Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
ASCOT 100-LAP TT
"Nothing succeeds like success” must be Skip Van Leeuwen’s theme song as he breezed to his fourth straight 100-lap TT win at Ascot Park in Gardena, Calif. Skip has won this annual twist-and-turn steeplechase a total of five times. He overcame a spill late in the race to show the packed grandstands why he deserves the title of the “Flying Dutchman.” Remounting, he came within nine seconds of lapping the entire field.
Time trials took the fastest 27, with the top three from a pair of do-or-die semi-mains rounding out the rest of the 33-rider final. Paul Bostrom, former Northern Californian who now calls Bakersfield home, turned fast time (49.40) on his Custom Engineering Triumph. Second was National No. 33 Bob Bailey, with red hot Amateur John Hately rounding out the top three. All weré aboard Triumph 650 Twins, which appeared to be the favorite as almost the entire field was made up of this brand.
For those who had difficulty in making the final by virtue of a fast time, a pair of 10-lap semi-mains gave them another chance. As only the top three transferred, the action was hot and heavy. The first event saw Mike Konle pull off a wire-to-wire win over Randy Smith and Sandy Armstrong. The second semi went to top Amateur from the San Francisco Bay area, Allen “Lemondrop” Kenyon, aboard his father’s BSA/Trackmaster. The final two transfer spots went to veteran Jim Ashmore and first-year Expert Bob “Haywire” Haynes.
The entry list was somewhat thin due to the start of the Daytona Speed Week the following Monday morning, but many of the country’s best stayed to try their luck before heading back east. AMA champion Mert Lawwill, along with Ron Pierce and Tom Rock wood, joined TT stars Eddie Mulder and Dusty Coppage. BSA’s standby crew of Dallas Baker and Eddie Wirth stayed while youngsters Jim Rice and Dave Aldana opted to try the new road racing Threes at Daytona.
The first 10 laps saw Lloyd Houchins holding back Paul Bostrom and Dallas Baker, with Mulder and Van Leeuwen starting to move up. The “Flying Dutchman,” getting the feel of things the first few laps, was leading the pack by Lap 11. After a bad start, Lawwill, halfway back in the pack, gunned the only Sportster in the race up to 6th by Lap 15. Mert slid out in the right-hander after the jump, and this delay put him almost a full lap down on the leaders. Bostrom, running in the top three for 20 laps, dropped out with ignition failure. Arrangements are under way between Intersport and International Racing Enterprises of Canoga Park, Calif. for an exchange team motocross series.
Van Leeuwen continued steadily to lap everyone except the 2nd place man, while Houchins was fighting off re peated attempts by TOmmy Rockwood for the runner-up spot. Rockwood finally gunned the Danny Macias-tuned Triumph by for a well earned 2nd with Houchins making it 1-2-3 for Triumph. Macias was the big winner of the day, as he owns the equipment ridden by Van Leeuwen and Rockwood.
ISDT ENTRIES OPEN
Applications are now open for U.S. entrants to the International Six-Day Trial, to be held Oct. 5 through 10 this year near Madrid, Spain.
Any experienced enduro riders who are interested in participating in the ISDT should submit a letter, as soon as possible, to MICUS (Motorcycle Inter national Committee of the U.S.), stating their qualifications and experience. The address is P.O. Box 273, Placentia, Calif. 92670.
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Interest in the event has greatly increased in the past few years. Of 40 applicants last year, 22 were accepted from the U.S. as team and individual riders. The number is expected to increase this year.
New rules in effect allow MICUS to select a U.S. Trophy Team consisting of six riders, as well as the two four-rider Vase A and B teams. Any bonafide motorcycle organization may submit an entry for a three-member club team. There will also be a manufacturer’s team. And, riders may enter on an individual basis. The total number of riders allowed to run includes the team entries as well as the individual entries.
MICUS is setting up a committee to select riders for the various team and individual entries. The decision will be based on a rider’s past experience in the ISDT and the medals he has won. Also counting in the selection process: performance in the Berkshire Two-Day Trial, Jack Pine Enduro, and qualifying enduros on the West Coast. MICUS will submit all applications to the FIM, ranking them according to the selection committee’s choices.
An entry form will be sent to all applicants, who must, of course, hold an International License ($15) and belong to a MICUS member club. Under the new AMA-MICUS agreement, AMA Class C professional riders may obtain their FIM International Licenses through the AMA office, but must still make application to MICUS for a start in the ISDT.
BONNEVILLE 1970
The 22nd annual Bonneville National speed trials has been set for Aug. 23 through 29, 1970. The event, for both cars and motorcycles, takes place on the expansive salt flats 126 miles west of Salt Lake City. Nearest town to the flats is Wendover, five miles to the west.
Entries are now being accepted. Competitors may obtain entry forms and rule books ($1.50 a copy) from Earl F. Flanders, P.O. Box 2297-D, Pasadena, Calif. 91105, or from the American Motorcycle Association, P.O. Box 231, Worthington, Ohio 43085.
Entry fee is $35 per motorcycle, with change of class during the speed week costing $20 extra. Post entry is $45 per motorcycle. Deadline for entries is July 15,1970.
EAST VS. WEST
Scheduled for May 31 at Peppered, Mass, is the first round when New England’s top six professional motocross riders take on a six-man California team chosen in a series of qualifying events at Bay Mare, and sent to New England, expenses paid by International Racing Enterprises.
On June 6, the New England team will appear at Bay Mare for the return match with the Californians. New England riders’ travel expenses will be paid by Intersport.
Both events will pay $600 to the winning team. Teams will consist of three 250-cc riders and three 500-cc riders.
BENEFIT MOTOCROSS
The Sprockets Motorcycle Club is running a motocross June 7, 1970 to benefit a Kansas charity service. Venue is the Inter-Am track at Wichita.
Last year, this public relationsminded club raised $502 for the Boy Scout troop at the Institute of Logopedics. This year’s benefactor is the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Counseling Service; the Sprockets hope to double their contribution from race receipts and donated merchandise awards.
Those interested may write to A.C. Patrick, Sprockets MC, 7720 E. Lincoln, Wichita, Kan. 67207.
BAJA 500 IN JUNE
The 1970 Baja 500 race is scheduled for June 9 through 12, starting and ending in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
Younger and smaller cousin of the Mexican 1000, this off-road race for twoand four-wheelers costs $275 to enter, but returns 40 percent of the entry fees in prizes, plus a large amount of contingency money.
Entry blanks and further information may be obtained from NORRA (National Off Road Racing Association), 1616 Victory Blvd., Suite 200, Glendale, Calif. 91201. NORRA’S telephone is (213) 245-1033. Entry deadline for the race is 5 p.m., May 20.
TRADE TEAM ENTRANTS
Several industry teams have made known their plans for entering the two-day Berkshire trial May 16 and 17.
Products Testing of Los Angeles, Calif., will enter a Harley-Davidson mounted team, according to Dave Ekins. Yankee Motors of Schenectady, N.Y., will enter a team riding either Yankee or Ossa models. A Penton Imports team will participate once again, and Cemoto East will support a Bultaco team entry according to Bill Dutcher, sales manager for Cemoto.
