Peoria Tt National
PEORIA TT NATIONAL
COMPETITION
Markel Beats Mann to $1700
JACK HALL
IN AUGUST each year, the Peoria Motorcycle Club sponsors the annual National TT. This, the 22nd year, saw a record crowd of nearly 25,000 fans lining the hills which surround the beautiful 0.75-mile TT course.
An outstanding field of over 90 riders made up of more than 50 experts and some 30 amateurs were on hand to try for the $7000 in prize money.
The track was in perfect condition, as testified to by a track record. The former record, held by two-time winner Eddie Mulder since 1965, was erased by six-time Peoria winner Bart Markel with an unbelievable time of 29.73. Ten riders were within 0.6 sec. of breaking the Mulder record of 30.31.
The amateur division was once again dominated by the California riders. Mark Brelsford, the San Bruno, Calif., hot shot, set fastest time in his class, nearly breaking the old track record with a time of 30.64 sec.
Many top riders encountered problems in practice. Jim Odom went down two or three times, and Gene Romero also crashed in practice. The previous day, Saturday, Emil Aloha (National No. 80) took a spill at the nearby East Peoria TT. Through the succeeding night, Aloha, his friends and local dealers struggled to take the pronounced tweak out of his beautiful H-D's fork—which they did, in time for practice Sunday. Then, Aloha also took his turn at "close inspection" of the track surface. The rash of mishaps caused no serious damage to either men or machines.
In the first eight-lap amateur heat of the afternoon, Brelsford came across first, followed by the flying ski instructor from Aspen, Colo., Rick Dean, also on a Triumph. The first amateur heat, at 4 mi^i., 2.69 sec., was the fastest heat of the three yellow plate races. This time also was faster than two of the expert heats. Other heat winners in the amateur class were Jim Jones of Kirkland, Wash.; the only Canadian entry, Dave Sehl, Waterdown, Ont., finishing a close 2nd. Third heat winner was Jim Rice of Palo Alto, Calif., to make a clean sweep for the TT riders out of the Northwest.
In the 10-lap amateur final, Rice and Steve Lathrop (66E), the Michigan rider, went down in the first turn to bring out the black flag. Rice failed to make the restart. So, as they came acfoss the line on Lap 1, it was Triumph rider Bruce Anderson, of San Jose, Calif., in front, pushed by Lathrop and Brelsford. It didn't take Brelsford long to move into the front position on Lap 2, moving Anderson to 2nd. By Lap 7 Danny Ware, the young Oklahoman, had moved up on Anderson to challenge for the 2nd spot behind Brelsford. In the north turn, Ware cut to the inside on the yellow flag lap, to take over 2nd at the wire, behind Brelsford. The 3rd went to Anderson, and 4th place to Rick Dean.
Dick Mann, last year's winner at Peoria, took the first eight-lap expert event over Markel and Dallas Baker. Their heat easily was the fastest—nearly 5 sec. faster than any other. Sonny Burres and his Triumph reached the judges' stand 1st in heat two, with Gene Romero 2nd, followed by pre-race favorite Skip Van Leeuwen. Jim Corpe, Decatur, 111., won the final expert heat over Fred Nix and National Champion Gary Nixon, who was runner-up last year. Mann was 3rd.
The 4th, 5th, and 6th place riders in the three experts heats were given another chance to gain the 20-lap National by competing in a four-lap semi. Van Leeuwen emerged on top in the semi, followed by Breeding and Cal Ray born. Jim Odom, the amateur winner last year, went down again, this time on Lap 3 in the south turn. It was a very bad day for the first-year expert, who promises to be a contender for the championship next year.
The 20-lap National saw 12 men move to the starting line. There were 11 National numbers—the one exception was Dallas Baker. Markel didn't get a very good start and, at the end of Lap 1, was running 5 th behind Burres, Mann, Van Leeuwen and Nix. Lap 2 saw the leaders change hands and Mann began to pick up the $10 per lap leader money. By Lap 6, Markel had started to really make his move. He was now running 2nd after having passed three riders. Corpe also was on the move, now running in the 4th spot. The crowd was on its feet as Markel cut to the inside, going into turn one to pass Mann on Lap 9. Burres was running a very steady race behind the two front runners. Burres was followed by Corpe. Markel went on to pick up the $1500 first prize, followed by Mann, Burres, Corpe, Baker and Nixon. Adding to his $1500 first place money the $120 in lap money, plus $80 for 2nd in the heat, Markel earned a total of $1700 for the afternoon's work. No one earned his money with better effort than the "Great One" from Flint.
