Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Dave Emde 1971 held off Steve Mclaughlin for second in the Open Superstreet race, a "Daytona preview." Emde's teammate, Wes Cooley, won. Yoshimura gets off to good start at AFM RR opener . , By Patrick Behar ONTARIO . CA , FEB . 18 Some 400 entries and 2000 spectators made the American Federation of Motorcyclists' season opener a great one at Ontario Motor Speedway. It was the biggest crowd in AFM history. After three months of non activity, both riders and spectators were very pleased to get back to racing. 12 ~ For this first race of the year, the short course was chosen and the races were six or eight laps long. There were no points toward the championship. but it was a chance for west coast AMA racers to test their bikes before Daytona. The Yoshimura team was joined by Racecrafters' Steve McLaughlin for the first battle of the year on the superbike scene. 1978 AMA Superb ike Champ Reg Pridmore was scheduled to compete but according to his tuner Pierre des Roches , "T he bike is still on dyno testing, but will be definitely ready for Daytona," Dave Emde is the newest member of the Yoshimura team , joining veterans Wes Cooley and'Ron Pierce. Pierce, however. didn't show and Emde rode his bike. As soon as the Open Superstreet race started, it was Cooley out front with a good margin over second-place Steve McLaughlin with RC Engineering's Willie Scheffer in third. Behind them was Emde, but it didn't take him long to pass Scheffer and McLaughlin for second. That place was then challenged by the Racecrafters rider right up to the flag, but every time Emde resisted the attacks of McLaughlin. On the last lap, Steve tried a last charge in .turn 18, a fast left -bander before 19. the vey tight right hander that is the last turn ef the track, and once again it didn't work. Emde, in his first ride officially with the Yoshimura team. did a very good job in placing second behind a very fast Cooley. Fujio Yoshimura was very pleased with the way things turned out for his team: Willi Scheffer on his newly sponsored RC Engineering Suzuki GSlOOO took fourth . Earlier in the Production race. Lee Flemming on the Champion 900 Desmo Ducati rode a very convincing race and took the honors after disqualification of Billy Addington and Steve Lang (both were on Superstreet machines). Vance Breese's Eurornart Moto Guzzi completed the . European domination in the race; the first .japanese bike was the Del Amo Suzuki GS1000 of Ken Farmer. Flemming took another victory over teammate Whitney Blakeslee in the Box Stock race after a wild finish. Blakeslee was leading when both riders came into turn 19. With Whitney overcooking it and Lee right behind him , both riders went into the dirt, but Flemming was ahead of Blakeslee when both crossed the finish line still riding in the dirt! Dick Fuller came back from several months of racing in Europe to win the 410cc Production race , using last year's co -champion Allan Gingerelli's engine tuned by John Lassak and sponsored by Kerb's Trading Post. Ed Toomey took second and Howard . Monrise was third after a furious battle with 410cc Box Stock Champ Pat Eagan. Gennady Luibimski took the honors in the 250cc GP race . John Glover finished second with Rudy Galindo third after a strong battle. with Harry Klinzmann. Results . BOX STOCK OPEN 1. Lee Flemming IDucl: 2. : Whitney Blakesleel!

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