Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

·EI Toro MX_ (Cont'd. from page 14) of the 125 Junior with Norm Payne and John Van Breukelen steady in the saddle. Payne, on a BSA, also controlled the 500, while Ward Craghead (Yam) and John Petty (Mai) did so for 250 I and II. To top off a totally unpredictable night, the most unpredictable (and nicest) surprise took place in the third moto of the 250 Junior Division II. That same treacherous comer claimed yet another, unwary rider as Dave Hall's Maico spun ou t from under him a yard from the finish. While spectators screamed and Hall scrambled up unhurt, Gary Rodman calmly checked his bike a foot from the checkered flag. This allowed Hall to drag his downed bike backwards across the line, gaining him a second overall, and Rodman motored in behind for a sixth. Imperial Valley M/C MX By Andre Ney LIVE OAK SPRINGS, CAL., June 18, 1972 - Gorgeous weather saw the Imperial Valley' MIC run one of the longest motos in this area in a long time. The course was 2.75 miles long and just as rough. It featured promine'nt whoop-de-doos that even surprised the Experts, and hairpin turns with big berms that let the riders scream through them. Straightaways curved back via more jumps, sandwashes and a huge waterhole that put the fire out of a lot of bikes. The slushy mud on the hill out of the hole stuck even more. The Experts ran 3-5 lap motos. The Novices were to run 3-3 lap motos, but the last two were shortened to two laps each as it became late in the day. Trophies will be awarded for all divisions. Highlights of today's Expert racing: Indian Dunes MX - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - By .I ohn Grout VALENCIA, CAL., June 25, 1972 During today's all-class motocross combat at Indian Dunes Park, a fact became blatantl'y clear: when the Hawaiians are right, the remainder of the racing clan just migh t as well hang it up for the day .. : Another "pineapple" has laid siege to the West Coast of the mainland. Seven teen-year-old Jim Snow, newly arrived from Oahu, Hawaii, has been a competitor in a Hfew local events on the Islands" during the past four years, uncorked a somewhat stock Maico which he had purchased upon his arrival stateside slightly less than a week and a half ago, and, with no fanfare, commenced to kick the riding shirts right off a talented crew of Open Experts, all of whom were attempting to stay within exhaust-note of the uHowlin' Hawaiian." In the midst of 331 riders present for today's ACE race production, young Snow was more vehemen t than a nitro-sneaker at an AMA National. After the large-bore com poppers had rattled down the near-side chute, the young Hawaiian had bounced and bounded to a lead of seven seconds but just wait till the next lap. Maybe some of the Hregulars" had encountered a few difficulties on that first lap?, Maybe they were still trying to get the bottom-ends unloaded? Maybeee? Yes, sir. Just hang on, Bertha. Ain't no way that an upstart newcomer taking his first ride on this track - is gonna whup these boys... ! Lap No.2: .....Hey. Did you catch what that announcer-fellow said this guy's name w-as?" Lap No.3: HAw, cut it out..He's how far in front - twenty seconds?" Lap No.4: "Gawd... !" Uaws are sagging all along the Dunes fence line.) Lap No.5: "It's just like I was tellin' you, Bertha. We"'re gettin' a sneak preview of future racing royalty. Yes, siree! " Snow, the uHowlin' Hawaiian," won that first Open Expert moto by the almost incredible margin of forty-five seconds. And to thifl,k he isn't even sponsored. Both he and his brother are residing ill th e back end of a van. In the next moto, Snow again slid to giant yardage. He won the heat by twen ty -th ree seconds. The third round found Cushaway (CZ) - who had experienced some difficulties in his first moto - moving righ t up to Snow's rear tire by the time three laps had j1;one onto the charts. Then, quite suddenly and somewhere along the back stretch of the course, Cushaway made a bold bid and gained the lead. , Well, something bad to give - it was the track record. Cushaway, with Snow chewing away at the l~ader's stinger, passed beneath the checkered flag in an astounding I :48.93 clocking for the lap. By virtue of the 1-1-2 tally. Snow became the day's. easy overall victor. Cushaway, Lane and Weis were the runners-up_ Another wild battle was to erupt among the 250 Experts, where Jim Macdonald (Yam): Frankie Giardina, current Senior points leader at Indian Dunes; Dave "Luke" Messer, mounted on a new ('Bulossa" finished in that order. The overall victory among 125 Experts went to Penton-mounted Greg Blazek, who whipped Dan Blalock (Mon) and Bob Horath (Yam). In other division racing, five riders we re able to card perfect, three·for-three grand-slammers: Kenny Krause (Minicycles), Lance Hornak (1 OOcc Juniors), Frank Hough, who was riding a Bultaco for Woodland Hills Sportscycle, and John Fenton (Suz) and Bob Cullinan (CZ)" both of whom were involved in Open Junior competi tion. A 12-rider field of Powder-Puffs was all but destroyed by Rickman-mounted Nancy Payne, as she gathered a 1-1-2 toll. _ Curt Smith (CZ), Dist. 38 No.1 AMA motocrosser led the first two Open niotos with Bill Silverthorne (Hus), the Baja 500 winner, right on his tail. In the third moto, Bill made a fantastic move when Curt tried to force Bill over. Bill dropped below Curt and forced Curt to slow because Bill had the inside of the tum. Consider that this was all done on an extremely choppy hill. Rick Pennick (CZ) took the first two 250 Expert motos. The most unreal racing came from the Novices. All of ihem were trying ~ and crashes were .... uncommon. If ~ these people keep riding this way the :: Experts will have to watch out. ~ w Z w oJ u >u USMRC Mid-Week M X - - - By V. Lanza EL TORO, CAL., June 21, 1972 - For those riders who get the mid-week blahs, USMRC is now sponsoring a Wednesday nigh t motocross to relieve them. The racing is at EI Toro racetrack for Juniors only, but the program also includes Schoolboys and Powder Puffs. Most classes were won by El Toro regulars, one notable exception being John Dickenson in the 125 Junior, who finished second behind John VanBreukelen with three second place finishes to VanBreukelen's three first place finishes. The surprise of the nigh t was expert mini-biker Jeff Ward' on his Bonanza-Hodaka, fourth in the 100 Junior. Ward started out the night with a second and a third place finish in the first two motos, but DN Fed the last mo to due to bike trouble. NEXT WEEK: Coliseum Inter-AMA CMC Carlsbad The U.S. Navy is starting a program at 2,000 shore bases to teach motorcycle safety to sailors. marines and the public. 1st Overall International Class Boise, Idaho Summer Series Opener This year DIFFBRAKE has been helping Americans compete against the Europeans. Today it paid off. Appropriately enough, Gary's win puts team Yamaha one leg up on the DiffBrake CuP. the manufacturers trophy for the summer series. • I ra e 10204 Highland Rd., Milford, Mich. 48042

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