Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

'" N fast and when TomJ"ooked up, Cannady was rapidly disappearing down the road. It all happened so fast that Smith was up, had kicked tlIe Yamaha back to life and was ch arging after CanIu'dy before the next rider had a chance to take advantage of the situation. Young Tom Brooks, riding his formidable 125 DKW had challenged Tom Smith's lead all the way. Through the rough sections Brooks would take the lead, only to be au t-powered when the going was smooth. Fast, talented and determined, Brooks struggled to hang onto the lead. Cannady's Honda had lost all but second and fifth gear and at Stateline, . no longer in contention, he dropped out of the race for good_ Brooks now h ad a three minute lead over second place Smith, and A.C. Bakken was still further behind. Brooks knew there was only one way for him to win it. He had opened the throttle full to the stops on the starting line and he held it there, relying on his strength and talent. to keep him and his bike uprigh t over the cabby sections. At Stateline, he could almost taste the victory. It was a reality within his grasp. He had been first overall several " '" '" 0N .... en u " Cl Ul ;;: w Z W ..J U >U times in recent Hare and Hound events, but today ,vas special. This was The Race and he wan ted that first place. He was willing to let his body and bike take the kind of beating ne.cessary to earn the win. It would be worth it. Disaster struck just outside Stateline. The header pipe blew off the OK W and with it wen t the bike's peak power and Brooks' chance. Many riders with less skill or less luck were already out of the race. Tom Smith had gotten off three times. Picking his bike up for the third time decided that he migh t be riding just a little over his head. IIe determined to ride at his normal pace and hope that it was fast enough to give him a victory. Smith nashed past Brooks and the slowed DKW. They had started the final leg of the race. If he could hang on and keep calm and if his bike lasted ...if. He could win. More spectators. He had seen them at every crossroads along the way. Now they were silhouettes at the top of'a small rise. He roared.past them and saw the banners of the finish chute rushing Larry Pf. kept his hold on that lx plate, finishing three places up on Fishback RolfTibblin (907) got past him, though. at him. He dared not look over his shoulder to see if anyone was about to pass him. Then, before he had time to grasp it fully, he was riding the brakes, sliding sideways, trying to stop before he ran through the barricade of bodies and ribbon that were the end of the race. Barely aware of the cheering crowd, Tom accep ted his finisher's pin and bottle of champagne which were hung on ribbon around IUs neck like medals. He did it. He was the winner of the world's biggest Hare'llIld Hound. He had beaten the best that desert racing had to offer. And it was Tom Smith's first overalJ win ever. Riding his disabled bike to the limit, TOIJl Brooks soared over the rise and into the finisher's chute, second overalJ and first Division 11 Ligh tweigh t Expert. And the best that a bike this small had ever finished in the Barstow-to-Vegas race. A.C. Bakken had moved from fourth to third to second to third to second to third all the way th rough the race. At the finish line he was still in third place. His ten-minute gain had not quite been enough. He slid through the chute sideways, perhaps disappointed at not winning, but grinning at the fact that he had done so well. Last year, A.C. was 11rst Novice in the B-V, and he did it wearing a brace to ease the pain from th ree cracked vertebrae which had not quite healed. Rolf Tibblin came in nex t, fourth overall and third Open Expert. Roll' received his congratulations, finisher's pin and champagne, stepped up and congratulated Bakken, allowed the photographers a few moments for pictures, then left with friends who pushed his I·Iusky away for him. The experience and talent of Larry Pfutzen.reuter were taxed to the limit as he moved from fortieth place at the bomb to fifth at the finish line. Larry is figh ting to main tain possession of the Number One Lightweight plate. Please tum to P. 26 Gene Cannady had his Honda in the lead so long aSlt was running. "Now when we finish gassing up the chopper, we load the bike in and head for th.e finish line. Are you sure this one is faster than the Checkers' helicopter?" Al Buck makes mqtorcycle movies. - Ed Drechsler Phot~... : ... _ , .. ~ ... •• He fjnis,h~9 the world's longest Hare and Hound 'af1C1

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