Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Cycle News 1972 10 03

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/125802

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 23 of 63

. R.E. Lee is fop~ • in Texas • N t CL Robert E. Lee of Forth Worth, Texas, has captured his f'1rst Santa Fe Speedway season's championship and thus established himself as the nation's premier short track rider. With the point season officially over on Wednesday night, September 5, 1972, Lee has accumulated 224 points, more than 50 points in front of his closest pursuer, Mich""l Johnson of FUn t, Michigan. Included in Lee's winnings were five Mains, nine Semis, eigh t heats and six Trophy Dashes. Ironically, Lee's only disappointment in 1972 was losing out to Mike Gerald in the National Short-Track championship at Santa Fe on August 18. Lee had won that race in 1971. Awards were won by Lee for top Expert; Johnson for top Junior; Ray Chapple for top Novice; and William . Wildt for most improved rider. Many other ational numb'ers ranked in the Top 20. N ..... '" M ri 0 II> ~ W Z w -' U >U Even though Tom Rapp and Oa,,: Rodgers showed up at ADR, there were still minis on the track ... 1972 SANTA FE MOTO RCYCLE PO'INT (FINAL) 1. Robert E. Lee ...and dogs in the pits. ADR MX ...- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , by Mike Murphy Photos by Steve Wiesenhofer PHOENIX, AZ., Sept. 17, 1972 Today was the beginning of lhe third season of motocross at Arj,zona Desen Raceways and if the first day is any sign of things to come, it'll be the best season yet. ADR has grown from a dusty, narrow tTail to a rock-strewn path to a f u 11.f1edge-real.live-honest-to-Herkimer motocross course. As an added attraction, a rainstorm was added to the day's events as a novel (for Arizona) way to water the track. Of a1J the racers I asked, not one didn't like the track and all said lhat lhey would be back ...all 200 of them. That's a pretty fair turnout for a track that never had J 00 riders. The biggies of the. day were the 125 and 250 Expert classes headed by Californians Tom Rapp and Dave Rodgers astride their flashy red Buls. Of the three molOS at five laps each, Dave JIWcI.. Rodgers led for 14. Scott McAfee led lhe first lap of moto three with Rodgers soon to pass. McAfee and his DKW finished second overall behind Rodgers. The first 250 Expert moto was a giveaway to Mr. Rapp who led from the first tum to the checkered. But the second molO was no copy; off to a bad start, Rapp was eleventh in the first tum and turning it on. At the end of the first lap, he had moved up to fifth. From then on, it was a game of .catch-up to Maico-mounted Bob Wharton. But Wharton saw the checkered before Rapp which gave both riders a first and second into the third moto. What's this? A local boy about to do in one of the country's top riders? At lhe start of the third moto, everybody watched Rapp take the hole and hold it all lhe way. Wharton didn't let off and he was never more lhan 50 yards behind Rapp. You could imagine Wharton saying to himself, U\\'ait 'til next time. Just wait." WR!TE fOR CO\\PLLlt Ples ANI) PRtClS ~ ~ AWA LTD. East: 185 Express St., Plainview, L.I., N. Y. 11803 West: 3745 Overland Ave., Los Angeles, Ca. 90034 c:a OYI 0 ~ VI 2 r"'o ." O' < =1 ~!Jo 01 llllllr I~I ..01'T1 :;; '" - - ii lD:E ~CXlVt ~ 0 a .. .. "' ~ c: " .. "' . - » Q. ~ ~ ~ " 0 3 ;~ 0 ~ 0 ii b ii . VI "' MOSI Powerful .... MAleO ... ... .. = .. COOPER MOTORS ... = "" "'I 5.1 31 ~I 0 - 2: 110 E. Santa Anita Ave. Burbank, Ca. 91502 OMPETITION Moto-X - Desert Enduro YCLE . ~RODU~tington 16612 Beach Blvd. Beach. Calif (714j 847-2202 WantedlJ\ll ~M.m~er.1 To represent in government Motorcycle Owners, Riders, and Enthusiasts PO Box 26062, Sacramento 95826 rn SHIN GUARDS Vinyl Coated $10.25 pro FOREARM GUARDS Vinyl Coated $6.25 pro ELBOW GUARDS Contoured Vinyl $6.25 pro HELMET FACE GUARDS $3.95 Prompt Mail Order WARNER'S Box 61, La Mirada, Ca. 90638 Courtesy to Dealers SPEEDWAY STANDINGS The big three of lhe 125 Novice class were Jim Strickland (0 KW), Carl Lasch (Yam) and Mike Richter (Hon). Rich ter's four-stroker didn't bave the power of the ring-dings as he grabbed three thirds. Lasch finished with 1-2-2 and Strickland with 2-1-1 for top gold. Next race is October first. Tbe weather will be cooler and the racing at its best. Make it. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 10. Michael Johnson Mike Gerald Billy 0 'Brien Charlie Chapple Michael Kldd Charlie Seale Gary Horton Paul Pressgrove Dale Furst Keith Ulick.i Kennetb Roberts Clifford Keener Gordon Dusenberry Nei I Keen Darryl Hurst DaoJid Aldana Carl LeBlanc R~Y Chapple Ralph Duncan Big Spring Optimists' MX - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - by David Freeman BlG SPRING, TEX., Sept. 3, 1972 The fall motocross series opened in the midst of hot and heavy competition at the Big Spring Motocross Park. At the day's end, Big Spring riders dominatcd the seats in the victory circle with five first.place honors, six seconds, and one third. Brian Ferrell started the day pff right for lhe local riders by placing first in the Junior Mini·bike competition. Rag Puga and mini-ace Tim Sevanson captured second and lhird places. Another ace, Craig Hodnett then matched Ferrell's accomplishment capturing fIrst place honors in the Senior-Mini class with Trent Fraley in a smooth second. An old banle resumed as lhree young progressive 125 Senior riders picked up where they left off in the summer series. Jay Henry, Kelly Guinn, and Mark Day left many spectators standing in awe. . Henry made the scene on a new Swedish-built Monark and literally flew around the rough Big Spring track with Guinn's Penton glued to his rear fender. The three heats resembled a drag race as spectators wondered if both riders had stuck throttles. Nobody could wan~ to go that fast on purpose. Steve Darby, Lance Read and Mike George battled for first, second, and third 125 Junior. Looks like we may have some more challengers ready to join the Henry .. Guinn, Day, and Burchell battle for the top honors in the 1 25 Senior class. First place in the 256 Junior class was captured by Bob Ward who has recently returned to the racing scene after recovering from a street bike acciden t last spring. However, Ward's-victory was far from cherry-picking. He only had to beat about thirty olher 250 competitors, including a very fast Charles Puga and Maico-mounted Steve Darby. The Open Junior class saw many new faces (a few old ugly ones), numerous crashes, thrown chains and bunch of dirt flying as everyone juggled for positions. The seldom-seen boondocker, Jack Henry, on a seldom-seen motorcycle, a 450 Husky, spent practically the entire afternoon in front of pack. Meanwhile, back in the pack, Maico-mounted Lee WallS and Maico-moun ted David Freeman battled for second place. Unfortunately for yours truly, the square-finned Maico was just too much for my radial. But stay tuned next mOllth to see if Billy Barkfeather Watts can maintain his dominance over Dynamite Dave Freeman and who knows what will become of Husky Cat Jack Henry. "\;II~e it ;IS ;1 rl'ttll "'rell~ll. NATIONAL DIGS IN .. with Motorcycle Repair Training heavy with solid basics ... Speed Tuning from the inside out! Metric tools and equipment ... "hands-on" Bike Shop experience ... even up-to-date Hi-Performance modifications. If you want real nuts-and·bolts ACTION .. let NATIONAL help you rev up your EARNING POWER in just 4 months. L.A. is MACHINE COUNTRY .. with over 175,866 bikes for trail, track or touring! Each year cycle sales soar 67.4% .. creating a non-stop demand for top wrenches. And here's where NATIONAL's Motorcycle Repair pays off. You'll have the know-how to move up in any Cycle Shop. Ready to match the Competition. Don't idle. GET YOURSELF UP ON THE POWER BAND with NATIONAL's all-new Motorcycle Repair. And let MIKE PATTERSON fill you in on the latest facts .. PHONE NOW! (213) 2:1~1.!tttt;1 DAY and EVENING SHOP TRAINING GI BI LL APPROVED NATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOLS 4000 SOUTH FIGUEROA at SANTA BARBARA AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90037

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's - Cycle News 1972 10 03