Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

EWho will win -= ~ the I977 Ca'mel ~ Pro Series? 0'> ~ Don't bet on it ... C By Gary Van Voorhis CN ~ ;:l l-t ..c 11) ~ f you get a sense of deja vu - the illusion that you may have had a given experience before - during the 1977 AMA Grand National Championship/Camel Pro Series, don't say you weren't forewarned. The season should be, for the most part, an instant replay of the excitement generated during the chase for the championship in 1976. This is not to say that the outcome will be the same, although the principal characters will bear a striking resemblance to Jay Springsteen, Gary Scott and Kenny Roberts with a supporting cast of many of the same faces seen last year. 1977 w ill be the third full season of participation by R. J. Reynolds/Camel Filters on the AMA Grand National Championship circuit. This year that involvement is spelled out as $100,000 in point fund monies that will be distributed to more riders than in past yearsover a two leg payoff . I The Season What started out as the most ambitious schedule in AMA history w ith 30 Nationals has whittled itself to 28 the same as last season - and appears to be set. The similarity ends there. This year the emphasis is on a revival of road racing with six (out of an original seven scheduled) events for the pavement scratc hing cro wd . That's an increase of two over 7 6 and a direct move, should the events play host to good attendance and increased entries, toward a split road racing/dirt track championship in 78. To make room for the pavement events, short track venues were dropped from five in 76 to a total of two for the coming season. It was an extremely curious action given the move by the AMA of lowering the displacement to 250cc to encourage involvement by ' manufacturers not normally assoc iated w ith AMA National short track competition. Half mile, mile and IT events remain basically the same in number. The gist of the breakdown of events in 1977 versus 1976 fashion is to bring to light a point which could ultimately decide the 1977' championship. Jay Springsteen braved his way through last season to clinch the championship without riding a single road race. (He ' was not a 750cc rated Expert road racer.l This year Jay again will be on the sidelines - for lack of machinery rather than eligibility - for six road races, almost 25% of the entire schedule. That one fact, more than any other could clearly turn the season upside down or 'just as easily mirror last year. The Champ 16 Ja y Spr ingsteen, known as " Springer", comes into season '77 hot off one of the best individual performances in recent memory. Springer's cold start caught fire a quarter way into the season and blazed its way to the final event with a burning seven National victories including the last four dirt events of the season. That burst clinched the championship for the second year Expert and a lot of admiration from friends and adversaries alike. With Bill Werner back to do the tuning chores on Springer's HarleyDavidson factory mounts, and none of the " I race for the fun of it." attitude drained from Jay, the season looks good for his defense of the crown. It is not exactly an excellent out look though since, as mentioned above,H-D does not have a road race ride for Springer. It is a fact wh ich could wrest the crown from his grasp yet there is no way that anyone should count Springer out until the checkers fall on the last National of the year. The Challengers Gary Scott made a believer out of a lot of people last season w ith a superb performance as a " privateer" which landed him scant points from retaining the crown he had won as a HarleyDavidson factory entrant in 1975. From meager beginnings, Scott sculpted a w inning combination which included a conglomoration of diverse machinery, top notch tuning talent and a small, but dedicated clique of backers intent on seeing Scott shoot down the might of the factory-backed riders in a head to head confrontation, This season the name of the game remains the same although for 77 Gary has acquired some very heavy ammunition in the form of a three year, six figure contract for sponsorship from Evel Knievel. Gary will continue with the same philosophy that has carried him to a quartet of second place finishes and a Grand National Championship in five years ... namely consistent finishes in the top five w ithout an out-and-out emphasis on w inning. Improvement in short track and road racing are also on Scott's master plan. Frustration and inconsistency have marred Kenny Roberts' past two seasons, problems that Kenny insists w ill be remedied this year. To that end Kenny, in his contract negotiations, bargained for and got a bill of goods to do it his way this season. Simply stated, the dirt track effort was lifted from Kel Carruthers leaving him w ith sole responsibility for the road race end of Roberts' Yamaha Motor Corporation sponsored assault on Number One. In a move that surprised some, Kenny hired respected tuners Babe DeMay and Nick Deligianis to revamp his dirt effort . Early indications are that the duo, working in Kenny's frame facility in Turlock, California have cut we ight, incr eased horsepower, smoothed out the power band and worked other pluses into Kenny's Yamaha dirt bikes. For his part, Kenny has introduced a monoshock frame to improve handling in both his IT and short track bikes. The drive that carried Kenny to a pair of consecutive championships in 1973 and 74 is still there and his level of enthusiasm is higher than ever. The Chasers While the chase for the crown usually gets the spotlight of attention, the battle for the coveted spots remaining in the top ten deserve recognition also for it is these warriors who play the spoiler role so superbly. There are a number of names that come to mind, some old, some new and all talented. Tops on the list is Ted Springsteen, Roberts, and Scott (from left): on the track, their differences r. Boody. Ted, although not winning Rookie of the Year honors after a hard fought battle with Steve Eklund, got something much more important ... a Harley-Davidson factory contract. Ted is one more name on a grow ing list of super talented riders to come from the Flint, Michigan area. Ted could easily upset the plans of Kenny, Gary and even Jay with his competitive nature. Rookie of the Year Steve Eklund will again ride for Mario Zanotti and w ill be receiving a bike and parts deal from H-D.. for his mile and half mile machinery. Steve tallied three National victories last season aboard some very sanitary and innovative machinery. Harley-Davidson teamster Corky Keener, fresh from an enforced rest over the last half of last year caused by a broken leg, is itching to get back into action and add to his list of National victories. Corky, although ten years older than his teammates is no slouch when it comes to twisting a throttle . Other notable names in the chaser category include Gene Romero who retains his Evel Knievel sponsorship on dirt, but w ill cut back his competition to mile and half mile events. On the pavement Gene will continue his Don Vesco affiliation. Hank Scott w ill return to action with Shell Racing Specialties, hoping to produce some consistency. Mike Kidd hasn't finalized any big bike plans for '77, but should be Harley mounted , possibly aboard Mart Lawwill tuned equipment. Mike has Penton sponsorship for short tracks. Greg Sassaman and Re Beauchamp have lost their H-D fa status, but will receive bikes and pa ' for the season. Neither has confirm any specific plans althoug Beauchamp is looking for a tuner. Randy Cleek will keep pluggi away and should find that this is hi year to win a National. Rick Hocking w ith the right backing and a pair strong knees should be back in acti Billy Eves, on the East Coast HDealers' Harley could spoil a bunch plans in the selected dirt events h rides. Among the rookies two nam stand out: Garth Brow and Ted Davi son. The pair could-provide the sam kind of east versus west battle f Rookie of the Year that transpired I seasonbetween Ted Boody and Ste Eklund. On the road race only side of th coin, Gary Nixon has switched fr Kawasaki to Yamaha machinery. Th change should be a plus for the R Head who, at age 35, has twen seasons of racing behind him and still going strong. Steve Mclaughlin has a ,rumor deal in the works which could p "The mouth that roared" back onto challenging role. David Emde should not b overlooked. Dave proved to be knowledgeable adversary in the 2 lightweight international events I season and is looking forward making life hard for all when he debu lAMA National-wise) on Don V

• Cover