Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

purpose and objective, which shows that we are already off to a shining start. Some people also voiced the opinion that yet another federal program will infringe on private land ownership rights. Finally, others said the plan had too negative a view. So what's new? The Department's timetable for this project slates the fmal report sometime during late 1981. According to an official at BLM's Planning and Inventory Office, at that time the California Desert Plan could be amended and revised. So here is another chance for those of you who are upset with BLM's desert classification. The agency will issue a second draft of the project in March of 1981, following will be a 60day review period. After that time, the third and final draft will commence. Next year, call BLM, get a copy of the plan, and make a comment on it. By this time they need fresh imput. Why? Every time I see a statement about how many people they've' issued drafts for comments to, it is always the same 900 figure. Of course, the agency never fails to follow that statement up with these words: "representing a wide spectrum of organizations and individuals concerned with some aspect of land management." That would include bikers, wouldn't it? Seems not. It appears the American Motorcyclist Association's Government Relations Department never gOt its copy of the first draft. In the meantime, BLM continues to contradict itself. "The processes affecting desertification are gradually becoming understood," they say. Yet, they continue to regulate it without fuDy understanding the issue. Well, after all, it's only taxpayer's money they're using... JimZoia THE NATIONAL PAPERS The new 1981 National Winston Pro Series schedule is out, heralding the start of a new season and the end of an era. For the first time in well over 20 years there will be no National dirt track races in the west during the month of July. Or for that matter, in June or August. When the Winston Pro dirt trackers leave the west next season in May they will not return until September. Only the Laguna Seca road races, July 19, remain on the schedule. At one time in past seasons as many as a half dozen National races were run on the west coast. But for one reason or another it finally came down to a single event, the Ascot National TT lastJuly. The AMA has been working to cut down the travel distance for the circuit riders and this was one of the choices. Of course, if a rider lives in the west, he is the one that will now do the traveling instead of the rider that lives in the east. In the early 50s the lone western National was the mile at Bay Meadows near San Francisco. Later it was the mile at San Jose. The first time the west had two Nationals in July was in '59 when the first Ascot half mile was run and the mile was moved from San Jose to the old Sacramento fairgrounds mile. Later the Sacramento mile was moved to September due to the heat. The Ascot half mile was also moved to later in the season, making way for the TT to be run in July. In 1965 the Castle Rock National TT was created and ran with the Ascot TT right up to '80 when Mother Nature cancelled it out for what appears to be forever. (Duane Barnes of the Mt. Helen sM. C. told w the club pw.ns to build a new facility and t heir battle cry is, ''See you in '82. "... Editor.) For many years the month of July and west coast racing was considered the key time of the year. The riders that were top point gainers by the time they headed east in August were the contenders for the Grand National title. July was the month also for the riders that had started slowly and needed the points to catch up. Over the years mile Nationals were run in July at Sacramento, San Jose, Portland, Santa Rosa and Phoenix. There were half miles at San Jose, Ascot, Salem, OR, Tulare and Corona, CA. Road races have also been woven into the July slate at Seattle, Sears Point and Laguna Seca. Perhaps one of the biggest draw· backs to the eliminations of July in the west is that there will no longer be an Ascot TT National. The event dates back to 1962 and has been in July since 1965_ Many riders and fans rate it as the best TT track due to the jump and the variety of turns. It is gone, at least for 'SO. We wonder if Aggie will take the famous jump out as it will no longer be needed for the various types of racing that take place there weekly. The month of July gave the fans many good races the past 20-plus years. The list of outstanding events would be too long to list at this time. Every good and great rider was on hand for one or all of them many times. The '58 San Jose Mile was the first west coast race for Carrol Resweber, the '60 Sacramento Mile was the first time in the west for Bart Markel at a National. The '60 Sacramento Mile was to be the last win for Everett Brashear. The '72 Salem Half Mile was the last for Mark Brelsford. It is also sad to know that most of the tracks where these Nationals have been run are still being used, mainly for horse racing only, which is suffering in general these days for several reasons. Others are state owned and used only a few days out of each year with the taxpayers continuing to pay the tab. But promoting races is an expen· sive proposition these days, regardless of the type of event. But where else is the weather less of a gamble than the west coast? Maybe someday some or all of them will come back onto the National circuit, but for the time being July will be a very quiet month in the west, along with June and July. Want to be a racer young man? Go east. But when we reflect back a few years to when there were few Nationals in the west this was the era when the old Gardena quarter mile and the later Ascot half mile ran weekly and had 100 to 200 riders every Friday. Perhaps this is the stroke of fate that is needed to bring back the weekly racing once again to the southern California and northwest areas? San Jose will again host two mile Nationals, Sacramento will have a mile in April, and Ascot will again have two half mile Nationals, but that is about the extent of the National dirt track racing scene in the west for 198 I. It has its good and bad points. ... ~o?cy ~ockYV90_d with cooperation from the SCMA chartered VICTOR McLAGLEN MOTOR CORPS PRESENTS: THE 2nd ANNUAL BARSTOW to VEGAS Motorcycle Road Ride and Poker Run ~ ~A . ~!':~ : .> .; ,' ~ eSUPER PRIZES e 1st $100.00 CASH! 4th - 8th - Cycle News Jackets 2nd $ 75.00 CASH! 9th - 12th - Cycle News Vests 3rd $ SO.OO CASH! 13th - 15th - Cycle News T-Shirts $3.00 Donation per rider Profits to go to the Phantom Duck of the Desert Legal Fund Registration - Saturday, November 29, 1980 opens: 8a.m. eloses: 11 a.m. Drawings at finish 3 p.m. sharp. Poker Run Directions Start and Registration - 1-15 east to Harvard Road Exit lapprox. 20 mi. east of Barstow), right turn. Turn left on Frontage Road Ion south side of Freeway) approximately four miles turn left on Alvord Road then across Freeway to CYCLE NEWS' motorhome. First check - Baker. California (approx. 40 miles from Alvord Rd.) Check in by taking Baker Exit Road to Kelbaker Road 11st stop sign). Turn right, go past 1-15 on ramp to CYCLE NEWS Check In. Second Check - Jean, Nevada lapproximately 65 miles from Baker). Jean off ramp to Pop's Oasis and CYCLE NEWS Check In in the Casino. Additional alternate check at Sloan, Nevada. Finish - Las Vegas. Nevada lapprox. 20 miles from Jean). Blue Diamond off ramp left to Union 76 Truck Stop and CYCLE NEWS Poker Run Finish under the Union 76 sign. For more information call the CYCLE NEWS office at (213) 427-7433 3

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