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/125749
Witt Sweeps Muddycross u o ~ w Z W ...J U >- U By Carol Witt Photos by Kare!, Hartman WICHITA, KANS., Sept. 19, 1971 Fall was in the air and the track was so wet that most riders waited for the larger machines to get out on the track to practice before attempting it themselves. Mud splattered as the Open Seniors leaped out from the rubber-band start. A duel quickly developed between Mike Krebs (Mai), and Rob Knoettgen (Hus), with Rob taking first for the day. The yellow 250 Yamaha prototype proved itself, along with its Expert rider Gary Witt, to be a good mudder, placing first in all three motos. Second place was battled over by Loy Burnett (Kaw), and Dan Driskill (CZ). Even though Burnett had problems in the last heat, he already had two seconds under his belt, and took second for the day with Driskill ending up with third. Utah's version of Le Mans. Photos by Terry Newfarmer and Roy Nichols CEDAR FORT, UTAH, Oct. 3, 1971 Three riders make a team, and th.e first full team over the line after a 75-mile hare scrambles, on a very demanding course, wins - those were the rules as 28 teams squared off in the second annual Bees M.C. Team Race west of here. Each team was required to have a 125cc or smaller bikes, while the others could ride anything, so each team had to grapple with the same strategy questions: Should the big bike riders stay with the 125 to help him up the tough hills? Or should the big bikes' blast on ahead, to gain time if repairs should be needed? The right answers turned out to be a little of both, as Utah's top desert rider, Preston Gerber, got on a DKW and set a pace brisk enough tha t his Husky-mounted teammates John Harrelson and Dave Blaylock didn't have to worry abou t getting too far ahead. The course began with a fast cowtrail that led to an even faster sandwash - all fun riding. After a mountaintop check, it then began a long series of loose winding downh.ills through the Junipers, and this is where Gerber picked up his time, ,while most riders were thinking about living to race again another day. The banzai approach worked for the second place team, with Lamar Walker leading the way on his Hodaka. Walker didn't have to wait too long for his Wyoming cattlemen teammates Ken and Cotton Guio, so he could herd them in to the finals. Dennis McKelvie, Husky; Steve Keller, Honda; and Brook Chase, Honda; rode in with no apparent problems, but the all-Honda team that 1!T:-""'IlII"--.6-"lII~_-: followed had to use both team philosophies for its photo-finish. Dave Spencer had to change a shock on his 400, and he joined 350 riding Adrian Nebeker at the f'mish line for a long wait for Spence Swindle, who was having trouble with his 125. The two finally went back to look and ended up muscling the third bike down the last hill with its rear wheel locked up with a broken chain, just moments ahead of the arrival of the 5th team, Mark Nelson, Kawasaki; Clay Bundy, Hodalta; and Kay Walker, Dalesman. An early snowstorm made the course dustless, and the only stretch of mud dried out after the first lap. With near-perfect riding conditions, the turnout of 28 teams was possibly a little disappointing to the Bees, the club that has made itself famous by the yearly Widowmaker Hillclimb outside Salt Lake City. Another disappointment was that so few teams took advantage of the $6 refund on entry fee for finishing silenced. The teaT!'s of Spencer, Spencer and Newfarmer and Bowden, Bowden and Carman were the only silenced teams among the 15 that finished. ManlY Riders Scramble f F· I S P• Preston Gerber was all business this race, UttJ!J AlXersI' 1: t ·SOfJW PH:~lx)~~~~,;.~~~~n Op~~~~~~:'~~'O~~'~~ FfJrelfJ rAe ·'Dh Dr er f4ec ~ \~ I , By Shirley Knop MANNING CANYON, UTAH, Oct. 2, 1971 - If you were one of those who missed Manning Cycle Park's Saturday motocross, you missed a good one. Maybe the heavy snow two days before scared some of you away, but there was no snow at Manning on Saturday. There wasn't any mud on the course either, but the moisture turned the dust in to a tacky surface that gave perfect traction. The course had also been widened in many places. , Because of the cold, two waterh oles were bypassed. Nevertheless, at least two riders just couldn't resist taking a swim. Most spectacular was Jim Cramer. When the guy ahead ofh.irn went down, Jim had a choice of hitting the rider or the bike. He chose the bike, and it threw him and his bike into a pond, where both went completely under and nearly drowned before being rescued. Some of the best racing of the day was in the Open Novice class. Larry Stewart took the r.rst two motos, just barely ahead ofJoh.n Whaley. John kept waiting until the last comer to make his move. He finally passed Larry the third moto, but he still had to settle for second for the day. Because of the disappointingly small I If I I' turnout, some classes had to be combined. In the 100-125 class. Lamar Walker made a clean sweep of the 100 class and even pushed 125 winner Bob Plumb one moto. Ken Arclubald had mechanical troubles first moto, but came back to take 2nd overall in the 125 class. Rober Brown won the 250 Expert class, with Kerry Fowler taking second. The 200 and Open classes were combined. While Kevin Croft wiped out all the 200's each moto, and Craig Williams did the same to the Open class bikes, the real race was between Kevin and Craig. Much to 'the amazement of spectators, Kevin passed Craig to take the second moto. It was that kind of course - the big bikes didn't have that much advantage over the little ones. But everyone enjoyed it. (Results on page 36) SPROCKETS SCHOOL The Sprockets M.C. of Wichita, Kansas, are condu.cting a motocross school Saturday, October 30 to kick off the next day's race. Sunday will feature a $1000 purse and top riders from the Southwest. Check the Calendar for more details. was break"r-fall for many riders today at Manzaruta's seeond-~o-the'lastrace ~f the season. Seems hke everyone IS pushing to the very edge to get those vital points. In the Open Expert class John Sellers blew the right cylinder of his Triumph in the Main Ev~nt after taking first in the heat. Rick Kraft led in the head until he fell but he came back in the Main to take first with Byron Boaz very close behind. Rick is really going to be a threat in next year's standings. The only rider that had a ehan<:e to catch Sellers in the point standmgs was Butch Beard. Butch watched his hopes leak all over the track as his petcoek broke coming off the line for the Main. Prior to this mishap Butch could possibly have caught Sellers. Now Sellers has it all sewed up. In the 250 Expert"class Boaz took his first Main win in a long time. Tommy Halford won the heat with Boaz right behind: The Main ~as ~,:,ther real close race WIth Boaz takmg It In the last lap. Everyone missed Jimmy Halford who suffered a broken leg the week before in an unfortunate accident with another rider: Hope to see you back soon, Jim. Chff ~IiS~lD and Rob Dameron traded wms 10 the 125 Expert races. Allison took fIrst in the ~eat followed by a new Expert Pat Klien. Dameron won a close main again with Klien in second. When Pat doesn't fall down he's pretty dam fast. squeezed by Rex in the heat and Dave Batem~ .won the Main after Rex fell in the harrpm. Stan Foster took second in the Main. Art Fredinbergh' and Jeff Coker traded places in the 250 Amateur races. Coker took first in the heat with Fredinbergh winning the Main. Doug Schneider continues to dominate the 125 Amateur class with wins in the heat and Main. Doug won a total of four races Friday as he also took wins in the 100 Amateur heat and Main. It's been a long time since anyone won that many races in one night at Manzy. Alan Cranson and Tandy Adams were th'e big winners in the Novice classes. Cranson won the 250 Novice heat and Main and Williams won his heat and Main in the 500 Novice. As the season draws to a close it seems the motorcycle racers are finally coming into their own here at Manzy. For the final race of the season the riders get to race Saturday night, Oct. 23, all to themselves. If all the motorcyclists and fans will come out and make a real good crowd, maybe Keith Hall will realize just how popular the bikes are and give the racers a better shake. Well anyway, anyone who is anybody in Arizona racing will be there Saturday night to f'mish up the season in grand style. (Results on page 36)