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/125832
By Art Friedman GARDENA, CAL., OCT. 17 A couple of weeks ago I was discussing with a fellow journalist the comments of a friend who maintained that motorcycling was on its way to becoming the national sport. My friend argued that more people participated in motorcycling on a given weekend than any other sport; that their commitment in terms of time, motley, energy, and risk was greater than found in any other sport. My journalist friend listened while I made the points supporting my friend's thesis. Then he said, "Nothing can be called a national sport until it is a part of the athletic curriculum of every high school and you become the school hero by being the hottest shoe on campus." I replied that almon every week Cycle News gets a call from some high school asking us to cover a motocross that they're holding. High school motocross is now SO common that we can't even send staff to cover Friday events since the pressue of Monday deadline is upon us by then. This week we were informed of a motocross being held on Wednesday, one of our days of less pressure. Junipero Serra High School, an all male school in Gardena, was having some HSMX. The high school sent some high pressure salesmen out, and Honda, Curnutt Hockie's, UMotocross Action", KHJ radio, Motocross Engineering, and Cycle News all got into the act. A graduate from the class of '72 returned to blow off the locals. Dave Pessy, mounted on his 125 Elsinore, got.a little warm up for his usual Wednesday night stint at Ascot. Pessy won every class he entered. He was pulling his punches in the last race, but the guy that he let lead got a bit overzealous on a berm and Pessy was gone. Between the two sets of motos, the Iuke·warm shoes from "Motocross Action" magazine, Paul Boudreau and Pete Maly, tearned up wi th Russ Darnell to show off for the all-male crowd. Maly wowed 'em with his flash-the-peace-sign wheelies. The course layout probably caused the school track coach to go home and shoot himself. It used most of the quarter-mile flat track (when are high schools going to have short track races?) that all high schools seem to have for track meets. The course was improved with a couple of piles of dirt and a h aybale chicane. One of the quarter-mile turns was incorporated so Pete Maly and Dave Pessy got to demonstrate their flat-tracking prowess. The big scars left on the first tum of the 440 probably brought tears to the eyes of the track coach. Their were two excursions per lap off the oval into tight, bermy country. It was unfortunate that Pessy was there. He took all the up front positions on his Honda, showing up all the locals and leaving only the lesser second place glory to be debated. Even so, there were som,e spirited contests for the wins during the two sets of five lap motos. Honda four-strokes dominated' most of the lightweight classes. Enough people got excited so that it seemed to be worthwhile. The flagmen were using their yellow flags to encourage their friends to gas it. The riders seemed to understand. A few crashes took place. The most spectacular occured when someone demolished a haybale at the end of the straight. He did it right in front of the grandstands, which was considerate. Nobody (except, of course, the track coach) got hurt. The trouble with a boys' school is that there're no tootsies to impress, but that's racing. The beat goes on. There will be more high school motorcycle races. Whether or not it's a passing fad remains to be seen. If the trend continues, then my friend will be proven right, motorcycling is on its way to being Number One. • NOW AVAILABLE ~.".... FOR ALL ROAD AND OFF·ROAD VEHICLES Now you can drive your van, pick-up truck or camper to the races with a FILTRON FILTERI Like your motorcycle, your car or truck deserves nothing less than the finest air fi Itration system. All FILTRON FILTERS have a ona year warranty under normal conditions and proper maintenance. Each filter comes with a FI LTRON FFC 300 compound. Speeify yaar, make and model when ordering. Prices from $7.95 to $9.95 each. DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED This Honda mini led the second moto of the 100 dass. much to the satisfaction of the spectators. That little dude was really getting around. IIAELLI Motorcycle Tires The everyday tires that are used as professional racing tires. West Coast Distributor Dealer Inquiries Invited MotO'l.czyaL: 360 15406 Cabrito Rd., Van Nuys, Calif. 213-780-1525 Shot by rising prices? Fight back .... our low prices add up to big savings. CZ, MONARK. CARABELA We offer you a hard choice. Class of 72 graduate Dave Pessy (20) showed up and dusted off the locals. It's too bad because it should have been the students who were the stan of the show. not a pro. ' l~ Bililol BI.... ~~~. . . .~IIII' VIII No,s, CII. 9liUlli • m -11ft-SIn Honda four strokes dominated the 100 and 125 dasses. The little boomen had something besides numben in their favor. GREEVES- OSSA -HODAKA CARABELA - STEEN Sales [if Servia Nick Nicholson Motors 11573 Vanowen Street No. Hollywood, Ca. (213) 764-8674 INTERNATIONAL CAFE RACERS ASSOCIATION Join now the world wide organization for cafe racing enthusiasts. Receive Din, 1 yea r subscription "The Ton" newspaper, accessory catalog. tech sheets, & all the latest Info. Send $5.00 to: . .l.e.A.A., Box 73, Hou·ston. Texu 77002 Rusqvarna Klocker's SALES & SERVICE 6624 Atlantic, Bell, Ca. (213) 581-3983 II I "" (£; NEW' DODGE' USED VAN - TRUCKS 4x4's - CONVERSIONS & \l5J LeasinG Available, Most Makes Call For APpointment & Ask for Marv Bigman 86R or John Knowles 0-37 Dependable Dodge 21514 Roscoe BI, Canoga Pk, Ca. 91304 213-383·9060, (LA) 213-373-4095 7