P126
50 Years Ago September 29, 1966
We boasted our big 32-page issue of Cycle News 50 years ago, and Flying
Freddy Nix was pictured on the front page for edging out Sammy Tanner for
the victory at the 20-Mile National at the Sacramento Fair Grounds… We pub-
lished the final AMA points standings for the nation in 1966. Topping the chart
was Bart Markel, followed by Gary Nixon and Sammy Tanner… We published
an article expressing our concerns about the government getting involved with
safety issues concerning street motorcycles and
we feared this would threaten the growth of the
motorcycle industry.
40 Years Ago September 28, 1976
Mike Bell. That's all it said on the cover of Cycle News 40 years ago. Bell, as it
turns out, won the U.S. National 4-Stroke Title at Carlsbad. Marty Tripes took
second and Marty Smith third… We were on hand to cover Jay Springsteen's
victory at the Toledo Half Mile… Team USA finished sixth at the Trophy des
Nations (for 250cc motorcycles) in Switzerland. The U.S. team was made up of
Bob Hannah, Tony DiStefano, Kent Howerton and Rex Staten, who rode a
Harley-Davidson.
20 Years Ago September 25, 1996
Mick Doohan was featured on the cover 20 years ago for winning the 1996
Road Race World Championship for the third time… We tested the Honda
CBR1100XX… We reported that, after being strongly affiliated with Yamaha for
more than 25 years, Kenny Roberts was going to leave the company to focus
on his own racing projects… Alan Cathcart tested the ELF 500 road racer…
We featured an interview with World Superbike racer Aaron Slight… Randy
Hawkins won the Black Jack 100 National Enduro in Illinois.
Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives
30 Years Ago October 1, 1986
Fritz Kadlec was captured heading out to start day one at the ISDE in San
Pellegrino, Italy. Kadlec was the top-scoring American rider. Team USA finished
sixth with World Trophy members Kadlec, Charles Halcomb, Chuck Miller,
Geoff Ballard, Larry Roeseler and Dave Bertram. The home team won with
the help of a rainy and muddy second loop on day two that was later thrown out
by officials, which benefitted the home team and
hurt the U.S. team that had done well in the nasty
conditions…. Doug Chandler came away the
winner at the Ascot Half Mile.
LOOKING BACK
