Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

- DAVE Dirt is Dave Sehl's middle name; h..t£-mM, to be ex.act. National wins at the Newsies, Terre Haute and a double at Louisville have all been claimed by Sehl in his three seasons with Harley. Dave stafted riding in his hometown of Watertown, On uri 0 progressing from scrambles to dirt ovals. In 1969, Sehl played both sides of the border managing the neat double of winning the Canadian Number One dirt plate and accepting a set of factory leathers from Harley-Davidson for 1970. Joining the team was a big move for Dave, but it also brough t out a shortcoming. "I never raced on the road in Canada, so I had to learn from scratch. I'm getting the hang of it now, but it's definitely a lot different than dirt. " Dave's best showing this season has been the Indy Mile, with a hard-fought second after riding a come from behind race. "The new Harley has a lot of potentiaL ..with the right setup, it's a winner on any track." . MARK Mark Brelsford has been left for last because he will very soon be first. Brelsford holds a commanding points lead on National Number One that shouldwell be decided by the time this is read. The name Brelsford should be read plural in this sense because bro~er Scott has a f"mn hold on top Junior position in the nation. "I like road racing best ...you can plan your strategy better and I don't get as men tally exhausted as I do on dirt." Mark is in his fourth se.ason of wearing the black and orange colors and is a long way from his scrambling days on a Honda 160. Mark benefited in his Junior year from backing by Dud Pe.rkins who sponsored him and Mert Lawwill, with whom he travelled. Jim Belland, a salesman at Perkins H-D, was also a guiding force playing super wrench where needed and still travels to the races on every available weekend. Near the end of the Junior season, Mark was approached by Harley racing manager Dick O'Brien with an offer of a factory ride for his first Expert year. "I said great...yeah, I'll do it. The next day 1 signed up." Seven Nationals have fallen to Mar"k, but the Loudon, N.H. road course sticks. "I was leading the race (1970) and mentally spending, all that money I was going to win ... then something broke. It was heartbreaking. I made up for it in '71 by conting from behind to win. Winning over Carruthers, that was really something'." SCOTT The f"mal member of the Harley factory effort is Scptt Brelsford: 'fir,t rider to be awarded Harley factory leathers for his full Junior year. Scott has proven the choice a wise one with five victories this season and a strong hold on becoming the nation's top Junior. Scott began riding at 13 but the wait until he was old enough to race was almost long enough to completely disinterest him. It was nearly a year past his, birthday that Brelsford again seriously considered racing. A year and a half of scrambling and one broken ankle later, Scott picked a Bultaeo for his half-mile debut. During last season Scott travelled east with his brother Mark only to be rained out almost everywhere they went. Scott's Novice riding drew offers from Yamaha and Harley. "I never dreamed of being on the Harley team until the offer was made. Mark on the team, being a member, was convenient." Scott was another rider who had never ridden a road race before joining the factory. "I'm a dirt man righ t now...my first three road races I fell off, but at Laguna Seca I took it easy and f"mished. I'm learning." Brelsford put his knowledge to use by finishing third at Talladega. The key to the racing success of Harley is the depth of the riders. Each has his specialty, yet is equally willing to try his best at other events on the circuit. One thing, above all else, stood out in conversation with all team memben: Harley is not just a team, it is The Team. Rex Beauchamp was typical in his comment on the factory treatment of the riders, ''They've bq;u- cPQd to L._ I me...real good."

• Cover