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/1531887
VOLUME ISSUE JANUARY , P119 Bob Hannah, Gary Semics, Mike Bell, Jimmy Ellis and others. Dirt trackers like Rick Hocking, Jim Rice and John Hateley came out to play. From the enduro world came Carl Cranke, Jack Penton, Billy Uhl and the legend himself, Malcolm Smith. Unlikely entries included the retired MX World champ Jeff Smith, MXA staffer Al Baker, all-around racer Terry Clark and speedway champ Mike Bast. Finally, the inclusive event results list female dirt track racer Diane Cox among the field of champs and former champs. There is only a brief mention of the rules governing the event. One machine per rider; that rider would also serve as their own mechanic. Each racer was assigned a field marshal, who would monitor and enforce strict rules regarding the use of tools. Performing maintenance outside of designated "maintenance time slots" was verboten! The drag race competition was the first event of the day. A somewhat complex handicap - ping system was apparently intended to make the competi- tion level for bikes like Jim Rice's BSA 650 and Gary Jones' Am- mex 250. Racers were required to clock in at times close to their practice runs. In the end, multi- time enduro champ Dick Burle- son topped MX holeshot artist Gary Semics, with Howerton edg- ing out Bast for third. Dirt track/ road racer David Aldana became the first rider to be penalized when he used pliers to fix an oil breather line on his Yamaha TT 500 (a popular choice of steeds that day). No repairs were al - lowed except during specified repair time and Aldana was docked three points. On to the road racing event where John Hateley jumped out to a quick lead. Smart bettors would've put their money on "Lil" John to win the whole shooting match. Hateley was a Grand Na - tional-winning dirt tracker, as well as an accomplished road racer. Earlier that year, he had finished just outside of the top 20 at the Hangtown 250 AMA Motocross National. There was no question - ing his ability to ride any kind of motorcycle on any surface. But gaining quickly on Hateley was none other than off-road legend Malcolm Smith, riding a Husqvarna 390CR with a front tire "so small it made it look like a chopper." If there was any doubt about Malcolm Smith's ability to ride any kind of motor - cycle (and there wasn't), he si- lenced them all, passing Hateley and pulling away for a convinc- ing win. Diane Cox put in a fine ride to 14th despite a last-place start. Cox passed both Bob Han- nah and Jeff Smith, the latter tell- ing CN, "It's bloody awful to be going as fast as one can and be passed by that little girl!" At the end of the first day of the event, Malcolm Smith trailed Howerton, the reigning AMA 500cc champ, by just two points in the battle to be named America's best all- around motorcycle racer. Day two kicked off with a short track race, which was won by Rick Hocking. John Rice, another retired veteran who dusted off his steel shoe to compete in this unique event, finished second. The riders then moved on to com - pete in a TT race, where Yamaha's Mike Bell topped Gary Jones. Up next was a cross-country race, with the track winding through Saddleback Park's "outback" territory. Bell and Maico's Gaylon Mosier diced for the lead early on before giving way to Hannah, who took the win. The final event was the mo - tocross race, and Hannah came out on top again for another vic- tory. Mike Bell and Harley-David- son rider Marty Tripes rounded out the top three. When the points were tallied, it was Husky's Kent Howerton on top with 182 points, Semics in second with 162 and Mike Bell third with 158. The first non-mo - tocross rider was Larry Roeseler in fifth place, and the first Class C competitor was Rick Hocking in eighth place. Howerton won his title without a single race victory. This championship was all about consistency, however, and the "Rhinestone Cowboy" finished in the top 10 in each of his events. The Olympiad evolved into The Superbikers event, which lasted into the 1980s and then itself evolved into Supermoto, a race format that has never really taken hold among motorsports fans. The Olympiad was the first and last of its kind. In 2025, we might wonder: Is Josh Toth a better rider than Eli Tomac or Josh Herrin? Without the Olym - piad, such a question is nothing more than good banter over beers and brats. CN Subscribe to nearly 60 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives