The Sacramento Mile
THE SACRAMENTO MILE
Palmgren Wins A Heart-Stopping Final.
BRYON FARNSWORTH
THE SACRAMENTO MILE must be one of the most exciting spectacles in motorcycle competition. This fact was certain to all present, as the AMA's finest put on an absolute heartstopper of a show.
Current national point leader Mert Lawwill, who won his first national championship race at the Sacto dirt oval in 1965, was a likely favorite on his H-D. He runs quite well on this track, although several factors, not the least of which was the new displacement limit, would work against him.
The trio of former No. 1 plate holders made up of Dick Mann, Bart Markel and Roger Reiman were all gunning to upset Mert.
Underrated at dirt track events, road racing star Cal Rayborn was also out to close the gap on teammate Lawwill. Causing discomfort among the veterans were several young chargers. Triumphmounted Chuck Palmgren and Gene Romero, “devil may care” buddies off the race track, were there to repeat the one-two act they performed at the Santa Rosa mile. Jim Rice, Sedalia mile winner and undisputed king of the San Jose half mile, was loaded for bear on a BSA Three. First-year Expert Mark Brelsford, wanting to equal co-rookie Rices’ two nationals, was looking for a repeat of his 1968 win as an Amateur.
The oval one-mile “Dirt Dyno” was in beautiful shape by the end of practice, and riders were predicting new lap records. The new 750-cc ohv displacement limit set by the AMA is the best thing that has happened to Britain since the Marshall plan.
The Love brothers, from Palmdale, Calif., applied some of their namesake to Chuck Palmgren’s Trackmaster/Triumph, as he turned a sizzling 40.30 lap for fast time of the day. Second fastest was a real mind bender, as Amateur Don Castro apparently forgot to shut off, and took a tour at 40.50. Castro’s Triumph was built by MC Machining of Gilroy, Calif., with Manuel Romero doing the wrenching. Jim Rice, aboard Tom Cates’ BSA Three, was third fastest with a 40.55.
The Harley-Davidson crew was still in there trying. Although their flatheads were down on steam against ohv 650 and 750 English equipment, they put up a valiant effort. Next year the Milwaukee firm will hopefully have their 750 overhead valve machines approved, and dirt track fans will benefit from a more equitable racing formula.
Fastest flathead, at 40.80, was Cal Rayborn’s. Bart Markel backed Cal up with an almost identical 40.82. Point leader Mert Lawwill was farther down the list with a 41.09. Both Cal and Mert were using megaphone exhaust systems on their H-Ds to try to keep up with the flying British. Mighty Mite Yvon du Hamel was taking the turns WFO, but that wasn’t enough, as his 350 Yamaha didn’t have the muscle of the big four strokes. He still turned a very creditable 41.10.
The three fastest Amateurs were Castro (naturally), Ken Pressgrove (BSA, 40.90) and Dave Aldana (BSA, 40.95). Aldana’s regular machine never arrived, so he conned Jim Rice out of his spare TT bike! Changing wheels and gearing, young Dave gave Jim’s loaner the fastest ride of its life. With a crop of Amateurs like Castro, Aldana, Pressgrove, Mashburn, Gillespie, Donaher and Dudek, hot on their heels, it’s no wonder the Experts are going so fast.
Action started early, thanks to referee Dave Welsh’s whip cracking. Chuck Palmgren led the first Expert heat wire to wire. Bugs Mann worked his way past Pat Gosch and Bart Markel.
Second of the four Expert heats was the first record breaker of the day. Jim Rice jumped into a big lead followed by Dallas Baker on a 650 BSA. Roger Reiman got by Dallas on the last lap, and Dusty Coppage got fourth.
Third Expert heat went to Cal Rayborn, but not without a fight from Jim Jones, of Kirkland, Washington. Young Jim led for four laps, holding off Rayborn, Mulder and Jimmy Odom. At the finish Mulder moved into 2nd, followed by Jones and Odom.
The fourth Expert heat saw Jim Rice’s half-hour-old 8-lap heat race record broken by Gene Romero. “Burrito” let it all hang out for a time of 5:21.13. Second was Larry Palmgren, followed by Art Barda, then Tommy Rockwood on a Triumph three-cylinder.
The first Amateur heat was a crowd thriller. Don Castro fell off while leading the fourth lap, remounted in 4th spot, and passed the remaining three riders to take the win! Second was Mike Spitzer, Triumph and 3rd was Keith Mashburn, Yamaha. The second heat was all Ken Pressgrove, followed by Frank Gillespie and Don Dudek. The final Amateur heat was a new seven-lap track record for the yellow platers. Dave Aldana turned a 4:48.56 to take the win aboard his BSA. The final two spots were made by Mike Lubby and Dave Hansen.
The six-lap Expert semi was the last chance for anyone who ran into trouble in the heats. With only four going to the final and 12 to choose from, somebody had to give. Sammy Tanner has never given in and this time was no exception. Riding Shell Theut’s 750 Royal Enfield twin, he led from start to finish. Mert Lawwill, nipping at Sam’s heels, was second with Mark Breisford and Carl Patrick rounding out the final four.
The Amateur 10-mile final would have been another uneventful win for Don Castro, if Ken Pressgrove and Dave Aldana had stayed home. Pressgrove’s BSA was the only one that could keep Castro’s Triumph in sight, but it was Aldana whom everyone was watching. The start was livened up by Aldana, who bogged down coming off the line, and trailed the entire field by 50 yards going down the backstretch. Aldana turned an incredible 39.53 lap time during his drive to overtake the field. Young Dave caught and passed Pressgrove on the 8th lap and was closing on Castro at the finish. The final order was Castro, Aldana, Pressgrove, Gillespie, and Dudek.
The 11th annual 25-mile National Championship was actually two races in one. The first four were holding their own private duel, while the rest of the field was trying for fifth.
Chuck Palmgren, Gene Romero, and Jim Rice went round and round like they had become attached to one another. Dick Mann kept nudging them, hoping one would break loose. Palmgren and Romero led most of the way. Although Rice had the lead at one time, he couldn’t shake the two Triumph twins. Rice’s BSA Three would drag its left side case in the turns, causing young Jim to age prematurely. Mann started slowing on lap 16; his BSA twin sounded as if it would be of better use hunting ducks. Markel, taking advantage of Mann’s misfortune, moved into 4th on lap 20. The final lap still had Palmgren, Romero and Rice holding hands, with the outcome up for grabs. Palmgren held on to the end and was pushed across the line by “Burrito” and Rice. Fourth was Bart, Mert Lawwill squeezed past Bugs for fifth. Lawwill gave a tremendous effort, as he was last man off the line at the start.
The finish almost assures Mert of the No. 1 plate for next year, and no one has worked harder to earn it than the “Frisco Flyer.”
