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/141010
SMITH WHUPS THE FIELD IND ISTRICT 38 EUROPEAN SCRAMBLES i ., ~ ~ w Z W ..J U >U Fast -improving Steve Pollack makes t he m ost of his No vice ride. Open Expert winner Curt Smith play s in the mudhole. By Bob Grant Photos by Ellis Bole & Evan Hansen RANCHO LA COSTA, CAL., Feb. 13, 1972 - In a dusty little valley near the p osh Rancho La Costa health spa the Sagchopp crs M.C . laid out a European Scrambles course of a little over three miles. The course ran around the valley through a m ud hole and up a huge hill, then back down the hill to wind through the brush and back to the pits. There were 220 riders signed up with the Open Expert field going first. With about 50 Open bikes starting the first turn proved to be a real jam. Ken Renick (Yam) jumped into the early lead , followed by Scott King (Suz) and Curtis Smith (CZ) . Away back in the pack, about 25th was Bill Silverthorn (Hus) . By midway thro ugh the race Smith had taken over the lead and opened a good margin over Bill Booth (Mai) , Mike Stephansen (CZ) and the hard charging Silverthorn. At the end of one hour Smith took the checkered flag with about a 20 second lead over Silverthorn. The next race of the day saw the 250 Experts . have a go at the dusty course followed by the Powder Puffs . Eddie Forland (Oss) came around th e first lap w ith a commanding lead over Ron Stacy (Yam). Fo land continued to hold his huge lead until midway through the race he experienced mechanical troubles and began to slow. Stacy took over here and went on in fo r the win. He was followed by Bruce Sheppard (Yam) and Bob Kellogg (CZ) . First Powder Puff was Pam Niles followed by Dyan Ecker. Troy S tallings prepares for the intricate rear hub·breaking manuever. He DNF 'd. The third race of the day saw the 125 Experts go it alone fo r the hour long grind. J eff Foland (Pen), little brother of Eddie, duplicated his brother's ride in grabbing a large lead in the first lap . But experienced no mechanical he difficu lties ex cept losing one of h is "shocks", which slowed him none, as he continued on for the win. He \\"3.S followed by Bob Grant (Suz) , who was disq ualified for losins his silencer, and Robert Knight (DKW) and Joe Richard (Bul). The Novice races saw Duane Andersen (Suz) sweep the Open class and Mike Stearn turn in a fantastic ride . on a 185 Suzuki to win the 250 class . First 125 was Mike Fisher (Yam) and first 100 was Ken McCarty (Yam) . (R esu lt s on page 32) F R A NeE PURSE UPS DAYT ON A Following an Internal Reven ue Service ruling that racing p urses are no t affected by a rate freeze, Daytona promo ter Bill France, Jr. has upped the p urse for the 200-mi le National Champio nship moto rcycle road rac e to $30,000. Previously , the American Motorcycle Associatio n sanctioned event was slated to pay $22,000. The March 12 eve nt closes a fu ll week of mo to rcy cle activity at Daytona Beach in clu d i n g all types of co mpetition . Purses will be paid fo r preliminary road race and motocross events , and a card of amateu r motorcycle events will include a 10 0-mile enduro and amateur road rac es awarding tro ph ies only. In addi tion to the $30,000 p urse Sunda y's b ig Ch amp io nsh ip event will award cas h contingencies of $20,000 pl us $ 10 0 per lap . In the unlikely event of a sweep of the race, a single rider could earn as much as $20,490. The tota l mo ney avai lable fo r the even t is now $56,000, and more than $ 75,00 0 is p oste ~ lib til' week.