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Mexicans, Yanks Face Off for Carabela Cash By Oscar Terrazas Photos by Luis Garcia TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO, Sept. 5, 1971 - Every year on the first weekend of September a Mexican Club, Moto Club Internacional, puts on a race on the Mexican and United States Border. It is more than just a race; it is a "get.together" of Mexican and United States riders. People in Mexico do not race for money. Riders in the United States seldom go more than 50 miles if there are not cash prizes. Why do I mention all this? - well, because the annual Challen~e Race hasn't gone big. Fifty riders (between both countries) has been the biggest entry of racers. After leaving the narrow paved road,ยท the dirt road to the lake and race track is as bad as the worst desert roads in California on your way to the Mojave races. This may discourage some racers, but when you arrive at the track it is so lovely and peaceful, and the people are so friendly you forget all the trouble you had gone through driving there. The Mexican Club and the Mexican (Federacion Mexicana de FMM Motociclismo) charged no fee to American riders. If you have a AMA or affiliated club license they will give you free lodging and food. The few 'cabanas' around the lake were not sufficient to handle all the people that arrived for the races. Many Mexican riders and sponsors kindly offered you their rooms or even moved out and slept on mattresses. The trophies were shown on the "Comedor". The trophies were extra large and made without the use of plastic. The challenger trophy, donated by the Mexican Presiden t two years ago, is the largest and most impressive trophy I have ever seen. It is so heavy and massive that it takes three people to lift it! The next day at the riders meeting (that got under way one hour late) officials explained to the- riders in both languages through a translator about the Mexican racing regula tions. This year and for the 1ITSt time, they announced there was a cash prize, but only for the 125cc class. $125 was donated by the Carabela Organization and $50 by the Mexican Club International. This motivated a protest of the riders in the 100 and 250 classes. Sorry, Carabela was promoting only the 125{:c. Howard Winchester, Jet Tharp, Benny Cambell, Mike Johnson, and Gary Booher were some of the very well A surprising rider from 'Mexico. Jorge Fernandez. Carabela factory rider. He won the 125cc class, took second in the 200 class and was fourth Overall in the Open class. All on his new little 125, proto 5 speed. known faces present this year from the United States, Mexican teams from Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City showed up. We saw "Carabelos" (Carabela riders) everywhere. We also met the two nice bosses of the team that drove them some 1200 miles to the race. The track was a combination of a Scramblers and TT track. It was .rough, dusty, and covered with gravel. The temperature averaged 105 de~ees. In the 100 class race the United States riders dominated completely with Howard Winchester (Hon), Tharp (Yam), Gary Booher (Yam) and Jesus Solid (Kaw) taking top spots. A one lap qualification time determined the 125 starting positions. Johnson (Car) tumC\! the fastest lap time of the day with Jorge Fernandez and Homero Frangos, also on Carabelas, the next two. In starting the race Fernandes and Jose Luis Arvi~s (45) from Mexico on a strange yamaha. enduro framed, giving a hard time t;;' Mike Johnson (7). Carabela mounted who desperately tried to pass him on last lap in the 125cc final race. Arvias an~ Johnson tied for third place. Frangos took the lead. Mexican riders are tough and will lean and elbow you any time they have the chance. Johnson did not know this. As a result he was bumped out and off the track. When he returned he was already in last position. Fernandez on the fast proto-5-speed Carabela took the lead until the end of the race after 12 exhausting laps. Frangos followed him on his not so fast Carabela in second. Johnson after passing three or four riders on each lap was by lap 10 chasing Armos. When the checkered flag was flashed Armos (Yam) and Johnson were wheel to wheel in a photo finish that made Mexican spectators jump and scream. Official gave a third to both riders. .Johnson got special permission from the FMM Officials to race the 125 Carabela in the 200 class. Being more fortunate this time, he took the lead followed by Jerry Cameron (Yam) and Fernandez (Car). Cameron took the lead on lap four to lose it on lap six by crashing on the gravel. From then on Johnson had an easy ride over the pack. In the 250 race Benny Cambell showed everyone what a good rider he was. Taking his Yarnaha all the way through the 12 laps under the pressure of Howard Winchester (Bul). Fernandez (Car) took third. In the Open class all kinds and sizes of machines lined up, Sam Galvan fr0!D Mexico on a 400cc Maico took the lead followed by Howard Winchester (Bul) and Pedro Gonzales (Bul). On the 14th of the IS-lap race Galvan fell, but he was so far in front of the pack that after standing up, starting up and getting in took a good third place. Experienced rider H. Winchester took first and Gonzales got a second. After the race the Mexican sponsors offered all participan ts a typical Mexican banquet. They made the trophy cere-mony one of the most friendly events I have ever attended. Trophy girl Susan Cartwright from Dallas, Tex., needed help to lift the huge trophies. Mexican riders were too nervous to kiss the trophy girl, but Benny Cambell "again" showed that he was not only an experienced good rider! Overall points went again to Mexico by 63 points to the 60 points of the United States. Next year the race will be held on the American side of the border and perhaps we will have more American riders to represent their country and to make more "good arnigos". (Results on page 14) Howard Winchester. winner of the Open class on a Bultaco. receives huge trophy from Trophy Girl Susan Curtwrite. Trophy was donated by the Bultaco factory. ~ w Z W ...J () >- ()