90-Mile National

90-MILE NATIONAL

BOYD REYNOLDS

FOR THE first time in the Northeast, a National Championship Endurance Run was contested in the spring of the year. And, for the first time, the Tomkins County Motorcycle Club promoted and executed the 90-Mile Championship from Newfield, N.Y.

It was a short, rugged, well marked, and well executed contest that sent the National Champion Bill Baird and his Triumph into the swing of things with a 974 score, the best among 230 starters, and certainly adequate to capture the gold.

Three riders started on every minute, so that by the 80-mile mark Bill Baird, riding as number 220, had passed all but Yamaha mounted trailbreaker Bob Fusan. Clad in new blue leathers, Baird romped through the New York mud and rocks with ease. Torrential rainfall of more than 3 in. a few days before the meeting had turned many sections of potential easy going into slippery mud.

The new Penton Six Days 125 motorcycle was of considerable interest to eastern riders. Three of John Penton's "mongrels" were entered in the contest-and for Leroy Winters it was a winning combination. Total piston displacement was inadequate for Sal Scirpo, who, though he was a big man on a small motorcycle, gave the bike a thorough test, to place 2nd in the Senior Class behind champion Harold Ward. Winters racked up an 861 score on a Penton to be Bantamweight Champion.

John Penton, riding a Husqvarna, was Mediumweight Champion with 953 points. He was one of several Husky riders entered. Fred Ford, on a 250 Husqvarna, took first in the Lightweight Class. BSA was very much in evidence. Dave Barnes was on a new lightweight which took him into a 3rd place with a 922 score. Triumph still is the most popular enduro rider's machine, but in the northeastern U.S., Bultaco takes a very close second. Among the top three place winners in all classes, Bultaco showed six placers to eight British brand placers.

Changing from a 500-cc engine to a 250-cc Yamaha, Pittsburgh's Bob Fusan piled up the second best score with 963 total. Riding in the No. 7 position, Bob was trailbreaker for many of the 90 miles and even passed one of the pathfinders checking arrows in advance of the contestants. Harold Ward's creation, "Grumph" (Triumph 650 in a GreevesTriumph frame), with Gordon Potter in the saddle, again picked up some gold by winning the Heavyweight Class with a 798 score.

Honda had a win in the Flyweight Class with Roy Terwilliger who received a 676 score. Last season's big point gainer, Jack McLane, was on a new Honda this trip. It did not seem as compatible as his old model. A few modifications and changes should put Jack back into the winner's circle by the next National. H