Grand Usmc Prix
GRAND USMC PRIX
Takahashi and Honda take three of the four events in sensational showing of rider and machinery.
SLIM WYCKOFF
KUNIMITSU TAKAHASHI of Tokyo, Japan, riding a patched up factory Honda 4, started dead last and rode as though he had a Japanese demon on his tail to win three out of the four events in the USMC Grand Prix at Daytona, Florida. The little 132 lb, 22 year old factory team rider, who also led going away in the first race of the day until he took a spill and was sidelined, left the 4,000 amazed fans wondering how he managed to lose even one race of the four run during the weekend.
The three British aces, champion Mike Hailwood, Tony Godfrey and Ronald Grant, all riding Nortons, took turns setting record paces. But, the last Briton to lead, Ronald Grant, suffered the same fate as his two countrymen on the 39th lap of the 40 lap race, 120 mile event when his engine failed.
Takahashi, who had dogged the trio since the 13th lap, roared by in front for the final two laps on the 3.1 mile GP course. His record pace for the race was 90.953 mph, shading the average of 90.621 mph set last year by Godfrey riding a Matchless. Finishing five second behind for runner up honors was Jim Hayes Jr., of Kingsport, Tenn., on a Norton, after trailing Takahashi from the 13th lap.
Jess Thomas of Fort Worth, Texas, riding a Motobi, captured the first race for 250cc machines, a 46 lap, 125 km event over the 1.66 mile course, averaging 64.956 mph. The race was marred by frequent spills but no one was injured seriously. The most prominent rider of five treated for injuries was Takahashi for bruises on his left hand, inflicted when leading from the start and had a large margin but he over-braked going into the infield horseshoe turn on the 10th lap and his front wheel spun, felling him. He tried to stay in the race but was forced into the pits with an oil leak on the next lap.
Team mate, Gichi Suzuki, who was running second on another Honda, took over the lead and held it until he took a tumble in the 17th lap as he was heading on to the main straight. Thomas, who had been riding behind Suzuki, took over the lead at this point and rode with a clear margin to victory, lapping the entire field except for runnerup Jim Hayes, riding a Ducati.
Meanwhile, as Thomas was winning with ease, the Japanese were busy at the east end of the pit road, putting together a running machine for Takahashi out of the workable parts of his and Suzuki’s. Both machines were sidelined by damaged internal oil lines. At that, Takahashi was the last rider to line up for the United States Grand Prix start, taking his inside pole position as top qualifier. But the position proved worthless as he couldn’t start his machine at once and got off behind the whole field.
The pattern of the race was set in the first lap as the three Englishmen roared by on their 500cc Nortons: Hailwood, Godfrey and Grant, in that order. Takahashi was buried in the pack, but quickly established a stalking position in the second lap when he came around in seventh position.
Godfrey and Hailwood, light hearted chums off the course, appeared to be trying to carry on a conversation as they circled the track in a tight little twosome. Until Godfrey was forced out with a slipping clutch on the 19th lap they frequently changed the lead although Tony led only six laps.
By that time, Takahashi had worked his way up to fourth place; after Godfrey’s retirement it was Hailwood, Grant and Takahashi, in that order. For the next 17 laps the three raced the clock, holding their positions and punishing their machines.
Then, in the 36th lap, with victory less than 15 miles away, Hailwood’s machine seized and the lead fell to Grant, but only for three laps whereupon his machine seized also, and with less than five miles to go. Takahashi’s screaming Honda was patched up, scratched and bent, but the only thing it seized was victory in four starts here for the World Champion Honda Team.
With typical British stiff upper lipped good sportsmanship, the burned out Britons merely shrugged their shoulders and offered Takahashi a handshake and a “well done, old chap”. With Oriental aplomb Takahashi said only, “I am very happy. It is difficult to win on 250cc against 500cc”.
Winners average speed 90.953 miles per hour (New Record) Old record held by Tony Godfrey on a Norton at 90.621 miles per hour set in 1961.
Time of race: 1 hour, 21 minutes, 48 seconds.
Lap Leaders:
Lap 1 thru 3, Hailwood; 4, Godfrey; 5 thru 8, Hailwood; 9 thru 13, Godfrey; 14 thru 36, Hailwood; 37 thru 39, Grant; 40, Takahashi.
* — Denotes riders who did not finish.
