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the International
open-mouthed and staring at one
another to confirm what they had seen.
What they saw, of course, was mostly
Sylvain Geboers, Adolf Weil and Torleif
Hansen going faster than anyone has a
natural righ t. In the first moto Geboers
sped away to an early, if not especially
comfortable lead over Weil and Willi
Bauer, the Maico movers. Husky's
Hansen and Pierre Karsmakers were
having at it not far behind, in the
company of Californians Bill Clements
and
Mark
Blackwell,
also
on
Hu.qvamas.
Geboers was then hit with motor
miseries; what looked lil1)
By Tod Rafferty
Cycle News East
ELKHORN, WISC., Oct. 3,1971 - At
10:00 a.m. Sunday morning the Turtle
Park Motocross Track was a huge
mudhole. Sporadic showers during the
nigh t
became
re len tless
rain
at·
daybreak, and early-arriving spectators
found themselves ankle-deep in mud. If
the crowd had any collective expression,
it was one of wonder or disbelief "Y ou mean they really race motorcycles
in this stuff?"
Regardless of the goop, motocrossers
go fast. The practice laps soon gave the
clay/mud some consistency as the riders
sought the best, and direct, lines to
build up good groove. Approaching
noon the rain gradually diminished, and
soon after bright sunshine brought the
crowd out of hiding: 12,000 soggy feet
and miles of smiles.
The course was still slick and tricky
as the National 250cc Support Class
lined up for the first moto. With 60-plus
en tries, the Ligh tweigb ts had to run two
separate
motos,
followed
by
a
consolation heat, then the final.
Californians Tim Hart (Mai) and
Doug Grant (AjS) continued the duel
they started at Boise last week. Hart
won that one, and the Grand Prix at
Carlsbad the week before. The mud
hardly itimidated Hart as he won the
first moto in style with Grant second.
The next moto went to Stephen Mobbs
(Mai) , followed by more California
riders,
Rob
Norgaard (CZ)
and
DeWayne Jones (Yam), who had
finished third at Boise. The consy was
won by Mike Cram (Mai) with Dick
Burleson a close second.
As expected, the 250 fmal was a
battle between Grant and Hart, ana
they did go at it. Norgaard and Rande
Luitjens (Yam) were joined by Dick
Burleson in pursuing the leaders. Tim
and Doug exchanged the advantage
several times, and it appeared that Hart
would grab his third consecutive win.
But the Ajay ace wasn't having any of
that this time as he pressured Hart into
a brief mistake and motored by to win
it. That made it a first and second for
each of them. Grant's victory in the
final giving him the overall win.
Many of the spectators were
obviously first-timers at an international
motocross, and while the lightweights
had many of tbem shakinl( their heads,
Sometimes you need a sextant to ride motocross. Check the rear tire, whomp.
