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
, N M . 8. l>. N .... ~ 2 ~ N ,; 0 z :: '" w z ~ u >u From start lin this case, the 250 Experd ... Ed Drechsler Photo. . ..........--- •.;:;; .........M1 - -. - .. -.... ..-:>. by Ron chneiders Photos by Ron and Ellen Schneiders HOPETOWN, CAL., Nov_ 12,13, 1972 - Southern C2lifomia was at its very best this?eekend for the 14th Annual Dirt gigger's Grand Pm_ The weather was about as perfect as anyone could ask for, with temperatures ranging from warm shirt-sleeve weather in the middle of the day to a bit of fall chill in the early moming and day's end. Thanks to a drenching rain on Friday there wasn't a bit of smog to dull the colors of the autumn-turned trees that lined the course and shaded the haphazard pits. The Dirt Diggers had promised their usual superb even t, with something for everyone who dug racing motorcycles. It there was a kind of terrain that particularly turned you on, you could be sure of rmding it on the longish three·miIe course. There were lo.ng straights, sweepers and a power-sucking hill for guys who like explosive excitement. Tight, tricky turns and off-camber stuff with complicated lines kept things o interesting for the riders who enjoy art more than raw courage_ And there was any kind of traction you wanted from damp sand that made asphalt seem slick to dry sand on smooth rock where the coefficient of friction was negative. And there was mud.. ~ There was a class for everybody too: Girls, old-timers, sidehacks, and every conceivable engine size, in three ability ranges. About all they missed was a class for men riding with dogs on the gastank, but the lone practitioner of that aspect of the sport wasn't left out. Either John McGowen or Kookie qualified for the Old-timers race and managed to show a few of those guys some dog-gone good lines through the turns. Everybody comes to Hopetown to do their own thing. The End Does threw a birthday party and Jeanne Allen, the most attractive feature of mon thJy mag, Modern Cycle, passed out about two cases of Cold Duck to everyone in the vicinity of the finish line. For perhaps the nrst time·in motorcycling history you coulcln't give away those traditional staples, Coors and Red Mou~tain, not with Jeanne and her chilled Cold Duck around. There weren't any enduros this wee kend, so end uro ace Bob Steffan showed up, entered couple of classes, set himself a 35 mph schedule and kept in shape for more serious sport. Preston Petty, whom everyone says has retired " ',,.. ,.", Just ask Gene Cannady (44) or AI Saker (8). who are running 2-3 in the 500 Expert class at this point. Or any of this crew trying to stay on top of the deep. icky mud. - Ed Drechsler Photo.