Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
AMA APPROVES 31 EVENTS
Ontario Motor Speedway’s 200-mile road race will climax the 1971 AMA season, but the large number of events will decrease the importance of each national, in the eyes of spectators.
A 60 percent larger purse—now over $380,000—will no doubt please competitors, but the AMA’s somewhat haphazard geographic sequence of events across the country will make 1971 a tough season.
Ontario’s season I inale is one ol seven National Championship road races to be approved by the annual Competition Congress. In addition, there are 12 half-mile, 4 mile, 5 FT, and 3 short track championships to fill out the season.
As usual. AMA professional riders will he competing for points toward the Grand National Championship, which is awarded to the rider that has earned the most points during the season.
January 29 TT Houston, Texas
January 30 Short Track Houston, Texas
March 1 4 200-Mile Road Race Daytona, Fla.
April 25 Half-mile Palmetto, Ga.
May 2 Half-mile Cumberland, Md.
May 8, 9 125-Mile Road Race Atlanta, Ga.
May 16 Half-mile Jennerstown, Pa.
May 23 Half-mile Warren, Ohio
May 30 Half-mile Reading, Pa.
June 6 Half-mile Terre Haute, Ind.
June 12,13 100-Mile Road Race Loudon, N.H.
June 19 Half-mile Louisville, Ky.
June 25 TT Hinsdale, III.
June 27 Half-mile Columbus, Ohio
July 5 Half-mile San Jose, Calif.
July 9 Short Track Graham, Wash.
July 10, 1 1 Road Race Kent, Wash.
July 16 TT Castle Rock, Wash.
July 24 TT Gardena, Calif.
July 31 Half-mile Corona, Calif.
August 8 Mile Santa Rosa, Calif.
August 13 Short Track Hinsdale, III.
August 15 TT Peoria, III.
August 21,22 100-Mile Road Race Pocono, Pa.
August 29 Mile Sedal ia, Mo.
September 4, 5 200-Mile Road Race Talladega, Ala.
September 12 Mile Nazareth, Pa.
September 18 Half-mile Gardena, Calif.
September 26 Mile Sacramento, Calif.
October 3 Half-mile Oklahoma City, Okla.
October I 7 200-Mile Road Race Ontario, Calif.
EL TRIAL de ESPANA
During their U.S. tours, Sammy Miller, Pedro Pi, Mick Andrews and other Europeans have demonstrated their superiority over American trials riders. But these men are professionals, and as such, have the advantages of constant practice, factory backing, and exposure to all types of terrain.
By European standards, our “Expert” riders are amateurs, because they do not derive their living from trials riding, although they may have direct connections with the motorcycle industry.
Realizing this, the Plonker Trials Club, in cooperation with the Southern California Trials Association and other trials clubs, is sponsoring the El Trial de España. The proceeds from this event will be used to send the number one SCTA rider, Bob Nickelsen, to compete in the Spanish round of the European Trials Championship.
El Trial de España, to be held January 10 at Saddleback Park, will feature a press class in addition to the expert, amateur, novice, and ladies categories. If possible, a class will be set up for non-trials machines so that anyone wishing to try his hand at trials will have the opportunity.
To add international flavor to the event, 24 Spanish trophies were donated by Ossa, Montesa, Motociclismo magazine, and Bultaco Western representative Doug Yerkes.
Trophies will be given out on the basis of each class winner’s personal choice. The first place finisher in the expert class will have first choice, the amateur winner will have second choice, the novice winner, third, etc. The press class winner will receive an engraved Toledo sword, as will the ladies division victor.
Entry fee (except for the press class, which is free) is $5, which includes a 50-cent donation for a minibike drawing. Spectators are also eligible to win the 50-cc Zundapp Mini, furnished by Hall Strickland, general manager of Steens Inc.
If El Trial de España is a financial success, it may be possible to send another rider to accompany Nickelsen to Spain. Either way, the results will prove interesting.
BOL D'OR 1970
The Bol d’Or is the final event in the European Coupe d’Endurance ( hampionship. A grueling 24 hours of racing around the tricky circuit at Montlhery, near Paris, is a fitting climax to the other races in the series. Neither the 500 miles at Thruxton nor the 24 hours at Barcelona can claim the interest or the press coverage of the newly revived Bol d’Or.
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Importance of these races to the various motorcycle factories was especially evident at the Bol d’Or, with Moto Guzzi making their first appearance with factory support since their withdrawal from racing in 1957. Three factory Triumphs had the greatest overall success with finishing positions of 1st, 5th, and 8th. Works Hondas entered by the English distributor, a works BMW, and semi-works machines of private riders made up the rest ot the field.
Machines used in production racing often bear little resemblance to their roadgoing counterparts, but manufacturers spend great sums of money and much time preparing these machines. As with most phases of this sport, however, the privateers deserve most of the credit. Their enthusiasm and courage are just as high in production contests as in grand prix racing.
BOL D'OR RESULTS
