Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

,... Kingsville MX - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - By Rita Gunter Photos by Tommy Gunter KINGSVILLE, TEX., July 16, 1972 The Kingsville Motorcycle Club sponsored a motocross to raise money for the Bishop All Teenage Volunteer First Aid Team. ::rhe tum-out was great. The First Aid Team was presented a check for over 65 O. These kids, regardless of the weather, tum out with their well-equipped first aid tent every time any racing is held. Ronny Pentecost (Yam) took a commanding lead in the first heat of the 100cc Junior class. He was followed by Dean Mizes (Suz) and Matt Plough (Hod) for a while but Matt's third place slot was taken over by Yamaha rider Gary Newton. Jack Warren tooled his Hodaka around the track in the number one spot of the 100 Senior all the way. Billy Bryan and Tom Spires rode neck and neck (wheel to wheel?) until the rains came. Billy then pulled his Bwtaco into a good lead to take second place, leaving Tom to finish third on his Honda. The flag dropped for the 125 Juniors and about twenty riders dove into the first big sweeping tum. Surprise! The whole turn was covered with about eight inches of water. The parts not under water were so slick there was no way to keep both wheels headed in the same dire.ction. Fun for the spectators, but not so much fun for the riders. A couple of Penton riders, David Southerland and Bill Law, slid through the mess in to first and second place, followed by Steven Wiley on his Yamaha. The Penton riders proved to be the best "mudders" in this heat. Bill Law took first place, Richard Thomas came in second followed by Richard Pitcox. . Ace rider George "Lizard" Larzelere (Bul) seemed to be right at home in all the mud and slush. He had no trouble taking first place in the 125 Senior. Ted Nicholson (Pen) took second place while Bul rider Robert Vaughn slipped and slid into third. "Lizard" and Robert are part of the Grizzly Bear Racing Team from Corpus Christi, Texas. Pat Talley was doing great in the 175 Junior heat for a while. One particular uphill curve on the track has an extremely high bank on it and Pat kept sliding off the high part and in to the bottom. He fell about every five feet clear around the curve. To add insult to injury, as he was walking off the track his feet slipped from under him landing him smack in the middle of one of the big est, wettest mudboles around. This just wasn't his day. Gene Grafton, riding a Yamaha out of Corpus Christi's Cycle Spot, finished in first place, followed by Ronny Pentecost and Mike Ward (Suz). Frank Haggety (Bul) led the first heat of the 250 Junior class in every lap, with Rick Davis (Bul) and Nerio Torres in second and third place respectively. The 250 Seniors had a hairy start. Jake Warren made it to the first corner ahead of the pack but his CZ drowned. Greg Laves (another Grizzly Bear racer) led for a while before h.e was passed by Lonnie Plough (M:u) riding like a wild man. Another hard charging Malco rider, Murray Trager, held on to third place and Jack Warren (after resuscitating his CZ) had to be can ten t with fourth place. All the Open class Juniors had trouble getting out of the first mud hole. Larry Wilder managed to keep his Bultaco almost under control and jumped (slid?) out in first place. Brent Schaffer (Suz) was in second place even after his bike swapped ends a couple of times. The third place man then was Bob (Papa Grizzly Bear) Atwood. James Ellison (Mai) led the Open Senior pack into the first turn mudbole bu t then fell righ t in front of all the others. This gave Greg Laves an opening and he grabbed hard but couldn't get around him so be bad to be content with second place. Meanwhile, back at the mud hole, James Ellison got his wet Maico chugging and finished in third. The promoters decided to have only two beats because of the track condi tions. Greg Laves took another first place in the Open Senior. He got so muddy that he threw his glasses in the brush somewhere on the south end ef the track and he hasn't found them yet. (Later on that day I heard someone swear they saw a five pound bullfrog wearing glasses go hopping off across the track.) Gilbert Swain (Hus) finished this muddy melee in second with Bill Chahot splashing his way into third. Sue Turner (Yam) took the number one place in the Powder Puff class. Sam George (Yes, she's a girl, and a pretty one at that.) slipped, slid and pushed her Man tesa across the finish line second, followed by Shelly Storbeck on her Honda. The mini-enduros bad nothing but troubles going through the goo. Wade Woodall took first on his Yamaha, followed by Irvin McWilliams and Loren Johnson, both Yamahas. In the 125 Professionals, the four best 125 Professional riders in the state really put on a show. Rob Riggs, Kevin Loughnane, Doug Mattice, and Jerry Friedrich (leading CMC Texas points) were never more than a split-second apart. Kevin Loughnane, in the first mota, looked as if be had paced well and was on the way to the first place money, but a determined, conditioned Rob Riggs Ii terally flew his ~'1etisse around the course to finish first in the last two motos and walk away with the first place money. In the 250 Open Professional class, the first place winner took $75, second place $40, third $20 and fourth $15, due to the large professional turn-out; ACCESSORIES LONG BEACH YAMAHA REMODELING SALE NGK Std. Plugs Torco 2 Cycle Oil Duck Bill Visors (all colors) Moto-X Gloves . . . Moto-X Bars Petty f'ront 'Fenders Petty Rear Fenders . 4.00x18 Street 6 ply Tires 4.50x18 Street 6 ply Tires .6ge .8ge .$1.25 .$6.95 .$9.95 .$5.75 .$7.25 . $18.95 . $21.95 YAMAHA MOTORCYCLES ON SALE ••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••• PRICES TOO LOW TO ADVERTISE LONG BIAGI YAMAHA 3580 E. Pacific Coast Highway Long Beach, Calif. 90804 (213) 597-3317 9-6:30 pm; Sat. 9-6 '" " '" '" N ,... '" U Murray Traeger (7) demonstrates slush-crossing for the questionable benefit of Tom Wayland (left) and Greg Laves. Is he really using him for traction? ':Thomas James gets a leg up on Larry Williams in the 125 Senior class. and guess who was the big money man of the day? None other than Bob Graham, back on an AJS. Bob Graham is the operator of Texas' new Rattler's Creek, CMC-sanctioned track. Bob, with his rugged physical attack on the track, finished all three motos in first. Ricky J ones (Ric) finished second with teammate Kenny Sibley finishing third. Even though the second and third place riders didn't give Graham much of a challenge, they put on a good show competing for second and third place, with Kevin Loughnane fourth place winner, an ever present threat to steal the second or third place slot. Kevin was beaten au t the second and third place slots by one point. EXTRA! FIRST EDITION! The Authentic DIRT BIKE PHOTO ANNUALl Now from the same pros who bring you DIRT BIKE every month, an exciting compilation of the world's finest motorcycle action photography. Sixteen ... count 'em, sixteen . . . dynamic FULL COLOR pages suitable for framing. Plus almost a hundred black and white photos of dirt riders at their dramatic best - and humorous worst! They're all there - BRAD LACKEY, JOEL ROBERT, GARY JONES, ROGER DE COSTER and all your other favorites - captured forever by the camera during their finest moments of glory. Order today. It's yours for on Iy $1.50 plus 5O¢ postage and handling for each book ordered. Dealer inquiries invited. r--------------------------------------------DIRT BIKE PHOTO ANNUAL eN _ I I I I Box 317, Encino, CA 91316 Please rush 0 copy(ies) of the DIRT BIKE PHOTO ANNUAL as : soon as i!,s off the press. Enclosed is $1.50 plus 5O¢ postage for each copy.: NAME _ ADDRESS _ -----:_~:_::=_-_____:_~~,.,.___=_=_:_._.:-- CITY .i..Sl:Al:E I L. 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