Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

,... Ol is. ~ (I) 3: ~ w d > U BAILEY~ O'LEARY STAR IN $1500 MX By Richard Dunn Photos by Richard Creed SHREVEPORT, LA., Aug. 29, 1971 A large crowd more than made up for their lack of familiarity with the sport of motoc,ross by their very vocal enthusiasm as 87 riders just as intently pursued their shares of the $1500 purse here today. Su~h audience reactions definitely indicate that motocross is fmally coming into its own as a national sport. It was a typical race, since very few of the riders knew one another, thusly eliminating the usual pecking order of who follows who around the track. Jack O'Leary, of Austin, Tx., on a factory Yamaha 250, soon established one as he rode flawlessly to top the 250 Seniors, only vaguely threatened hy Gary Bailey (Bul). Lack of pecking order caused grief for many riders in all classes whose excessive bravado produced many_ crashes ...notably at the 50 mph sweeper at the end of the start straight. Winner of the Open event was Bailey on his still-warm 250 Bultaco. This was no easy task, since Wyman Priddy on a 250 Husky persisted in grabbing the SouthWest aJI~1 I ••• Fred Hanna of the H&H Music Racing Team of Houston, Tex. lead at every opportunity. Behind the swift duo thundered the 380 CZ's of Don Prowse and Bill Kasson. This was the class that had the spectators on their feet and screaming throughout all three 10-lap motos, much to the surprise and deligh t of the riders. Credit for a most e!ljoyable motocross is due the Bossier City JC's, who organized their first 'CTOSS in a thoroughly professional manner. There's more to come, they assure us, perhaps including a three·race series for ample coin. Keep your eyes on the Shreveport motocross scene. (Results on page 28) In the Open Class, Wyman Priddy always jumped to the lead but each time Gary Bailey eventually passed. Flat Trackers at Manor Downs By Richard Dunn MANOR, TEX., Aug. 22, 1971 - It was not the sound of hooves that rent the air at the old Manor Downs horse track as 96 riders vied for cold cash and fleeting glory. Local Joey Ferrell (Kaw), who probably doesn't even realize that a motorcycle can negotiate a right.hand turn, made the lefts quickly enough to precede Dave Craig (Hon)" through the traps by a slim margin, thereby becoming kind of the 100cc hotshoes. This irritated Craig, however, who found a 125 Yamaha that made him king of the 125's, followed by Tim Henry and Kevin Scout, similarly mounted on Yamahas. As usual, the 250 class was the largest, requiring three elimination heats. Roger Sterling (Bul) took advantage of this opportunity to warm up for his Trackmaster BSA, incidentally snagging a first in the smaller class. Willard Kelley (Bul), and Hal Burger (Yam) plowed ground behind him. Robi Holbert also felt the need for some warm-up before his upcoming clashes with Sterling in the Open, so he slung a BSA 500 motocrosser aroundd for an uncontested first in the 500. Awesome was the Open line-up, with Sterling on his tricked-out Trackmaster BSA, Holbert astride a Jawa/ESO fueler, Bill Kasson on a similar Jawa, and Ted Poovey on a Trackmaster Triumph. Robi hadn't quite gotten -the shift pattern worked out, so blasted off in high gear, resulting in a last place start. Next time around, though, he passed the field and' held first with ease...an exasperated Sterling in 4th. In the Final, Robi figured out the gears and never lost the lead, with Sterling hopefully somewhat mollified by a hard-earned second. FouI tactics were employed by a sour-grapes rider who realized that the fuelers had just a marginal amount of fuel to complete an 8.lap Final, and therefore jumped the line three time-consuming times and was finally started despite a fourth line-jump. It's a credit to the starter that he got the duration of the race reduced to six laps, and to poetic justice that our nameless rider placed a dirt-covered fifth. (Results on page 28) In a mad scramble for the first turn, Jack O'Leary (51 drives from third to first. Kraft Takes Win at Manzanita By Jeff Coker PHOENIX, ARIZ., Aug. 27, 1971 The tempo at Manzanita is really beginning to pick up as the racing season rapidly draws to a close. With only three more poin t races left this season the riders are pushing harder and harder for the vital championship points. The point leaders are pushing hard to hold on to their slim leads while some of the newcomers are pushing even harder to win the points necessary to catch them. Rick Kraft stuck dust in all the Experts' eyes in the Open class winning both the heat and Main, ending a rather long domination by John Sellers and Butch Beard. The pressure was tremendous in the Main as the lead changed almost every lap. Sellers jumped to an early lead then Byron Boaz slid his Maico past Sellers' Triumph. But Sellers wasn't through as he passed Boaz again only to be passed by Kraft's Norton in the final laps. Sellers took second and Beard took' third just beating Boaz to the line. Byron seems to be getting his machinery problems solved and by winning last week's race proved that he, too, is back in the winning groove. It's good to see really close racing between more than just two riders in the Open Expert class again. The 250 Expert heat and Main was another duel between the Halford brothers. Seeing these two keep up such a fierce pace without falling or breaking their bikes is really something to watch. Jim grabbed an early lead and held Tom off for the win in the heat, In the Main the two riders were so close they could almost touch each other during the en tire race. Tom managed to slip by Jim during the final laps and take the win. It's a tribute to the sport that these two compete so fiercely on the track and still remain close brothers. The 125 Expert class was won by Dan Croyle, who has a big lead in the season points. Sixteen·year-old Rob Dameron is another young rider that is pushing hard on the older riders. He has come a long way in the short year that he bas been racing. He is someone to watch in the 125 Expert class. Cliff Allison, where are you? In the Open Amateur races Rex Blackwell won the heat while Dave Bateman won the Main narrowly over a very close Blackwell and Stan Foster. The 250 Amateur races held some surprises also, as Kirk Collier won his first heat and Main combination. Kirk rode a real smooth race and looks like he has real potential in the '250 class, Pat Klein took second in the heat and third in the Main close behind yours truly. The see·saw battle continued in the 125 Amateur class as Doug Schneider won the heat and Larry Berrington won the Main. Pat Klein was put out early due to a crash in the first lap of the Main and left clear sailing for Dave Meeker and Woody Higginbottom to take second and tbird respectively. Doug Schneider continued his domination of the 100 Amateur events to win both the heat and Main over his brother, Paul, and Cary Hickson. Someone to watch in the Novice class is Jack Dovenspike. He has been winning consistently in the 250 Novice class. Consisten t winning in this class takes a lot more than luck. (Results on page 28)

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