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/125859
.......- Doug Winchell's Built-to-go did and he was Overall Am/Ex winner. ORA Calnornia City 100 Miler By Dale Brown ·CALI FOR NI A CITY, CAL., MAY 4-5 Doug Winchell got the champagne but Danny LaPorte got the crowd's cheers in the final 100 mile race of the Desert Racing Association's California City Grand Prix. • Winchell won the Amateur/Expert event by passing LaPorte two City blocks before the finish. LaPorte finished the last loop riding on the tire-less back rim. Going back to the beginning, Wayne Garret (Hus] was the leader at the Doug savon the fruits of victory. _.in this case, fermented grapes. Later on, Danny LaPorte lost a rear tire; still finished second Overall on the rim. smokebomb, As they crossed the mountains Tom Brooks had powered his big-bore Husky into the lead, followed by LaPorte 00 a 250 Penton. Steve Staats, riding a new 360 Bultaco, was the next one by, ahead of Garrett. Winchell and his 250 Bultaco came by in ninth. LaPorte had narrowed Brooks' lead to about 50 yards when Brooks slid out in the pavement turn just past the finish line. He got up and continued on -in second until mechanical troubles did him in a lap later. " Garrett moved into second and Winchell got by Staats to grab third. At the end of the third loop LaPorte 's rear " tire went flat , But he kept on keepin ' on. Would he be able to nurse the bike through another 40 miles? The next time he came through the finish area, LaPorte nearly smacked the curb and two rows of hay bales lining the finish chute. Winchell had inherited second when Garrett dropped out with mechanical difficul ties and he was making up the distance. Winchell passed LaPorte at the end of a long; straigh t, about two blocks "He should have come around by now. Where is he7" "Maybe that's him down at the corner." 14 from the end. When LaPorte came through the finish line, he was immediately swarmed upon by the crowd. Staats finished third, first Open Expert. Behind him was : Bill Sal tzman [Hus}, second Open Expert. Sunday morning a sizable group of Novices left the line and 80 miles later they were led in by Chris Kallen. Saturday was the day for Beginners. In the morning, the 0·200 classed riders went at it for four laps (80 miles). Jim Scott, on a 125 Suzuki, picked off first Overall. The afternoon was reserved for the bigger bikes. Tom Kibbe (Hus) was first Overall after five laps , followed by Pat Kouri on a 250 Honda, who captured first in his division. Rain clouds threatened all day Sat urday, . finally erupting in to a 45-minute storm that kept ' the dust down on Sunday and knocked the power out for two hours that evening. Reporter's Notebook : To quote one cop, "things are running pretty damn smooth... . . .Things continued in that fashion, too . . .A few squids making , banzai runs down the finish line caused police to clamp a lid on riding around town after the race ...There was this ten-inch rock near the top of the mountain that caused a few get-off's and some flat tires...The rest of the 20 mile course was very fast "ab o ut half whoop-de-dos, with a lot of pavement I being used. ..The starting area was I rough, so the ORA used a LeMans start to prevent accidents. ..Still, there were I a few cartwheels to be seen when somebody hit something.. .Results as I soon as we get them. • "Yeah, it's him. Allright?" "Gassit." "Go, Freddy, 90/' "Get it on:' "Hooray and wahoo''''