Camel Pro Notes

Camel Pro notes

Before the news, the pitch: The 1983 season has been and continues to be, close and hard fought. At this writing Randy Goss, Bubba Shobert, Rick Graham and Jay Springsteen are in contention for the national championship, but the season will be nearly over by the time this gets into print, so the actual points aren’t important.

Instead, the final races are important. They are:

Sept. 11, Mile, New York State Lairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y.

Sept. 18, Mile, Santa Clara County Lairgrounds, San Jose, Calif.

Sept. 24, Half mile, Ascot Park, Gardena, Calif.

Oct. 2, Mile, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, 111.

Oct. 22, TT Steeplechase, Silverdome, Pontiac, Mich.

Coast to coast, so to speak, and the last race will be indoors so there’s no worry about the weather. If you’re in any of these areas, don’t miss the race.

News: Major July headline was Honda’s first win on a mile, and with the RS750 VTwin. It happened at Duquoin, 111., during the midwest’s record heat wave. There wasn’t much traction and nobody's tires worked well, but Hank Scott, master of throttle control, kept the Honda on the groove and in the lead.

The win came at a good time. The RS750, (See CW, Aug. 1983 for details) is supposed to crack the Harleydominated AMA Grand National series, the only series Honda hasn't been able to conquer. At the Indy Mile July 2 Honda’s racing research group showed up with a secret engine, rumored to produce 105 bhp. All the Honda brass was there. And the engine wouldn’t run. Thus, the July 30 win at Springfield restores faith and face.