Sandy Lane Enduro
SANDY LANE ENDURO
JOHN EDDY
THE MORNING SUN smiled brightly on the 25th Anniversary running of the Sandy Lane 125-Mile National Championship Enduro near Camden, New Jersey. Many outstanding riders were among the 117 contestants at the starting point — such top names as Jack Wright, last year’s Sandy Lane winner and high point man at the recent Jack Pine Endurance Run; Bill Baird, a well-known enduro rider from the midwest, and John Penton, who won in 1960 when the Sandy Lane was a 200-mile event. Riders came from several nearby states — Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New England, Maryland, Delaware, New York and New Jersey.
The first two riders were flagged off at 8:00 A.M. sharp with 115 following at five second intervals. Charlie Stahl, from Toledo, Ohio had the best time at the end of 76 miles and checkpoint No. 8. But for some reason things didn’t go too well for him thereafter and he lost several points at the remaining checks. It was then that John Penton, taking advantage of Stahl’s setback, jockeyed his BMW to the finish with 989 points to his credit, just 2 pts. ahead of Jack Wright on a Triumph.
The day had proved to be a real battle of the experts, with competition so keen that the totals showed the three winning teams to be put two points apart.
As the final rider recorded his time at the finish check, officials immediately began tallying the results; one hour later John Penton was declared the winner and presented the Meteor Motorcycle Club’s beautiful Wagonwheel Trophy. All other awards were made at this time also, with special trophies going to Bill Baird for having traveled the farthest to attend and to R. L. Atkinson for having the best time in the Senior Division. •
GRAND CHAMPION - John Penton, brain, Ohio, BMW, 989 points LIGHTWEIGHT A - J. F. Wright, Runnemede, N.J., Triumph, 987 LIGHTWEIGHT B - Wm. Bradenstein, Woodlynne, N.J., Triumph, 975 MEDIUMWEIGHT A - W. C. Baird, Sterling, Ill., Triumph, 984 MEDIUMWEIGHT B - M. Emshwiller, Orange, N.J., Triumph, 966 LIGHTHEAVY A - Insufficient entries - rode in Mediumweight A LIGHTHEAVY B - P. W. Larrabee, Athens, Pa., Matchless, 926 TEAM - Enduro Riders, 2932
