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/125796
BROTHERS GROSSI ATrAII SPILLWAY
By Mike Anderson
Photos by Chuck Anderson
SANTA MARIA, CAL., Aug. 6, 1972Both Bob and Bill Grossi showed up at
Spillway Park Sunday and set.the paces
for an unbelievable day of racing. 100
Juniors and Powder Puff started things
off with Michael Wickersham (Suz)
beating out Steve Stewart (Suz) for the
100 victory, and not far behind Linda
Hale (Yam) led the Powder Puffs from
start to rmisb.
Next came the race _people are still
talking about, the Open Experts. Bob
Rogers who must have the fastest 380
CZ in the world led all three motos at
the start. The first moto Rogers held his
slim lead over Parry Klassen (Suz) and
Mike David (CZ). David easily slipped
pass Klassen and got his sights on
Rogers. Farther back was Bob Grossi
(Hus) making his way through the pack
from a bad start to third, and righ t
behind hini Joe Cushaway (CZ) making
his way up from the same kind of start.
David tried to over-take Rogers when
Rogers got squirrely and knocked David
down. Grossi and Cushaway got by
Klassen and finished 1-2 with David
passing Klassen on the last lap for third.
The second moto again found Rogers
first, Ron Bass (Mai) easily motored by
only to crash at a high speed putting
Rogers back in first for about ten
seconds until Grossi passed him. Much
to the crowd's surprise Rogers passed'
Grossi again. Those two kept this up for
three laps when Rogers again got
squirrely, but this time both riders went
down: By the time Grossi got going he
was in tenth. Rogers never got going,
Cushaway took over the lead and
stretched it to the limits. Mike David's
bike blew up and Ron Bass crashed
again leaving Joe Cushaway with
probably the biggest lead of his racing
career. Klassen held on for second and
Grossi, by passing three riders on the
last lap and one ten feet before the flag,
moved to third. At this point, Cushaway
out'pointed Grossi by one point. Joe
knew it. the crowd knew it, and Grossi
knew it.
The. third moto start found so much
tension that they left a puddle of sweat
on the line. Again the start found Bob
Rogers in rlTst with Mike David on a
borrowed 250 CZ in second. Mike fell
trying to take over Rogers, letting Joe
Cushaway by. Joe then got by Rogers
and started riding harder, stretching his
lead knowing that somewhere back
behind him was Bob Grossi. Grossi had
been long forgotten with his last place
start until the last lap when the crowd
found the unnoticed Grossi in second
place trying for flTSt. Joe made a few
mistakes and Grossi got by. Mike David
had fallen four times but still got third.
Needless to say, Grossi and Cushaway
tied, but since Grossi won the last moto
he got the overall, but since he is a Pro,
Joe got the trophy - everyone was
happy.
Going into the last 250 Senior moto,
Bob Grossi had two firsts with his little
brother Bill having two seconds. Jerry
Johnson (Suz) had two thirds, but since
all three are Pro's this put Sherman (the
uLiI Devil") Schneller and Jeff (Stoned
Valley) Little tied for rlTSt Expert.
In the Determiner, Jerry Johnson
jumped into the lead for a lap until Bob
Grossi got by and was never again led.
Brother Bill Grossi (Hus) had bc;en
working through the pack only to fall
trying to pass Jeff ·Little. A little
discouraged he slowed the pace. The
final showed Bob first and Jerry
outpoin ted Bill for second with BiJI
third. Stoned Valley's Jeff Little got the
Expert victory for Goleta Yamaha with
fourth overall.
S toned Valley riders again scored
with Max Hanberg (CZ) winning all
three Open Junior motos. Vince Clark
(Suz) still hasn't got any competition.
For the third race in. a row Vince has
zapped the 125 Seniors flawlessly as he
did Sunday.
USMRC Motocross - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - By Pat Gross
Photos by Ron Lewis
EL TORO, CAL., August 4, 1972 USMRC hosted. one more in the
continuing series of Friday night
extravaganzas. The trick Triumvirate of
Baron, Carlson, Malone took to the
track to show their stuff. It was no easy
job. For one thing, there was the new
challenge of Gaylon Mosier and Richard
Eierstedt. For another, a mob of
newly-transfered Experts showed up to
crowd the field.
The Triumvirate prevailed, Davy
Carlson in particular. In a packed class
of 250s, he streaked to first in two out
of three motos. The third was Davy's
Illldoing, as Mosier on a maico got the
bang of riding El Toro. That win put
Mosier in third but Davy still got the
win for a grand total of $70. Morris
Malon.e (AJS) ftIled in second.
Morris added to his share of the pie
with his 500 winnings. That class shaped
up into a battle between Malone and
last week's winner, David Boydstun.
Boydstun was out for game, taking an
easy first in moto I on his new Maico.
But Morris was no slug in picking up the
challenge, tieing the score in the second
moto.
The duel was on for the last moto,
when out of the blue came tl,e one' (and
only) Bruce Baron. Morris followed
with David third. Overall it was Malone,
Boydstun, Baron.
Baron, on a Husky, lorded it over
the 125 Experts. No serious threat
developed as Bruce tigh tened his hold
on the class with a sweep over second
and third placers Ray Lopez (Bul) and
Davy Carlson (Bul).
Davy's been having trouble with the
100, remarkable as that seems. Once
more, Joe Flores was back for a sweep.
John Skifstrom (Suz) took second with
three thirds.
In the Intermediate class run with
the 100, Brad Dutoit showed he knows
how to sweep up
well as Flores. In
fact, Dutoit was threatening some of the
Experts with his swift starts.
The other In termediate classes were
well-filled. In the 125, the closest
contenders were Gary Elders (Yam) and·
Joh.n Adams (Bul). They traded
positions from last week; this time
Elders got the top spot. Ricky Burkey
(Yam) had it in the 250, and Robert
Crecelius on a Greeves kept up his
domination of the 500.
F or lucky SchoolbOYS, there were
two full classes. Jin> Dean took the first
on a Yamaba. Surprise! Brad Dutoit did
not take Division II as expected. Brad
crashed in the second moto and two,
firsts and a last equals second overall
behind John Hewitt.
Summer is swelling the crowds at EI
Toro, as well as the number of riders.
This Friday it was 167 bikes, with a
total purse of $390 to split among the
Experts. This is what's drawing
top-rated riders from across the
~~un,~. !!'!R }

