Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
CAROL A. SIMS
WHY NO HOLD POSITION FLAG?
One of the most puzzling rule changes to come out of the recent AMA Competition Committee meeting concerns banishment of the “hold position” flag for Class C competition. When safety is supposedly the foremost thought behind all AMA rules, why then has this flag been abandoned, leaving only the red (danger on course) or black (stop) flags to do the job in case of an accident? Although granted that the hold position flag is rarely used, it has not been thought unnecessary until the present time, and reasons for its acceptance were sound. There is occasionally a need for an “in-between” flag, something short of stopping the race completely, but exerting more restraint than the “danger on course” flag which allows full speed racing to continue and positions to change, merely nudging the rider into awareness that trouble lurks somewhere and due caution should be applied.
Such an occasion arose at Springfield last year when several riders unloaded during the 50-Mile National and time was needed to clear the track. To restart the race would have taken even more time and upset the flow of action completely. Hence, utilization of the hold position flag, and a resultant post-race rhubarb involving winner George Roeder had riders and AMA officials sounding off furiously. An unofficial protest was lodged by several riders who claimed HarleyDavidson mounted Roeder had passed them under the hold position flag. These riders didn’t ask for disqualification of Roeder as allowed under the rules (that was too much to hope for) — all they wanted was lap prize money for laps run under the flag. Though the protest was summarily ignored, officials were nonetheless placed in an embarrassing position and it’s our guess they decided against such a recurrence by simply abandoning the flag altogether, an action somewhat akin to burning down the church to get rid of the mice. Ah, the inscrutable AMA.
CORRIGANVILLE TT SCRAMBLES
Corriganville, a picturesque little western town located in California’s Simi Valley, was transformed into a motorcycle racer's haven recently when the Dirt Diggers Motorcycle Club hosted a two-day TT scrambles event which drew a total of 433 riders, largest entry list of the year.
Each engine displacement class was run for one hour over quite rugged terrain, a slight advantage for competing desert riders, although many scrambles and flattrack riders proved they could compete in the rough as well as on a smooth track. The course wound primarily over mountain roads, with a few fast turns for the quick thinkers, numerous long, gradual turns for the slide artists, and two fairly long straightaways. A quick trip through town (site of many a western shoot-em-up movie), followed by glimpses of the tempting lake and picnic area, completed a most unusual and varied circuit.
Outstanding rider of the meet was undoubtedly Triumph-mounted Ronnie Nelson, winner of both the 500cc Expert/ Amateur event and the Overall Sweepstakes prize. Pitted against such stalwarts as Jim Hunter (BSA), Jim Bassey (Velo.) and John Switzer (Triumph), Nelson’s victory was qo easy matter, especially since he and his motorcycle disappeared over a cliff in spectacular fashion soon after the starting flag was dropped. By the time he reappeared the field was a full lap ahead of him, but little by little he made up time, taking over the lead from Hunter with two laps to go. Paul Hunt, who has been competing in Europe for the past three years, wound up a close third.
The Sweepstakes race found the F.kins brothers. Bud (Triumph) and Dave (Honda), see-sawing back and forth in front of Nelson until quite late in the race when Ron took over first place and never relinquished it. He will receive the 5foot perpetual Dirt Diggers trophy for his efforts.
In the Open Amateur/Expert class, Eddie Mulder reigned supreme on his Triumph. Lapping all riders with the exception of long-time rival and second place man Bud Ekins (Triumph), Mulder even found time to pick up fallen pal Bob Bailey and tote him back to the pits before receiving the checkered flag. Ekins was followed by Dusty Coppage and Wayne Bowen, both on Triumphs. The 21-inchers had quite a go with Dave Ekins (Honda) besting all comers for the win ahead of Pete Dupuy (Honda), Dallas Baker (BSA) and Ronnie Knowles (BSA). Open Novice rider Ken Duvall (Triumph) took an uncontested win in his class, with Carroll Weber (Ariel) coming through for the 500cc Novice victory; crowd-pleasers Dick Stever and Bob Branch wheeled their Harley sidecar outfit to a class win in front of Roy Sampson and Jack Morgan (Triumph).
On Saturday, Preston Petty (Honda) won the Sweepstakes for small bore machinery and also upset the field in 250cc Expert class competition; his closest competition came from Greeves-mounted Gary Conrad. A multi-lap duel between fellow Montesa riders Bill Messer and Kenny Weems spiced up the 175cc Expert go, with Messer coming out on top ahead of Weems and Chuck Petty, also on a Montesa. The 200cc race went to Don Buol (Triumph), Doug Yerkes (Bultaco) won the 125cc class event, and Ted Judge (Honda) took 50cc honors.
All in all. the races were of the highest calibre, exciting to watch and even more satisfying to the participants; a special nod is deserved by the Dirt Diggers for their efforts in staging one of District 37’s best organized events.
CONFEDERATE MARATHON
Still another aspect of motorcycle competition is the marathon run, wherein contestants keep rolling along until either they or their machines fall by the wayside. One of the most successful of these is always the “Confederate 24,” and the Montgomery Motorcycle Club of Montgomery, Alabama reports that their fifth annual event, staged recently, was by far the best to date.
Entrants covered a total of 17,967 miles in determining rider and machine reliability, with Grand Champion William S. Smith of Tuscaloosa, Alabama outlasting his opposition to rack up a whopping 811 miles aboard his Harley-Davidson. Other winners were; Class 1, John Turner, H-D, Athens, Ala.; Class 2, Gordon Embrey, H-D, Selma, Ala.; Class 3, Boyd Crom. Honda, Montgomery, Ala.; Class 4, Paul Mattocks, H-D, Montgomery, Ala.; Class 5, Tommy Ferguson, H-D, Bessemer, Ala.; Ladies Class, Nickie Hero, H-D, Pensacola, Fla.; Hard Luck and Sportsmanship Award, James Arrington. BMW. Mobile.
NEW COURSE FOR DAYTONA 200-MILER
New records in all classes are expected to be set when America’s top riders meet in the 27th annual AMA Daytona Motorcycle Classics at Daytona International Speedway on March 13. 14, 15. This optimism is based on the AMA’s recent decision to run all four major events over the Speedway’s long and fast 3.81-mile Grand Prix track and road course. This layout will give the riders a chance to let their mounts all-out, for it includes the high-banked turns and the long straights of the Speedway proper, as well as the sinuous infield road course.
The Speedway’s lightning-fast back straightaway is 3400 feet long, and it is along this stretch that the big machines are expected to tear along at 140 miles per hour, or better. Such a speed means it is very likely that the expert riders in the feature event of the meet - the 27th annual 200-mile national championship race — will average 100 mph, or faster, for the first time in the long history of the event. The record for the race is 99.86 mph, set on the old beach course in 1958 by 3-time Grand National Champion Joe Leonard of San Jose. Calif., riding a Harley-Davidson.
The AMA Classics open on Friday. March 13, with a 100-mile battle between the amateur class riders. On Saturday. March 14, the novice riders clash at 70 miles, and an open field of 250cc machines will have it out at 100 miles. The grand finale comes on Sunday with the experts going the full Grand Prix distance of 200 miles — the country’s severest test of men and machines.
PAYNE TAKES ASCOT TT OPENER
Bakersfield’s Sid Payne. Triumph mounted winner of last year’s TT National at Peoria, began the 1964 season with a resounding victory in the opening TT event at Ascot Park in Gardena. California. A warm sunny day brought out a host of race-hungry fans to watch the action, and 121 riders — 37 experts, 29 amateurs and 55 novices — were on hand to see that they weren’t disappointed.
Taking over on lap 3 from first year expert Eddie Mulder, the new National No. 12, Payne went on to win by a full straightaway over Dave Palmer, Mulder. Bob Bailey, Skip Van Leeuwen. Clyde Litch and Wayne Bowen; all rode Triumphs. Pre-race favorite Jack Simmons (BSA), national high point TT man for 1963 and new holder of National No. 88. slid down on lap 12 of the 15-Iapper while running 3rd, but got back in to finish 8th ahead of H-D mounted Mert Lawwill, now National No. 18. Time for the race was 12:47.60.
Several other favorites met with misfortunes of one kind or another: Ralph White and Dickie Newell tangled and spilled in the semi-main; Dick Hammer and Joe Cardoza unloaded during the main, and Jack O’Brien fell victim to a dead battery while lining up for his heat-
In amateur competition, Doug Christopher (Triumph) pulled a last-turn, lastlap spectacular to nose out Swede Savage (H-D) for the main event win ahead of Dusty Coppage (Triumph) and Bill Manley (BSA). They covered 10 laps over the 5/8ths mile, 8-turn course in 8:40.58.
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An abundance of eager novices turned out for their first TT meet on 250cc machines, and many showed great promise, including main event winner Gene Romero (H-D) and runnersup Robert Roland (H-D). Mike McGregor (Honda) and Paul Conserriere (Yamaha). Another rider to watch is Greeves mounted Jim (Beaver) Nicholson; he displayed an exciting natural style in his heat race, working his way fiercely through traffic after a spill until a fouled plug put him out while running 3rd and gaining fast on the leaders.
The entire proceedings were televised over I.os Angeles’ KTI.A, and total payoff for the J. C. Agajanian-promoted event was $2,757, with around $500 going to Payne for wins in the main event and trophy dash.
NATIONAL NUMBER ONE—DICK MANN
All decked out in sharp new-one piece leathers and sporting the hard-won number plates of America’s Grand National
Champion, Dick Mann anti his NGK TT Special are set for another season of rugged national competition. In addition to his Matchless TT bike, Mann will he competing in flattrack, road racing and scrambles events on several different makes of machines under the banner of the Hap Jones Distributing Company. #
