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50 Years Ago December 8, 1966
Local racing coverage took precedence 50 years ago in the latest 15-page issue
of Cycle News. On the front page, we featured drag racing from Irwindale Race-
way and scrambles racing from Bakersfield, California… A rash of motorcycle
street bike crashes prompted a local motorcycle dealer in Illinois to urge cyclists to
take care of their motorcycles in the name of safety. Playboy's 1966 Playmate of
the Month handed out autographed pictures of herself to every motorcycle rider
whose motorcycle passed a rigid safety inspection.
More than 500 riders took Miss Diane Chandler, a
motorcyclist herself, up on her offer.
40 Years Ago December 7, 1976
It's big news when anybody beats Roger DeCoster, especially when it's a young kid
called "Hurricane." Bob Hannah demolished the competition at the final round of the
Trans-AMA MX Series at Phoenix International Raceway… Pictured on the cover was
the new Ossa Phantom GP II 250cc motocross bike, which we tested, as well as the
Husqvarna 250 and 390 CRs… We reported that desert-racing star Mitch Mayes had
suffered a spinal injury at the SGVMC's hare and hound in Lucerne Valley, California…
We interviewed desert racer Bob Balentine.
20 Years Ago December 4, 1996
Suzuki invited the media to New Mexico to ride its all-new cruiser, the VZ800V
Marauder, which was pictured in action on the cover 20 years ago… Chad
Pederson continued to impress in the AMA/PJ1 Arenacross Series. His latest
success came at the CoreStates Spectrum Arena in Philadelphia… Alan Cathcart
went to the track and tested the MuZ RennSkorpion RS3, the hot bike in the 1996
European Supermono Cup Series… We reported that Lucky Strike Suzuki signed
Anthony Gobert for the 1997 500cc World Championship Road Race Series.
Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives
30 Years Ago December 10, 1986
We featured a riding impression of the Harley-Davidson Low Rider Custom,
including a photo of Malcolm Forbes' H-D balloon… We covered the Barstow-
to-Vegas desert race. Yamaha rider Cliff Thomas won the race and he was the
first rider in the race's history to do so on a 250cc motorcycle… Elmer Trett and
George Bryce were the big winners at the Dragbike National Championship Drag
Race Series round in Gainesville… Ed Lojak won
the AMA Hare Scrambles final, the Fireball 100, in
Pennsylvania.
LOOKING BACK
