Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

_ broken machine, Kal2uch (Schauzu's passenger) was seen kicking his feet in the air. The West Germans tooled on in for their second TT victory of the week. Second place went to another BMW outfit, driving by H. Luthringshauser and D. Cusik, far behind' Schauzu's average of 91.85 mph. Third went to ari interesting wedge shaped outfit (looking like an Indy car) powered by a West German two-stroke racing boat engine. The 250cc International and the Formula 750 class were to run on Wednesday, bu t the rain finally caugh t up with the races. The ACU, having had some experience with this kind of weather, schedules a day between each day of racing as an off day, precisely for the reason that if it rains they can move the event to the next day and hope the rain stops. It worked this time, as the 250s got away in sunshine (still cold and windy) on Thursday moming at 11. In the whole field, there was one four-stroke, a Honda. It was definitely not competitive with the two-strokes. Phil Read took the lead almost immediately on his own Yamaha. Even though he had started on the fortieth second, qy the 25 mile mark he was the leader on the road as well. Rod Gould followed him on another Yamaha. One interesting thing was the number of water-cooled two-strokes racing. Some people had converted TD Yamahas to water-cooling, as well as some of the Suzukis and Kawasakis. Read and Gould were on standard TD's. At 2 p.m. the Formula 750 class started. This was one of the big interest races, along with the 500 Senior and the production classes. The rules are the same as the AMA's class C rulings with one exception. There is no claiming rule. MV is planning to enter a 750, no later than next year, but refuse to race it in the Sta(es as they don't feel like selling it. Maybe the Count will change his mind. Last year's winner on a Triumph, Tony Jefferies, took an early lead on a Triumph again, but only held it for half a lap as Ray Pickrell w'!s hot. Pickrell's Triumph 3 and Jefferies 'were both lapping well over 100 mph, and both were running ahead of the record established last year by Jefferies. Australian Jack Findlay, on a water-cooled 750 Suzuki, also got in for a couple of laps at qver 100 mph, but couldn't catch the Triumphs. Pickrell cut one lap at 105.68 for a new record, and his race average was 104.23, also a new record. There was a team of three Nortons, entered by John Player, but all of them retired with gearbox woes. It is too bad, because riding them were J.ohn Cooper, Phil Read and Peter Williams. The Formula 750 class seemed to be the most popular with the spectators, and many people asked why Harley-Davidson didn't send a team to the Island. I couldn't answer that, beyond the expense involved, the time it would take away from the National Circuit, and the danger of the course. Although Bill Davidson was on th.e Island for the races. Reconaissance mission perhaps? died there. The stone walls are not very forgiving. Parlotti was one of the best, if not the best, of the new riders in Europe, and Agostini had said earlier in the week that Parlotti looked like the best he had seen in a long time. There were numerous crashes, bu t most of the crashees escaped with only broken bones and bruises. The Island course doesn't allow for even mechanical failures. A 30-foot wide race course, bounded by stone walls is not the best place to have a brake cahle snap, or an engine seize. On the other hand, the riders know this when they enter the race. If a racer considers himself a roadracer, he has to wan t to ride the Isle of Man course. It is truly the granddaddy of road races, and the terrain! It is all there. Downhills, uphills, fast sweepers, S-curves,' off-cambers, jumps, 180 degree turns and straightaways. And it is on a real road, closed to all traffic except racers. The 500 Senior was postponed until 4 p.m. due to a promising weather forecast and it was a good move. By 4 the roads were dry, the sun was au t, and the wind had started again. It was almost warm enough to take off one of my three sweatshirts or the jacket. Almost. Agostini took the lead on corrected time almost as soon as he got his MV running. After 20 miles, he waS the leader on the road as well, and just kept stretching it; running 104, 105 mph, and hitting 155 at the speed trap which was not set up at the fast~st poin t on the track. fie does it sO smootllry-:-' At the end of the race (six laps, 226.38 miles) he was over seven minutes ahead of the second place finisher, Alberto Pagani. Pagani, on another MV 3, had a good race with John Williams on an Arter Matchless 500 single. But on the third lap, Pagani stopped on the .course twice, and cruised into his pits for a 47-second stop. Williams had two minutes and 30 seccmds on Pagani when the Italian finally gOt onto the course for his last three laps. It seems his swinging arm had' come loose and caused some pretty stran~ handling problems. Once tightened, he was away; now in seventh place, and motoring to catch Williams again. With 20 miles to go on the last lap, he was still down by 70 seconds, so it looked like a 500 single was going to spli t the migh ty MV team. Eight miles from the finish Williams coasted to a stop. He had run out of gas. He had either not taken on enough at his pit stop at the end of the third lap, or his Matchless had gotten very thirsty during the last three laps. What a way to lose. Especially since Williams was down 25 mph on top end compared to the MV. Agostini's average speed was 104.02 mph, /lot a record, but still very fast. Suddenly, the magical week was over. Looking back the ACU deserves a great deal of praise for the way things were organized and run on time. The AMA could take some pointers. The volunteer officials, the police, the spectators all I ISLE OF MAN TT June 3-9, 1972 By Tim Luikart 500 SR 1. G. Agostini 2. A. Patani 3. M. Grant 4. K. Cowley 5. D. Chatterton 6. C. Will.iams 7. S. Griffiths 8. C. Brown* P. Cott* 10. C. Sanby *Tle 350 JR 1. G. Agostini 2. T. Rutter 3. M. Grant 4. J. Findlay 5. D. Chatterton 2.50 INTERNATIONAL 1.·P. Read 2. R. Gould 3. J. Williams 4. C. Williams 5. W. Pflrter FORMULA 750 1. R. Pickrell 2. T. Jefferies 3. J. Findlay 4. D. Nison 5. C. Williams 125 INTERNATIONAL 1. C."Mortimer 2. C. Williams 3. B. Rae 4. L. Porter S. R Hackett 500 SIDECAR 1. Schauzu/Kalauch 2. Luthrlngshauser/ Cusnlk 3. Boret/Renwlck Konig 4. Klenk/Scheerer 5. Dungworth/ Turrlngton Top Gear Leathers. CHOSEN BY CHAMPIONS-WORTHY OF THEM. These leathers were tested by champion bike riders-men who can't afford second best-who insist on peak performance. That's why all the leather is top grain, why all the zippers are _extra-heavy duty, why the jackets have a 2-inch windguard flap behind the zipper. And these are just a few of t!Ie luxury details. . The name Top Gear means what it says. GRAND PRIX LEATHERS ~ Outside, they're trim and stylish from the fold-down collar, to the epaulets, from the flapped pockets to the yoked back. Inside, there's a snug quilted lining. Antique 'Brown. Jacket $59.95. Pants $49.95. ' RALLY LEATHERS Ready for riding off-road. Jacket and pants are specially padded (shoulders, elbows, hips and knees) to protect you against spills. Black only. Jacket $59.95. Pants $59.95. DAYTONA LEATHERS The Great Classic. Gives you a slim, tapered look, yet you get full freedom of ac~ion from features like the stand-up collar and Bi-Swing Action Back. Full quilted nylon linin&. adds more comfort and warmth. Antique B..rown or Black. Jacket $49.95. Pants.$49.95. • Ask your bike dealer for details. Printed in U.S.A. > :; .., ~ w MY MY Z Padgett·Kaw seeley Chat-Yam Dugdale-Yam Cowles·Mat Suz Seeley H-Tac Suz W ..J U > U MY Yam Padgett-Yam Yam Chat·Yam Yam Yam Yam Dugdale-Yam Yam Trl Tri Suz Boyer·Selley Tri Dugdale-Yam ~ Yam Johnson-Yam Mai Han Han BMW BMW BMW BMW MEMBER OF Friday. June 9. The last day. The hope for one day of good weather was dashed immediately. It was raining and cold. As I mounted the bus for a ride to the famous hump.back bridge at Ballaugh, the rain eased a bit, and hopes raised. Ballaugh is where Agostini does his motocross jumps (albeit a bit faster than. the motocrossers) . By 11 a.m. the rain was more a drizzle, and there was no wind and no fog in the mountain section, SO they decided to run the 125s, The British favorite was Charles Mortimer, on a Yamaha, last year's winner. But Gilberto Par/otti was here from Italy on his works Morbidelli, so there was going to be a race. Parlotti had come to the island a week hefore the practice time, and toured the course several times a day on a 750 Ducati, It was his first time on the island, so he wanted to learn it. _ , By race time, it was estimated that he had made over 40 laps On the course, in the rain, mostly. He took an early lead, on corrected time, by as much as 20 seconds over Mortimer. This is the way it stood until 25 miles into the second lap when he crashed on a newly surfaced section of road that was reported as being slippery when wet. Parlotti was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital where he was flown by the rescue helicopter. If one thing is going to end the Isle of Man _races,c,it i.s ,the~fact ,tRat.97,rid~bllve !.1 ":t ': "i 1 'l" l' ,oL '"". f ~ t ~. were perfect. Cooperation was the dominant characteristic of the week. The people had come to see the races. It was as simple as that. If you are ever in England, or even near England around TT time, do it. You will never regret it. ~ •

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