with first for the day. His riding ability plus the power of this new machine is really something. Loy Burnett, who took second, should be recognized at this point also because he certainly is riding that Kawasaki. He has been riding for about a year and a half, and his ability has put him among the top riders. Third for the day went to Huff. The Open Jrs. and Srs. were run together, but scored separately. Mike Krebs (Mai) .led the way to first, except for the fourth lap when he fell but quickly regained his f!Tst position. Second place went to Jim Malone (Suz) who held second all the way, as did Nick Warren for third on a Maico. Another first timer out on the track was Mack Burnett (Kaw), taking first in the Open Jrs. (Results on page 28) SOUTHWEST '(1l0SSERS ...Robi Holbert By Pete Szilagyi l'hotos by Richard Creed The Cycle Shack in Houston gives Robi Holbert a 250 and 400 Husky to run in motocross competition. Penton Central sponsors him in the 125 class. Robi keeps both of his sponsors happy by regularly Wheeling their products over the finish line well ahead of anyone else. The 22-year.old Houstonian has been racing motocross for about a year and a half. Before that he was an accomplished half-miler and scrambles rider. Holbert is well known for his spectator pleasing slides and wheelies. However,. when it comes down to serious racing Holbert is all business. Ask any Expert class rider who has seen Robi zing by at Mach I. Robj appeared in the movie Brewster McCloud. He did the mini-bi ke stun ts! BOB GILL TO SUZUKI .....No if's, no but's and no maybe's about it! Mr. & Mrs. Reeves and their boss shop, Suzuki of Greenville have flat gone all out for this personable youngster and his sensational act. Tuesday of last week, Bob was presented with his first product from the Reeves, a brand new Suzuki 400, the remainder of the week was used to beef the vital parts for his fantastic act, that is when time permitted. Bob and yours truly . appeared on Channel 7 Television Spartanburg, S.C. and the Nancy Welch Show at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday. All day Friday Bob and his lovely wife appeared in person at Fairway Ford, Laurens Road, Greenville, S.C., except, at one o'clock Friday, Bob broke away from the Ford agency long enough to appear live on the Peggy Denny program on Channel 4, Greenville. All day Saturday Bob put in a guest appearance at Suzuki of Greenvi.lle, unti.! 4:00 p.m. All of this promotion was the result of yours truly prior to the Bob Gill Professional Stuntman performance at Greenville-Pickins Speedway on Saturday evening. Combined with all the above advance promotion, plus four radio stations and terrific cov;erage in the morning and after edition of to ... ::J~by' H} i!JILJi:':)nj THE .NATIONAL DRAG SCENE by Jlminy Boyd newspapers, 5,000 witnessed the feat Saturday night. Greenville-Pickins Speedway, one of the oldest tracks on the NASCAR circuit and one of the most famous "bullrings" in the south had not seen a crowd this large since opening nigh t this year except for the Grand National Championship events. Bob Gill actually outdid himself on this one, his manager and all concerned really wanted to leave a lasting impression to those in attendance and that they did. Gill performed wheelies as long as he had available asphalt on the main straightaway, then circled on. around the track and then did it again for those on the back stretch grandstand. The big Suzuki 400 perfopned flawlessly all through the performance with power to spare. .GiIl Y·.J'l (,. ).,bl J.L JI.t> >..1\. HH{\ J Il' ~cJ blistered the asphalt at seventy miles per hour to blast up the ramp and over five brand new Fords while he seemed to hang in the air in one fantastic jump: The "Florida Flyer" could easily have cleared many more cars had they been there as his distance was measured at an even 100 feet! The crowd appeared to hold its breath unti.! the measurement was made and then all bedlam broke loose. For five minutes the enthusiasts gave Bob Gill a standing ovation, track personnel, Ford officials and stock car crewmen crowded around the perspiring youngster and this just had to be one of his greatest moments. The Bob Gill tow rig and equipment are lettered and flying the Suzuki of Greenville colors now and it makes for one whale of a (PU>ase turn to page32) l rtb. D ~'IO~ len :iiffYiq {1:)cn(1-1b.l11. starting line last month, but Dillard had today's Bultaco 250 under control. He won the first heat and final of the ~50 class with David Rush (Bul) pushing him all the way in both races. Ten-year·old Lee Houston (Yam) continued to dominate the mini·Enduros class. He won going away the first heat and fmal. Houston also won the first heat and final of the Steen -class. Little Jay Bowers is still the man to beat in the mini-bike class. For the first time in several years, Larry Haston (Tri) lost a race in the Open class. Jimmy Phillips (Suz) pressed Haston all the way and finally passed him in the sweeper turn on the fourth lap. In the final, Haston and all the spectators knew he had to win to stay in the point standings. As always, Haston blew off the line with Phillips right on his rear wheel in the sweeper turn on the second lap Phillips pressed too hard to make the turn; he laid his bike down to keep from running into the spectators and slid 100 feet. He walked away unhurt on the same lap Haston blew his engine in the first turn. David Rush (Tri) , riding in third, coasted to victory. Philljps came back to win the Open Consolation. (Results 0)'1 page 28) N 8> '" l1. ~ w z ~ ~ u female 'Shoe Takes Advantage of Handicaps _ By Johnny Warren HOUSTON, TEX., Aug. 8, 1971 - A new and exciting brand of motorcycle racing was introduced to Houston fans today at Sport Wheel Motor Park: European Scrambles, complete with mu.d traps, hills, and right and left esses. Best of all fans, were able to watch the entire race from comfortable seats. Carolyn Conard, the only female on the program, was given a one·lap handicap in her first moto. Riding a Bultaco 125 she won the second heat of the first 101-125 class moto by one-and-a-half laps. The men protested. In the second heat of the second moto, Carol yn received only a fifty yard handicap. She won this heat also. The third moto, Tommie Huckaby pushed Carolyn for the lead and finally passed her in the f!Tst left hand "s" on the third lap to win. The first heat of the first and second 101-125 class provided the fans the most excitement of the day. Mike Rogers (Yam) came off the line first in both even ts with· Edward Campbell (Yam) in pursuit. Campbell forced Rogers to miscue, th us 'allowing Campbell to coast to victory in each event. In the third heat, Campbell beat Rogers off the line to an easy victory. Campbell also won the 101-125 trophy dash. The 125-250 class: Jimmy Whitlock, riding an AJS, won the first heat. Mark York on an Ossa, breezed to a win in the second heat. Tn the first heat of the 125-250 class, Doga Bolsona and Mark York were competing for second place, went into the last turn too fast and both contestants ended up under the stands. Fortunately, both were unhurt. GPONTV The ABC-TV Network has purchased rights to film the Trans-AMA MX at Carlsbad, Calif., on Sept. 19. It will be shown on national television later in the year. The ABC show will be produced and filmed by Bruce Brown, the man whose motorcycle documentary "On Any Sunday" has been acclaimed throughout the United States. AMA Executive Director March states, "From any point of view thjs agreement is an achievement for the sport of motorcycling. It gives us an opportunity to offer international riders a larger purse than ever before, and Brown's connection with the project will insure an artistic quality not experienced before in televised motorsports. " I~~ ~gl;qn ",I >O~)