Eddie's Oh So Steady

EDDIE'S OH SO STEADY

JACK HALL

EDDIE MULDER became the first rider to win all three national TT championships in one year as he “Triumphed” in the Peoria event and capped off a great season.

It was the sixth national win for Triumph this season, which placed it far ahead of the rest of the brands in major event wins.

Mulder, who also won the Ascot and Castle Rock National TT events, took first in much the same manner at Peoria. He led all the way in the final with room to spare at the finish. Peoria, one of the oldest nationals on the AMA calendar, was video-taped by the ABC-TV people for their “Wide World of Sports” program. The events will be shown in the near future all over America.

Mulder’s win was a near duplication from 1965 when he won his first national at Peoria. Triumph’s No. 1 TT rider again turned in the fastest time trial and again raced to victory with the fastest heat race.

The only time Mulder had any problems was in the heat race when Oregon’s Sonny Burres made strong bids for the win in the early laps. Burres finally went wide on a turn, leaving the door open for former winner Dick Mann who shot through to take second place.

Many midwest hopes for a win in the final rested with Jim Corpe who has been having a great TT year in the middle USA. Corpe obliged by winning his heat race ahead of such names as Dusty Coppage, Chris Draayer, Jack Simmons, Bobby Winters and Jack O’Brien.

The third and final heat race was won

by Ronnie Rail who rode Triumph for the first time. The Ohio farmboy beat out Gene Romero, Don Howell and Markel. Eliminated in this event from the final were Roger Reiman and Eddie Wirth.

The first heat, won by Mulder, was the most talent-loaded of the day. A rider had to finish fourth or better to gain the final. Not doing so were riders such as former winner Dick Hammer, Swede Savage, Skip Van Leeuwen, Dan Welty and Ralph White.

Talent for Peoria was in such abundance that riders like Gary Nixon, Buddy Elmore, Mert Lawwill, Dan Haaby and Fred Nix never ran fast enough in time trials to get to the heat races!

Mulder took command right from the start, with Draayer running a close second until mechanical problems set in on the fifth lap and dropped him out of the race.

Mann was also an early contender for a top finish spot but was forced out with mechanical problems and an old shoulder injury.

Consistent finalist Don Howell from Illinois also dropped out before the finish with engine troubles. Nine riders were running at the finish.

Corpe also had his moments as his chain dropped off early in the race. He was able to get it back on and was the last man running when the flag came out for Mulder.

For the second straight year Mulder gave the fans an extra treat as he came down the final straightaway to take the win by wheelying across the finish.

For many years Peoria was the sight of twin national events. Years ago the twin bill featured the riders in an “open” class national and also in a “45” class final.

A few years ago one class was dropped and a lightweight 250cc class was brought about. It was never too popular with the riders as no expert ever rode a light-

weight TT event during the entire year until Peoria time.

This year Peoria dropped the lightweight national and instead formed a class for amateurs on the big bikes. Prior to this time, amateurs were not allowed to ride in the Peoria National. Up until 1958, an amateur could try his luck against the experts, but it proved to be so futile that they were eliminated altogether until the new system this year.

Big gun for the amateurs was rlarold Lyons from Indianapolis. The BSA rider led the final all the way and also won his heat race. Bill Wiebier and Gar Quenon also won their respective heat races but could not match Lyons in the 10-round championship for the riders with the yellow number plates.

The Peoria event was again a most successful one from the standpoint of the turnout by the large number of fans, many of them viewing their only TT race of the year. The win by Mulder threw the national point race into a tight threeway duel for the grand national honors between Markel, Mulder and Nixon. Draayer was just on the outside of this

select circle in fourth place.