P114
50
Years Ago
AUGUST 11, 1970
LOOKING BACK
We chatted with Kenny Roberts who was, 40 years ago, leading the
500cc World Championship by 12 points with three races left. He was
pictured on the cover in our latest issue... We had full coverage of the
Mid-Ohio 125cc MX USGP. Johnny O'Mara was the overall winner with
1-3 scores. Ron Sun won the second moto... Carlsbad Raceway was filled
to the brim with motocrossers that were lured by a $41,350 purse... We
showed pictures of the first four-stroke Can-Am motocrosser.
40
Years Ago
AUGUST 6, 1980
Fifty years ago, a reader complained to Cycle News about the lack of
coverage of motorcycle-related topics from northern California and, what
do you know, she winds up on the cover a few weeks later! (Don't even
think about it, this trick has never worked since.) The photo was taken at
Bay Mare MX, where Bob Grossi and John DeSoto made the headline...
The final Edison Dye-promoted International Motorcycle Circus (aka Viking
Series) motocross race took place in Atlanta, and Finland's Heiki Mikkola
came away with the win... The AMA National Half Mile at Tulare, California,
was canceled when the riders deemed the track to be too rough.
(Left) Mike Hacker
chalked up his first
career Grand National
victory at the Charlotte
Half Mile 20 years ago.
(Right) Canadian manufacturer
Can-Am debuted its first four-stroke-
powered motocrosser 40 years ago.
