Sears Point National
Sears Point National
... In Which The Champagne Ceremony Comes To AMA Racing, And Baumann Wins It.
BY BRYON FARNSWORTH
SEARS POINT International Raceway, California’s newest race course, was the scene of the American Motorcycle Association’s 125-mile National championship road race. The 2.52-mile, 11-turn road course demands the utmost in rider skill and concentration. It is carved out of the coastal hills, an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, with excellent spectator and competitor facilities.
Last road race of the 1969 season for the AMA pavement boys, it gave prerace favorite Cal Rayborn a chance to pick up a few more points toward trading his No. 25 in on the No. 1 plate. The factory orange and black team of Harley-Davidson wasn’t about to let Cal down, with strong support from Mert Lawwill, Bart Markei, Mark Brelsford, Roger Reiman, and Jimmy Odom, who took over the mount of Walt Fulton Jr., injured at Mosport, Canada the previous week.
Yamaha, tired of playing bridesmaid, was out in full force. Always the top dog in the 250 races, this was their last chance of the year to prove that the potent 350 was capable of beating 500 and 750-cc machines. Hope rested on the shoulders of young Ron Pierce and Yvon du Hamel, with veterans Dick Mann and Dickie Newell filling out the team effort. Private entry Ralph White, riding for Kenny Johnson’s K&N Yamaha of Riverside, was equal to anything on the track, and definitely the strongest of the non-factory entrants. Mel Dinesen of Bakersfield, who gave Pierce his early start, brought two well prepared mounts up for first-year Expert Tom Rock wood. This type of effort, both factory backed and private, is the reason Yamaha remains in top contention.
Steadily improving at each meeting was Suzuki, with “almosts” at Daytona and Indianapolis, showing themselves quite likely to lift “King Calvin’s” crown. Ron Grant was probably the road racer most likely to succeed, as he has followed the Harley-Davidson ace closer than anyone else this season. The charger of this team, Art Baumann of Brisbane, Calif., was also a good prospect.
Getting their feet wet with a full factory team effort was Kawasaki. Well organized, with light green machines and riders clad in matching leathers, they were a very handsome group. More of this type of preparation is needed to better the image and appeal of professional class racing in the U.S. Kawasaki borrowed big-bore riders Cal Rayborn and Art Baumann for duty on their 2 5 0s, with upcoming Expert Dave Smith and Illinois Amateur Ron Muir rounding out the team.
Triumph’s top man, Gary Nixon, was absent from the line-up, because of his unfortunate leg injury incurred at the Santa Rosa mile. Left to carry the Union Jack for the English Twins were Gene Romero and Chuck Palmgren, doing their duty for Western and Eastern distributors, respectively. A factory BSA effort was notably absent, their 500 Twin being inadequate, and racing budget money aimed at the 750 Threes and 650 Twins.
The 90-mile Amateur/Expert 250 race got underway with 20-year-old Ron Pierce jumping into the lead. Du Hamel followed Pierce cautiously, for on Friday the fearless French Canadian had taken a bad spill in practice and was shaken up considerably. After one goaround, Pierce was followed by du Hamel, Mann, Canadian Peter Kellond, Baumann, and Ralph White. By Lap 10 the Yamahas of Pierce, du Hamel and White were leading in that order. White, having charged his way past Kellond and Baumann, was gaining on 2nd place du Hamel. Dick Mann had let the front runners go and was in 6th, dicing with another Canadian, Tim Coopey. Rayborn was holding his own in 8th with Dickie Newell following. Pierce continued his steady pace, touring the 2.52-mile course in 2:02. Du Hamel really started his drive and by Lap 22 had moved to within 8 seconds of the leader. White, a strong 3rd and only 6 seconds behind du Hamel, developed a broken right expansion chamber. He slowly started losing time on Baumann, and held up one hand in despair as he passed the pits. Yamaha pit man Bill Stewart flashed the sign to Pierce that du Hamel was on his tail. Ron poured on the coal to lap all but four of the remaining field, for an 18-second win over du Hamel. Third was Baumann on a Kawasaki, having passed White in the last two laps. Kellond, the Vancouver, B.C. rider, finished a well deserved 5th on the Deeley Yamaha.
Sunday morning’s practice session was marred by an unfortunate accident in the first practice of the day. Bart Markel clipped a haybale in one of the esses, spilling him, and spreading hay over the course. Around the corner came Amateur Lee Patterson of Fresno, Calif. Losing control on the slippery hay, he fell, injuring himself fatally.
It was Gene Romero’s turn next, as he struck Patterson’s fallen machine which sent him cartwheeling through the air. Romero got up under his own power, but had to drive to a nearby town to have 32 stitches sewn in his chin. Markel suffered an injured left ankle, and, after being carried to his machine to compete in the heat race, was unable to ride in the 125-mile main event.
The first of two Expert qualifying heats was won decisively by Cal Rayborn on his H-D. Cal set the preview of the big race by turning the second lap of the five-lap heat race in 1:58! The second heat was a Ralph White runaway.
The Amateur 50-Mile Championship final started off with Jimmy Dunn on a team Suzuki taking the lead, followed closely by Nick Theroux (Suzuki), Don Castro, on the Long Beach Triumph of Norm Lee, and Mike Sponseller, also on a Triumph. Dave Bloom of Ann Arbor, Mich., riding a 350 Yamaha, was 5th on Lap 1. By the second lap, he had passed Sponseller, Theroux, and Castro and was after Dunn. On Lap 4 Bloom had passed Dunn and was starting to move away. Lap 6 was his undoing as he dropped it in Turn 6. Remounting, he limped back to the pits with his fairing dragging, handing the lead back to Jimmy Dunn. By Lap 10 the order had settled down to Dunn followed by Castro, Jim Deehan, Sponseller and Ron Muir. Deehan passed Castro for 2nd on Lap 11, only to fall victim to Turn 6 on Lap 15, which put him out. This left Jim Dunn with a tremendous lead. The battle for 2nd continued between Castro, Muir and Sponseller. Muir’s Kawasaki started getting sour towards the last and fell back. Mighty Mite Jimmy Dunn went on to win by a wide margin on the potent 500 Suzuki Twin. A well earned 2nd was gained by bashful Don Castro (Triumph), who came in at the finish with his toes showing through his boots. Mike Sponseller (Triumph) rode a steady race to finish 3rd, followed by Bob Wakefield (Suzuki) and Nick Theroux on Al Fergoda’s Suzuki.
An interesting crowd pleaser was the professional sidecar race, sandwiched between the Amateur and Expert big bike finals. The wild slides executed by the competitors brought the crowd to its feet. Eventual winners were Dean Hummer, Canoga Park, Calif., and passenger Rulon Gulbransen, Saugus, Calif., on a beautiful orange Harley-Davidson kneeler. Second place, on a new Kawasaki three-cylinder kneeler, was Oswald Auer, rider, and Robert Cummings, passenger, both from Chico, Calif.
The start of the featured 125-mile Championship was delayed by the Paramount Pictures movie crew who were using the starting grid as a set. Their forthcoming film, “Little Fauss and Big Halsey,” features some of America’s best riders. Watch for it.
With everything back to normal at the line, the big race was flagged away. Rayborn shot into the lead, according to the script, and began to leave the field. On Lap 3, Cal glanced over his shoulder and saw Art Baumann on his tail. Not according to the script. On Lap 4, Baumann pressed by Cal and took the lead, followed by Grant in 3rd. Baumann, holding the lead comfortably, was followed by Rayborn, Grant, and Brelsford through Lap 10. Brelsford, riding with a brace to hold his broken collarbone in place, charged by Grant’s Suzuki to take over 3rd on Lap 11. Lap 13 still had Baumann out front, followed by Rayborn and Brelsford. Ralph White moved by Grant. White had shut his gas off at the line during the movie scene and was left dead engine at the start. His run through the pack to catch up to 3rd spot by Lap 13 had him turning faster time than the leaders. His outstanding effort was in vain, for he went out with an engine failure on Lap 15. Seventeen laps were all Cal’s Harley could take of the blistering pace, and he retired, moving Brelsford to 2nd, followed by Grant.
On Lap 20, Brelsford pulled into the pits. After a valiant effort to keep the Harley flag flying, young Mark’s previous injury forced him out. Lap 23 of the scheduled 50-lap race almost put an end to Baumann’s ride. Jess Thomas, running in 11th spot, went down in Turn 7. Baumann clipped the fallen machine, and took a wild ride 75 feet off the course. Regaining control he re-entered the course, while Thomas returned to the pits under his own power. Halfway point brought about a change. Ron Pierce moved past Odom into 3rd. Baumann still led Grant, but Lap 28 was the last one for Ron Grant. As he coasted into the pits, Pierce took 2nd. The gas stops started, and by Lap 38, all of the top 10 except Baumann had taken on fuel. Baumann waved off two pit signals, and finally let them gas him up on the 39th lap. By Lap 40, Odom dropped out, moving teammates Reiman and Lawwill up to 3rd and 4th.
The checkered flag on the 50th lap was a welcome sight, for the track temperature rose to 105 during the 125-mile race. Baumann’s average speed on the twisty hillside course was 72.68 mph. It took him just 1 hour and 42 seconds to collect $3450 in hard-earned prize money. Much of the credit must go to his rehable 500 Suzuki. This was the first time a two-stroke has won an AMA National Championship big bike road race.
A brilliant ride for 2nd on a 350 Yamaha was turned in by an exhausted Ron Pierce. He had to be helped from his machine at the finish, but soon recovered to share in the champagne with the winner. Veteran Roger Reiman brought the Harley-Davidson in for a hard fought 3rd. Mert Lawwill earned himself more valuable points toward becoming No. 1 with a solid 4th. Rounding out 5th was Peter Kellond on Deeley’s 350 Yamaha. Sixth, 7th and 8th also were Yamahas with Rockwood, Mann and du Hamel aboard. Gene Romero brought the Western team Triumph home in 9th spot, despite his previous severe chin injury. r^i
