Q)
m
'"
Q.
N
....
'"
.n
ii
"
U
Trade-off, Riders race to exchange the bike with minimum loss of time.
by John Huetter
LIVERMORE, CAL., Aug. 20, 1972 From time to time, a report about a
motorcycle "marathon" finds its way
into the CN offices. They usually
mention something about who won
what class and what track it was at and
boy, was it long, with some pictures of
Le Mans starts and the like. Our
curiosity was piqued, aroused and
otherwise stimulated to fmd out exactly
what this strange thing was going on in
Northern California.
Journeying out to Carnegie Cycle
Park, and climbing over the steep,
oak-studded hills, the journeying
journalist is confronted with a mile long
motocross track on which about 40
bikes are flying around at the usual
wheel-chattering speeds.
The catch is that they were doing
this for two hours straight in each
displacemen t class. Two riders, onc
bike, and flat out racing for two full
hours, trading off at the riders'
individual discretion. This is called
marathon and it takes a well-prepared
bike and well-conditioned riders to ride
this brutal event. Some iron men, such
as loner Pat McKenna, who just dropped
by to go racing, ride the full two hours
solo. That is an accomplish·'1enl. (Pat
ran out of gas after an hour and fifteen
minutes while running fifth in the 250
class.)
Some local heroes turned out for thi>r
marathon sponsored by. CMC North
including Carl Cranke' and 'Dave
Longcor both on Pentons, but the real
meat ot the event is the dicing for
position and the tests of endurance
among the everyday Novices in the
middle of the pack. Just to keep going
at speed for that long should make the
10 minute moto specialists at some
tracks think about how neat their wins
r.eally are.
The good points of marathon racing
are numerous.. Among them, when a
given class (125, 250 or Open) is
through with their two hours of racing,
they're through and go home without
waiting around for three hours to ride
another
moto
or
heat
or
semi
or
Straddle the front wheel dead engine starts were used but the first turn was jam-packed.
brothers on a 250 Honda put on one of
observed in trying to run a marathon.
the best shows of the day winning the
Most obvious is track preparation and
250 class overall. The Open class was led
keeping it in condition during two solid
most of the way by Tim Reeg on a new
hours of racing. The surface tends to get
350 Bul, but the class also included a
slippery in some comers and, unless it's
couple of thumpers: a 441 BSA and a
rained, dusty allover. The water truck
dinosaur Triumph twin. The
at Carnegie couldn't physically reach
four-strokes of yesteryear really didn't
some of the steep uphill and gully
like the tight, dusty motocross track all
portions of the course, which made for
that well.
blind flying on some laps.
A very conscientious group called the
Controlling the exrnange point for
National Motorcycle Patrol were on
the rider trade-off is anoth~r problem,
hand at the marathon and did a great
mainly one of safety. Everybody wants
job with first aid and getting downed
to have the most advantageous spot, and
riders and bikes off the course in a
that was sometimes too near the track.
con trolled, rapid manner. They
Cherry-pickin' is as much a problem as
impressed as an excellent organization.
at any other type of event. One solution
Marathon seems to be the thing in
is to run a displacement class only and
NolCal. Maybe it's somethmg other
give lots of trophies.
tracks and areas should take a look at
At CMC North's run, the Franklin
whatever. Marathon puts a premium on
endurance, personal conditioning and
bike preparation, in addition to speed.
The object is to go the most number of
laps in two hours, so time out for
repairs hurts your lap iotal just as murn
as going slow.
The CMC Nortli course a t Carnegie
made your work the whole tin1e,
according to almost aU the riders. There
was no place to sit down and take a rest.
If you backed off, you got passed. Zap.
And you do get a lot of riding in, more
than more motocross or scrambles riders
are ready for. /t's a very thorough test
of man and machine.
There were also some problems
NDL
EBARB
SOME PEOPLE HAVE NEVER
SEEN A 'GOOD HANDLEBAR.
MUCH LESS ... OWNED ONE.
... ~ \orcycle AcceSSor'
-
FOLANDERS
o
Pasadena. California
f Unexcelled Oua\\\'4
CHECK OUT FLANOERS BARS AT
YOUR LOCAL OEALER. THEylRE
THE BEST MONEY CAN BUY.
P.O. Box 2297d, Pasadena, Cal. 91105 (213) 681-2581
After two hours in the saddle, nothing in the world tastes so good to a sweaty. dust-covered rider.
The Httle boy. for once, wasn't dirty .
......
