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/84166
ex> .., U > U > s , ~ w Z W ..J SUPERBIKE INTERNATIONAL AT LAGUNASECA. THE KAWASAKI The road race that separates the llien frOIn thesup•••nen.· Make believe someone threw a road race and every- body came. Well, just about everybody. The truth is, July 21 through 23 some of the best riders in the world will be coming to Laguna Seca in Monterey for the Kawasaki Superbike International. And let's face it, a lot has to do with the total prize fund A bulging $50,OOO! Who's going to be there? An all-star cast! Amer- ica's number one contender Dick "Buggs" Mann looks at it this way: "It is going to be a 125 mile mad dash with about ten guys equally capable of winning. Scary!" According to England's Peter Williams who will be on a new "low-boy" chassis Norton, "I have flown over 5,000 miles for this one and intend to make it pay!" And what does the winner of the world's rich- est bike race at Imola, Italy, Englishman Paul Smart, think about all this? "The Americans aren't bad, but give me half a chance and I'll cop the whole fifty grand!" You won't have trouble recognizing Paul Smart, either. Big number eight will be using his distinctive "hang-out" riding style on a factory Kawasaki. . The Europeans are tough, but·don't count out the Americans that quickly, Paul. Especially an Amer- . ican star like Cal Rayborn who will be saddling a new alloy Harley Davidson and currently holds the two- wheeled land speed record at 265 mph. Cal paid his first visit to Europe at Easter and shattered the fans over there by winning three races and cracking two five year old track records, beating the cream of Euro- pean road racers. As world champ Phil Read puts it, "That bloke is unreal. I have never seen anyone as forceful as Cal." Monterey is going to be packed with stars. Like two-time world champion Kel Carruthers of Aus- tralia. He has raced all over the world and will be on a Yamaha factory machine as he takes off at Laguna. And right beside him rubbing elbows for posi- tion will also be French-Canadian Yvon DuHamel. Yvon stands a little over five feet and weighs about 100 pounds, yet he'll be wrestling his three-cylinder 750 cc Kawasaki around 125 miles of torturous Laguna Seca track. A wild combination of skill and guts. These boys are brave. They have to be! The two-day event will start with practice on Friday. Then a lightweight race as a warm-up on Saturday. Plus a "stars of tomorrow" race. On Sunday there will be a Junior race and two short but spectacular heat races qualifying the International stars for grid positions in the afternoon 125 miler. So YOll'll be able to see these' ex- THE COURSE - 1.9 MILES • SMOOTH ASPHALT 30 FT IN WIDTH citing road racers roar off the line on three separate occassions, not to mention an exciting sidehack race. All this, and beautiful Monterey countryside, too. A great weekend for the entire family. And ~s one fa- natic fan says, "I believe just being there I'll be a part of motorcycle history. The track is incredible! The sur- roundings are breathtaking! And the racers are the heaviest! Whoever misses it is going to hate themselves for months!" ~out and catch all three gIor.ous days. Friday, July 21 lOam - 5pm Saturday, July 22 8am - 9:30am 10:30 - noon 1 pm 3pm Sunday, July 23 8am -lOam 10:30 - noon 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 7pm Gate: $1 (free with Saturday or Sunday ticket) Practice for all classes. Gate: $3 Practice Novice and lightweight Heat Races Novice 50-mile race Junior-Expert 50-mile Lightweight race Gate: $6 Practice Junior and International Heat races Junior 50-mile race Sidehack race 125 mile Kawasaki Superbike International Awards at Royal Inn, Monterey (Gate: 3-day combination $8.12-18 year olds $2 Sat., $4 Sun. at Gate only. Military $2 Sat., $4 Sun.at military outlets only. Children under 12 free. Parking free.) THE BIG BOYS ON THE BIG BIKES FORTHE BIGMONR