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/126456
cia· Northern Celifomia·Northern Nevada-Oregon-Wa.hington·ldaho-Utah·Ala.ka o 00 (j') • Super quality 50% Cotton, 3QOk Polyester! • Knitted neck & arm trim • Dark cartoon with red lettering • Approved by Papa Wealey ffl£.£. Louie Booth set quickest overall time lit Jackson Creek Road Race. contains Jackson Creek. The road connects a parking area called the granite pit and southwestern Oregon's most popular riding area. the hub of which is called Lilly Prairie. E~ryone who rides here must ride up and down the road. But everyone doesn't just ride the road. they nice the road. Even the best of friends turn into fierce competitors just to see who can get to the top or the bottom the fastest. To add to the excitement. when coming down the road ~ turns off the motor and coasts to the bottom. As the song goes, ·'You don't spit into the wind and you don't coast down the road with your motor on." There are two reasons for this: I) it's just more sporting to coast, 2) you can hear the uphill racers coming. The road is extremely steep and crooked. so it is impossible to see except from corner to corner. Needless to say, there have been many tragic collisions and near-misses on the road. By the same token, if a rider had a particularly bad run up or down, he uses the excuse that he thought he heard a.~other bike coming. So this event was the dream of all the motorcycle riders in southern Oregon; that is, a clear road with no chance of meeting another rider on the road. it could only be compared to e~ motorcyclist's dream of riding on a golf course on a beautiful spring morning. The riders started at the granite pit at 20-second intervals. As the bikes came screaming up the road, the riders working through the gears and the sound bouncing off the canyon walls, one could close his eyes and almost think he was at a real road race. TIle start went ~ smoothly. The 26th rider was a popular flattracker by the name of Dennis Poole. Dennis reportedly threw mud on the starting officials as he left the line. "God will get you for that," the officials mumbled under their breath as Poole went out of sight. About halfway up the road, Poole was punished for his sin. He overcooked it into a flat, decreasing radius turn and over the bank he went, holding a beautiful full lock slide all the way. Twenty seconds later, a popular motocrosser, Marlon Price went over the same spot in the bank before Poole got out. Morton even held the same full lock slide. Luckily, Poole was able to get out of the way and neither rider was hurt. it took six guys to get the bikes out of the 'brushy canyon and back onto the road. All the other riders made it up the hill safely. and waited their turn to coast back down. At the top the riders took off their chains so there would be less drag on the bike. Some of the riders showed some pretty strange riding styles coming down. Some bounced up and down on the machine, others thought that rocking back and forth would help to gain speed. Still others tucked in with the knee out around corners like Kenny Roberts. Anything went coming down. The rider could push his bike if he felt he was slowing down too much; he could even pick it up and carry it if he wanted to. He just couldn't start the motor. Ron Sutphin, best known for his trials riding, decided that his Montesa wasn't coasting fast enough so he jumped off to push. As soon as his feet hit the ground he immediately assumed a half·run, half-dragged position as he tried to catch up and remount his trusty bike. Many riders tried to dab the ground to gain more speed and immediately found their foot on the rear fender and their nose on the crossbar of the handlebars. Coasting is very misleading. Eventually, everyone had their run and scores were computed. The fastest uphill run was turned in by Gardner who roared up the hill in 2:41. Clark rode a 420 KTM. Second fastest up was Louie Booth on a 250cc Suzuki with a time of two minutes and 42 seconds. Fastest downhill was Brian Peterson. Peterson coasted the two' miles in four minutes and 22 seconds. Booth placed third downhill with a time of four minutes and 24 seconds. Booth's high placings gave him fastest combined time with ~n minutes and six seconds. it was a great event and next year the road will be clear once again, with no chance of meeting another rider going the other way. What will the riders of southern Oregon do until that time? They will live ·dangerously, take chances and practice for next year's racel • Results MINI: 1. Shan Hanl8:50I: 2. Robbie 8lagg 18:551. 125: 1. John Willioms 17:251; 2. Dave Riant 17:381; 3. Mike Zillgelt 17:431. 200: 1. Rod Coc:I1,en 17:401; 2. Fred Periani 17:471; 3. M _ I ~o 18:241. 250: 1. Louie Booth 17:061; 2. Ron Sutphin 17:201; 3. Dave C_eI7:291. OPEN: 1. Clork Gordner 17:081; 2. Gory Worden 17:111; 3. Btian Pet.. son 17:151. FASTEST DOWNHILL: Btian _ _ 14:22). FAStEST UPHILL: Clark Gordner 12:411. FASTEST OVERALL: Louie Booth 17:061. QC") 1 each large & small Cycle News stickie with order O' 1nquIrla Invl18d Now a bIe lit your Cycle Newe 0.....- I • -------------------------------Name • I I Addre.. I I I City I • Zip State I. I want _ _ 0 Small Cycle New. Products I • P. . Box 498 0 Long Beach. Ca. 90801 Dept.9W5 I 0 Medium 0 Large ~ W Tee-Shlrts I enclosed. ,$7.95· £Or each Shin (Calif. residents add 6% IIales tax) I • I I I I ---------------------------------"If coins had a hole in them. washers wouldn't COIlt.so much." -CC '---- * RACING * --- Champions Hi-Point Racing Products 3709 W. Eri~ Av~.. Lorain. OH 44053 P.O. Box 2327. AmariI/o. TX 79105 9604 Oat~s Dr.. Sacrllmfl':;to. 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