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/125834
LANcaSTBR SBORT TRaCK CBaMPIONSHIP ANTE~OPE YALLEY C() ,....; FAIR GROUNDS Avenue I and Division .... ~ .0 SUNDAY NOY.18th E ~ > Z o PIT GATE-l0 AM PRACTICE-11 AM 1st RACE-l:00 PM By Maureen Lee It's that time of year agaIn: Hopetown! This is the last one but so. many things have happened in the history of this Grand Prix that "TOTAllY NEW TRACK" LAST PRO RACE OF YEAR IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA we'll still keep our fingers crossed that there'll be another one. We've heard a rumor but that's all it is. I'll check it out and let you know. The "Diggers" have worked miracles before, and you can bet they'll be negotiating with the new owners if the place isn't built over by next year. ADVANCED TICKETS $2.50-GATE $3.00 Tickets available in LANCASTER at Larry Lilley Honda, AV Cycle Parts, Lancaster Yamaha, Lancaster Bultaco, and The Master's Shop Lancaster and Palmdale. . \ In PALMDALE at Palmdale Honda, and Ray Bevans Yamaha. at N. Hollywood M&M Carpet Dist. for information (213) 875-1414 or (805) 948-6060. 6 ,, SANCTIONED 04 Chuck Scoft-8ruce Howe" Cycle aacing Unltd. Praductian .. second Year .nduro RIcI_ Wins Pi.... Ow_all Ralph Troller FOR RACEJII8 ONLY! Do it In the dlrt 1Mlh the Dirty Cam eomp.ny'. dlrt·track cycle came. Harcl fIIOe ovetIaya. futer 11ft ratM. Over 20 yeera cam grinding eJll*ience atrICtIyfor recmg, Call otwrlte _.. ._._,e._ 1st Ollefall At the Rugged 4th Annual Diamond Back Enduro for full detalltl.· Competing in a field of Ol/Or 400 riders. (714)-- 'dropping only 2 points! Ralph, as well 8S the first overall team winners, were all using the "Oial-A-Enduro" OS • • WlL80N CM4 Ralph racked up a near perfect score, computer. In a'll, 12 trophy winners were using ·'Oial-A-Enduro". YOU TOO CAN BE A TROPHY WINNER! USE "OIAL-A-ENOURO" Simple to use & only $29.95 (Plus $1.00 handling & shipping, Calif. residents add sales tax) "Do today-Be a winner tQmorrow" 16 it Send Chock or monev order to: Bonar Ente""isos, 312B Auburn BIIId-Oopt. A. Sacramento, Ca. 95821. wc've had our innings with the AMA and probably will continue to do so but one thing you1J have to admit, under this new structure they listen to the regular membership now and the pro rider ge ts a chance, through his delegates, to get things done for him. There were many rule changes. You can see the 'four-stroke manufacturers are getting a bit nervous when they attempted to put a gas limitation on If a Hopetown ever ran without problems it would be unusual. Nearly every year there's been one and last year it was over the appearance, in exhibition, of the European sidehacks. "No", said the AMA but the Europeans ran anyway and believe me, a European professional wouldn't put his license in jeopardy for anything so it proves the Dirt Diggers were doing nothing wrong. Somehow, though, the "Diggers" and the AMA seem to get along like two strings of bulldogs, however hard the "Diggers" try. .... This year it happened again. The club asked the AMA for a pro sanction so they could have the professional AMA Experts out. Interested parties in the industry were going to put money into the purse for advertising benefits (A Hopetown win is considered to be a prime advertisement for any manufacturer.) plus to help sponsor a pro race would also be worth something in advertisin g. Time went on but no sanction was issued in spite of repeated attempts. The club officer who gave me all the information on this said that everyone at the AMA just kept passing the buck to someone else as to why no sanction was issued. Loverly! Even our regional AMA rep. wasn't able to do anything, so those who were going to put up some of the purse put their money in other places. That's why there's no professional class on the posters. Time ran out. Douhtless-the AMA has its version of the story which we'll get for you hut it's a let-down for the local pros, who can always use a chance at some extra cash, besides having fun doing it. The "Diggers" asked for a National sanction for the Red Garter Enduro they threw last year. It was grantcd at thc Congress but not for the date the Diggers asked for or what is on the District 37 date board, so there'll be some goings on over that. If you've been dragging your feet about entering Hopetown, you'lI be too late in many classes. Those were filled in the first couple of days bu t, as of this writing, there are a few openings in the 100 Junior/Expert class and the 250 Expert plus some openings in everything but 500 Novice. There'll be many disappointed riders who will get their entries back because their class filled up with riders who got early postmarks. Wish we could have gone back for the AMA Congress. O~r the years, road racing. The idea was brough t on the floor by a Harley-Davidson dealer who obviously had in mind that it was a way to slow the monsterbikes down a bit. Trouble is he obviously dicln't have a hard enough think that the marvelous little Yamaha 360's could still run comfortably on the proposed amount of gas and be in there at the fmish. A~other new rule states that you must be a United States citizen to eam Championship points. Seems to me that I remember Yvon DuHamel making the statement the first year he came down here and did so wcll that he'd Iikc to be the AMA Grand National Champion. As the interest in road racing grows, there may come a day when all the world's great road racers show up over here and with very few exceptions our boys wilJ be at a disadvantage, however painful that truth is. Bu t give 'cm time. [f non-citizens are ineligible for Championship points next year it will be interesting tosee if any manufacturers bill some of their riders as "Americans" when they are just residing in this country for a short while. It's becn done, especially in motocross. All in all, the Congress did a good job this year and personally I can't see any rule changes or new ones that are going to cause a hue and cry. Not like the old days because now we get our voice. I'm still concerned about thc lack of amateur scrambles and 'motocross in District 37 - the ones thrown by AMA clubs and paying AMA points. There is a sharp decline, especially in scrambles and let's face. it, that's where our nalional pro slars of lomorrow hone their skills before moving up to the pro Novice class. Only eighteen TT's are scheduled for next year while up North