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/125803
At the SRA European Scr" NOBODY GETS OFF WITHOUT SOMETHING ~ " o ~ w z w -" U >U ...even if it's just the good vibes of "for fun" desert racing. by Lou Whitney Photos by Dale Coats ADELANTO, CAL., Oct. I, 1972 - The Sportsman Racing Association launched ,ies fall program today by throwing a super keen European Scrambles in an' area already nearly worn out by use. But surprises being the nature of the game, SRA layout people came up with a fresh course that hadn't seen a tire track in a couple of rains (and that's been awhile!). The course was like a gigantic wide motocross layout as it twisted in a high speed fashion through the hills and washes for about nine miles. Oddly enough due to the newness of the terrain, it got better and faster as the eight race schedule progressed and the turns bermed up making turns faster and surer. The full day got underway at promplty 8:00 with the combined 0-200 Beginners under 16 years old. Watching this class by themselves continues to amaze me since they always seem as fast and as smooth as the older riders. In this case it was the Honda 125 of C.hris Gray that did the deed, taching about 11,000 RPM coming through the home turn. It seems that cams are not ready to die. The Open Novice got underway with Jack Hawk's monstrous 501 Maico showering rocks and small boulders all over Alan Knebel and his trusty Husky for about 2Y, 'laps before the mounting blisters on Jack's hands got the better of him and he slowed just a second. Brother Jack Knebel, with a day off from serious racing, watched from the hill as Alan blasted by for the win. Some where around 27 powderpuffers lined up next for the most popular race of the day, and when the banner was down and the dust cleared, it was Dawn Gran t in the lead but a determined Joyce Harris was closing hard. Twenty-seven miles later Joyce edged Dawn by 17 inches for the overall win. The 250 Novice bash turned up a surprising set of events as Larry Fox on a Yamaha came by sixth on loop one, third on loop two, and then about two minutes ahead on the final lap. Unless Larry is super-duper fast, it seems a lead pipe cinch that he must have missed somewhere along the course and blew a check. Larry did say that he got off the course at one point, spoHed the dust and headed for it. If he missed the check, it's a shame because he rode a great race anyhow. Yamaha mounted Mike Johnson and Don Lyon on a Suzuki rounded out the top three. It seems that there was a fire road not too far from the start that ran like an' arrow to a point some three miles out on the course. SRA felt that including the road as part of the course would not be good so they told everyone on the starting line for each race that the road was taboo for aU riders at all time. To enforce it, they stationed a flagmen and one of' five course marshalls on the road during each event and put check one right where the road and course merged. To make a long story short, I thin k there will be at least a few disqualifications due to that road. On a more serious note, during cow trailing trips in the area, 1 found two courses not more than a month old where the course markings had not been removed. One was marked with orange ribbon and green arrows, the other with orange cloth and black arrows. Fellas, getting land to race on is like pulling lions teeth. If these dirty pit areas and course markings are allowed to continue, good by desert! When I arrived on Saturday morning, the pit area in general looked like a city dump, and there was hardly anyone there yet. We helped S RA clean it up and took a whole pickup truck load to the dump before noon.' At that point, it still was not really ckan, but just passable. Wow. Back to racing, in the 0-200 Novice thing, it was the Rickman Hodaka of Keith Myer that embarrased all the 125's and 175's by wheeling to victory followed by Dick Luce and Nicky Simmons on alike 175 Yamahas. Then along came the 0-200 .Beginners over 15 years old and guess what happened? Right - Gene Probst and his 100 Suzuki did them all in. Such is racing!! y",/ .. . ... _.. , .- , t , ................. -..... , ., 1 , , -.- ~ I..... I' I 0 .!. P.G.'S& USED PARTS ALL MAKES Of;''''1t. f;'fT SCRAMBLER MOTORCYCLES ~ 40% to 60°" off 1801 W. Burbank Blvd. Burbank, Calif. 849·5907 or 845-8738 Ex. 7 We sell &S.~~eD~RfP MAleOS ! here ~ AMERICAN 7241 OrangothorlHl 8uell,1 Park, Ca. 714/521.2420 714/521·2422 CHROMOLY CZ FRAME: 121bs LIGHTER STRONGER .•.$350 4 MORE H.P. FOR YOUR 250, write: GRAND PRIX CYCLES CZ 2450 EI Camino Real Santa Clara, Ca. 95051 MAICO CALL • 87[1:443 CARABEbA BURAK TUNING SCHOOL The first of its kind! Learn how to make your machine go fast but' rE;tain reliability. The school will consist of theory and practical knowledge of two and four stroke engines. TtJe class will finish with each student having put his machine in perfect tune under our supervision. F9r more information please call or write. Classes will start on the first ~ .f(i~ay and Saturday in November. ." - See your name in print! Buy a Cycle Ne""s ""ant Ad. ;,."'/ . -11"'/ new & us SPEEDW l.A.P. BURAK BYE-PRODUCTS _!1111111_- 15170 RAYMER ST. VAN NUYS, CA. 91405 (213) 780-1768