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/125804
Pridmore Gets Two at OCIR 500 winner with Brian Duran (Kaw) in sigh t but never quite able to close the distance. Rod Murufas (Yam) was the 350 !'eader for most of the race. but a lat~ charge by Bob Crossman (Yam) brought him into the pack and past Murufus for a well earned 350 win. Bob also took home the brass in the 250 production class but on a Suzuki. Fred Walti (Yam) broke out to an early . lead but a seizure in the tower tum put him down and out. Bob was followed, but not closely by David James (Suz) and Tom Sullwood (Kaw). Back there in sixth was a 250 Honda, XL 250, 21 inch front wheel and all. Bruce Hammer (Suz) was the 200 winner. And in the 125 Mike Baeder (Yam) was not only winner in class, but took fourth overall, in front of lots of 250s. Rudy Renosa and Mike Slaughter jumped away in the 100·125-200 GP on their 125 Yamahas. Rudy just keprright on flying. with Mike in sight but not much more. That gives Mike an indomitable' number of seconds and also a death grip on the 125 points lead. The 250 GP event was one of the most exciting events of the day with a race-long battle between Mike Clarke (Yam) and Phil Pascoe (Yam). They were never more than two bike lengths apart for the entire race. Clarke was fearless, sliding the rear wlteel exiting tum one. He did wild things but never slipped and was first to the flag. The SidecaL even t was a fine victory for Pridmore. Pridmore and Greene on a Norton rig dogged the Hummer and Gulbrandson (HD) duo for many laps. following just inches. When the time was right Pridmore slipped neatly inside in to tum one and let the Harley do the following for awhile. Hummer/Gulbrandson persued fran tically and became a little over involved, making an excursion into tum six's hay bales. McNeil and Crabb on the Kolbe Honda were not far behind an inherited second. Everybody passed their money down the rows to Steve McLaughlin for the Hooligan race, just to avoid unnecessary middle men. Steve again on the Super Action Fours 750 didn't let anyone down and took the win. A bump start was used in the Hooligan race which provided a bit of variety for the spectators and also made things a little safer by reducing the number of machines that piled into the first turn. Seems like a good idea that should be used more often. Vacaville 250 Mile Production Race by Gale Wilson VACAVILLE. CAL., Sept. 24, 1972 The new 903cc Kawasaki was victorious in its racing debut here. In the capahle hands of P'IUI Smart and his Team Hansen tuner. Hurley Wilvert - a road racer of some considerable note himself, the machine pulled out a lead of two laps over the nearest competition, a Honda 500 ridden by John Green and Mike Lewis. In the early stages of the race. Smart hung around to play ·with some of the slower machines wltile a 750 Kawasaki ridden by George Miller scooted ahead . for a wltile. Smart played with Bob Endicott aboard a Honda shared with James Dunham until the Honda broke. The 900 Kawasaki was equipped with high bars as was the other one entered in the race. A second 900 was ridden by Bryon 'Farnsworth, the man in charge of developing the machine in America. 11 was he that persuaded Smart to ride here. The Farnsworth/Shetler machine finished eigh th overall. The third place machine was a Honda 350 ridden by the team of Spurlock and Gansburger which was five laps down on the second place machine. The C.ordexo/Miller Kawasaki 750 was fourth overall ahead of the second 350. a Yamaha piloted by Simon and Kopering. The Marandino/Paloheimo Norton Commando production racer ran the next most laps placing ahead of the Harvallopa/Senell Kawasaki 500 which was second in its class. After the race the Kawasaki 900's were protested because it was believed that there were not 50 of them in private hands as the rules require_ However, Farnsw.orth has submitted proof that 50 of them have reached dealers in the southeastern U.S. For this reason the protest will probably not be upheld. ,.. o ~ u ~ w Z W ..J o > o Although he always came out a nick behind McLaughlin when they met. Reg Pridmore won the Open production and sidecar races. ...and wins 30 Gold Medals. The 1972 "Olympics" of International motorcycle racing ... 6 grueling days. through mud. rain. mountains. streams. highways ... and Jawa won. Racing that tests to the fullest a motorcycle's true capabilities. Cross-country. hillclimbing. speed tests. motocross, precision riding, and above all DEPENDABILITY ... this is what makes Jawa a world's champion. Jawa motorcycles dominated the winner's circle again. 30 gold medals. 1st in the World Team Trophy with no penalty poiats. 1st and 2nd in the Silver Vase. also with DO penalty points. Jawa and CZ motorcycles are familiar sights in/the winner's circle ... but did you know they also use the world famous Barum tires and CZ chains? Even other motorcycle manu· facturers use both of them. If you like winning. perhaps you should test ride one of our bikes and feel the difference. JAWA·CZ AMERICAN JAWA, LTD. WEST. 3745 _lind A AIIp CL_ EAST. 185 ~ st. 1_ 1 1l.Y. 11103 MolDrl ~ LId. 1600 T " , _ "",.• Mo_1 3n ca. CMAIJA, _ a,...