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/125829
October 9,1973 Page 26 The New Phill)' Trans-.M. By Jim Gianatsis the haybales, bumps, and banzai jumps. Karsmakers was six tho PHILADELPHIA, PA., SEPT. 28 Moto2 For the 15,000 spectators at the Philly Trans-AMA it wa.s a wild scene, with most of the top European riders on hand to do battle with the Americans on a tight and narrow course that was perfect for close destruction-derby type competition. The riders would just pic k themselves up off the ground and ask when the lions were going'to be turned loose. One thing was for certain though, last year's series was a benefit for Ake Jonsson and his Maico. This year the Maico Grand Prix team of Wolsink, Bauer and Weil, soon to be joined by Schutz, are goiJig to be doing the house cleaning. The only man capable of putting the hurt on the Malco might is Roger DeCoster and he's not racing. Sure, he was at PhiUy and wiD be following the en tire series along with Suzuki teammate Sylvam Geboers, but their contracts with tile factory are fuifiDed if they start each race, not if they finish. Why should the 500cc World Champion bust his butt to win a few thousand dollars in prize money when he's just fmished proving for 'the third straight year that he is the best. ********* Quality For Champions Backed By Service!! !R~-=-faBl'- -- --- , - 500 International Bumps hidden by the shadows of hay bales, the first turn was a dog leg after the start, only ten feet wide. Roger and Adolf Weil raced into it side by side as the first of three 30-minute motos got underway. Weil got through the turn first, DeCoster second, followed by Gerrit Wolsink. Geboers bit the dirt in a pileup at the back of the pack and retired. On the second lap DeCoster was relegated to third place as Wolsink effortlessly pulled on past and moved up to the old man of the team, Weil, and the two proceeded to leave the rest of the pack behind. Gary Jones had his daddy's playbike, a box stock 400' Maico, hot on DeCoster and was waiting for the chance to zap the champ when on the fourth lap the Maico devoured its rear end, snapping the Girlings in half like match sticks as he landed off the eight-foot ski jump. Gary fmished last, but Marty Tripes limped his Honda proto back 'to the pits with a broken sounding piston. WiUi Bauer played handlebars and knobbies with DeCoster over third place for a while, then zapped on past to catch up with Weil and Wolsink where the thiee Maico riders played freight train all the rest of the way to the checkered flag. Jim Pomeroy rode his new trick 400 Bultaco up to fifth place to take tbe top American position then went back to the pits to change his wheel. Everyone was breaking things on ------::=~ ~elHteU &- Quality Motorcycle Accessories Box·v.v. Torrance, Ca. 90508 (213) 320-9260 *********** 515 N. Victory Blvd. BURBANK, CALIF' !2J3) 849·7295 SALES· PARTS· SERVICE Serving The Entire South Bay Area JRonttfS ifICm MOJO-GUZZI MAl(() MONARK ,~ ~ SELECT SUPER SAVER THIS WEEK ONLY rs'" SNACK TRAY: $14.50 I •.<. I LttCT VA!'::,.. ,.!'naheim 956·7740 I~ t832 E. Ball Rd Tim Hart (2) squares a corner, leaving Gerrit Wolsink only haybales for running room. A malfunction of the starting gate necessitated a restart of. the second moto, which saw the Maico gang taking to the lead again with DeCoster and Karsmakers in fourth and fifth. Jimmy Weinert was fighting Gary Chaplin and Tim Hart in the middle of the pack when he went over a series of successively higher jumps aptly named the Grand Tetons, landed and promptly had his Kawasaki go in two different directions while he went a third way. Jim wasn't hurt, so all he could do was laugh and gain the admiration of the crowd. Bauer took the win at the flag followed by Wolsink, then Karsmakers and Montesa's fast Finn, Kalevi Vehkonen. Weil was fifth; DeCoster had retired after being passed by Pierre. Moto3 With the sta,rt it was grey haired Weil, father of the team, back out in front then Bauer and Wolsink. The three were just playing games with each other, running at about 80 percent and playing tag with -their fenders, looking every which way but where the track went. Bauer was so slow at one point that he stalled his bike in a tight turn and got zapped by Gary Jones on the now patchwork Maico. Getting his Maico perculating again WiDi set out to catch back up with Jones but at after a few really quick laps on the destructo course his front wheel nipples broke and he had to pack it in. Karsmakers took over Willi's fourth place but it wasn't a safe place to be as he had to dodge flying parts as they fell from Jone's bike not too far ahead. Gary eased up and dropped back' in the pack 'to try and finish as Pierre made a gallant, but