Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
WELCOME BACK, JODY
Jody Nicholas made his first race appearance in almost two years at the Playboy MC Sportsman road races at Carlsbad, Calif., and won every race he entered.
Racing Don Vesco's ex-Daytona BSA twin, Jody won his heat, semi, and the final of the open class. Service with the U. S. Fleet Air Force has kept Jody, 23, from the race tracks recently.
Eddie Wirth, BSA, and Reg Chosney, TR, earned 2nd and 3rd in the open final.
Teenager Ron Pierce, from Bakersfield, Calif, won the 250 GP final. His Yamaha headed Walt Fulton's Kawasaki and Fumio Itoh's Yamaha. Ron is to race the BSA used by Jody Nicholas at Carlsbad, at Daytona this month.
CHERRY CREEK HARE 'N HOUND
The AMA's national Hare 'n Hound race at Cherry Creek, near the old mining town of Eureka, Utah, will be contested May 19.
This year, the course will be marked with surveyor's tape fixed at eye level, and an ample amount of lime, "to enable even the fastest man to locate the course and stay on it at any speed," says the organizing club, the Salt Lake MC.
The course will be patrolled by radio and first aid equipped jeeps from the Juab County Sheriff's jeep posse, to provide immediate medical attention on the route.
Mail entries for the event will close on May 15, and post entries on May 19. The Salt Lake club's address is P.O. Box 1711, Salt Lake City, UT 84110.
AFM DOUBLES UP
Thomas Finlay, executive secretary of the AFM, reports that his organization almost doubled its activities during 1967, with a record 18 road races being run. Seventeen of these were GP championships, and the other was the fourth annual 250mile Production Championship.
AN AMERICAN WORLD CHAMPION?
"We can sit back and say we have done a good job when an American lands a works ride or wins a world motocross Grand Prix."
Those are the words of Tom Finlay, executive secretary of the AFM, now national representative for the recently formed California Motocross Club.
Visits of top riders from across the Atlantic inspired the formation of the club, immediate aim of which is to promote European-style motocross racing.
But the CMC also has a long term goal. It wishes to raise the standard of U. S. racing to the point that Americans can meet, and sometimes beat, the best riders that Europe can offer.
Thoughts of Americans earning works rides, winning Grands Prix — and even a world title — may seem wildly optimistic. But the people behind CMC are thinking in terms of many years ahead, not 1969.
They hope to achieve their target by promoting motocross as a spectator sport. Plenty of paying spectators means that good prize money can be offered; good money means more competition among
riders; closer racing means that standards must rise. That is approximately how CMC's argument runs.
The club's first motocross was at Carlsbad, where a series of race meets is planned.
President of CMC is Paul Hunt, and his father Ole is secretary. Ray Sledge is treasurer, Tom Finlay the national representative, Kelvin Franks is sergeant-at-arms.
The club now is looking for members. Its address is Box 4142, Burbank, CA 91503.
GEORGE MONTGOMERY
George Montgomery, Expert rider number 83, is recovering after receiving critical burns while working as a motorcycle mechanic in a Washington, D. C., shop.
He has undergone surgery for skin graf'" but his condition is satisfactory. George cannot have visitors in the hospital, but will appreciate cards and letters. Write George Montgomery, Washington Hospital, Center Room 4D30, 110 Irving Street, N.W., Washington, D. C.
