Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

N " i' l>. ,~ N .... '" ~ -' .;, ::> « II) ;;: W Z W ...J U >- U ,;.".;a;. , The Vipers laid out wf:lat is politely known among desert racers as a "riders' course", fire road and out across a smo oth valley. The next hill didn't look like much, but you could hear Tom shifting down and reVving the DKW's engine as it got steeper and steeper. The first fifteen riders were well spaced, then even the Experts and Amateurs mixed it up. All it took was one bike getting sideways across the trail and making everybody else get off in to the soft sand and rocks. The best part of the course was the twisty little downhill leading into home check. The riders could really boogie down it, and must have enjoyed'cooling off after the struggle to make it up the hill. Art Knapp (Hus) had moved up into fourth place for a while, but only held it for a couple of minutes before he dropped back with a flat tire. In the second loop, A.C. Bakken, still running fourth, bobbled and got off, and Tom Smith (Yam) took over. The racers held their positions for the rest of the second loop, and at the finish it was Brooks, Fishback Pfutzenreuter, Smith and Bakken. . Doug Winchell (Yam) came in sixth overall and third 250, followed by Mitch Mayes (Baja) at seventh overall and first Trail Expert. . Todd Cornish (Hus) rode an.excellent race today finishing fifteenth overall, first Amateur and first 400 Amateur. Todd Martella (Hus) pulled in second Amateur at eighteenth ov.erall. Ron Fores (Oss) was fourth Amateur and first 250 Amateur at about 29 overall and A.J. 'Kirker (Ric) was fifth Amateur . and first Division II Lightweight at 32nd overall. Walt Morrison determined to prove it wasn't a small bike course, and finished first Novice on his 400 Suzuki. Jeff Fri.es, mounted on one of those new 250 Honda's was second Novice and Hrst in his class followed by Glenn Brown (Yam) and Ron Holst (Hus), both 250's. Sandy Termin, 125 Yamaha, was first girl today. With all the hills to push up, it really wasn't a course for girls and Sandy is to be congratulated on a good ride. Dan Dawson took first Division II Lightweight Novice with his 175 Yamaha. In the Trailbike division, Dave Banks (Kaw) was first Novice followed by Jerry Clark (Hod). In spite of the rocks, there were few complaints about 'the course. Many riders described it as "Bitchin'" or uFun" and some called ita "real challenging riders' course." George Walker finished the race on a rim with about three spokes left in it. The tire was flat at the end of the first ..t The rocky uphill had everybody straining and engines screaming. loop, but George continued to ride it until about halfway around the second time when the tire came off the rim 'and jammed up. Then he cut the tire off and rode the rim. George says he could have used a little more traction on the hills, but- is pleased with his 900th place finish all the same. Those outtasigh t finisher pins were worth a littl'e added effort. Jack Knebel got off during practice Sunday morning and ended up in Victorville Hospital with a broken shoulder. This is the same shoulder that has been out of place a couple of times. Jack will stay overnight in the hospital, then gets to spend abou t four weeks in a cast. It looks Iike\a couple of months before he will be riaing again. ~ "~ ~'" Everybody asked what happened to J.N. Roberts as they saw him before the start and expected him to be at the Hnish. J.N.'s ignition ate it somewhere in the first loop and he was forced to retire. Too bad. We see him so rarely that his fans were really disappointed. Desert Vipers really went all out on their first race. From sign-up, where they employed an unusual little shed, through the whole race and into the finish, getting one of those neat pins, the riders really dug the race. After the race, the Vipers' organization still showed as results were easy to get with all the help from the club members, a cold drink (This guy gave me the last he had.) and having shade to.work in.

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