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/125744
'" '" " C> Breakdowns Break Down B&B's Dutch GP Hopes Aug. 25, 1971 Hi team followers. This week Snowflake turns to the Dutch Grand PrLx, the final round of the world championship. The AMXT ran into problems with the sub-sea level altitude and axle-deep sand on the St. Anthonis track. The day's problems extended into the op ranks knocking Ake Jonsson from the number one slot in the championship. After seizing both bikes during practice, Kenney and Higgins ~etted their bikes even higher for these unusual track conditions. Determined to master the deep sand the first moto, the team got off fairly well. Higgins worked up several positions only to have the CZ seize a second time. He was joined in the pits before half the 40 minutes was run by Kenney with a dangling rear shock. There were many other unfortunates this heat, the most notable being Ake Jonsson whose loose spark plug probably cost him the world Q. C- " '" ~ w Z championship. DeCoster took a clear victory. Full of determination, the team headed off for the second start. Right away Kenney collided with another rider in a deep sandy comer. The throttle cable broke off at the twist grip, and the team captain retired to the pits. Higgins got a good start this moto. He was riding hard, according to our American supporters in the top ten, when the CZ stopped dead. He dragged into the pits not roo long after Kenney, looking pretty dejected. In the top ranks Jonsson took an easy win over DeCoster, but second place was all the Beige needed to win the world title. With the checkered flag, the Japanese mechanics lifted DeCoster from his Suzuki as he was declared 1971 World Motocross Champion. Next AMXT onslaught will be the Swiss Grand Prix. Although the title is already clinched, this GP ought to offer some exciting racing next Sunday. Til then - the best from Snowflake. W ...J () >- () ,.....--.....--- (It.) and Barry Higgins (rt.) compare notes on the Dutch GP course with Roger By Papa Wealey the otest Tom Rapp, that Buena Park, Calif. Bultaco ace who has been more than competitive in the 250cc Motocross ranks, will soon be giving the 500cc riders a scare; he will be getting aq experimental 323cc Bultaco, currently being tested in Spain. Says Rapp, "I should have it for the AMA series beginning at Carlsbad on Sept. 19 they call it a 350cc but it actually just 323"... . * * * Folks from American Honda were seen recently maneuvering their way about Indian Dunes Park in Valencia, Calif., just before dawn; it seems they were ma king some secret tests on a new type sClJlmbler ... * * * Olympia Brewing Co. has been negotia ting with the Dirt Diggers North M.C. in hopes of helping promote that organ ization's annual Hangtown Motocross; the 15,000 spectators at their Cal-Expo event was the largest crowd ever to see a motocross in the United States... * * * Tim Hart, the young motocross sensation from Torrance, Calif., has M.O.I.E. Bryan Kenney at the Dutch GP. NOTES By Harry Whalen On Thursday, Sept. 2, 1971, a meeting was held by CMlC for District Manager of motorcycle distribu tors to further the CMIC membership drive. The aim of which is to secure 100% dealer participation in the effort to tie the motorcycle fraternity into one comprehensive force. The united efforts of manufacturers, dealers and riders is the goal which we must reach to obtain fair treatment on legislation and land-use. The dealer network is the most important link in our chain; as the dealer is the only con tact for the whole spectrum of business and sport. Sooner or later they all get to a dealer either to buy or self. With many of our non-member dealers, I am sure that it is largely a matter of procrastination, or simply that no one has as yet approached them for membership. Even so, there are many who do not accept their responsibility to themselves, their industry or their customer. This meeting was part of a thorough program to reach all dealers through manufacturers, sales people, CMIC membership chairmen, MIC task force and any other means. The next step is to encourage all motorcycle people to support the dealers who support their business and sport. Attending were: Jim Breithaupt and Bob Reid, U.S. Suzuki; Donald Mitchell, Kawasaki; Mike Hamilton, Tiger Dist. Co. (Hodaka); Les White, Ken Luehmann and Chuck Pitts, American Honda; Dick Miller, Hercules Dist. Co. (DKW); Malcom Woods, Harley-Davidson;JeiTy Moon, BSA-Triumph; and CMIC President Ted Evans, CMIC Executive Director Wes Perry, and CtVIIC public relations representative Harry Whalen (yours truly). With the proven sales capability of the motorcycle industry, as well as the faith, time and money they have already put forth, the early growth to effective maturity for MIC and CMIC is assured. (Cont'd. from page 4) mo torcycling by writing your comments to the Forest Supervisor, Tahoe National Forest, Nevada City, CA 95959. CAL-EXPO RACING: The August 24 issue of Cycle News carried a letter from Roxy Rockwood which both explained and contained Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 119 by Senator Ralph Dills. SCR 119, if approved by the legislature, will result in the Secretary of State issuing a resolution to the Cal-Expo Executive Committee to make the faciUties available to motorcycle racing. If we wish to see the return of the 'Sacramento Mile' and other great racing events, we would be well-rewarded to write our Assemblymen and Senators and advise them of our desires. BIRTHDAY GREETINGS: If you are one of those motorcycUsts who have been reluctant to join MORE because you thought that maybe if was a "fly-by-night operation", you might be in terested to know that we are now in our third year of working for the motorcycUsts and motorcycling. Yup! MORE was two years old August 25. So, if you are afraid to spend a dollar per year for membership because you are uncertain of what MORE will do for you in the future, just look at what we have done for you in the past. That ought to be worth a buck, at least! For further information, write to M.O.R.E., P.O. Box 26062, Sacreamento, CA 95826. poop agreed to contest the 125cc Expert class on a Puch provided and sponsored by Pacific Coast Honda, who last week took on this Austrian line of motorcycles. Hart rides the 250cc and Open motocross classes on factory Maicos provided by the company's U.s. distributor, Cooper Motors. Tom Cosgrove, owner of Pacific Coast Honda, said he hoped to have a bike in racing condition for Hart by this weekend. "Tom tried one out, discovered a few minor deficiences, and we're doing everyth ing we can to set it up exactly to h is needs." * * * In an interview appearing in this publication many moons ago, Terry Clark, that Baja ace in the desert, said he was "bored with the desert." Well, young T.C. is currently trying to get a mo tocross ride and several ftrms have approached him. othing definite yet, but look for Terry to switch soon... "when I get No. 1 in the desert. " ... * • * * * * John Taylor, head Yankee of Ossa distributing fame, was accidentally mis-quoted in the "Economy Freeze" article appearing in Cycle News recently. He doesn't want anyone to get the impression that he thinks the import . surtax is good for the motorcycle industry. He says in his opinion the surtax will tend to "dampen" the market. Evel caJled the other day to tell us his movie, or rather the movie based roughly on his life, is smashing all sorts of box office records back East. The movie is now released citywide in the Southland and it ought to be interesting to watch how the ever-so-cool Californians treat it. It's quite an entertaining flick. * * * Speaking of Evel, he was the first to instigate the big-bucks motocross promo thing with his $10,000 race last May. He finally is being out-done next week with the advent of the $16,000 Grand Prix a\ Carlsbad this coming Sunday. No big deal, however; last May he had already announced that his next motocross would be to the tune of $25,000 and now he tells us that he's looking at another 25-grand, to make an Ontario-sized $50,000 purse. And for those of you not familiar with Knievel's style, he means it. * * * After setting two record at Ascot Park Friday night, Novice Scott Brelsford flatly states he would like Ascot to run a 10-Lap Novice Main so that he can go for that record as well. Friday nigh t, Scott broke his own one-lap record of 23.34 by .07 in the heat race (missing the record in that by .01) and then broke the new record three times in the 8-lap Main with his best being 23.05.