P102
50 Years Ago January 20, 1966
Eleven pages made up this week's issue of Cycle News 50 years ago and one
of the hot topics was the seemingly pending retirement of seven-time national
champion Dick Mann after he packed up his bags and moved to Hawaii. The
rumor was that he was selling off all of his motorcycles, except for two G-50
Matchless', and was going to race just one time in 1966, and that race would
be Daytona… Popular California racer Gary Conrad told Cycle News that
he was going to cut back his racing in 1966,
saying, "…too much competitive riding starts
turning a pleasant sport into a chore."
40 Years Ago January 20, 1976
We tested the Husqvarna WR360, which was pictured in action on the
cover of Cycle News 40 years ago… The local motocross scene in Califor-
nia was heating up. At Carlsbad Raceway, Gary Semics and Marty Tripes
went at it with Semics winning the 250cc Pro class and Tripes the 500cc
class… Marty Moates claimed a win in the 250cc Pro class at Saddle-
back… Bob Balentine continued his winning ways in the desert. He picked
up his 12
th
victory in 14 races… Suzuki announced its official 1976 MX Team:
Billy Grossi, Tony DiStefano, Steve Stackable and Danny LaPorte.
Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives
LOOKING BACK
30 Years Ago January 23, 1986
Part one of two of our 1986 125cc motocross shootout was featured in
issue number two 30 years ago, and the four players—Kawasaki KX125,
Honda CR125, Yamaha YZ125 and Suzuki RM125—were pictured on the
cover…. Jeff Ward and Willie Surratt started the CMC/Skoal Bandit Golden
State MX Nationals with wins at Quail Canyon MX… At the Florida Winter AMA
MX at Cocoa's Diamondback Cycle Park, Bob
Hannah and Kees van der Ven battled it out
in the 250 Pro class with Hannah edging out
the Dutchman for the victory.
20 Years Ago January 17, 1996
Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath was pictured on the cover of
Cycle News 20 years ago to accompany our preview of the 1996 SX
season. We went out on a limb and predicted that McGrath would win
the championship… Alan Cathcart took a spin on Anthony Goert's Muzzy
Kawasaki ZXR750… John Dowd and Phil Lawrence pocketed the big
cash at the GFI Invitational MX at Perris Raceway… Ronnie Tichenor
topped the Florida Winter MX round at Gainesville… We reported the passing
of factory motocross racer Peter Lamppu.
