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Marty Moates was competitive as usual on the Knobby Shop International
450cc Honda, but a crash through the fence at the bottom of the Carlsbad
downhill left him somewhat datuned. Front forks were 11.0 inch Simons
models, while out back two Works Performance reservoir model shocks
kept the cantilever rear suspension sticking out 11.6 inches. This bike
actually handles like its 223 pound claimed weight.
.
The 1978 official winner of the Four-8troke Nationals, Goat Breker, rode one
of the new 500cc four-valve CCM machines. Ohlins shocks and CCM forks
suspend 12.0 inchas of wheel travel at each end. The 60hp motor needs only
a three-speed gearbox and claimed weight was 230 pounds dry for the
entire bike, but around 250 pounds ready to run. COl ignition is new. Breker
missed four-stroke practice, causing him to retire from the first mota after
just four laps because he wasn't used to the bike.
Here's a nice little machine for the smaller class just to give an idea of what
can be done with a little work. Randy Schwalenberg stuffed an SL-1oo
Honda engine, bored to 16Occ, into an old CR-125 Elsinore frame. Engine
goodies include a Webco cam and a 30mm Mikuni carbo Fox AirShox work
with a DG swingarm to provide 10.0 inches of rear wheel travel with matching statistics up front by Marzocchi forks. This baby weighs a mere 190
pounds, rneking it fairly-quick for its displacement size.
And just in case you forgot what everyone was racing 20 years ago, here's a
look at Anthony Dilabo's 1960 Matchless 600cc Typhoon. It put about 20
horsepower less 140-46 bhpl and weighed 100 pounds more 1360 Ibs.1 than its
modern day competitors, suspended on modern 3.4 inch travel rear Girlings
and 7.0 inch front double dampened Matchless forks. Any volunteers to
race this one7
The infamous Jody Weisel of some obscure motocross magazine poses
with Jim O'Neal of O'Neal Motorcycle Products fame. Jim races with the
older gentlemen in this Bill Bell built XL-44Oc:c Honda sitting in a C&J frame.
He still doesn't balieve in too much suspension travel, so his bike only has
9.5 inches at each end with Fox AirShox and Mliico forks.
Billy "Bear" Grossi didn't get too far on this new Dick Mann built XR-500
Honda because of problems with thrown chains. The chain looks ready to
falloff the bike right here in the pits due to too much slack and poor chain
tensioners, otherwise the rest of the bike looked really fCmctionel and light.
Travel was 11.0 inches at each end with Simons forks and Works
Performance shocks.
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