Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
CANADIAN GRAND PRIX
At the Grand Prix of Canada, a sandy-haired youngster stared through a peephole in a maze of racing types and passed comment to his big brother; “Boy, that guy Duff sure is making a comeback.” His brother, obviously more familiar with Mike Duff, road racer, smiled and replied, “He’s not making a comeback; he’s just catching up.”
And that about sums up the race and, in fact, the Ontario road racing season so far for Mike Duff. He hasn’t won all the races, but enough that most calculating fans are predicting he’ll take the No. 1 plate this year.
Both du Hamel, up for his first Ontario road race of the season, and Duff rode flawlessly in the races entered, but Duff came out top man with two wins and a 2nd place. “The Tiger” won only one event.
Despite the fact fans think highly of their hometown Duff, du Hamel’s superman image has grown to such extent that most wonder not whether he’ll win, but how close 2nd place will be.
Du Hamel appeared all set to knock off the first one in the 125-cc race, lapping the little machine at over 80 mph on the 2.45-mile circuit. But on the last lap, the Yamaha coughed to a stop and Duane McDaniels of Michigan went on to win on his 97-cc Yamaha.
The 2 5 0-cc Grand Prix was du Hamel’s but not without a brief scrap with Duff. Handicapped by a poor start, he worked his way through a pack of over 25 riders. His only challenge was Duff, and gradually he pulled away from him, too, displaying wonderwork on his fractionally faster Yamaha.
The 350/500 Grand Prix appeared as though it might be a repeat of the 250 event, with du Hamel working his way through the pack after another caboose start. By the second lap, his 350 closed in on Duff and even he expected No. 3 to slip past; but there was surprise for all.
Screaming into the hairpin, du Hamel’s gas cap loosened and flew into his lap. Slamming on the necessary brakes for the slowest turn of the circuit threw gas over the startled French Canadian and down to the rear wheel. The slippery tire sent him off the track in spectacular fashion, and mechanic Bob Work was left with several hours work. Du Hamel was unhurt.
Duff, of course, went on to win and had the distinction to set the fastest lap ever recorded by a North American rider, at just under 90 mph. Mike Hailwood set the absolute motorcycle record at 91.25 mph at the ’67 Grand Prix.
Duff’s consistency has been excellent. Only a month earlier at the Ontario Championships, he broke the Harewood Acres lap record twice in one day.
Frank Camillieri of Massachusetts and Dave Lloyd of Toronto were 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Both rode 350 Yamahas.
The Unlimited race, not a grand prix, was Duff’s again, and although he did not have du Hamel for competition he must have upset a few people on all-out racing machinery. His mount was a street stock 750 Norton. To see Duff on the unfaired Norton, his taillight flashing as he dived into corners, was a stirring sight. Kurt Leibmann, getting used to a new 350-cc Yamaha, finished 2nd. His Amol Precision BMW Special was raced in the 350/500 Grand Prix, but it blew spark plug and threads neatly out of the cylinder head.
Riders could enter both the Grand Prix and Unlimited (350 cc to 750 cc) race, as long as the same machine wasn’t entered for both events, and only if the rider held the necessary FIM international license for the Grand Prix.
If you subtract press passes and freeloaders, correct attendance at the Grand Prix of Canada was about 2500. For a race of this supposed esteem, the figure is pathetic, but not really surprising, for most Canadian Motorcycle Association affiliated clubs have yet to discover the power of advertising.
The promoting force in this instance was the British Empire Motor Club and, while it is one of many, their knuckles should be rapped sharply. It was a Grand Prix of the Dominion of Canada and advertising for the general public was almost nonexistent.
Dissenters argue there are only 21 million individuals in Canada’s vastness, and that a potential crowd of more than a few thousand does not exist. Nonsense! In the area of Toronto there are almost three million people, and surely there must be five or six thousand latent spectators.—By Greg Stott
30-LAP TT NATIONAL
Mert Lawwill, Harley’s TT specialist, popped back into the AMA national points lead with a win at the 30-lap Castle Rock TT. The 28-year-old San Franciscan rode steadily to the finish after taking over the lead on Lap 6.
Bugsy Mann and Sonny Burress battled for 2nd during the long race. Burress nipped Mann at the finish. The final was expanded to 17 men (instead of the usual 16) when Gary Nixon and Dan Haaby tied for 4th place in their qualifying heat race.
Keith Mashburn, riding a Triumph, won the 15-lap Amateur final.
PEDRO PI IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Pedro Pi is a two-time Spanish Trials Champion, Montesa works rider and, in his position in the Montesa Research Dept., one of the chief designers of the extremely successful Montesa Cota. Trials are not his only forte, for Pedro has also competed successfully in road racing and motocross. Twenty-nine years of age and a family man, Pedro’s competition aims are not what they used to be. He still rides in trials events but considers his job and family his foremost responsibility.
During his recent visit to Southern California, he graciously accepted an invitation to attend a local Southern California Trials Association event at the high desert area near Littlerock. Pedro made a lot of friends with SCTA members during his visit last year and passed on a little know-how to the trialers.
Starting with a brief meeting, Pedro, with the aid of an interpreter, explained a few pointers about proper machine preparation. He then laid out a typical European style section. With limited translation and a series of “Vroomvrooms” and “Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tas” as well as sign language, Pedro showed how to pick a route through the section. After getting through with a single dab, he invited SCTA Master and Expert riders to try the section. All dropped 3s and 5s but after repeated attempts a few were able to get through with Is and even a couple of “cleans” were recorded. After observing the riders’ attempts, Pedro made suggestions to correct mistakes he thought were being made. Two other sections were laid; one was in a wet, rocky gully with a tricky off-camber climb, while the other was a three-foot ledge at the top of a loose dirt climb. Pedro rode each section first. He was a real pleasure to watch, for he uses every part of his body to work his motorcycle through a section.
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The following morning, competition got underway with Pedro riding in an exhibition class. He competed in the same eight challenging sections as Master and Expert riders of the SCTA. Each section was ridden three times, and Pedro turned in remarkable lap scores of 9, 7 and a faultless third lap for a total of 16. Closest local rider was SCTA prexy Bob Grove with 24.
After the meet concluded, and in an air of relaxation, the champion discussed his feelings about the event. In general, he felt that the riders had vastly improved over his previous visit. When questioned as to how he liked the sections, Pedro stated that he was used to riding about 20 traps per event and usually these would be ridden only twice. As to difficulty, most of the riders thought they had been very difficult, but by Spanish and European standards they would rate only average.
The last two years have seen the sport of observed trials come a long way, with visits by Pedro Pi as well as Sammy Miller. Possibly the ensuing years will find more stars of the “feet-up” brigade visiting the U.S.
SPEEDWAY FEVER
Millionaire yachtsmen and society dowagers from Balboa and Lido Isle leap to their feet amid the hoi polloi and yell themselves hoarse. Mayor A.L. Pinkley of Costa Mesa, the most avid fan of all, forgets his dignity and bounces up and down shouting for his favorites. He hasn’t missed a race.
This is the usual Friday night scene at Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, where short track “speedway” racing caught fire from the opening meet this summer.
Jack Milne, former world Wembley champion; Gene Rhyne, referee; and Harry Oxley, manager, form a triumvirate staging the programs.
There have been plenty of riders for the scratch and handicap races, and there is in progress a match race series for the season on a point basis billed as national match championships. Harry Oxley is enlisting Whiteman and any other tracks to operate in the series. Two match duels are held nightly, making it a 20-event program.
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The fairgrounds has a main concrete grandstand with box seats in front, and bleachers on the opposite side and at one turn. Although the track is only a sixth-mile oval, it has proved ideal, according to old-timers Jack Milne and Gene Rhyne, who should know. Rhyne runs the races in quick continuity; one night he had to slow up the pace to lengthen the program to two hours. The equipment the boys have shown up with, Czech Esos and English J.A.P.s, always seems to be in tip-top methanolburning condition.
Crowds have been surprisingly big. Oxley announced that they are bringing eight Wembley riders from England, including Ivan Mauger, champ last year and leader this year, and four-time world champ Barry Briggs at the end of the season to compete with the Southern California broadsliders.
“Such lads as Rick Woods, Sonny Nutter, Steve Bast and Swede Savage are coming along fast and may beat those Britishers when they arrive,” said Oxley.
Cess Platte, here from Australia, is getting used to the track. He is residing in Huntington Beach with his rival Rick Woods, who raced in the Antipodes last winter. Woods and Steve Bast have been the big winners.
Harry Oxley says promoters in other cities on the coast have contacted him, and it should only be a question of time until a full circuit similar to that of the ’30s and ’40s is in operation again.
EAST GERMAN GP
Rain and the death of little Bill Ivy shadowed the East German Grand Prix at Sachsenring. While practicing, the lower crankshaft in his Jawa Four seized in the middle of a sweeper. It was raining, and witnesses say Bill was just wiping his goggles as the bike locked up. His porridge bowl helmet came off as he slid along the pavement. His head was struck on a fence unshielded by hay bales.
A race-long duel in the 250 event lifted spirits, as Renzo Pasolini (Benelli) and Santiago Herrero (Ossa) diced dramatically, the Spaniard fighting to keep his championship point lead.
Derbis again won the first two places in the 50-cc race, and the Kriedlers never came near. Angel Nieto and Santi Herrero led all the way, gaining 15 seconds on the next fastest pursuer, Aalt Toersen. Herrero actually gave his lead to Nieto at the finish line as the latter has accumulated more championship points in this class than teammate Herrero.
Before the 350 contest a wreath was placed on the grid, marking the spot of the second qualifier. Bill Ivy had been killed in practice, and the crowd of 200,000 people stood silently in the drizzle as they honored Ivy. Ivy’s Jawa teammate, Franta Stastny, did not start the race in deference to the tragedy.
Following the ceremony, at the fall of the flag, Ago’s MV roared into the lead, with Gould’s Yamaha and Rosner’s MZ close behind. These positions remained unchanged throughout the race. Guiseppe Viscenzi (Yamaha) was 4th.
It looked like a sure win for Dieter Braun’s Suzuki in the 125 race. Braun, an excellent starter, got off to a speedy and growing lead on Dave Simmonds. But in the last lap Braun’s Suzuki broke a crankshaft, handing the race to the Kawasaki. Gunther Bartusch, a very fast East German rider, was behind Simmonds throughout the race but was forced to withdraw when his MZ expired. Heinz Kriwanek (Rotax) finally clinched 2nd spot and East German Friedhelm Kohlar was 3rd.
The 250 GP was marked by a glorious start for East German Rosner, who jetted away from the pack on his MZ. It took more than a lap for Herrero and Pasolini to close that 50-yard lead and finally catch Rosner. But from then on Paso was clever enough to let Santi find his own way around the circuit—it was the Spaniard’s first start there—and throttle back and wait. Paso’s patience paid on the last curve, as he got past the Ossa smartly. Rosner redeemed himself with brilliant riding when, after a pit stop, he found himself in 6th place. Rosner, in a spectacular charge, got past Carruthers (Benelli), Gould (Yamaha) and Andersson (Yamaha) to recover 3rd place.
Ago led the 500 race all the way, but it was Karl Auer who stole the show. An excellent rain rider, Auer gunned his Matchless around the wet Sachsenring safely ahead of any challengers. Australian Terry Dennehy on a Drixl-Honda did an admirable job defending 3rd spot...until he ran out of gas on the last lap. Dennehy was in 2nd place at the time, as Auer’s machine had broken down shortly before. Billy Nelson went on to take 2nd on a Hannah-Paton, followed by Steve Ellis on a Linto.
CZECHOSLOVAKIAN GP
The summer grind of one GP a week came to a pause after the Czechoslovakian GP at Brno, a lively industrial town 30 miles from the Austrian border. Flying Ago secured his 350-cc title, although Rod Gould’s Yamaha is quite a threat for next season. The Italian also has the 500 crown for the fourth time. Dave Simmonds has won the 125 title, the first for both him and Kawasaki. The 250 title fight is wide open. Herrero still leads, but Pasolini is closing in fast with his win at Brno.
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It was clear from the beginning of .the 50-cc GP that Paul Lodewijkx’s Jamathi was the fastest bike, a cool 10 mph up on the Derbis. And once the Jamathi took the lead it was there for good. With Barry Smith chasing Lodewijkx, Derbi teammates Nieto and Herrero pulled into the pits, Nieto for a plug change, Herrero out for good. With his bike running clean again, Nieto made his way back up to 3rd, behind Smith, and that’s how they finished.
Dave Simmonds’ remarkable talent won for him another 125 GP. Working his way up from 4th place, Simmonds gradually picked off the best of them one-by-one. With Dieter Braun leading, Dave first disposed of Lazslo Szabo, then Cees Van Dongen, to put him in 2nd place with three laps to go. With consummate skill Simmonds finally nailed him.
In the 250 race Renzo Pasolini won his third race of the season, but not before an extended struggle with Rod Gould. Gould’s Yamaha led for half the race and it wasn’t until his engine soured that Paso took over. Kel Carruthers’ Benelli was unable to pass Gould so he finished 3rd.
Agostini took the 350 contest, confidently snatching the lead from Rod Gould five laps from the end. At first the Yamaha was faster than the MV, but as the race wore on and the Yamaha got warm, some power was lost. In 3rd place was Silvio Grassetti on a Jawa Four.
Another 500 race went to Ago, but Gyula Marsovski scored a surprise 2nd on a Linto. Young Czech whiz Bohumil Stasa placed 3rd on a single-cylinder CZ.
SUPER RAPID AFM'MER
The AFM road race held recently at Orange County Raceway saw 18-yearold Don Emde win the 20-mile 350 GP at a record 78.25 mph average speed. Emde, leader in AMA Novice road race points, rode so smoothly and professionally that his record was little surprise to many observers.
Second place finisher Art Baumann set a new record for the Open class on his 500-cc Suzuki at an average of 77.68. Baumann’s 2nd was the result of a last minute assault on Don Vesco. On the last lap Baumann drafted Vesco’s Yamaha, building up a good head of steam, and finally pipped him at the finish line. Ron Grant’s chances vanished when his transmission autonomously stuck in high gear in the early stages of the race. The Wicked Spirit of Malfunction also eliminated Ron Pierce; his Yamaha’s expansion chamber split. Fourth place was Steve McLaughlin on another Yamaha, followed by Jack Simmons and George Kerker, both on Nortons.
TD-2 mounted Don Vesco took the 250 GP, a race initially led by Ron Grant. But dash it all!...mechanical problems struck again (danker sores?) and Grant sat this one out too. Vesconemesis Baumann dogged the leader and even got past him once, but the Kawasaki couldn’t match the Yamaha’s speed and was forced to return the lead. Third behind Baumann was Don Emde, followed by Hurley Wilvert on a Kawasaki.
Rudy Galindo again won the 175 GP, which is nothing new. Galindo led from the start on his 125 Yamaha only to fall a couple of laps later. He quickly remounted however, and in several laps was back in front. Ralph LeClerq’s 175 Ducati was visibly faster than Galindo’s bike, often opening a lead on the latter as they entered the straight, but the Yamaha would inevitably regain the position through turns 1 and 2. Stan Smith was 3rd on a Bridgestone, followed by Dave Allee and Don Emde, Honda and Hodaka mounted, respectively.
The sidehack event was another Dean Hummer-Rulon Gulbransen benefit. Their Harley has won for them more races on the circuit than competitors care to remember. The Kawasaki Three outfit of Auer and Cummings was safely ensconced in 2nd place when it seized. Doug Bingham and Ed Wade then moved up only to have their engine go sour, too. At the end, Stan Shorrow finished 2nd, ahead of the Johnson-Van Larr 650 Triumph. [O]
