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/125793
AME. STARTLING AND INNOVATING ! By Tom Corley < IRVINE, CAL., July 23; 1972 - One of [@ w Z W ..J o > (,) the finest motocross organizations in the Southern California area came through with another startling show at Saddleback Park for the last race in July. A spunky crew of well-experienced first time AME racers in the 100 class hit the Saddleback track in smooth style. Meanwhile several other conSistent 100 racers were moaning and groaning with their mechanically tortured machines at their sides, all flamed out and hurting their positions as each lap passed. Ric Roberts, who is favored as the top Junior racers, would snatch the lead but would again and again be led to despair with a mechanically failing Hodaka on his hands. It looked like Bob Stem was going to succumb with problems frolJl his Hodaka during the first moto when mucho sputtering started from his fast but unsure engine. As soon as the thunder started to roar once again from the tuned pipe of Stem, things immediately changed as seen in the second and third moto that gave him a. fIrSt overall in the 100 Intermediate over the rest of the Juniors. Bob Brennan (DKW), a consistent Precision Cycle racer could take but a second with only himself and Stem entering in the always small Intermediate class. The top scoring 100 Junior racers, both on Hodaka motocross machines, were Ken Wellord and John Salisky next to a red Penton 100 racer, Don Bridges. This class would have different results if Roberts (Hod) had continued. Likewise with Bill Glore (Hod) who ran faster than ever bu t missed the' first moto. Among the super classes of the AME today was the 125 Junior race where in the lead were two guys, Stu Egli (BuI) and Greg Lersch (Pen), who are both comm'only seen on the other side of Saddleback Park racing Minis, but will now be seen here on the big motocross track trying to smoke some of the 125 Junior hot dogs. Stu Egli played tough and hung in there for a first while Lersch fell back in the standings and missed a trophy by one position, but did fantastic in his first motocross at Saddleback. Robert Elliot (Pen) ,Jim felton (Pen)'and Vince Vawter (BuI) placed behind Egli. Dennis Miles, on a very fast Bultaco, ate up the 250 Juniors and rarely shared the frrst place position with anybody. At times he had a huge lead over a herd that had only a few competitors who really seemed to know how to keep it on the pipe. Miles' nearest threats were Eric Watra1 (Yam), Stephen Watts (CZ) and Tim fox on another Jawa-CZ. These three racers fell short of taking frrst place today but kept very consistent in their positions. Tim Fox, a member of the Guatamala Ground Grippers MC, looked mighty sharp in the 250 Junior class and is seemingly moving up as weekly racing goes by, Tim used to boggie around the AME track on a fair running 250 Yammie but now makes it look much easier on his new CZ. Two new innovations in the AME that will affect many of you will be in effect soon; so listen up. As of August 6, 1972 the Senior entry will be a flat ten bucks for mail and fifteen bucks for post. This will insure a 50 buck minimum for first place Senior class winners and should increase Senior payback as soon as Senior attendance increases. The next innovation which should really get some of you more outgoing racers on the stick is that on each fourth Sunday there will be two AME races' held on the same day. At Carlsbad, on the European track, a Sportsmen event will be run off for all racers and everything should be as usual except that Seniors will .just be going for monster-size trophies instead of the money. At Saddleback on the same day, a regularly scheduled even t will be fired off and this should be enouRb choice to light any racer's board! Wowl A wheelie. "Bring" Doesn't Mean "Drive" cw ~ Bob SUlm·kePt It together long en~ to teke the 100 Intermediate c1_ 0". hi. Hodaka. With the registration of 9,850 off-highway vehicles during the first two weeks since a new state law took effect, two misunderstandings already have appeared, Director of Motor Vehicles Robert Cozens said today. "When we say that owners must 'bring' their trail bikes, dune buggies and mini-bikes to our offices," Cozens said, "that means loading them into trucks or on to trailers. Off-highway vehicles which are not licensed for street use must be 'transported, not driven. Anyone who operates an unlicensed motor vehicle on public ro"!is leaves himself open to citation by the California High:way Patrol." Most vehicles not previously registered must be brought in to local DMV offices for checking of frame serial numbers. If a vehicle lacks such a number, it is assigned one at the DMV office. The purpose is to aid the property owner by providing a means of checking stolen vehicles or parts. The second major misunderstanding, Cozens said, is many people's belief that they must double·register vehicles they intend to use off-highway.' "The law does not require owners to obtain both street and off-highway registration," Cozens -explained. "They may take their choice, depending on how and where they intend to operate' their vehicles." To reach DMV information in Sacramento, dial 916/445·3927.