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/125757
•• •• , .. Wilson Sizes Up Dunes li c ~ w Z w oJ (.) > (.) Jim Wilson Ie8ds the pack. He won the 250 Expert class easily and tied Blackwell in the 500 class. - , Mark Blackwell (621 tied for first Open with Jim Wilson. REGISTRATION APPROACHES COLISEUM CYCLE and MAIL ORDER ACCESSORY CO. ~KAWASAKI _ ~ MOTORCYCLES _ 3958 E. 14th ST., OAKLAND, CAL. (415) 534·5461 94601 ~ ..•......................... JMIj",I; . • SPORTCYCLE : 0 .. f'RDIONT 37318 FREMONT IIOULEVARD FREMONT. CALIFO_IA 114838 • • Rich Porter Bultaco Specialists :.~lttt••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 600,000 Motorcycle registration in the state of Califomia has reached a total of 590,298 for 1971 through the month of October reports the Department of Motor Vehicles monthly registration list. That total is 4.27 percent of all registered vehicles. Los Angeles County, as usual, leads the list with 189,980. Mini-enduro head for Yamaha By John Grout Photos by Racing Photos VALENCIA, CAL., Dec. 12, 1971 Tom Rapp, Jim Wilson and- Mark Blackwell - even though none of them were in serious contention for the high point standings - were overall winners in Senior divisions during today's fmal round of the track championships at Indian Dunes Park. Rapp, who scored back·ta-back double wins in the two 125cc Senior motos, had to push his blazing Bultaco to a thtottle-limit in that class while defeating the young wildcat who was to leave the Old Reservation with the Senior scalps dangling from his haiT-hauling belt: Larry Watkins. The new Senior champion, the racer who will display the No.1 ACE riding plate for the 1972 season, Newhall's Larry Watkins, rode like a demon from the inner circle when he grabbed a second place finish behind Rapp in the initial heat for the super fast sod·flickers. However, that was merely a warm up for the last go·round. In the final moto for the 125 Seniors, Watkins, who is only 14·years-old, sailed his DKW into an immediate lead from the starting line jump; and from that point to the bitter end, the young winner of the recent Can-Am Series at the Dunes was more difficult to fit socks to than 'Would have been an octopus! Just ask Rapp; he tried for the better part of 12 complete laps. Somehow, on next to the last lap, Rapp was able to pass the high-flying youngster, who rides the most abnonnally fast 125 DKW that this wri ter has ever seen in action, and the: Bultaco pilot was able to score a two-for-two grand slam. Yet, by virtue of Watkins' 2·2 finishes, and his high-point victory in the run for the track championships, he1J be a super tough customer to hand a collar on from here on out. Finishing in order behind the two winners were Billy Payne (Pen), Charles Molt (Pen) and Bultaco rider, Steve Merkel. Torrance's Jim Wilson, rattled a of CZ's to two Senior clus wins: in the 250cc and Open. Wilson won the 250 events in somewhat of a breeze over a who's who field which included runner-up positions scored by Ron DeSoto (CZ), John Maroney (CZ), and "Brother" Dave Rodgers and Rapp, both of whom tied for fourth place on the day's overall results. However, Wilson was forced to share the Open.division's overall with a Husqvarna stonner who was a late em Sales * Service custom work * all IIllI kes entry, Mark Blackwell. It was John DeSoto, while mounted on his Suzuki scorcher in the fust moto for the Senior Opens, who was whistling along at the front of the entire pack. But the Uflying one" was soon to experience engine malfunctions which again would place him out of tne day's competition. In the meantime, and during Iap-after-Iap, wheel-to-whcel combat, Wilson, Blackwell, B111 Payne (Maico for this one), Glen Lund (Hus) and Yamaha-mounted Mike Todd were exhibiting their best efforts in one of the wildest donny-brooks ever to be displayed at Indian Dunes. Both Blackwell and Wilson were to gain a day's 1-2 score; a fact which placed America's No.1 rated rider from the recently completed Trans-AMA, International Division, Blackwell, into a split-the-money situation with Wilson. Finishing behind the front two were Lund and Todd. Chris Mogensen, a young ~ultaco zipper from Northridge, had to settle for a tie with Rickman rider Danny LaPorte on the day's overall score for I those racers involved in the 125cc Junior division uB" warfare; but it was about all the Chris needed; he fmished the four race Dunes' championship series with the all-important No. 1 riding plate which will be blow the fork crowns on Junior bikes in 1972. The thinking 0 f most spectaron who have seen this youngster in action, however, is that Mogensen, who placed his series winning Bultaco up for sale after the last race today, will be doing his slipping and sliding among the Senion from this time forward! J .L. Siebrandt and Ed Poore were victorious over the small-bore and big·bore Old-Timers. Jim Hale (Ric) was a winner over Ron Stephenson (Ric) and Ray Soffa (Bul) in the even Is for the 100cc J union. While Tracy Oswell (Ric) scored a victory at the expense of Bultaco racer . Joe Root in the 125cc division "B" slugfest. Frank Mathews and Jimmy Hale, both of whom were straddling Bultacos, were the big trophy winners in two divisions of the 250cc J union. Maico rider Jon Van Dillen was victorious over the Open Junion. . Indian Dunes Park will feature another all-elass program on this coming Sunday. Cash for Seniors; beautiful trophies for Juniors, Powder-Puffs and Old-Timers. First race on the Shadow Glen motocross course will begin at 9:30 a.m. TROPHY PU~~Z~~ICO CYCLES Mt. View,Antonio Rd. 184 San calif. 94040 941·7317 • Suzuki • Kawasaki ~ Montesa' • BMW • Selby Motors Sa les Parts Service 346 £1 C.mlno Real _Redwood City. Calif. (415) 3694112 • • • • High compression Drilled for compression release Improved coo(ing Ful(y machined combustion chamber • Black anodized finish Delivered anywhere in U. $19.95, prepaid. s.. ACK PRODUCTS. 676 AU2erais Ave.• San Jose, Ca 95125. 408-293-5111 I Dealer ALLOY PRIMARY CASE FOR TRIUMPH & 'BSA - Flrs .lIex;sting driwn. - Pro.id,.. gfftttN ground cfnrane" - Lighrwe;ghr carr lIIuminum - Acaraory cap 8II8i11liJltl ($8.501 fOt' srllnderd length crank. inquiries invltod I Cow r", Y_ a flDUIO SI'IOCIfTS 2 TOOTH CZ Counter Sprockets $9.25 Cal. res. add 5% sales tax. C&M SPECIALTIES-P.O. BOX 717 MOUNTAIN VIEW CALIF. 94040 - IJsad by tOp riders Order direct. 1$45.00 10% on C.O·.D. Of' postpaod if pey".,t .....t WIth orderl 676 AuZ1ll'8is A.... San QI.95125 293-5111 [Deeter i iries invitedi J.-. AUSSIE BOUND SRA STARS The first U.S. Speedway team to go abroad since the late 19110's include: Chuck J ones (seated), Capt. DeWayne Keeter (on bike), Sonny Nutter, Mike Photo by Dennis Greene KonJe, Steve Bast, Mike Bast and Bill Cody (top row, left to right). They head for Australia soon for a series of match races.