TEN
YEARS
AGO
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CO
0')
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A pair of familiar protagonists played
it out for the full 100 miles of ~he
Pocono Road Race National. After
early leader Yvon DuHamel (Kaw)
pitted for gas, Dick Mann (BSA) and
Kel Carruthen (Yam) battled for the
lead right down to the checkered flag,
where Mann won by a scant 20 feet,
Dave Aldana hustled his BSA to
foul:th behind DuHamel, while Jady
Nicholas rounded out the top five on a
Suzuki. Carruthers won the 250cc
Junior/Expert race, and Doug Libbey
won the Novice/Junior event.
Charlie Seale (BSA) and Sonny
Burres (Tri) were the Expert feature
winners in weekend half mile racing
accompanying the Black Hills Classic
in Sturgis, SO.
Rough Rider Cycle Park in Simi Valley,
CA, was the site of the first round of
the 1971 Tri-Am motocross series,
which drew 10,000 spectators. In the
Open class Mark Blackwell (Hus)
claimed a victory over John DeSoto
(Suz) and Gary Chaplin (Mai). while'
in the 250cc race, Gary Jones (Yam)
bested Tom Rapp (Bul) and Ron
DeSoto (CZ). In 125cc action, the top
three were Gene Cannady (DKW),
Ken Zahrt (Bul) and JeU Wright
(Ric).
BSA denied that its American company,
Birmingham Small Arms Company,
Inc. was in financial trouble, although
it did admit to trouble in England because of su'pply problems. strikes, etc.
in 1969 and 1970. In other news, BSA
announced it would be the exclusive
U.S. distributor for Rickman Metisse
motorcycles.
In drag racing action at Atco, NJ,
Dave Campos won the Top Elmininator
battle when Joe Smith red-lighted on
the final.
Sammy Tanner won an Expert heat
race to take his 399th win a t Ascot
during a regular weekly half mile, although it was Mel Lacher who won
both the trophy dash and main event
to keep the "Flying Flea" from getting
Ascot win number 400. As usual, Gary
Scott topped the Juniors and Scott
Brelsford the Novices.
In TT racing at Perris (CA) Raceway,
Jeff Sexton (Mai) took the Open class
over Vince Graves (Suz) and Rob
Morrison (Mai). Bultaco-mounted
Doug MalOn won the 250cc Amateur/
Expert clash.
The Huntington Beach M.C. threw
a very rough 0-37 hare scrambles, one
that very few of the pre-race favorites
even finished. The surprise winner was
Howard Utsey (Suz), followed in by
first 250cc rider Jerome Ruzicka (AJS).
American Honda announced a recall
on early-model CB750s due·to potential
drive chain failure. The recall followed
pressure on Honda from the Four
Owners Association. which had re·
quested such a recall.
New Zealander Dave GiUord won
every race he rode during a night of
speedway racing in Sacramento, enroute to the Scratch main event win. •
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