Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

DeAnza drag hill dimb By Ann A. Powell SUNNYMEAD, CAL., OCT. 14 Drag hill climbing is becoming an increasingly important part of the motorcycle scene in Southern California as proven by the more than 100 entries in today's drag climb at De Anza Park. Two bikes line up at the bottom of a hill, a rubber band snaps across in front of them and the engines roar. In just a few seconds a flag drops at the top of the hill and you have a winner. A drag hill isn't very high or extremely steep. Even th.e 125cc bikes have been known to top the hill on good days. The object is not to just go over, but to go over faster than anyone else in your class. And, when those big fuel burners race up that hill, no one doubts that they are going fast! Top eliminator today was Manuel Caruso on a modified 450cc Honda. To take the overall win, Caruso had to beat some fire breathing dragons. Among those knocked out of the running were Tom La Rue and Jerry Banford who placed first and second in the Open class. Caruso also took home the brass in the 650 class and the 500 Modified class. George Sauer took. a second in the 500 Modifieds. The 500 Stockers were dominated by the JMI Racing Team, when Elden Peterson took first and Clyde Peterson second. Caruso again did his thing in the 450 Modified class, while Jim Buzard took home the brass for the 450 Stock class. One of the bigger classes represented was the 400's. In the Stock class, Kerry Peterson (JMl) took first, William Noesse second and Rod McClendon third. Larry Williams took the 400 Modified class. Another big class was the 360's. Lee Dugas took top hqnors for the Modifieds, followed by Ron Standeven. In the Stock class George Tidwell was fastest, followed by Bill Mathison and Joe Graper. Ian Nascimento showed the 250 Stockers how it was done and took home a first place trophy for his efforts. Placing second was Gary Peterson, and Vern Kogelschatz took third. Doug Hall, gave a demonstration of how to get to the top on a 250 Modified; Gray Peterson had to settle for second place. Showing that hillclimbing has something for everyone, Alice Hudnall took a first place in both the 175 Stock and Modified. Her closest competition was Bob Dahlin who had to sottle for second in the Stock class. ~ The 125's were dominated by young Dave Powell, and TodJenson, on a 100, came so close to the top that he could see the other side. Debbie Standeven, also on a 100, tOOK a second place and looks to be a real threat in future climbs. Young Gary Hall, who obviously had been tak.ing lessons from Dad, showed that he was a natural winner by walk.ing away with first place. Giving him a run for his win were second place winner, Mike Shea and third place, Dale Hoffner, Jr. • a CMC Irwindale By John Bethea IRWINDALE. CAL., OCT. 26 Nelson Whitehill's relentless attempt to catch CMC Point Leader Randy Myers hasn't ebbed since the season began. But, now that Randy is within about a week and a half of clinching No. I, Nelson's frustration perhaps came to a head tonigh t at Irwindale. The Escondido·based Husky rider has never won a CMC Expert event since turning pro about half a year ago. But. in recent weeks here he has come awfully close and tonight was about his closest - yet he still failed, or his machine did. In very determined fashion, Nelson beat Chuck Bower (Pen) and Dave Pessy (Hon) in the process in the first moto. Bower la~er in the 250. crashed, broke his collarbone, and was thus out of contention. Nelson won the second too, with Pessy moving up to second over Chuck Lunde (Hon). Then it happened. As several of the riders lined up for the King of the Hill race just prior to half-time, Whitehill was the last to appear and was given an OK to take his practice lap. Just past the grandstands, his Husky lunched a piston and that was it. Coming out on top was Honda's Dave Pessy with a third, second and first. Chuck Lunde grabbed third. Pessy didn't stop there. In the 250s he scored number 22 of the year, a record for night 250cc racing, but had to fend off the challenges of Rex Staten (Maico) to do it after the first moto was halted wben Bower crashed. On the restart Staten picked off the win with Pessy second, but in the remaining pair he pulled off the wins. Staten had his troubles early in the second moto, crashed, remounted in almost last, but worked to fifth. He still took second overall with third going to Danny McKee (Mon) after three good rides. In the 500s Staten made up for his earlier unpleasan tries by winning the first two and coasting home the easy overall winner with a second in the final behind Husky's Jim West. Jim's troubles occurred in the second round when he could only manage a fifth after a first-lap spill. All three Intermediate classes were run with the pros and in those Jeff Witherell (CZ 380) scored another overall, winning the final pair: Mark Lawrence (CZ 250) made a brilliant com back after a non-score in round one to win his ranks; and Bob Welch (Hon-125) zipped home the tired winner of the other after three tough goes with Mike Thill (Hon), Curly Wholey (Yam) and Craig Jones (Pen). The Juniors made up the bulk of the rider count and all but the 500s were run in Final fashion. In that 500, Robert Peters (CZ) and Ron Gray (CZ) each had low scoring first motos, then traded wins and seconds in the nex t two, but it was Peters who scored the highest with a first round fourth. Finals, all very closely decided, wen t to Bobby Gonzalez (Hon) over Bill Fancher (Hon) in the Minis, Kevin Anderson (Yam) topping Rudy Sayers (Hod) in the 100s, Bob Smith (Yarn) edging Alan Truax (Yam) in the 125s and Lance Gunn (Suz) hanging on above Steve Tafoya (Hon) in the 250s. • C.nfornl.'. All Ne_ Dirt II...._.W• • •.,. Va say your teacher Mill Pendergast, keeps on your bed< about writing a book report? V. hawn't found a book worth reading except for Cyele News, and she says it isn't a book? Haw we got the answer (natch) to your prob lem. Try the California Trailbike Guide by Joe Driscoll. It'll tell all about where to legally ride your California, motorcycle and it's ...... in plentY . accurate. It's wonh a fortune. but only costs $5.95 plus 50t tax and handling. A mere $6.45 total! That's Joe in the picture with one of those trick new Yarrvnies. I think they ZZZZZZZZs. call them order wou_ no_ HOT HATS MONEY BACK IF NOT SATISFIED HOT DOG $1.00 r--~----------------------------I _ _ _ _ California Trailbike Guides @ $5.95 plus 50 cents tax & handling ($6.45 total) total _ _ _ _ _ Hot Hats @ 1.00 ea. . . . . . . . . . .. . total _ _ _ _ _ FREE STICKlES Which must be accompanied with 1 S.A.S.E. Name _ Address. s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Zipl _ AUow two to three weeks for our sometimes post office. Send check or money order to: L CYCLE NEWS STUFF P.O. BOX 498, LONG BEACH, CA. 90801 Please print c1early .J SUperfun MX By Tom Corley IRVINE, CAL., OCT. 27 A fast blue tanked CZ was wh ipped around the famous Saddleback track by Rjch Franklin today for the 500 Expert money in the Superfun Motocross program. Franklin took the 500 Expert win in combined race among 250 and 500 Experts like Frank Steiner (Pro-Fab Frames Yamaha), Val Tamietti (Norris-Roberts Honda) who involved himself at O.C.J.R. late last night yet work up for some find 250 Experts racing today, Dennis Chandler, Tom Darran, Alan Rohrbacker and Jerry Trojan. During the day's racing Franklin was only led by one racer briefly. He was the only traffic that Rich had to worry about as he won molo after moto and easily took the 500 Expert win over Dennis Chandler (CZ), Tom Darran (Hus) and Alan Rohrbacker on a Maico. The big 250 Expert dynamic duel was between the Pro- Fab framed Yamaha and the Norris-Roberts Honda wilh Frank Steiner makin' it in the top points position for the win. He edged out Val Tamietti who was on top of Jerry Trojan's CZ: • SELECT SUPER SAVER THIS WEEK ONLY REAR TIRE MOUNT: $9.95 ---;S) f ~~~? ...~naheim 1832 E. 8all Rd 956·7740 P.o. BOX 1402 CMC RIDE WITH THE BEST COSTA MESA. CA. 92626 19

• Cover