Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
ANGLO-AMERICAN MATCH RACES
The English won the first AngloAmerican match race series, but the American effort, headed by a consistent Dick Mann, was impressive indeed. Mann, in fact, finished 3rd in individual placings, only two points behind Englishmen Ray Pickrell and Paul Smart.
The match race series was held at three race tracks with two heat races at each location. Five English riders (John Cooper, Ray Pickrell, Tony Jeffries, Percy Tait, and Paul Smart), and five Americans (Gary Nixon, Dick Mann, Jim Rice, Dave Aldana, and Don Castro) contested the series. The winner of each heat was awarded 10 points; 2nd-place winner was awarded 9 points, and scoring followed on down to 1 point for 10th, or last, place. All contestants rode either BSA or Triumph Threes.
The first round consisted of two 12-lap races on the 1.24-mile Brands Hatch circuit. Pickrell and Smart finished 1-2 in both races, but Mann held off Percy Tait, the British team captain, to finish 3rd in the first race. In the second race, Don Castro finished 3rd, with Mann 4th. At this point, the U.S. riders were behind on the scoreboard 49 points to 61.
The second round consisted of two 1 1-lap heats around the 1.35-mile Mallory Park track. Don Castro took an early lead riding Gene Romero’s Daytona Triumph, but a tank-slapper leaving Gerards Corner slowed his pace. Pickrell and Smart passed quickly, but Smart’s 2nd-place bid ended in a crash a couple of laps later. A hard-charging John Cooper finished 2nd to Pickrell. Mann was 3rd.
Smart came back in the 2nd heat and shot into an early lead with Pickrell. Cooper, after a slow start, pleased the crowd by equaling Mike Hailwood’s 1967 lap record (93.46 mph) while
trying to catch the leaders. The finish was incredible. Mann finished 4th, just 18 sec. behind Smart. Although Cooper ended 3rd, he was a scant two-fifths of a second behind the leader, with Pickrell 2nd.
The English went to the final round at Oulton Park with a 17-point lead. Smart took the lead after a slow start in the first event. Cooper ran 2nd until he missed a shift at Cascades. Pickrell took advantage of this and finished 2nd. Mann was 4th.
In the final race of the series, Mann took advantage of a clutch start and rushed into an early lead. Smart finally overtook Mann, but Cooper could not get by, giving Mann a 2nd-place finishthe best American effort of the series. Jim Rice finished 6th, behind Percy Tait and Tony Jeffries.
Although the Americans finished the series down 26 points, they did prove their competitiveness. More important, however, was the tremendous audience appeal of the Anglo American series. Perhaps there will be more match races in the future.
MILLER TO RIDE IN ISDT
Sammy Miller, who has not competed in the ISDT since 1966, will ride as a member of the Bultaco Manufacturer’s Team this year.
After winning his sixth gold medal on a 500 Triumph, Miller concentrated on observed trials. Since then, he has won 1 1 British titles and two European championships. Although he has announced his retirement as a full-time trials competitor, he still rides in occasional events.
Miller, teamed with Alan and Martin Lampkin for the ISDT, is very familiar with -the terrain on the Isle of Man and is looking forward to the contest.
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KENNEY WINS DAYTONA MX
H usqvarna-mounted Brian Kenney was open class winner at the first ever Daytona motocross. This win makes him Winter-AMA motocross champion as well.
The Daytona course consisted of a series of artificial jumps and a gully laid out by Gary Bailey in the infield of the high-banked road race course. Even though course design was somewhat limited by the flat terrain, a large crowd approved and the racing was good, in spite of the dust.
In the open class, Kenney’s main competition came from Jim Winert (CZ), who finished 2nd in both motos. Bob Grossi (Husqvarna) edged out Peter Lamppu (Montesa) for 3rd.
Gunnar Lindstrom (Husqvarna) was the 250 class winner. Barry Higgins (Ossa) finished 2nd, and Gary Bailey ( Bultaco ) was 3rd.
DAYTONA MOTOCROSS RESULTS
Open Class
1. BRYAN KENNEY ........Husqvarna
2. JIM WEINERT .................CZ
3. ROBERT GROSSI ........Husqvarna
4. PETER LAMPPU ...........Montesa
5. RON STOCKMAN ..............CZ
6. DOUG GRANT ................AJS
7. LARS LARSSON .........Husqvarna
8. GORDON BOWDEN ......... Bultaco
9. GEORGE CAVIN ...............CZ
10. ERIC GRASZL ...........Husqvarna
250cc Class
1. GUNNAR LINDSTROM .... Husqvarna
2. BARRY HIGGINS .............Ossa
3. GARY BAILEY ............ Bultaco
4. ZANE KENT..................Ossa
5. RONALD MOORE .............Ossa
6. DONALD SMITH ........... Bultaco
7. GARY DEEL .............. Bultaco
8. JOSEPH CASTANGE JR......Bultaco
9. ANTHONY GRIFFIS ............CZ
10. MIKE MAW...................Ossa
TRIALS RIDERS BACK FROM SPAIN
Tired and broke were Bob Nickelsen and Kevin Walker on their arrival home from Spain. The two top Southern California English trials riders had spent 15 days in Barcelona and competed in the Spanish round of the European Trials Championship.
Their prediction of a rugged trials and tough competition proved only too accurate. Bob, on his trusty Ossa, placed 30th out of the 87 entries, while Bultaco-mounted Kevin finished 44th. The Spanish round went to lst-place Ossa rider Mick Andrews of England.
The course covered 32 miles of rough, nearly inaccessible terrain, with light snow and ice in the higher regions. T here were 24 sections laid out, and the course was covered twice in one day. Bob and Kevin fared quite well pointwise in the beginning of the day but fatigue set in and took its toll.
The twice-run, 32-miles-plus sections had a 7-hr. time limit, which they were hard-pressed to meet. Bob felt the terrain was similar to California, but much more rugged. Traps were exceptionally difficult.
In the days prior to the trial, the two riders practiced with Mick Andrews, who was fresh from his win of the Paris T rials Championship event earlier that week. They toured each of the leading Spanish trial bike manufacturers, Ossa, Bultaco, and Montesa, and were able to view and test ride the newest trials models of each at the factories. Señor Bulto of Bultaco invited Bob and Kevin for a day’s riding at his ranch, which they spent in practice riding with the Bultaco factory team as company. Bob said their reception by the Europeans was really great.
Bob feels American riders have a way to go, but the exceptionally good riding being done by many young trialers in the U.S. will enable them to compete quite well overseas in four or five years. The European pros start riding in their early teens and become extremely proficient as their experience builds. In contrast to Spain, where only the wealthy can afford to ride trials, we are able to select the best riders of a larger group. Due to the extreme physical strength and endurance needed for European trials competition, Bob felt that next year's riders would well benefit from riding at least two 100-mile enduros on trials-type machines—standing up! They could sit down on only a slight 25 percent of the trials loop. Bob also recommended they learn to push!
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When asked if he would like to return to Spain for competition in the future, Nickelsen said, “Sure!” But he stated he would like to wait three to four years in order to condition and train himself, and thus insure his being a better competitive challenge.
STONE MOUNTAIN ENDURO
The annual Stone Mountain National Enduro, put on by the Georgia Crackers, had all the usual features; Sand Quarry Hill, the rock garden, and numerous creeks combined to make it a rough course.
New this year, though, was the use of an electronic decibel meter, and numerous bikes failed the muffler inspection for being too loud. Unfortunately, this inspection caused a good deal of confusion as well, and some of the early numbers barely made the starting line on time.
Still, it was a well organized run, and John Penton (Husqvarna) was the high point winner with only 14 points lost.
STONE MOUNTAIN ENDURO RESULTS
(in points lost)
High point: John Penton (Husqvarna) ... 14 A 0-200cc: Larry Williamson (Sachs) ... 21 A 20l-250cc: Tim Hoffman (Greeves) . . 22 A 25l-360cc: Norman Ford (Husqvarna) . 14 A 361cc-open: Ed Schmidt (Husqvarna) . 19 B O-lOOcc: Jim Morgon (Penton) ......41
B 10l-200cc: Sherrill Kennedy (Penton) . 25 B 201-250cc: Dave Likens (Husqvarna) . . 17 B 251-360cc: Ken Shelton II (Yamaha) . 16 B 361cc-open: Zsolt Potchen (Husqvarna) 30
CURLY FERN ENDURO
Bob Fusan (Husqvarna) took Grand Champion honors with a score of 996 at the annual Curly Fern National Enduro recently. Class B champion was Dave Mead (Triumph), who scored 993 points. Over 500 entered the event, w'hich was made pleasant by clear skies.
The trail was a good one, with only a mile or two of pavement. It was mostly in woods and every bit rideable. Fluorescent red arrows marked the course.
In addition, four spectator areas, all located about five miles apart on the same road, gave onlookers access to some of the roughest sections of the course.
CURL Y FERN RE SUL TS
L igh tweigh t Class A
1. Ray Kussmaul (Penton) ........... 993
2. Doug Wilford (Penton) ........... 992
3. Phil Ginder (Yamaha) ............ 989
Medium weigh t
1. Ron Bohn (Husqvarna) ........... 996
2. Charlie Stapleford (Kawasaki) ......994
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3. Buck Wallsworth (Ossa)...........990
Heavyweight
1. Bob Brooks (Husqvarna) .......... 995
2. Norm Ford (Husqvarna) .......... 994
3. John Young (MZ) ............... 992
Girls Class
1. Marcia McDonald (Ossa) ..... 3rd check
Bantamweight
1. Gerald Johnson (Suzuki) .......... 989
2. Jack Penton (Penton) ............ 984
3. John Ruggiaro (Hodaka) .......... 979
Lightweight Class B
1. William Kiemes (Penton) .......... 992
2. Richard Burlason (Penton) ........ 990
3. Leo Saybier (Yamaha) ............ 988
Mediumweight Class B
1. Al Henrich (Yamaha) ............ 991
2. Gerry Yoder (Ossa) .............. 989
3. Carl Scharthorn (Husqvarna)....... 985
Heavyweight Class B
1. Shep McHenry (Husqvarna)........ 989
2. Charles L’Hommedieu (Yamaha) .... 984
3. Gerry Dugan (Yamaha) ........... 978
FALLEN TIMBERS ENDURO
Bob Fusan was high point champion of the 100-mile Fallen Timbers National Enduro, organized by the Glass City MC. This was no easy task, as only 28 riders were able to finish the event before the hour late cut-off time.
Originally, scorers listed Ron Bohn (Husqvarna) as the winner, but Fusan discovered an addition error on his score card. The correction gave him the win and Ron Bohn became Class A champion.
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Even though several sections were eliminated at the last minute because of high water, the event was rougher than expected. Fallen Timbers is the kind of enduro in which it is impossible to make up much time if you fall behind. At the first check, about 12 miles from the start, the best riders were down 6 min. At 35 miles out, the best were down about l l min. 'The best finishers ran about 20 min. behind schedule at the finish.
Of interest is a protest entered by James Freeman, a B open class rider. He was 60 min. plus some seconds late at the fifth time check. But, between the fifth and sixth checks, he made up time and was less than an hour late at the finish. He was disqualified at the fifth check by referee Roger Harbison, but the rule book is unclear. Does a rider have 59 min., 59 sec., or 60 min., 59 sec. before disqualification? This is something for the competition congress to clarify in the rule book.
FALLEN TIMBERS RE SUL TS
A Champion A 125 A 250
A Open . . . Senior . . . . Powder Puff B Champion B 100 B 125 B 200 B 250 B 450
B Open . . .
. . . . Ron Bohn . Wolfe Jackson . Jim Crawford . . John Penton . . John Rogers Connie Swander Don Sharphorn ... Jim Morgan . Dick Burleson . Glen Shawver . Matt Weisman . . . Rich Smith . . James Smith
AMDRA DRAG RACING SCHEDULE
On July 3 and 4, the American Motorcycle Drag Racing Association (AMDRA) will hold the Northern National Championships at Niagara Dragway, Niagara Falls, N.Y. A $3000 purse is offered.
Two weeks later on July 18, Ateo Dragway, Ateo, N.J., will host the AMDRA Eastern National Championships.
On August 29, the $2000 Pennsylvania State Championships will be held at Maple Grove Dragway near Reading, Pa. This event will be a warm-up for the $3000 Mid-America Nationals at Marion County International Raceway in LaRue, Ohio, on September 4 and 5.
To culminate the 1971 championship season. Ateo Dragway, on October 30 and 31, will host the biggest motorcycle meet held anywhere in the country.
Trophies in all AMDRA classes will be presented at each event, and all AMDRA national records will be up for grabs.
For further information, or for an AMDRA rulebook, write AMDRA, 718 Maddon Avenue, Collingswood, N.J. 08108.
