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/126064
Bill Vickery steamed his 700cc Yamaha through at over 191, only to seize one piston and miss recoTd~ the next day. Thursday Record running finished just before noon. Qualifying began at about 12:30, and halted for the day only an hour and a half later, due to high winds. Die-hards stayed in line from 2 p.m., until dark at around 8:30. The wind helped dry the course, still soggy from Sunday's drenching. Friday The shortened Thursday qualifying resulted in very quick record attempts on Friday. Don Vesco blasted his 1300cc Yamaha streamliner through the traps to a 252.229 record. Qualifying had started at 9:30 in the morning and ran until after 8:30 in evening, providing plenty of time for tuners to use up the spare parts they had been saving all week. Many of the best times ' were recorded this day, as the wind was almost non-existent, the salt driest, and the working day the longest of the week for tuning. Don Vesco slid his streamliner on its side through the lights to become the fastest bike of the week at 273 MPH. The question was raised as to whether one could slide a bike through the lights to claim a record. After some discus· sion, the official opinion was that the MIA felt that if that's the way you have to do it, OK ...T he F1M said no, ~ have to have both wheels on the ground at least 90% of the measured mile. Sorry folks, no 250 MPH grandstand wheelie finishes ! ' Bob George's long-awaited streamliner finally made it to the starting line late Friday afternoon . Paul Flaftders, AMA meet referee, allowed driver Dave Campos to start with a 125 MPH pass down the course, and tlien a'second at 150 MPH. Each successive pass would be allowed to be 25 MPH faster until top speed was reached. In this way, any serious problems would be -un covered before too high a speed was attained . Earlier in the week , the powerful 'liner h ad fallen on its right side while moving slowly in the practice area. and wiped both carburetors off, heavily damaging the carbs, and lightly damaging both rear heids on the twin 1500cc H·D "74" motors. Hope and interest was high when the long 'liner was wheeled to the starting line for its maiden pass. The running of a new streamliner evokes an emotion almost like welcoming a new child in t o the family, and the pits and waiting lines emptied as racers and spectators jammed the starting area. Dave Campos, waved off by veteran st ar ter Bob Hig~y , smoothly motored off down the course, beginning from a dead stop, The !liner is clutched by an automotive multi-plate Crowerglide clutch, backed by a B & J two speed transmission . The 'liner was geared for a top end 'o f 335. witha first gear sp eed·o f.28 0 . Campos pulled away from a dead stop with this gearing! The 125 and 150 MPH runs went without a hitch. But on the last run of the day~,;\Vith ... everyone~ tired and nervous, the 'liner again slid down at 175 MPH. The long wee~ w~·· ""* over. . .. ~ ~ 9