After Columbus They Head For the Sunset
After Columbus They Head For The Sunset
Four On The Dirt And One On The Pavement; A Tough Trek In The West
D. Randy Riggs
JIM RICE WAS not thinking about the grime that coated the sweat on his neck, his trembling hands or his numb forearms. He was thinking only of the race he had just won, the 21st Annual Charity Newsies Half-Mile National at Columbus, and all that went with the victory. Standing in the winner's circle usually has a rider answering lots of empty questions with lots of empty answers, but jubilance is the prevailing atmosphere. Such was the case with Rice on that humid day in Ohio, as he got what he came for.
A few others did likewise; Ken Roberts opened up a much needed point gap in the race for the Grand National Championship over close chaser Gary Scott. Gary’s mechanics left a pin out of one of his carb float bowls, his Twin became a “Twingle” and he couldn’t go fast enough to earn a spot in the National. Mert Lawwill tried for 1st but was nearly as happy with 2nd place and qualifying’s fast time honors. Don Castro earned a few points for 6th. Rex Beauchamp again proved his worth to the Harley team with a 4th place finish. Even Doug Sehl could file out the pit gate with a smile, counting his money for 1st place in the Trophy Final.
Many riders, however, exited that pit gate with little or nothing to be happy about; feeling the utter frustration and disappointment that is often a very big part of professional motorcycle competition. Their thoughts were far from victory circle, wondering only about what went wrong, where and why, about the cash they could have used about now, since the long trip West had become a reality. But it was as much of a reality for the winners, because after Columbus they all headed for the sunset and a month of Western racing—racing that had much more meaning than what appears on the surface.
A great number of the riders on the National trail hail from the West, particularly California, and for these guys a Columbus bye-bye means heading home. And home is seeing family for the first time in weeks and racing on tracks that are as familiar as an old girlfriend. No doubt about it, the trek West is eagerly awaited.
The month of July 1973 saw two back-to-back Miles followed by two back-to-back TTs, topped off with a pavement race at Laguna Seca.
SAN JOSE MILE
There is probably no race that is as popular with fans and riders alike as the Mile, and the one at San Jose was the kickoff event for a month that was to become quite serious. The “Jose Mile” is unlike the “blue groove” half-mile surface found at the same Santa Clara Fairgrounds, in that the riders have a wider choice of lines through the corners. No, it’s not what one would call a> “cushion,” but you’ll see no single file racing here.
With the track surface in virtually perfect shape, records started falling like gnats in bug spray. Gary Scott had himself some new “wrenches” who tuned his Triumph to a whisker and fast time honors. Jim Rice, Eddie Mulder and Rex Beauchamp weren’t far behind.
Heat One had trouble getting started, with several riders taking turns on the ground. Most spectacular was the Mert Lawwill get off, when he touched Gary Scott’s rear wheel and went over the high side. Mert was shaken up, but his Harley came back to the pits in two pieces. Scratch a favorite. They wound up postponing this one until the other heats were completed. In the end Scott, Roberts, Beauchamp, and Rayborn had solid starting spots for the National, with 16 other strong possibilities in there with them.
The track was dampened by the water truck shortly before the National got underway, and a warm-up lap was given. When they came around to line up and wait for starter Bouncing Bob’s wave of the green flag, Ken Roberts was already in trouble. There was a loud clanking coming from his Yamaha’s lower end, and much to everyone’s dismay the National Point Leader was out before he started. The other riders didn’t seem too upset, however, least of all Scott.
Frank Gillespie grabbed the lead on turn two after the thundering pack charged away, but Chuck Palmgren was left on the line with a broken chain. The initial pack of leaders consisted of Rex Beauchamp, Jim Rice, Frank Gillespie, Dave Sehl and Gary Scott. Rice dropped out on lap eight with lower end troubles, and Romero moved up and filled his vacancy. Scratching then began in earnest.
No less than 25 lead changes took place in the remaining laps; no one could remember a Mile like this. They weren’t even guessing what would happen next! Scott charged around three riders in one turn, then got passed back on the next. Romero slipped traction and fell back for half a lap, but got a wild hair next time around and had the lead! Finally, Beauchamp slowed and here came Bugsy! Where did he come from? Even Castro joined the group! Lap 25 was coming, but who was it gonna be? Romero headed out of the final turn with the slightest edge over Scott...the crowd went berserk...the riders weaved to keep each other from passing, and that is what won it for Romero by a bike length. Following 2nd place Scott were Gillespie, Dick Mann, Castro and Beauchamp. A most incredible Mile.
With 2nd place, Gary Scott again closed to within a few scant points of Roberts, Rice was a distant 3rd, and strong runners were moving up. It was getting serious. And yet another Mile was in store.
SAN JOSE MILE RESUL TS
1. Gene Romero ..................Tri 2. Gary Scott.....................Tri 3. Frank Gillespie .................Tri 4. Dick Mann.....................Tri 5. Don Castro .................. Yam 6. Rex Beauchamp ...............H-D 7. Scott Breisford ................H-D 8. Dave Sehl ....................H-D 9. Cal Rayborn ..................H-D 10. Dave Lawson ................. Yam
COLORADO SPRINGS MILE
This time it’s in Colorado Springs at the Pikes Peak Turf Club, and if that brings visions of snorting trotters and a bumpy track...you’re right. Colorado is probably the opposite of San Jose, and the riders are not that anxious to race on a Motocross surface with flat-track machines. But the race nontheless has been tagged as a National, and that means points, and that means they’ll ride. But things are not easy and the deteriorating surface makes it necessary to cut down on the length of the races, and practice as well.
Shortening the practice session created some grumbling, but regarding the track surface before qualifying and racing made the riders less edgy. Adding calcium showed that the promoter was> at least trying to improve the situation, which is more than many of them would do.
No less than 15 riders broke last year’s track record set by Mark Brelsford, with Ken Roberts’ 750 Yamaha coming out on top. Ken looked as though he had the same determination that he had during the first race of the year at Houston, and his easy heat race win only fortified his confidence. Though Scott was off the pace in qualifying, he got it together in the heat and showed that he was not to be written off just yet.
Last season there seemed to be much more talk about the Harley-Davidson horsepower advantage, especially on the long Mile circuits. This year much of that talk has diminished, as the Triumph short-rod engines have most of the bugs out and the Yamaha ohc 750s are really dialed in. Dirt track racing is probably more even than it has been in quite some time.
Triumph had the odds in its favor with three strong riders on the front row and impressive heat finishes, but the last lap of the main event is where it all counts. The track had been smoothed down with the grader but everyone knew that a few laps would uncover the ruts and holes.
Rubber ball Dave Aldana grabbed the lead into the first turn but Mann held on until lap five when a rod said “so-long,” and Beauchamp’s H-D took command. Aldana and Norton then started to work their way back, as guys like Scott Brelsford, Gary Nixon and Scott had other ideas. By this time the track really started coming apart and Roberts was picking up. He seemed to be the only rider able to gain ground on the competition ahead and in a few laps was on Beauchamp’s rear wheel. But Rex had other problems besides the holes and Roberts. His H-D wasn’t running quite right; later he thought his leg had been fouling the carbs’ air intake. Finally, National Number 80 stuck a wheel under Rex in the third turn of the last lap, but Beauchamp came right back in turn four. Down the straight to the flag it was another squeaker, with Roberts, clenched fist thrust in the air, ahead of Beauchamp by a wheel. Unbelievable!
Roberts became the first rider during the season to win more than one National, and his first question in the winner’s circle was, “Where was Scott?” Relieved to hear Gary had done no better than 5th, Ken still shook his head in disbelief. “I never thought I’d catch him.” Funny that the fans were shaking their heads the same way at that very instant. “How’d he do it? That Roberts is something else!” Yup. That Roberts is something else. He headed for the Castle Rock, Wash., TT with a nice points cushion over his arch rival since Novice days, Gary Scott, who at this point was starting to do some heavy thinking about the Number One Plate possibilities.
COLORADO SPRINGS MILE RESULTS
1. Ken Roberts ................. Yam 2. Rex Beauchamp ...............H-D 3. Scott Brelsford ................H-D 4. Gary Nixon .................. Yam 5. Gary Scott .....................Tri 6. Dave Aldana .................. Nor 7. Mike Kidd .....................Tri 8. Charlie Seale ......... H-D 9. Gene Romero ..................Tri 10. Stan Johnson ................. Yam
CASTLE ROCK TT
Castle Rock is a weird track and the threats there had to be local riders. Randy Scott, Chuck Joyner and Mark Williams have spent eons learning what works and what doesn’t in their home territory...Castle Rock is their home territory. But one still had to consider the threat of TT specialists like Terry Dorsch (ready as any to win a National) John Hateley, Sonny Burres, and others who can do it anywhere.
It was no surprise when Joyner ticked off fast lap of the day, but it was a surprise when Jim Rice carted off the first heat on his Harley. Rice is not known for his TT prowess, but the consistent rider has caught on to the virtues of his new H-D ride in amazingly short time. Though not an “official” team rider, he wears the colors and gets plenty of help from O’Brien and the crew. “Official” status is probably coming soon, because such a rider deserves it.
The dry surface was slippery enough to put several riders on their head, but thanks to the presence of hay bales and luck, everyone walked away. Still, rookie Tom White received a possible broken arm and was hurting. Hard fought battles were the rule right into the night, when the third big one of the Western swing was about to run off.
Gary Scott was the defending “Rock” champion. The pressure was on and he decided to try very hard...too hard in fact. Into lap four Scott’s lead went away suddenly in a wide-eyed tank slapper crash that saw Gary tumble in front of 15 charging motorcycles. Though knocked around pretty good, he crawled off the track under his own power and had 20 laps to watch Roberts press leader Chuck Joyner. Lady Luck was on Chuck’s side though, after all. It was his 23rd birthday, and he got his first National Expert win. Randy Scott, the Northwest’s version of Dave Aldana, followed Roberts in 3rd, with Rice a surprising 4th. More points for Ken and a black evening for Scott.
CASTLE ROCK TT RESULTS
1. Chuck Joyner ..................Tri 2. Ken Roberts ................. Vam 3. Randy Scott ...................Tri 4. Jim Rice .....................H-D 5. Terry Dorsch ...................Tri 6. Don Castro .................. Yam 7. Gene Romero ..................Tri 8. Mark Williams ..................Tri 9. Sonny Burres...................Tri 10. Dick Mann .....................Tri
ASCOT TT
Things just had to improve at Ascot for Triumph’s best hope, but Triumph seemed to be doing its best to thwart the effort. Scott’s bike arrived some five minutes after the pit gate had closed, minus carbs, wheels and tank. No Triumph mechanics were in sight. Scott found a friend and started wrenching furiously, while on the other end of the pits Roberts relaxed in a Yamaha director’s chair, a swarm of yellow shirted team mechanics fussing over his machinery. Scott’s only hope was with himself, because the word team effort in his case was a misnomer. Even with the engine> sounding like a shooting gallery, Scott ticked off 4th fastest time. No one was shocked about Roberts being fastest of all, however ...again.
Roberts, Aldana, Mann and Scott took the heats, all of which had some extremely close action. This time Scott was really ready to cook; too bad his Triumph wasn’t.
He pounded into the lead with one of his exceptionally good Ascot starts and Aldana was trailing inches back. The two shook loose from the pack and had their own race going, but Scott was in command. Gary would look back about five times a lap...Aldana was always there. Roberts held 3rd all by himself and still farther behind was a group consisting of Mann, Hateley, Romero, Lawwill and Brelsford, with Terry Dorsch heading them.
For 16 laps Scott held 1st...then his Triumph started slowing. An oil line had worked loose and bathed the entire rear of the machine. Scott let Dave by and held 2nd until he dropped out, dejected and weary. Aldana cruised home for Norton’s first National dirt track win ever, Roberts finished high again in 2nd and Terry Dorsch rode a smooth race for 3rd. As Aldana pulled into the pits the Norton exploded in flames...it could only happen to Team “Thirteen.” Roberts was close behind and lined up his Yamaha near the flaming Norton... held on the front brake and let out the clutch. The resulting dirt roostertail helped to quell the fire; extinguishers finished the job. Aldana picked up a two grand bonus from Norton for his first National win in three years. Now it was time to park the dirt motors and head for Monterey.
ASCOT TT RESULTS
1. Dave Aldana 2. Ken Roberts 3. Terry Dorsch 4. Scott Brelsford 5. John Hateley 6. Dick Mann 7. Gene Romero 8. Mert Lawwill 9. Jim Rice 10. Tom Rockwood Nor Yam Tn H-D Tn Tn Tn HD H.D Tn
LAGUNA SECA
The battle for the 1973 Grand National Championship was literally turning into a two-man contest at this point. But no one can really be sure of anything in the racing game, and the riders rounding out the Top Ten are as much of a threat as the two leading the pack. The standings after Ascot showed a list of names with few surprises: Veterans like Mert Lawwill, Dick Mann...raw talent in the likes of Scott and Roberts, consistency in the form of a smooth Jim Rice, scratchers such as Rex Beauchamp and Don Castro, a “hang it all out” Aldana, even a rookie by the name of Scott Brelsford. In that group there was just one surprise, one rider that no one expected to hear much> about. And he was heading for a track and a race that would suit him to a tee, on equipment that he deserved.
Gary Nixon had walked off with a double at Louden, finished well in a few dirt events, and put himself solidly into the top ten. He was bound to improve things at Seca, even though he’d be dealing with the likes of duHamel and the rest of the pavement scratchers.
Unless something totally unforeseen happened, Seca would be a Kawasaki benefit. They had the fastest machinery on the twisty circuit, some of the quickest riders and they were there in numbers. If luck leaned their way it was in the bag.
Roberts took the Expert/Junior Lightweight event on Saturday, and duHamel rode a Kawasaki Z1 to victory in the production race. The National would see both try harder yet in the new AMA type sprint racing, with heats, semis and the 75-mile final. Close action would be the word.
DuHamel streaked to a record heat win, then blasted into a strong lead for 34 laps of the final. Not far back circulated Nixon, Cliff Carr, Art Baumann, and Gary Scott. Scott was perhaps riding the most impressive race of the day on his big Triumph four-stroke, making up in riding what he lacked in horsepower.
Roberts hopes ended when his Yamaha threw a chain, but it really never looked as though he could get by Scott. Gary was riding like never before on the pavement. Even the “trick” John Player Norton with Peter Williams aboard was no contest.
On lap 35 the outlook changed somewhat, though Kawasaki still held the lead. DuHamel got off hard as he lapped Cal Rayborn, jumped to his feet and stared at the remains of his machine. From then on Nixon had it in the bag. Teammate Carr was unable to keep the pace due to a rear brake problem, but held 2nd to the flag just the same. Baumann was all set for 3rd when he discovered his engine had quit, so Scott filled in his place. Nixon, Carr, Scott. Whatta race. Nixon’s 2nd road race victory in as many tries put him into 3rd place in the National standings. Nixon is back. No one would have ever guessed it. Quite a month...summed up nicely by a Gene Romero comment in the winner’s circle at San Jose. Asked by announcer Roxy Rockwood if he’d ever had a contest that close with two people before, he replied, “Only in the back seat of my car.” gj
LAGUNA SECA ROAD RACE RESULTS 1. Gary Nixon ...................Kaw 2. Cliff Carr .....................Kaw 3. Gary Scott.....................Tri 4. Steve Baker .................. Vam 5. Peter Williams .................Nor 6. Jim Evans ................... Yam 7. Cal Rayborn ..................H-D 8. Steve McLaughlin ............. Yam 9. Don Castro .................. Yam 10. Dave Aldana ..................Nor
