Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

TErt YEARS AGO A h ea vy th u nderstorm del a yed th e s ta rt o f t h e 24 H ou rs of Nels o n Ledges end uran ce ra ce, and rai n co ntin ued to slo w rider s th roughout the even t. Wh en th e clock ran o u t, the team of Sam Williams an d Ken Mallison took th e o vera ll win , cove ring 1,748 mil es a boa rdd th ei r 900cc Kawasaki. Canadi ans Bederstein/Kirk/ Miekeljon/Betz o f th e Tortoise Racin g T eam pl aced secon d o n a 900cc H onda. Bri tish Parli ament voted 10 cut o ff future loans 10 th e faltering NortonVill iers-Trium ph co m pa n y, a m ove th ought by m an y 10 signal th e dem ise of th e Bri tish m o torcycle ind ustr y. Accord ing 10 U.S. Norton T riumph Corpora tio n P resident Roger Stange, " T he a cti o n o f th e Brit ish government co u ld turn o u t to be a blessing in disguise; particu larl y if th is m ean s we ca n opera te i n th e fu ture without government int erferen ce. We ha ve abso lu tel y no inten tion, h ow ever , to go o u t o f busi ness." Th ere 's sti ll h o p e; N VT 's p a ren t co m p a n y, Ma gan ese Bro nze H oldings, is a p rofi table opera tio n, an d ma y continue to su pport th e o pera tion for a short peri od o f time. Kenny Robert's str in g o f bad lu ck continued , an d th e defending Grand National Champion dropped o u t on th e 19th lap of the Peoria National TT. Rob ert s was ru n n ing in seco n d place wh en hi s bike shed its cha in; ch a i n and sproc ke t probl ems h ad been a recurring p robl em th rougho u t th e 1975 season. Sonny Burres went on 10 win th e eve n t a boa rd a T riu mp h , foll owed by Dave Aldana and th ird-pl a ce Mert LawwilI. Randy Cleek took the checkers in th e Trophy race, after Steve Droste's throttle stuck wide o pen while leading th e pack. Dr ost e d ecid ed to risk finishing th e race with a balky throttle, and wa s a ble to work back to a se co n d -p lace fini sh , foll owed by John Hateley in third. Giacomo Agostini took a big st ep towards regaining hi s 500cc world title from Phil Read by winning th e Finnish round of th e World Championship in Imatra, Finland. Agostini won th e 21-lap event when Read broke down , Gianfranco Bonera cr ash ed, a n d Barry Sheene retired with ca rb u re to r problems. Teuvo Lansivuori crossed th e fini sh lin e nearl y a minute behind Agos ti n i for second place, an d Jack Findlay edged past Phillipe Coulon on the la st corner 10 cl aim third. Johnny Cecotto virtuall y wrapped-up hi s 350cc World Champi onship title, beatin g seco n d-p lace Agosti n i by n ea rl y 10 seconds. Ricky Campbell dropped a 12-year sta n di ng reco rd with a fast time o f 25.27 seconds a t th e Pacif ic Regiona l Half-Mile a t th e Black H ill s Cl assic in Sturgis, So u th Dak ot a . Mike Kidd came o u t of retirem ent LO win th e Expert m a in , whil e N o vice Vince Mead and Junior Steve Eklund wo n their respect ive cla sses. · I ' • • MOTORCYCLE WORLD is r acing across California via satellite this S u n day n ight's special g uest is: Moto Journalists ** Rex Reese and Margaret Fowler ** Topi cs range from st ree t bik es to dirt bikes to s upercross, motocross a nd d rag ra cing. World-w ide ra ce resul ts with Warren Reid a nd Dr. Ca rver' s Sp orts Medicine feature. Ca ll in and talk with a ll th e top personalities, and be a part of motor cycl e world . 1-(800) 228-5249 or (714) 661 -1962 Sponsored by : ~ S UZUKI ' . ~ .... ..

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