Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

FRANK GALLO I r Bruce Und cashed in for a pair of Gf) class wins at Seattle. Open Production bikes on both sides in the chicane, then rode to a fourth in Heat 1 of 550cc Cafe; but during the second round of Heats, tlHo venerable thumper quit running in protest. The 4IOcc Production Heats were cliffhanger duels between Keith Pinkstaff and Brian Sutton, both Yamaha-mounted. Sutton' drafted Pinkstaff in Heat 1 until the sixth lap, then slingshotted around him at the start/finish with a "Hah, gotcha'" sideways look as he went past. In Heat 2, Sutton led from the start, but Pinkstaff stayed right on him, leaning hard. Near mid-race, Sutton slammed a pipe into the ground at tum four (one of the downhill hairpin esses), got sideways, and Pinkstaff closed the gap to near-nothing. White' flag lap, Pinkstaff just squeezed by; then Sutton's bike spit its chiin off coming out of tum four, and suddenly it was done. Pinkstaff went on to score double wins in Open Production and a third' in Open Cafe on a self-sponsored Suzuki. In 250cc GP, Bruce Lind lost the first heat by split-seconds as Allan Seddon passed him coming out of turns nine/IO under the white flag. Lind came back to score the second· heat and take the class on moto points, as Seddon and Greg McRae trailed. . Lind ran off and hid from the Open GP first Heat, surprising even himself. "Usually, McRae, Dunn and those guys give me a run," he said between Heats. "But you gotta figure, for them, this is the first race of the season. The week's practice down in Daytona - it really helped." By second Heat, McRae and jim Dunn were both on the bubble. Lind took an early lead, but Dunn manased to scoot around by lap four, while McRae hovered right in zapping distance. Then somebody dumped a stream of oil from tum four clear down the back stretch, causing four mid-pack riders to come off ill quick succession. In the resulting confusion, the lead trio shuffled spots again. McRae came out on top of the deck for a 2-1 score and the overall win. The 550cc Cafe was a very large and scrappy class. Winner jerry Whitlow on (get this) a street legal TD·3 Yamaha took the class with a 1-1 score, but not before Garry Gallagher (who seized Gre.enlake Kawasaki's "Rabbit Bike" the first Heat) made him scratch hard for the final win. Open Cafe was dominated by Randy Skiver (Suz) with 1,1 finishes; the only rider who could stay close was Dan Freeman (Suz), who trailed Skiver' by a few seconds both Heats. The spectator "Oooh and Aaah" class had to be the 750cc/Open Production, what with riders bauncing the big Production bikes' bulky undercarriage off the red/yellow striped car curbs on bothsides of the chicane. The ·750cc· Production winner, Rocky Phoenix (Hon) actually led .the first go-round through midrace before Open winner Pinkstaff (Suz) powered around. Phoenix's Honda was one of several shop-sponsored and privateer entries of the new DOHC 750 Four, making its Northwest competition debut l"ith a splash. A small sidecar field rounded out the program. Canadians Hobbs/Lloyd (Kaw) took the overall over the surviving Triumph Trident outfit of Wildman and Wildman. Fitting names for a sidehack crew, don't you think? The hottest new performanae carb available. Leetron "Power Jet" carbs arri designed for 2 stroke dirt bikes to give you the performance and mileage you're looking for in cross country events. Take a tip from Frank and check oul the new "Power Jet" al your Hi-Poinl dealer. In sizes 30 tliru 40mm for all popular dirl bikes. HI-POINT RACING CHAIN Frank uses Hi-Poinl Racing Chain on his cross counlry racer and it takes all the punishment he can give it with less stretch and maintenance t.han lesser chain. Hi-Point Racing chain is available in all popular sizes. in Solid Roller and Self Lube. HI-POINT RACING OIL Champions like Frank Gallo. Jack Penlon. and Ted Leimbach race and win with Hi-Poinl oil. Hi-Poinl delivers superior performance and protection for lheir dirt bikes. Insist on lhe racing oil that's been winning gold medals for 10 years. HI-POINT RACING PRODUCTS 3709 W. Erie Ave. Lorain, OH 44053 PO Box 2327. Amar1llo. TX 79105 Results 9604 O.les Or . Sacramento, CA 95827 125 GP SPORTSMAN: 1. Ralph Javina !Yam); 2. PIlil K_!Yaml. 125 GP MONEY CLASS: 1. Go

• Cover