Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

~ ..'" O'LEARY WOWS SPECS By Paul Hanson and R. punn Photos by Richard Crl:ed AUSTIN, TEX., Oct. 24, 1971 Austin's Jack O'Leary aboard his fea therweigh t Yamaha factory prototype, took the first place purse with three straight wins in the 250 Expert class today at Southwest Motocross Park. O'Leary, a sophomore Business Administration major at S.W.T., left the spectators gaping at tills rock and dirt spewing, full·power, sliding turns, high sailing jumps, and extended wheelies. Jack Hicks of Austin's Kasson Racing Team, hung with O'Leavy in the first heat, but had to contend with Houston's hard·charging Fred Hanna, who ultimately bettered Hicks and claimed the second place. cash, leaving Hicks in third. The H&H (Hackney & Hanna) Racinl/; Q. Team scored top money in the 125 and Open Expert classes, as the Houstonians split the loot evenly with the Austinties in the fmal tally. The Open heats held surprises for everyone. Bill Kasson, displaying both brains and brawn, would lurk about in the back of the pack until the final lap, at which time he would close in and set up to go inside each corner should his foe slip the groove. Bob Hanna (Hus), was the only one Wl10 didn't slip, and so garnered first place. Kasson's technique _ earned him three seconds, and Sheldon Otto drove his Husky in third. Of the 135 riders signed up, most allowed they liked the new coun;e. "Fast but good" was a common comment, with the dust problem being marginal due 1:0 the cooler temperatures and cloudless skies last Sunday. (Results on page 32) CD ~ w Z w -' U >- U >'lZ.......,.,....,i" -./ Williard Kelley seems a bit startled at having his picture taken. He should have expected it since he won the Main at San Antonio. Kelley Reaps 1ST Cash Photographer Richard writes us reporting "Don't have the foggiest notion who this Novice is." We suspect -it's one of the author. By John Blanton SAN ANTONIO TEX., Oct. 23,1971 Freeman Coliseum Indoor Short Track, Novice rider Willard Kelley took first and, together with his winnings in the place in the professional final at the Joe heats and the semi·final, he picked up $124 of the $600 purse plus 6% Professional points. However, Willard had to give back half of his winnings to race promoter Tommer Conner. But Willard is not put on their third trials, Oct. 24 known complaining; Conner is Ills employer at as the "Silver Bell Trials". The "Silver Texas Cycle Supply in Austin and is the Bell" was truly an English Trials with owner of the winning Bultaco. Conner rain, water and a general overcast day, claims that half of the winnings go with at least one rider wearing a full toward upkeep of the $1200 machine. length rain coat. The Silver Bell counted The indoor meet was the last of this 45 entries to ride in a river bottom on season's series of Short Track and Flat slippery rock and sand with running Track races sponsored by Austin-based water in every trap. Motorcycle Productions, loc. The To pick out one section in the Silver opportunity to pick up a few Bell Trials and call it hard would be an professional points and some cash understatement. They were all tough, brought several promising ovice and challenging, bitchy or some .unprintable JUnior riders. terms such as motorcyclists do not use. James Rawls, a Novice who will carry One section was made up of Jasper a Junior plate next year, was the second rock, blood red with eyllow streaks, add highest money winner on his Bultaco, rain to all this and a running stream, even though he finished only seventh in break all the rock at.ungodly angles and the feature. Second place in the feature season it with time and everyone agreed, went. to Junior rider Winston Stelter on though tired and bruised, it was a good an Ossa. section. Fears that the new AMA requirement Section's 8 and 9.were back to back of silencers on motorcycles for such and over 100 yards long: A section that inaoor ra~es would put a damper on the saw many three-marks lost, where if you sport proved unfounded when it was dropped a foot your only hope was to announced that a new course record was cut the damn thing off cause it was so set during the first heat when Roger hard to get back on the pegs. Some Sterling circulated for six laps if) 65.2 sections started out in wet sand and seconds on a Bultaco. On top of this the large pools that sucked at the tires only races were all the more enjoyable to make a sharp turn over some big witbout the unbearable din that slippery rock to end up with another formerly accompanied the indQor meet. full lock at the bottom. Although there were several Yes, the Silver Bell was a good one spectacular pile·ups during clqse you can always tell, they were bitching competition on the very tight course, but at the same time smiling with a contact speeds were generally low. On twinkle in their eyes to prove a trials occasion riders had to be extricated does not have to be dangerous to be from beneath lifeless motorcycles, but goad. there w.ere no serious injurks. Universal From the looks of things in Arizona, City, Tex.! motorcycle dealer Gerry trials is on its way and should be ready Booher feU off his mount and had- a with some challengers very soon. It is racer ride over his chest' before understood they plan one a month and horrified specia~ors, but after lying on maybe two with the Southern group in the Colieum floor for a few minutes to action and would like to see some out get back his spirits he stood up to a of state riders soon. thunderous round of applause. (Results on page 32) (R~u..!;s....?~~~E.L i Arizona Comes Alive With Trials By Ed LaPlante PHOENIX, ARIZ. '- This was a busy month for trials in Arizona with two on tap and down the drain. The hot weather being over and everyone back from vacation interest has picked up to say the least. Central Arizona Trials (CA.T.) was formed about a year ago and since has had much success and filled a large gap in cycling in the State. ·C.A.T. was formed as a trials club but is not limited to same. The club has held some enduros. In fact, they have another in the planning stage now. The basic format has been as a family type of thing with many entire families taking part. At most meets many gather· the night before for a campout to be on hand early for the next day's trials. Oct. 10 saw C.A.T. gathered at the • H&H , MX (Cant 'd. from page 23) After the race spread. out, sneaking up on the boys with trouble were Gary Vansicle's 400 Suz., and Jim Malone on a 125 Suzuki. Two laps from the finish the youngster Vansicle had the lead. Apparently in his anxiety to fmish strong he crashed to let Malone by. Vansicle recovered and rode home the wintter of the big motors. The winner of the 250 class was Yamaha rider Art Astle of Council Grove, Kan. Astle also won the wheelie contest, which was held at the finish line as each rider received the checkered flag. Jim Malone was joyous at winning over all the other Yamahas and the rest of the 73 riders on his little Suzuki. For his efforts he got a big trophy and a 4:60.18 knobby tire which he was trying to sell after thr ace. (Results on page 32) "Reata Pass Trials" with over 80 entries. Reata Pass is a pile of giant rocks of granite surrounded by the usual desert flora and most of the ground made up of decomposed granite. The temperature was in the mid 80's and due to the granite little dust was noticed. Damage to the terrain was negligible. Expert riders rode 10 sections three times with three sections set aside for Experts only. No.4 secti"n was a duel section for Experts and Amateurs alike and proved to be the most challenging of the lot. No.4 went between two horse· size boulders with several smaller ones between. The smaller rocks took their taU of points with some wheel grabbing cracks before the rider got smart and started using motocross tactics. Amateur, Novice and Senior riders rode seven sections four times in a course that circled the pit area. Spectators were on hand in groves to cheer on aU comers and even some fallers. C.A.T. in a few years should have some accomplished young riders as well as some experienced older ones. After it was all over many gathered in the pits for burgers and rocky mountain spring water (in cans). C.A.T. uses a computer type scoring machine utilizing score cards with punched holes and when the last rider is in all scores are posted and final. Arizona's fltst trials club has not seen its first anniversary yet and already a second club is being formed in Tucson, Ariz. The Tucsnn group are operating under C.A.T.'s Charter by C.A.T. members and soon will blossom out as a new club known as Southern Arizona Trials Association, S.A.T.A. or S.A.T. C.A.T.'s Southern friends in Tucson ------------------------------------------------------------ -

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