Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
CAROL SIMS
ONE OF THE FAVORITE IDEAS of my late
husband, Bennie Sims, was the proposition that the Matchless G-80 is vastly underrated as a potential speedway racing machine. It is beginning to appear that Bennie was not only extremely stubborn on this point — but right.
Since many readers may not be aware that I am now in the pleasant position of sponsoring a winning machine, and a Matchless at that, let me explain how this happened:
Last November, after considerable thought, I decided that I owed it to Bennie's bike to give it another shot at glory. So with the help of rider Jim Nicholson and tuner Sam Satterley, we formed the SNS Racing Team to put the Matchless into shape and run it in this year's Ascot flattrack races.
First, Bennie's unique modifications had to be analyzed. Then a complete overhaul was undertaken and further refinements made, followed by a testing period where the judgment of Jim Nicholson proved invaluable.
Opening night at Ascot, our faith in the machine was justified when Jim set 5th fast qualifying time overall (Experts included), then won his heat race and the Amateur Main Event wire to wire! Since that time, a few more bugs have been squashed; the machine has won every heat race entered and recently won two more Amateur Main Events, once coming from 12th place to do it, plus setting fast time overall by a quarter of a second one fine night. And this by a firstyear Amateur rider making the difficult transition from a 250cc Novice machine (with brakes) to the 500cc (without them).
Such goings-on have been greeted incredulously by many, including one worthy who was overheard to remark, .. and to think just last year I gave away some Matchless parts."
For next month's issue, Sam Satterley (National Number 72 and a fine racer in
addition to his expert tuning skills) is preparing a rundown of the technical problems encountered and solved in readying the bike. So stay tuned for the next episode of "One Man's Matchless."
DORRESTEYN TAKES CHAMPION TT OPENER
Champion Speedway started off its Northern California TT season with the poorest track conditions witnessed by professional racers in many a year. Eighty percent of the 114 riders were beat before leaving the starting line. Due to a late rainstorm and a few days of sun before the race, the dried mud left holes and ruts where a groove might have been.
But this didn't bother Dick Dorresteyn. Mr. TT, living up to his true form and style, refused to let a torn-up race track deter him, and wound up with a clean sweep for the day on his Harman & Collins sponsored Triumph.
The Trophy Dash found Sonny Burres, Dick Mann, Dorresteyn and Amateur Dave Clark on the line. Then the trouble started. It was announced that the Dash, for the first time, was to be for only two laps. The Referee then signaled the riders their usual "three", whether they saw it or not. All four got a terrific start, all were close to the turn; Burres held the lead followed by Dorresteyn, Mann and Clark.
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Coming out of the north turn at the finish of the first lap, Mann got under Dorresteyn for second place and was on his way to bid for first. Burres, surprised to see the big No. 2 so close, used his best skill to keep Mann back. As they crossed the finish line on the second lap, Sonny was still first with Mann inches behind. The two leaders, so engrossed in their battle that they didn't see the onelap-to-go flag, counted their two laps and headed for the pits. When startled pitmen ran out to give them the go-ahead sign, Clark continued, followed by Dorresteyn. Mann, realizing his mistake too late, quickly debated his situation and pulled into the pits, followed by a bewildered Burres.
Clark led through the switch-backs and over the jump, then went wide going onto the half-mile turn. This left it open for Dorresteyn to dive underneath and take the lead, holding it to the checkered flag. When Dorresteyn pulled up for the trophy presentation he found an indignant Burres protesting the win. Mann, knowing the decision stands with the flag, accepted his loss and relaxed in the pits. The spectators began booing as the fiasco continued. Finally, after Referee Johnny Pierce announced Dorresteyn as the official winner (the AMA rulebook states quite clearly that the checkered flag ends the race), the two riders exchanged quiet words and shook hands.
The Expert Main started off with a bomb as Dick Mann spilled on the line after running into the back of another rider. The rest of the pack was off well, and by the time Mann got started they were well into the second turn. Dave Palmer led with Eddie Mulder and Dorresteyn close behind, leaving the others in the dust. On the second lap Dick passed Mulder and set his sights on Palmer and first place.
With his usual expert control Dorresteyn seized his goal; he got under Dave in the ruttiest turn of all — the right-hander before the jump. Palmer soon went out with mechanical problems, leaving Dick still in the lead but without a clutch from the fourth lap on.
Mann, moving with amazing speed, passed three riders in the half-mile turn — on the outside. Then, going up the jump, he was about to overtake two more. Suddenly, Joe Cardoza's Triumph engine tied up and stopped, right on top of the jump. Unable to avoid the disabled machine, Mann rammed into the back of it, spilling himself and dropping his bike halfway down the left side of the jump. But with his usual aplomb, Dick remounted the still-running Matchless ("It idles upsidedown," he later remarked), slid easily down the bank and back on the race track.
Dorresteyn now held a 15-second lead and began to stretch it, picking up a second a lap. A consistent Eddie Mulder held on for second place, finishing 35 seconds in arrears at the end of the 15lapper. Time for the rugged event was 15:05.53.
Amateur main event honors went to Dave Clark (H-D); Dennis Gildehaus (Bultaco Metisse) took the novice dash and final.
SECOND GENERATION RACER
Well known on eastern scrambles and TT courses is Wally Brown of Rutherford, New Jersey, here shown on his self-tuned BSA 650cc Hornet. Wally, who has already demonstrated the capabilities of his machine in early season events, is the son of Walt Brown, BSA Inc. Service Manager, himself a competition rider in earlier years.
AMA SHORT TRACK RACES IN LANCASTER
Extraordinarily good news for race fans and riders in Southern California is the announcement that 3-star AMA-sanctioned short track events will soon be seen locally. Four Saturday night dates are already set at the Lancaster Fairgrounds sixth-mile dirt oval — June 12 and 19, July 10 and 31. If crowd reaction is as expected, more dates will follow.
A combined Novice, Amateur and Expert progressive program should provide action aplenty for spectators, and riders are promised a good cushion track (plus 40% of the gate) by promoter Grant Vartanian. Each night's program will begin promptly at 8:00 PM, under the capable supervision of Dist. 37 AMA Referee Bert Brundage.
Directions from Los Angeles to minutesaway Lancaster are simple, and the drive is pleasant. Take the Bakersfield Freeway to the Saugus/Newhall Hwy. 14 turnoff, then, making sure to turn right at Soledad Junction, just follow Sierra Hwy. 14 into Lancaster. About the middle of town, take a right on Avenue I for three blocks, and you're there.
Admission will be $2.00 for adults (unreserved box seats same price on a firstcome basis); $1.00 for kids 8-12; 7 and under, free. Good spectator support of these events should guarantee their continuation, and since many top-notch riders are enthused at the prospect, a full field of potent 250cc short trackers is assured.
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SPROCKETS CHARITY RACE A SUCCESS
Despite heavy rains the night before, an enthusiastic crowd of riders and fans turned out for the annual Tri-State Championship Scrambles in Bakersfield, California. Top local competitors were joined by those from other parts of the state, and Arizona and Nevada as well.
The event, sponsored by the very active Sprockets Motorcycle Club, was held on their newly-named track, Sprockets Park, with all proceeds going to charity. This year the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation will receive approximately $2,350.00 from the results of one good day's racing. And, rather appropriately, the main event found Bakersfield riders finishing 1-2, as Sid Payne staved off the bids of Dave Palmer throughout the 15-lapper.
DRAGGIN' DUCATI
Surprise package at drag strips in the New Mexico area is the well-prepared Ducati 4-speed 250cc ridden by Mike LaCoco of Alamogordo, N.M. Typical performance of the bike was registered at a NHRA-sanctioned meet held in Albuquerque, when LaCoco whizzed through the traps at a whopping 92.86 mph with an E.T. of 14.46 seconds to take top 250cc honors. In final eliminations he upped his speed to 93.22 mph and lowered his E.T. to 14.22 seconds. The diminutive dragster was built and tuned by Harvey Lattner of Cycle Sport in Alamogordo.
START 'EM YOUNG
An 11-year-old from Kennedy, New York raised a few older eyebrows as members of the Chautauqua Lake Cyclists competed in the recent Lockport (N.Y.) Observed Trials. Carl Hyldahl was the youngster and he placed second in the lightweight class, riding a 250cc Suzuki.
Remarkable is the fact that such a youthful lad made such a fine showing against seasoned cyclists of much greater age. Dot-mounted Chuck Boehler was declared Overall Champion, lightweight honors went to Roger James on a Greeves.
STILL ON TWO WHEELS
Who says John Surtees has given up two wheels for four? The reigning World Champion car driver is up to his old tricks in this shot, taken at England's Brands Hatch course, as he calmly (two) wheels his lightened-frame V-8 Ferrari through Paddock Hill Bend.
CYCLISTS AT THE SPEEDWAY
Dan Gurney's Ford-Lotus will be called the "Yamaha Special" at Indianapolis on Memorial Day. Sponsorship comes from Yamaha International in Los Angeles, U.S. distributors. That's really news enough — but there's an even bigger surprise. Gurney himself is, and has been for the past two years, Montesa's U.S. distributor.
This unlikely Yamaha-Montesa tieup came about for one reason. Money. "Montesa can't afford to be sponsoring a race car now," said Kim Kimball, Gurney's partner in Montesa Motors of Los Angeles. Kimball further said that Gurney will be wearing a Montesa T-shirt, and riding his own 175cc Montesa all during his stay at the Speedway.
Jimmy Jingu of Yamaha had a different view. "Dan will be racing wearing a Yamaha suit with the tuning fork insignia, and will have a Yamaha 80 to ride," he countered. Hopefully, any confusion will be settled before race day.
Gurney, an avid cyclist who finished well in the Big Bear Run one year, is in good company at Indianapolis. One of his teammates on the three-car All American Racers team is three-time Grand National Motorcycle Champion Joe Leonard, who goes in a four-cam Ford-powered Halibrand car.
A.M.S. TROPHY TRIAL
The poster said, "Based on the English Trial, this event will be held on rough terrain and will test the rider's balance and skill in handling his machine . . ." And the First Annual American Motorized Sportsmen Trophy Trial was, certainly, "as advertised."
On Lookout Point, just north of Yakima, Washington, sixty competitors started the 214-mile event that consisted of 13 observed sub-sections. Riders were given the option of dismounting and inspecting each section or riding straight through.
Ted Berry of Walla Walla, Washington inspected each section and rode his Greeves to an Overall Win, losing only 8 marks and "cleaning" 9 of the subsections in the process. The expertness of his performance is emphasized by the names of these sections — Peg Bender, Septic Gulch, Skeleton Canyon, Case Cracker, Bungler's Bend, Hell's Canyon and The Separator. So difficult was the test that seven competitors retired during the Trial and one accumulated a grand total of 391 marks lost.
The Separator, toughest section of all, was a slightly uphill grade comprised of large, loose rocks (6 to 8 inches in diameter) and only six riders made it through without loss of marks.
After the Overall winner was declared, the rest of the field was divided into Over-125 and Up-to-125 categories. Volkswagen dealer and Ford-Cobra team member Lew Florence of Yakima took home the Over-125 trophy on his first ride aboard a 200 Bultaco Matador. Florence lost 19 marks and cleaned 8 subsections. Winner of the Up-to-125 class was Suzuki 80 mounted Ivan Shay of Selah, Washington. Ivan surprised the troops by placing third overall with 7 sections cleaned and just 22 marks lost.
NO NATIONAL AT HANFORD
AMA Competition Committee Chairman Lin Kuchler has announced that the 125-mile National Championship Road Race scheduled to be held in May at the Marchbank Speedway, Hanford, California has been cancelled because of the failure of the promoter to establish a definite date for the event. The decision to cancel the race was based on the opinion that the promoter would not have had sufficient time to advertise the event and attract a satisfactory field of top riders.
ROEDER ROUTS OHIO COMPETITION
Weather — cool, windy and cloudy, with the threat of imminent rain — added to the suspense at the opening dirt track event on the eastern half-mile circuit. Officials at Clark County Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ohio, eyeing the ominous clouds, hastily switched the program schedule and ran the expert events first. As it turned out, everyone was able to compete, although the crowded stands had thinned to only the hearty by the last race, the novice final.
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Riders from Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana gathered for the three-star event and three Harley big guns were equally favored to win the expert feature — George Roeder, Ronnie Rall and Bart Markel. Roeder's task became simplified when Rall, off to an early lead in his heat race, was forced to slow and drop back with a fuel line disconnected from the carburetor. Ronnie continued to race, however, riding with one hand while trying to tighten the connection with the other. Although he managed a fifth place finish, only four men transferred to the main event lineup from each heat.
So Roeder, after winding up second to George Mclncrow (BSA) in his heat race, cranked it on in the feature to win decisively over Markel. Tom Heil took third, his brother Ted was fourth. Both were riding Harleys.
BSA rider Corky Keener came from behind to win the amateur 10-lapper ahead of Jim Pegram (H-D); Jack Warren (H-D Sprint) cleaned up on the novices.
EASTER AT ALPINE
Alpine, California, a small town 30 miles east of San Diego, is the home of Alpine Speedway, operated by the El Cajon Motorcycle Club. Events are held in either T.T. or Moto-Cross style over the undulating 6/10th mile course.
The events of this report were of the Moto-Cross type with three races held in each of six classes. Points, given according to finish positions in the three events, determined overall high point man for the class. Classes were 90cc, Lightweight Novice. Lightweight Amateur, Lightweight Expert, Open Novice and Open Expert. There were fifty riders in the smoothly-run events which made for a fast moving, exciting program. The course appeared to be a natural for the 250cc class which turned in times very close to those of the open bikes. The Lightweight Expert seemed to be the closest contest of man and machine, especially between Preston Petty and Don McCarley. McCarley's and Petty's almost identical Greeves were usually no more than 20 feet apart during the events.
At mid-point in the program El Cajon club members took to the infield to hide over 1,000 colored Easter eggs and one golden egg for the 75 children of the 450 spectators and riders to search for and vie for prizes. A spirited hunt ensued.
The events resumed with the 90cc class leading off and John Kenyon on his Honda finally aced out Hodaka mounted Wayne Hosaka with Mark Gooding finishing third on his Yamaha. Lightweight Expert events took the spotlight from the other two 250cc events. Preston Petty and Don McCarley were at it again and dicing wheel to wheel throughout the race. Petty managed to get a good start and retained a small lead to give himself his second win for the day and first place in his class.
In the Open Expert contest Leo St. Germaine (Triumph) went wide on a corner, costing him valuable time. This eliminated his very good chance for victory after a decisive win in the first event. With St. Germaine out of the way, it became a two-man race between Ralph Cates and Cecil Hollenbeck, both riding Triumphs. The pair rode a very close race, but Gates won by the same small margin he started with, giving Hollenbeck a second place in the class.
With the main racing program finished, the remaining spectators were treated to a demonstration of short track racing on the 1/8th mile infield oval. Then, hearing over the loudspeaker that night events have been scheduled for the summer, the satisfied crowd went their separate ways after a very complete day of racing. •
