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/125806
R.A.C.E. Night MX at Corono - - by Marilyn Hart Photos by Earl Topham CORONA, CAL., Sept. 28, 1972 - The last Thursday night motocross for the season was really a blast for everyone there, spectators and riders alike. The track which many riders used to call "The bike-eater and body-buster" has been considerably tamed with several improvements. It's still a challenging course, - but there it wouldn't be a Motocross if it weren't, would it? Ken Zbart really had a bailout there and definitely left "his Z-brand on the Corona track. ot only did Kenny take home the 500 Expert payroll, but also won all tbree motos for a grand-slam on Dave Rodgers borrowed 125 Bul for the 125 Expert win over Mike PauiseWs Penton and Rick Bean's Bul. Ken had to ride a bit harder for his 500 Expert win; however, he finished first overall with a 3-1-2 win, followed by Bryon Breker with a 1-6-1 and Bill Saltzman with a 5-2-3 win (both on Huskys). Rich Eierstedt on his American Motocross Maico and Ray Topham on his Competition Cycles CZ dominated the 250 Expert class. Each moto was the same - Eierstedt first and Topham second, with third place ··up.for-grabs". Bill Saltzman from Baldwin Park pulled out another third overall fbr the night. Min ibiker Mike Nicklaus on his Honda simply outclassed and outrode the Yamahas of Bill Taylor and Vince Ragsdale with all three wins. Rudy _ .. .... go "- Abele (I-I-D) did the same to the 100 Juniors by beating Don Bongiorno (Kaw) and Jim Dean (Suz) to the checkered all three mo tos. Ron Rieke and his Puch had the 125 Intermediate class win all to himself after his competitors dropped out with mechanical problems. The hardest race of the night to score was the 125 Junior. With the number of riders and the CMC scoring rules, il w'as one of the closest races in some time. The final results showed Danny elson (Car) first, Albert Cancino (Hus) second, and Kelly Callaway (Yam) third, overall, with a very narrow point spread between first and third. Clay Musolf and his CZ had to work to take home the brass in the 250 Intermediates, but he did so with a 2-4-1 ride ahead of David Donato (Bul) with a 5-1-2, and Floyd Burk,Jr. (Kaw) with a 3-2-3 win. TaJk about close racing - they too wanted that brass!! Robert Swag~r and his Bul took home the flfst place trophy a11ead of the Yamahas of Jack Eitzen and Nick Simmons in the 250 Junior class, and three familiar winners were back again for the 500 1nt. class. The Huskys of Greg Goodwin and Lin Pickens tooks firsl and second, followed by John Rogers (S uz) from Palm Springs for third overall. After lhe final race, Corona Raceway N .... Ol u o ~ w Z W ..J U >U .. This is number 78. added another fun goody to their program - lhe Buddy Race. For this event, the only rules are that both riders must wear helmets and presumably will lry to stay on the course. Ray Topham new out of the hole with his Fearless Buddy," Dave Rawley who was in T-shirt and tennies, and weighing in at a little less than 100 pO,,<,ds. The "Fearless (?) Rider" Rawley managed to hang on and they swept the field. 'Escape Country MX by Mike CapaJite TRABUCO CANYON, CAL., O'et. I, 1972 - With the word getting around about the track at Escape Country, the entries are jumping by leaps and bounds. As usual, the greater the amount of entries, the greater the day's racing. Starting with the Mini Enduros this week, it was David Oller on bis Honda getting the top gold in the First Day class that was jammed with entries. It was John Gless (Hon) taking the Beginners while Steve Sixberry (Yam) did it in the Novice class. Gene Woods pulled a repeat of his win last week in the Amateur class aboard his Yamaha. Brad Evarts stormed a mass oj 100 First Day riders to take the win on his Hodaka while tbe Beginner division went to Bob Penville (Yam). While John . Mellin was only able to finish two motas in the Novice divisitm, he won both of them which gave him enougb points Jor the win aboard his Suzuki. With the only DKW entered in the First Day class of the I25cc's, Mike Bierman showed the Japanese bikes the way home with his win, but Jeff Christensen alld Neal Qyckoff did the honors for Yamaha as they copped the wins in the Beginner and Novice classes. About the only class that was low on entrie.s was the 185 which had been ge,tting bigger every week but for some reason the entries were down this week as Steve Ruffalo and Harold Heriford garnered the wins in the First Day and Beginner classes with their Suzukis. Ronald Jones took his Montesa for three first places and top scorer in the ovice division. It seemed like every 250 in So Cal was signed up as all the divisions were filled up and the competition was pretty keen. The first day class ~as won by Lixie Holtsclaw (Yam). Barry Anderson (Yam) won the Beginner division. Peter Harrison (Puc) did it in the Novice division. Frank Steiner took the Amateur honors. When it came to the money race, it was Ray Topham (CZ) who pocketed the lion's share of the 'coin of the realm'. While the Open divisions were the last races of the day. they were by no means the rno tos to miss as the First Day and Beginner class were combined into the same race (although scored separately) which provided thrills that are usually only in the Expert class. While Michael Peters and his Maico won the First Day class handily, tbe battle for the win in the Beginner division was hard-fought all the way. Suzuki-mounted Larry Moulton looked every inch a seasoned rider as he repeatedly held back challenges for his lead position and was able to wrap up three first place wins to take the top spot in his division. The Novice class went to Keith Jones on a Yamaha. Joe Rose (CZ) in the Amateur, and Ken Zahrt (Bul) zapped the Experts. ATTENTION DEALER IF YOU'RE NOT SELLING CYCLE NEWS * First with Profit You make 14¢ on every copy sold. Plus you have full return privileges. The profit maker that cost you nothing. Minimum order is ten copies and-we pay shipping (via 2nd Clas mail). Your customers will come back fo)' every issue of CYCLE NEWS. Each and every issue is filled with News of happellings in the two-wheeled sport. Motorcycles from mini to monster, coverage of competition events, all the AMA National Championships, local sportsmen events, local fun runs, tests of fact, new products, legislation, want ads, and a voice for readers. This is CYCLE NEWS. 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