Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Page 36 September 18, 1973 The Battle of New Orleans: JODes 8& Lackey By Richard Creed NEW ORLEANS, LA., SEPT. 9 The National motocross CIrcus, a large enthusiastic crowd and the . raIns all came to Motocross West, si t e of th e first National motocross in New Orleans. The track is a spectators and photographers' delight as it winds its way around a Mississippi River levee much like a swamp snake with the bends. Despite the inclemen t weather that either soaked everyone with pouring rain or roasted the sweat out of them with the humidity, all indications are that New Orleans will be a regular event from now on. Brad Lackey and Pierre Kanmakers continued their contest for top American in the Open class while· Gary Jones and Jim Weinert did likewise in the 250. Lackey won the 500 event after Pierre had problems with a slower rider in the f"Jrst 500 mo to, and Gary Jones narrowly .defeated Jim Weinert for the smaller class win. New Orleans was the last race counting toward the 250 class championship and for the second year in a row, Gary J ones is the American champion. Kanmakers continues to lead the 500 class championslLip by a wide margin over Lackey. In fact, pit talk had it that Pierre could stroke it from now on and settle for seconqs and thirds le~ting Lackey win and still walk off with the championship. That is, if the AMA recognizes him as an American. The 250 An extremely crowded 250 class exploded into the first turn with Suzuki mounted Rich Thorwaldson, who is known as "The Wedge" by the other riders. established a wide lead on the f"Jeld by the end of the first lap, foDowed by Yamaha team rider Tim Hart in second and Gary Jones in third. Jim Weinert was roaring through the middle of the field, slicing off two and three places a lap as he charged from a mediocre start to challenge the leaders by the midway point. Weinert was obviously down on horsepower but used his cornering style to its fullest advantage and took over tbe lead in the last stages. Tim Hart had passed Thorwaldson for the lead, bu t dropped back after Weinert got by. Mechanical problems, old injuries and the sweltering humidity took their toD as the moto wound down. Richard Eirstedt dropped back to fifth place after pressing the leaders in the first rounds when his expansion cbamber came adrift. The Grossi brothers, BiD and Bob, fought their way through the field from the last two posi tions. Bob was suffering from a knee injury and BiD, on a 250 Kawasaki for a change, just got worn out from the heat and torturous track. Kent Howerton faded back from an early fourth place to seventh as he reinjured his foot. Jim Weinert took the first moto win over Gary Jones and Tim Hart. Jim Weinert hustled to win the first moto. Brad Lackey nabbed Open class win. Weinert came close to repeating his performance in the second moto but Gary Jones beat hM! at the flag with an extra power punch. Weinert once again had to claw his way through a much thinned field in the second round, \:lut still had to con tend with Thorwaldson's Suzuki, Tim Hart's Yamaha and the Honda exprriS Qf Gary J ones and Richard Eierfte(Jt who were solidly in the lead. on~e Weinert took over the lead, Jones sh~owed him until the winning \:lurst on the front straight while Rich Thorwaldson and Tim Hart tangled for third place and Bob Grossi charged to fifth place despite his injury, because he was afraid that Weinert would score enough points in this last race to knock him ou t of his position in the National standings. Thorwaldson and' Hart swapped their first moto finishing positions which gave Thorwaldson and Suzuki third place overall. Thus the last race counting for National points in the 250 class ended. The 500 The battle for the tiddlers may be over, but the biggie won't be determined until the end of the Trans-AMA series which is stiU many grueling motos away. Probable winner Pierre Karsmakers streaked into the first moto lead after passing a surprisingly fleet Tony Wynn who easily got the day's best starts aboard his new Action Supply sponsored Maico. Peter Lamppu got bumped around at the start and coUected some streamers in his rear sprocket which caused him to lose a considerable amount of time in the pits. Brad Lackey and Mike Runyard were also in me forefront of the action but no one was able to approach Karsmakers until he collided with a slow rider he was lapping. The resulting crash broke off the Yamaha's rear brake lever and knocked the carb needle clip off. '.:" ~. '" '.' .~., ':.:. :0. .: .~ ;-. into the engine, which suffered some loss of compression. I:.ackey Kawed the remaining opposition as Runyard motored in for second place just ahead of Pierre in third. Peter Lamppu finally wound himself enough to fmish ~th, weD to the rear of the field. The ",ost surprising ride was by Tony DiStefano on a CZ who fmished fourth ~ind Pierre. • y, Th"e second moto was rather ariiOclimactic as Tony Wynn once again led the field into the first lap \:lut feU while in second place on lap two. Pierre shattered the course with the best riding of the day as he pulled farther and farther away from the field that was leq.. by Brad Lackey. Lackey was no fool and was not suckered into Pierre's little chase and calmly held onto second, secure in the knowledge that overall victory was his and aU he had to do was hold off Mike Runyard. And that's the way it ended; Pierre took the flag, Br;od scored the overall victory and Mike Runyard got a kiss from his mom for finishing third. Rounding out the top five places were Kawasaki mounted Peter Lamppu and Jim Cooke. As at the Kansas event, the best private team effort was the H&H Music Team from Houston who filled ou t plaC"Cs seven through nine, with Steve Hackney heading up his teammates with a solid sixth in the second moto. • Results 250: 1. Gary Jones (Hon). 2. Jim Weinert (Kaw). 3. R.ch ThorwalCison (Suz). 4. Tim Hart (Vam). 5. Rich Eiersteett (HOn). 6. Kent Howerton IHus). 7. John Borclers (Bul). 8. Greg Thornton (Bul). 9. John Franklin (Mall. 10. Bob Grassl (Husl.. 500: 1. Brad LaCkey (Kaw). 2. P.erre Karsmakers (Vam). 3. Mike Runyard (Suz). 4. Jim Cooke (Kaw). S. Anthony DiStefano (eZ). '6. Peter Lamppu IKaw). 7. Steve Hackeny (Hus). 8. RObert Tuggle \HUS!. 9. Jake Deboe (Mal). 10. Peter Founcls Hus. , I,. ...'" ~ -.'

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