Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Turkey Run _ by Terry ewfarmer CAMP WILLIAMS, UTAH, Nov. 19, 1972 - An ocean of greasy mud left by two weeks of rain; deep snow drifts covering rocky climbs on top; and a blizzard that, left you blind with or without goggles; it was a tough Turkey, Run for Utah this year. The Sail Lake Motorcycle Club annual event is always held at Thanksgiving time, so some mud is inevitable, but this year it wasn't real. The roads that should have been easy were the worst part of the course. In recent years, the event has been held at the summer home of Utah National Guard, which produces some uniq ue obstacles, such as artillery craters and steel-stranded communications wire. (Great ecologisls, these men in green.) The Hare Scrambles loop was aboul 12 miles around. From the mud roads of the pit area, it led through over rocky sidehills through a burn area. (The Guard starts a few fires every summer wi th tracer bulle lS.) This was the most fun riding and the only fun riding on the course. Then came a muddy road climb to the check, followed by a road descent that was like pavement the day before, until riders plowed in the snow. Mud then gave way to rocks as an old jeep trail led .to the snow drifts on top of the mountain. Snow isn't really too bad, unless it has a coating of boulders beneath (it did) or if it is blowing and coming down in high wind (it was). Following was lhe same boulder-covered downh ill as last year leading to the other check, the pits and another lap. Wheee. But you can't blame the club for the •...- weather, and they have.a neat system of running the home check: the different size machines to a different chec;ker, so you not only don't have wait in line; you can find ou t how you are doing. They planned on five laps, but changed it to four in the storm, and finished everyone as they came in after the winner. The first 21 finishers made the four; the rest of us went something less. Peter Crandall almost always beats all the 125's. He always beats almost all the bigger bikes. This time he beat everybody, and fulfilled his season-long quest to defeat Preston Gerber in a cross-crounty race. Peter usually rides a Penton, but he had ignition troubles in pre-race practice, so he got on a new 125 Husky with no waterproofing over stock and littler other preparation, and did it to everybody. Second to the wire was Open Husky rider Cal Crosby, who put a lot of effort into learning the course and condi.tions the day before. Gerber was third on a Bul, and fourth was Cotton Guio, a name that would turn up a week later (not too bad) in the Barstow to Vegas results. The 250 class went to Honda rider Dave Spencer, a non-flashy rider who. comes through when the going gets tough. Tony jacobs reigned on as king of the 200's, but this is the second cross country in a row where he has trailed Wayne Spencer until Spencer stopped to fiddle arou.nd, letting Tony sneak by. Both ride Pen tons. The 100s went to LaMar Walker, a familiar name in that class. who sometimes forsakes his Hoda.ka to try out a big Husky, and does will (,n dther. .... .. C> " l>. N .... C> m .u 0 Ul ;: ... The big race fIIis lIIOIIIII is to D&J Suzuki for a ...d Prix of lagails: W * ~ • Z w ...J U > U * * ~ * * a * It=---.. SIREn RIDERS SPECIALS _~ We feature "Califia" fairings and saddlebags. We will order for any bike and give a IN• • 'deal on special orders this month. Also gift certificates - crash bars - sport shields freeway bars - racks - sissy bars - jackets - rain suits - 'Real Deals on AU' LAST but DDt LEAST • MOIOCYCLE DEALS NEW BIKES by Lyle Fergus LAWRENCE, KANS., Nov. 26,1972 This being the last motocross for '72, the overall point champions were crowned. The junior champions received a very large trophy, and all of the junior trophies went to the rider ahead in poin ts even before this race. Dicky Young captured the 100 with 996, . Ron Ely had 1118 for the 125 title, Roger StORe 860 in 300 and James Barrett with 950 points in the Open. Next year there will be a spring series, and fall series so there w' Lbe two sets of champions. [n the Seniors, champions were given their choice of motocross boots or pan ts. Craig Bills won the 125 overall, although he had not competed in the 125 class since the early summer. james Huff nosed out Tony Martin for the 30 win, Tony was ahead in points but did not race Sunday. Mike Krebs was the uncontested c~ampion in the Open Senior. The special treat I mentioned earlier was the skydivers. On hand Sunday were three sky divers who jumped right after the riders' meeting, even with the very strong wind. The racing was starled with the 100 juniors. The deep mud made the smaller classes very hard on the riders. Stan Thompson came out of lhe hole like a Saturn B, but could only hold the lead for the first lap, then Dick Young took over from then on, this went ~on for Lhree roo tos. The 125 A junior was a Hird family benefit with john Hird winning the first moto, then Richard Hird went on to win the other two. john won the overall with Charles j ones laking second. Bill Potter won the first 125 B division rno to from cnd to start. Ron Ely had to take the lead from Darryl Berry in the other two molOs. Ron got the overall with Ron Russell taking second. Stacy Sales won the first and last moto in the 300 A division, but this was only good enough for second overall. john Bissell with a lst, 2nd and 3rd placed first. Danny Dowdy came in first in the first two 'motos in the 300 B, then Donald Dowdy won the last one. Dan got the overall followed by Randy Duvall. The finish of the 300 B first moto caused quite a bit of discussion because the wrong rider got the checkered flag. With the muddy .conditions the people on the line could not tell the riders apart. The scorekeepers however, had the facts. j ames Barrett was the only rider to lead any laps in the Opcnjunior and, of course, took overall. 125 Senio~ was a Ray Kohout catch-me-if-you-can affair, and the only rider to catch him was j on Thurston who led for one lap. Second overall Randy Shekell placed second twice and one third. The only battle in the 300 Senior was for the other places as jim Huff won all three motos. Second overall Mike Stanfield stayed in the top five. Brad Shepard led for one lap in the third moto (only other rider to do so) and placed third overall. Open SeniOr had three different winners. Dennis Smith won the first moto. Second moto had james Barren leading with Dennis trying to catch up. Third moLO had Charles Browing out.fron t and Dennis moving up from behind. Dennis took lhe overall with Barrett second. (This month, only if available) * ~ 1972 SUZUKls ~ Special Order Only MT 50 TS 90 TS 250 GT 380 SUZUKI GT 550 GT 750 $259 .00 $389.00 $749.00 $799.00 $1049-.00 $1299.00 ~ Check our over stock of used bikes. 1973 Models * Slight increase for comparable model charge and Improvements * We always give better deals * We have a limited number of TM250Ks with paint blemishes ~ ~ 'A Real Steal' * * a ~ NO PRICES QUOTED BY PHONE PLEASE! i. .. D&J SUZUKI 1915 E. Katella (at Newport Fwy) Orange, Ca. (714) 639·7771 • 0" •• 9-9 M·F, 9·6 Sat. t***.****~********.***

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