Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

.. ; CRCMX • • By TIie Shadow MOORPARK, CAL., NOV. II ~ The California Racing Club of Riverside got its feet wet here Sunday, holding motocross racing at Muntz Cycle Park, just outside of Moorpark in Ventura County for the very first time. While the initial venture couldn't be classed as the world's t Trans-AMA wrap-up Laugh-in Trials firSt Int'l Mini-Bike IT . Roger DeCoster, HaIwI Andersson, Ake Jonsson" Rich ThonnJclson ENDORSED PRODUCTS Send for free eat810l1: Prour-iw Products Box 1051, La u... C81lf. 92041 't- _~o" .•": · , ,_ . Cy"' CA 9OI3D 1714' 827·7.27 CQIIPfTtnOH IIQTORCYCLE WHEELS OES4GNlO.....LT AND "PAIRED. AIIDIOC.OII CATALOG I Goodyear IS Carroll Shelby 213·821-3436 greatest success, one had to wonder whether the fantastic turnout for the annual Hopetown FestWities just down the road could have affected the turnout at Muntz. Here's how it looked from the standpoint of the 250 Expert class, which produced the best race of the day. The fantastic encounter involved Ron DeSoto and fast-rising Von Peterson, both riding CZs. Peterson will always be remembered for his record setting endo at the now out-of-business Deadman's Point Cycle Park, near Apple Valley. It was Pe terson wbo became disconnected from his motorcycle and bounched numerous times across good old, hard "Mother Earth". In the meantime, his piece of machinery set a new distance record, bouncing high over the fence and Qut of the park: like a homerun off the bat of Hank Aaron. As Von put it, "I looked up from the ground just in time to see a big cloud that looked like a A-bomb blast come from the other side of the fence. I was sure t1Rre would be nothing left of the bike by the time I could get over the fence." Anyway, today it was all Peterson, as he rolled to a very impressive grand-slam victory over second-placer DeSoto. It was one hell of a sbow by Peterson. In fairness (this is not an excuse), to DeSoto, he has been out of action for almost a -year following knee surgery in Hawaii. It was serious surgery and DeSoto told this reporter, "I'vc been away from racing almost a year, living with my dad in Hawaii." "All I did was loaf around, swim and rest, H said DeSoto, who added, "this is only my second race since coming back to California with da4." Ron's fU'St race was with the CRC on the last Sunday of October, when he placed third in his class, as bis brother, Jobn "The Flyin' Hawaiian" DeSoto mad~ bis return to the motocr;'" circuit after being out of action with injuries for about two montha. "Jobn is back on the International Circuit now. His race at Howton, Texas was not a great success; almost everybody got a DNF. He's in Phoenix, Arizona right now. We might conclude the Ron DeSoto story for Sunday with one final problem. He had one beU of a time keeping his gas cap on. In fact, DeSoto bad the biggest pit crew in the country, with just about everybody getting a chance to come up with the very elusive gas cap. Continuing on with the remainder of Chris Forbes. second 250 Novice. leads Hal Strauss who totaled up in fourth place. the speedy part of the program, Tom Gran t (Pen ton), ruled the fie Id at 125 Expert with a grand-slam victory. In the 125 Intermediate class, Bob Garrabrant (Penton), was also a grand-slam victor in one heck of a fine race. In the Novice competition, Glenn Ewing (Greeves), zapped the Open Novice class with a grand-slam victory; it was tight at 250 Novice, with Bill Bledsoe (Honda), slipping past Chris Forbes (Maico), by 100 points: very close at 125 Novice, wbere Doug Gardner (Suzuki), overcame a 250-point lead by Pat Nixon (Honda), on the final moto to win by 75 points: Alan Smith (Honda) was a grand-slam victor at 125 Novice, under 16: and Larry Cooper. (Hodaka) , ruled at 100 Novice by a grand-slam victory. Rounding out the card, three very small points were aU that separated fD'st place finisher Kurt SoCka Jr. (Honda), from second place fmisher David Ewing (Honda) at 80cc Minibike. It was one super day of racing, with SoCka opening with two straigb t wins, then fell to eighth place on his fmal ride due to mechanical problems. Ewing placed third on his first two motos, then dosed with a first place - but was still three poin ts off the winning pace. And things were equally exciting at 60 Minibike, wbere Tony Barbacovi (Yamaha), wound up a winner over a bighly competitive second-placer Ronnie Strauss (Yamaha). It was aU even at 700-all going into the final moto, which Barbacovi won. We should mention Strauss had just a few minor problems: on bis first mota, it was mechanical difficulties: on the fmal race of the day, it was a flat tire. All was not lost in the Strauss family, as good old dad won the Veteran race, grand slamming the 250-0pen Vets. Charles Strauss (Husky), never did have A 125 YZ works it way through tnffic. in this caM Robert Barline on his Honda. Mike Patrick's ,& ~W YAMAHA of CORONA 1101 E. 6th St. - Corona (714) 735-7721 • "34 any trouble. So, Ronnie...and Hal, wbo finished fourth at 250 Novice, despite a painful leg injury ... there's hope. 1£ dad can do it, there's bound to be brigbter days ahead - you can always ask him for lessons. - Superfun MX By Tom Corley IRVINE, CAL., NOV. 17 On the wettest day to hit Saddleback Park in Superfun Motocross racing in a long time the. racing -went on with the 20 minute moto races anyway. While usually the track is in best condition due to the Park preparers and their bulldozer, today it was muddy and slippery. It stopped the motocross machines of some from slide outs, water-logged ignitions or in the case of the mini

• Cover