Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

banshee meant the Novices were starting, with Doug Garrison out in front. Elbert Turner, (last week 's winner) was rij(h t behind. On the third lap, Turner passed Garrison and from then on the top positions remained static, with Brent Knauer and Dan McWhorter following. The top four were Yamaha-mounted, Mrs. Terry Dorsch was on hand for the Expert Trophy Dash as the trophy girl. Her husband made a gallant try, charging from the outside 'star t ing position to take the lead. In the second turn he bobbled momentarily, but with that kind of competition out on the track, it cost him three posi tions. Eddie Wirth won. Of some interest in the paddock was a 750 Honda Four, piloted by Mike Renslow. Oddly enough, the bike appeared to be down on power, being consistently out-accelerated to the first turn. A lot of the Ascot regulars were in Louisville for the National half-mile . But it didn 't mean a boring event. Far from it . • Results Ex Main : 1. Rob Morrison (Nor): 2. Tom H o r t o n (Vam); 3. Ron Moore (TYI); 4. Bob '" Sanders (Norl; 5. Eddie Wirth (Trl). Jr Main: • Alex Jorgensen (T r l ) : 2. Walt Foster (TYI) ; 3 . Art Fredenburg (Yam); 4. Mike Myers (Nor); 5. Ryan Gifford (Ttl). Nov Main : 1. Elbert Turner (Ya m); 2 . Doug Garrison (Yam); 3. Brent Kanuer (Yam); 4 . Dan McWhorter (Yam); 5. Jim Crowley (Kaw). 'rrccnv Dash : 1. Eddie Wirth (TYI). THE NATIONAL PAPERS By Bob F. Read When the AMA National Circuit moves back to the west in July, all four of the Nationals take on extra importance on what has already happened to date. The west hosts a mile again at San Jose, a TT at Castle Rock, Washington, a TT at Ascot and a road race at Laguna Seca, San Jose co mes up first, on July 7th. Mert Lawwill still feels that he should have won it, so do two or three other riders who didn't win. The key is that both Kenny Roberts and Gary Scott were off the track record pace set a year ago, even though they dueled the entire distance. The same cast, plus more, will be back on the 7th to try and turn it around. Nobody has won two straight mile Nationals since the late Fred Nix did it qui te a few seasons ago. Castle Ro ck and Ascot are the two events that really churn the extra in terest. Robe rts h as n ow won four of the five AMA National races but has never won a National IT. He finished a close second at Castle Rock last year and a distant second, after running third, at Ascot. Castle Rock and Ascot are the only · · two events of the same type this year that run back-to-hack. Castle rock runs July 13th, Ascot on the 20th. Should Roberts win either of these events he will accomplish in three seasons as an Expert what it took Dick Mann seven teen years to do in the Expert class, win every one of the five types of A."'IA Nationals offered every season. For the big show of the month, Ascot leads the others as it offers a half-mile on Friday night and a National IT on Saturday evening. Race followers know that the Friday night half-mile has all the makings of a National and often out-classes the big one the following night. The Castle Rock event finds a half-mile the Thursday night prior, running at Salem, Oregon. This year it is an all-Expert show with a Junior and Novice inv itation added for flavor. Friday night it's up to Castle Rock for a Novice and Ju nior IT, giving the northwest the biggest weeked of the season. The last weekend in July falls to the road race at Laguna where Yvon DuHamel will try to make amends for throwing away the win last year in the final laps. It appears that Ken Roberts is th e rider to beat at Laguna. Knowing Roberts, he will head west next month and try and win all four events. He's the favorite at San Jose on the 7th, finished second at both Castle Rock and Ascot last year and was well up front at Laguna Seca a year ago. He could do it, but with today's competition it is not likely. Another happy new race team sponsor is Lockhard Industries who manufacture and distribute oil coolers for cycles. Their new team of Tom Rockwood and Eddie Wirth combined to take out of Ascot the largest combined two-rider payoff in the history of the trac k the last Friday night in May. Well over the two grand mark. John Volkman is a hap p y Novice after his win at Atlanta. No controversy as to the win ner was this time. The Daytona issue is still a hot topic in certain circles, however. Another ha ppy rider after Atlanta was Ron Pierce. No sponsors came knoc ki ng at his door this year, so he bought his own machines and made good money in both the Iightweigh t and National road races at the track set in the town with the unlikely racing name of Flowery Branch, Georgia. But with road racing so time-consuming and costly these days, Ron broke even at best. If you missed the May National mile at San Jose and want a good seat for the July 7th event, better call (408) 438 ·3210. You can always find room to stand but good seats are limited for the race that calls itself "The Legend." • / 50th Anniversary Signal Hill -, rn • -= Ila Ila BICYCLE MOTOCROSS June 21 ...:I g . 1M g '

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