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Here's why Yvon DuHamel didn't win the Lagi/na Seca National. Photo by Tom Culp.
supplying so much factual information
about the heated going-ons within the
club.
If you care to take in a free flick on
motorcycles, go over to Harry Fosten,
at 10425 S. Vermont, on August 9 at
about 8:00 pm. He's showing a movie
about the Mint 400.
A dealer in England, ,by the name of
Shell, paid 5000 pounds sterling (about
12,000 bucks I fo~ the only dual
overhead cam Triumph 750 triple in
existence.
The AMA has selected riders for the
Trophy des Nations Motocross to be
held in Europe at the end of the year. In
the 250 class will be: Marty Tripes,
Gary Jones, Rich Thorwaldson, and
Jimmy Weinert. On 500's will be: John
DeSoto, Jim Pomeroy, Mike Hartwig,
and Brad Lackey (pending Kawasaki's
OK).
'
The production races' were right neat,
and it seems like the AMA may haft hit
upon a formula for Novice and Junior
road races in future yean. The 350 class
would work for Novices and the Open
for Junion. It would do two things.
Fint, it would make it cheaper to race.
Second, it would change things from the
present one brand domination that
currently pervails. It would also make
the racing more interesting.
About the most interesting thing that
we've read ,recently relating to
motorcycling is this month's copy of
"The Lap Times", the AFM's National
newsletter. It has all the juicy details of
the new changes in AFM leadership and
the in-fighting between cbapters and
factions. One of the neat things abou t
the AFM", despite its moments of
childishness, is that it is about the only
remaining club thal is truly democratic.
At the moment they are having a good
north-south battle over organizational
philosophy, a battle that pits effident
race organization against down loose,
good time racing. We have to
compliment the outgoing e!litor for
PeeWee Gleason, the diminuitive
youngster from Nor£h Carolina, is a
good pick for Grand National
Champion, 1977. By then of course the
stature of motorcycle racing will have
increased substantially, and the Champ
will be a hero of Kung Fu proportions.
No doubt even the President (presuming
the office will survive its current crisis)
will see fit to honor America's best
sickle racer. Anyway, it would just be
neat to hear the Pres say proudly,
"Congratulations, PeeWee."
EVERYONE WAS THERE: In addition
to the expectl!d representatives of the
motorcyde press at Laguna Seca were
the unexpected reporten from such
publications as Time, Newsweek,
Playboy, Penthouse, Viva and Oui.
Perhaps the recent Supreme Court
decision that obscenity is a local matter
has moved the girlie mags to broaden
(heh, heh) their appeal.
The factory Yamahas at Laguna Seca
finally sported disc brakes. Hallelujah!
One pic ture we missed at Laguna Seca
waS the one of Reg Pridmore passing
Bob Endicott on the inside of the
corkscrew's downhill righthander in the
production race. You can just imagine.
Although he claims to be retired, Bart
Markel showed up at the Michigan state
TT championship aboard a Honda
'Elsinore and took second behind Husky
rider Jack Hendler.
At a race back east, riders were told that
AMA insurance wouldn't allow long
hair, because of some alleged increase in
danger.
There was the case of Pete Lombardi
who sent the AMA his application for a
professional license with his entries for
,Laguna Seca. What he received a few
weeks later in the mail was a "etter of
acceptance. Naturally, he assumed that
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he was ready to race and showed up at
sign-in. Nope, says the boys from
Westerville. No license, no ride. So Pete
got a little upset. It took them about six
houn to decide to let him ride. He
missed a lot of practice. Doesn't seem
like the right way to run a professional
race to us.
Yvon DuHamel, when he crashed at
Laguna, decided his bike was ou t of
commission, walked over to the edge of
the track, and pulled a cap out of his
leathers. No one can figure out why
Yvon was carrying a cap in his leathers,
unless he wanted to wear one of his
person aid "YO" logo caps in vic tory
circle - only six laps away.
Kawasaki and Triumph showed their
new models recently, and, although we
agreed not to say anything about them
until their release dates, we can tell you
what didn't show up. Kawasaki didn't
release any n_ four-strokes. That
means that their big four-stroke single,
code named "Lobster", wasn't there.
But if you carefully penue this issue,
you should find something that
indicates that it is well on its way. We
expect to see 'it in the spring of 1974.
We aho expect their "Halibut"
four-stroke twin of about 400cc to
appear about that time. Triumph didn't
release any Triumph-Norton
combinations.
There is some possibility that Red Rock
Canyon may be taken away from us
again. The Sierra Club's entire strength
is being brought to bear. Lots and lots
of money is being spent to get us out of
there. They will use legal pressure,
lobbying, and newspaper editorials.
They are confident of victory.
"Oui'" magazine recently requested Evel
Knievel to model for them. Evel' replied
as follows. "'f you wish to feature any
story covering myself in your magazine,
I must respectfully request that I be
featured on your cover, attired in full
dress or a red, White, and blue jock
strap." He also asked for $10,000.
Entries for Bonneville have closed.
Included among the streamliner entries
are Murray and Manning (Tri), Don
Vesco (Yam), and Bill Wirges (Kaw).
Agostini's World Championship in the
350 road racing dass is his sixth straight
in that dass. Wonder what would
happen if someone sent Cal Rayborn
over there with a good 350.
Art Baumann decided that Yvon
DuHamel had it too easy in the
production races at Laguna Seca so he is
having Yoshimura, who built the bikes
for Yvon and Steve McLaughlin, build
him one, also.
All owners of Yamaha TX-500's best
rush right out and check to see if the
nut on th'e end of the shaft that drives
your centrifugal advance mechanism
and points system (just forward of the
right end of the crankshaft) is still tight.
The one on our test bike (despite red
Loc-tite) came loose. What fun! And no
parts to be had. All the gory details in
an upcoming test.
The August 9 EPA public .hearing in
L.A. will be held in Room 212 of the
Convention Center from 9:30 to 12:00,
1:30 to 4:30, and 7:00 PM until
necessary.
SHOWDOWN CITY! It'll be us n. the
nasty four-wheelen at Rivenide,
October 5-7. For a purse of $50,000
guaranteed, with indications of swelling
contingencies in the wind! The man
behind this extravagant scheme is
famous limousine Ieadfoot, Mickey
Thompson. He has enlisted Rotf Tibblin
to design a course that doesn't put the
- biken at a disadvantage, using only very
little of the road race circuit. It's the
• Fint Annual RV Spectacular, promoted
by Thompson's n_ organization,
SCORE International. The program
begins with practice on Friday, Oct. 5,
qualifying on' Saturday and the big
contest on Sunday. The pros (can and
bikes at the same time, mind you) will
race over 7'1.. miles of MX/desert type
terrain, 75% of which is said to be
visible from the grandstands. There will
also be bike-only and car-only
Sportsman classes. For entry info write
SCORE Int'l., 2601 E. Anaheim,
Wilmington, Ca. 90744. Or call (213)
437-0466. Hurry, entries will get
progressively more expensive as the date
nears, and the number is limited. Get
ready.
