Race Watch
RACE WATCH
The OW72 comes through, Castle Rock and Pike's Peak Results
HOY ODOM SAN JOSE MEMORIAL
Yamaha's $50,000 flat track engine, the OW72, has at last won its first race. The Kenny Roberts orchestrated victory occurred on the half-mile dirt track at San Jose, Calif., the midway mark of the 28-race Camel Pro Series.
Until now, the very special 750cc four-stroke Twin (CW, Aug. 76) had been an expensive failure and a non-winner in seven races. And as the losses multiplied during May and June, morale on the Yamaha team had plummeted.
Saturday night, July 10, began less than auspiciously. Roberts wasn’t among the six fastest qualifiers who were topped by 1976's only double winner, Jay Springsteen. The Harley-Davidson teenager hit the fastest lap in the history of the San Jose half-mile, a rocketing 26.14 seconds.
Roberts’ yellow and black team bike was much modified from its disappointing debut on the mile track here in May. Gone was the promising but still unsorted frame designed by race car builders Trevor Harris and Bruce Burness. Replacing it was a modified Champion frame that Kenny is using until he sorts out his own K-R 40-in. chassis that he will soon be manufacturing. He even brought along a spare three-year-old Shell Thuet frame just in case. He seemed determined to cure the persistent handling woes that had thwarted his earlier attempts to close ground on point leaders Springsteen and Gary Scott.
Scott, making a tremendous start as usual, broke to the lead on the opening lap, chased by the H-D privateer, Mike Kidd, one of the most talented half-milers on the circuit, and Roberts on the OW72. The absence among the top three positions of the potent H-D factory gang of the “Springer,” Corky Keener, Rex Beauchamp and Greg Sassaman was surprising. With the exception of Jay and Corky, the Milwaukee crew was strangely non-competitive all night.
Even Springsteen didn't last long. He managed to get into turn one too hot on the second lap, nearly high-sided and slid his 750 V-Twin into the haybales. One of his exhaust pipes was knocked loose from the header flange, and he lost a lap pounding it back into position and getting underway once again. He remained in last place until the finish, garnering only one National point.
The privateer H-D of Gary Scott continued to lead. But the victory hungry Kenny Roberts had the OW72 into 2nd past Kidd and was bumping Scott's back wheel by lap eleven. Scott tried every dirty trick in the book in an attempt to hold Roberts back, but it was to no avail as Kenny finally scooted by.
Scott, who later earned a $5000 bonus for being the leading rider of the Camel Pro Series first-leg payoff, was no match for Kenny and his Yamaha during the final laps. Roberts crossed the finish line at 90 mph with his front wheel in the air, elated with his success.
Kidd claimed 3rd, Paul Bostrum an outstanding 4th. Skip Aksland, Roberts’ back-up strength on Team Yamaha, surprised everyone with 5th. In the process, Aksland probably saved his developmental job on the team for the balance of 1976.
The race was run as a tribute to Hoy Odom, a veteran racing official and father of former National star, Jim Odom. Odom Sr. suffered a fatal heart attack earlier in the year while officiating at a California race.
PIKE’S PEAK HILLCLIMB
By the length of his 750 Triumph, Rick Deane held at bay a tenacious HarleyDavidson to win his second straight Pike's Peak event on the Fourth of July.
Deane was one of 113 professional and amateur entrants who paid $25 apiece for the privilege of competing in what is on the verge of becoming a major motorcycle event. Although more famous for its four-wheel entrants and the car-racing Unser family, Pike’s Peak in the Colorado Rockies is one of the sternest and most challenging races on the calendar. Not only must high-stressed racing engines keep from scattering in such high altitudes, but broadsliding riders must somehow hold their two-wheelers from slithering off the edge of a lethal 12-mile mountain road with 176 blind hairpins and plenty of overhanging cliffs.
After two classes of race cars had swept the narrow and unpaved highway free of gravel, four categories of bikes, beginning with Dean and 34 other Open professionals, set off at two-minute intervals.
A part-time pro from nearby Aspen, Deane fought his way clear of a six-rider pileup at the very first corner that injured three, but couldn’t shake loose of David Korth’s XR.
Spectators perched high on Pike’s Peak’s granite face watched the leaders’ dust as Deane and Korth battled it out. Far behind them other motorcycles were strung out up and down Pike’s Peak, some barely moving in the high altitudes, but others coming hard. The K-R 500 Yamaha of Sparky Edmonston, for example, a back-row starter, picked up almost 30 positions in the 12 miles and wound up 6th.
Veering close to the edge of some of the worst drop-offs, Korth put on a burst of power to pass Deane two miles from the finish, but managed some terrific tankslappers in the process.
Moments later, at the mountain summit finish, Deane strong-armed his Triumph> back into the lead. But the fight wasn't
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over yet.
With a final, desperate lunge, Korth attempted to overcome Deane's slim lead at the checkered flag. Instead he skidded down, unhurt, but still finishing 2nd.
Because of Korth’s ferocious pressuring, Deane tore 40 seconds out of the old Pike’s Peak climb record, reaching the summit in 13:12.16. This was faster even than the big V8 racing stock cars and second only to the all-out open-wheel championship cars.
One wonders how much lower the record would fall if a rider like Kenny Roberts ever came to Pike’s Peak.
In the other classes, run in the middle of fog and a pounding hailstorm at the summit, Steve Scott on a five-year-old Bultaco posted his fifth straight victory in the 250cc Pro class, and Chet Carman (CCM 600) and Jack Guynn (Can-Am 250) won the Open and 250 Sportsman's divisions respectively.
CASTLE ROCK TT
Chuck Joyner registered his third victory in four years, continuing his mastery over the Castle Rock, Washington TT Fairgrounds track. As usual, Pacific Northwest riders dominated, taking three positions out of the first five. Joyner rode a 750cc Triumph.
Point leader Gary Scott made a surprising switch in machines, parking his HarleyDavidson in favor of a Sal Acosta-prepped Triumph, the first time he has ridden the brand since 1973. The British machine seems to do particularly well on the awkward TT course, no doubt prompting Scott to make the one-race switch. Finishing 7th and higher than his rival point chasers, Scott gained a few ticks in the standings.
Roberts spilled early in the go and broke a fork leg, relegating him to the sidelines. The big surprise of the event was rookie Ted Boody, who had to win a Semi event to make the final. He then charged from a last-row starting position into 2nd spot by the race’s end. Boody, 4th overall in the standings, is well on his way to “Rookie of the Year’’ honors.
Kenny wasn't too displeased with his poor finish, because the following morning his wife Patty delivered a baby girl, Christy. His stable already includes a 3-year-old son, Kenny Jr.
Camel Pro Series Standings after Castle Rock: 1. Gary Scott, 130; 2. Jay Springsteen, 120; 3. Ken Roberts, 117; 4. Ted Boody, 82; 5. Randy Cleek, 75; 6. Corky Keener, 73; 7. Hank Scott, 68; 7. Rick Hocking. 68; 9. Steve Eklund, 60; 10. Gene Romero, 42; 10. Mike Kidd, 42.
