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/125747
co ~ " '" '" DESERT PAIR HOLDS TOP l>. 13 o ~ w Z W ..J (.J > (.J By Tom Culp Photos by Ed Drechsler, Bobi & Tom Culp WILLOW SPRINGS, CAL., Oct. 2-3, 1971 - The place was set 10 months ago for the third District 37 Grand Prix of the year where the three distinct forms of motorcycle racing meet four times a year to play the hand that is dealt them. This year the Second Annual 4 Aces Grand Prix had all the markings of a deck of cards, shaved, stacked or whatever. Not by the club but by the riders themselves as the TT and MX boys stayed away leaving the desert aces to play the game of racing almost by themselves. The handful of TT notables that ventured into the realm of the "blind leading the blind" just couldn't handle all the dust. Gary Bevans and Danny Hockie held the only hope in the 0-250 Expert go. Gary rode while Hockie was last seen on the Isle of Man. The 251-0pen Expert had Rich Marquis, Dick O'Neal, jim Peterson and jim Connolly all rode ·to defeat. The fast MX riders played chase the bouncing helmet as well with Gene Cannady the closest of anyone of the Rich Thorwaldson Irt. arrowl and Gene Cannady (It. the dirt. Gene Smith is in front. . you and the rope passed over your head, you went; it worked. Down the front straight into the big sweeping turn, normally the last turn for the road racers, and off into the dirt flat out. Dust rose and from the straight everyone's eyes turned to the big hill the next place to catch an eye on them. As that sole rider came down and around back to the asphalt it was Pfutzenreuter with a good lead. As the minutes went by, the lead extended; in for gas and out again never to lose that _ ... .....--,"-":""'... ~~ Ralph and George Whitney were the sidehack winners. few non-desert races such as Tony Rogers, Hayward Mendenhall, Larry Bird, Larry Watkins, Linus Beall and john R; that was our lightweight hope. The big bike hope rested with the following: Terry Bilton and Bob Maynard and Maynard didn't show. Top that, Gene Cannady rode again on Terry's number. SKILL WITH THE ACES From here on it's all Desert not because they wanted it that way, it just happened. Larry Pfutzenretuer and Rich Thorwaldson thoroughly beat the few that showed, best of the other two types of racing. Those that stayed away should be glad as there was little hope of beating Larry this day. The rope was raised by the four members of the club who then made a mad dash down the 15 rows of 10 abreast riders, the idea being to help stagger the start, as th ey reached They are motocrossers, TTers, and desert racers but now they are doing some road racing. front spot. Following Larry's dust to the finish was Larry Haley (Yam) and close behind came Jerome Ruzicka (AjS) with Darryl Ellis and Mic Oreny both on Buls finishing that way. Larry's Bultaco seemed righ t on all parts of the course, never missing a beat. In the big bore go it was Gene Smith on the 650 TriUmph from the front row as they came off the pavement. At the hill it was Thorwaldson and the 400 Suzuki. From then on, moving from the