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/125809
by Art Friedman Photos by Art Friedman and Dave Schoonmaker WILLOW SPRINGS, CAL., Nov. 12, 1972 - It's interesting to see what has happened to the production classes in local road racing. The original in ten t of the class was to have a form of racing that was cheap and therefore available to everyone. There are those riders that felt they were needed a little more power and they began to modify their machines. At first this was illegal, but as it became more common, it became the nonn - for winners at least - and officials began to wink at it and let it happen. Today a "production" machine may sport trick shocks, big carbs, a completely modified engine (now legal in some associations since officials don't like to have to sit around as engines are torn down and try to figure out what is sto~k and what isn't), hollowed out mufflers, and other costly, time consuming "options". What this does is to make it almost impossible for someone on a budget to be competitive in this class. . The Open production class was a race between a budget racer and another, AMA Expert rider on a factory machine. The budget racer was Dennis Pegelow on his Stacy Thomas (that's his girl friend, I think) "sponsored" Kawasaki 750 and Reg Pridmore on his Butler and mith prepared BMW 750. Dennis gpt the better start on his Kawasaki and led the first lap. On lap two Reg passed Pegelow going in to the first turn, but Dennis drove oul. better and led for a bit more un til the greater power and speed of the BMW made itself felt and Pridmore pulled away to win. When we asked Dennis why he didn't protest the BMW, he just shrugged his shoulders. We point out that the BMW's mufflers had been cut and rewelded. Still Dennis just wasn't interested. He didn't feel vindictive and he didn't want to do something that "unsporting." "]'11 just have to ride better," he said. Why didn't he modify his bike? "I'm not much of a mechanic." The situation isn't Pridmore's fault, either. He rides for a company that supplies the machines and pays him to ride them. His ability is great enough so that he could win the production race often on a stock machine. His bike isn't t~e only non-stock one running in the Open production class. There are several bikes out there that even look like GP machines. Scratching--al Willow- Springs Wit. SOlie Notes 01 the Dedile of Pr*tiol Roa" Radl' il Califorlia ~ w W ...J o > o Even playing with Jim Evans. Steve McLaughlin (551 knocked a second ott the old lap record on his way to the won. The 500 Production class was won by Kevin Bruke (Kaw) , but only after some difficulty. Kevin got a good start, but then his left muffler broke off and he slowed to fiddle with it. In the meantime Tom Casey' (Hon) went by and took the class lead. Kevin got sorted out and began to whittle down Tom's lead. He caught and passed him on the fron t straigh t just .a lap or two from the end. The biggest field of the day was in the 350 Production class and Barry Roberts won it going away frt>m third and second place James Crawford (Yam) and Bud Keeley (Hon) who were havinl( a big battle over second. Steve McLaughlin (Action Fours Honda 750) had mechanical problems which caused him to win the Open Senior GP event. Steve was supposed to go to Don Emde's wedding, but had mechanical problems with his airplane (or so he says). As a result he came to Willow and won easily from Jim Evans (Mel Dinesen Yamaha 350). Steve stayed around to play with Evans and wave for pbotogs. A ways back Pridmore (Butler and Smith BMW 750) was involved in a dice wi th Bob Endicott (Action Fours Honda 500) un til Bob seemed to tire sligh tly probably because he shaved off' his beard. Jim Evans and Wes Cooley, Jr. had a long dice in the 250' Senior GP event, but this time it was Jim who seemed to be playing since his Mel Dinc:sen Yamaha seemed to have the power to just pull away from Cooley at will. The closest race of the day w.as the 250 Junior GP event where' Tom Milligan and Nick Voge had it out. The lead swapped back and forth, but at the line Voge had it by a wheeL David Racine did his usual trick on his Team American Honda 350 and dry gulched the rest of the Heavyweigh t Junior GPers. .. .. In the 500 Production class, Kevin Burke to go on to win. N Z Next week he may cut his hair. (538) r- 0> ,; o conscious dudes made him shave his beard. powers by Tom Casey t N Z The story of the 250 Junior GP class. Nick Voge (138) nips Tom Milligan at the flag . This week Bob Endicott is riding Actions Fours' 500 which he won on. Those image 0> N The 350 Production class was the largest field. Barry Roberts (closest to camera) was the winner.