Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
TALLEDAGA 200
ROOKIE DAVE ALDANA shattered the AMA road race aces as he screamed his BSA Three to a 104-plus mph win at Bill France’s new Talledaga Super-Speedway. Youthful Aldana has excelled at all forms of dirt competition but seemed to lack the “cool” necessary to win a major road race. After taking the lead on the 20th lap, however, Aldana never put a wheel wrong as he relentlessly pulled out a full minute on 2nd place at the end of 200 miles.
No less devastating was the ride by another “teeny bopper” in the 100-mile 250 race. San Diego’s Don Emde battled wheel to wheel with Gary Nixon and Cal Rayborn, who was on Don Vesco’s Yamaha, until a misfire slowed Cal near the halfway mark. Although Nixon had not fully recovered from his terrible leg injuries of last season, he rode as beautifully as ever but lacked speed on Emde. After the race Emde said he didn’t worry about Gary and Cal passing in the infield, as he had almost 5 mph over his rivals on the banking. On almost every lap Rayborn would slowly edge around the outside of Emde in the infield 180-degree sweeper only to lose the advantage on the banking. After the race Rayborn paid Emde a great tribute when he stated that he would ride that close with only about three riders in the whole world.
Behind the flying front trio there was an equally fierce battle for 4th spot. Lap after lap Frank Camillieri, Tom Rockwood, Ray Elempstead and Ralph White banged their Yamahas together as they lost ground to the leaders but still maintained a good distance from the rest of the field. The smoothest rider/ machine combination was Mark Brelsford on the 350 Harley-Davidson Sprint. Although he finished 14th and was the first non-Yamaha home, Brelsford deserved a trophy on looks and sound alone. The only other non-Yamaha in the first 20 was Eddie Moran on a Kawasaki in 17th place.
Rusty Bradley went to the starting line for the Amateur race with a xerox of a telegram taped to his gas tank. The message was: “Winner of Talledaga
Amateur race receives $2500 bonus, if riding a Kawasaki motorcycle.” There was a small P.S. : “Kawasaki did not bring spare parts.” With those two pieces of paper to remind him, the young Texan set off to battle Gary Fisher, Gary Nixon’s new protege who rides for Nixon Enterprises. Fisher’s Triumph Three was not lacking in handling or horsepower as he accepted the challenge head on. For a third of the race Fisher and Bradley had at it. Banging, bumping, slipping and sliding, neither rider gave an inch. The Triumph handled considerably better than the Kawasaki. And, either due to fatigue or the idea that Bradley eventually would crash, Fisher slackened his pace slightly. Bradley did not crash. Instead he maintained a 104-plus average for the 76-mile race, despite violent slides onto the banking at every lap.
After the race we learned that Bradley had started with a badly worn rear tire. So worn, in fact, that he had gone through two layers of cord by the end of the race. That explained the handling problems and the reason for the hard line message from AMA officials next morning when, at the rider’s meeting, they told everyone that no machine would be allowed to start the 200 with less than 3/32 in. of tread. It seems that Rusty’s tire was just about ready for the garbage can when he started the race.
Regardless of the problems on the way to the flag, Bradley picked up his money from Alan Masek to bring his bonus collection to $7500 from two races this year. Bradley has already paid all of his future college expenses with Kawasaki bonus money, and he is a pretty happy looking kid these days, not to mention his sponsor, John Jacobson.
Bradley was not the only rider to pick up a bonus check at Talledaga. Aldana barely crossed the line when Peter Thornton, president of Birmingham Small Arms (USA) announced he would present the youngest member of “Team Mexican” with a $5000 bonus. Whether prompted by Kawasaki’s contingency program or simply because of appreciation for winning at last on one of the highly developed BSAs, Mr. Thornton’s gesture is a giant step forward for the motorcycling sport. The day may soon come when the services of a brilliant rider are not taken for granted by the manufacturers. And with people like Peter Thornton the day might already be here.
In the opening stages it did not look like Aldana would win the second 200-mile race of the year. In fact, rail birds, going by practice performances, picked Ron Grant and Gary Nixon as the riders to win. Gene Romero again proved fastest qualifier on the oval when he completed the three-corner circle at a speed fractionally below the 157 mph recorded at Daytona, but he lacked the infield polish of the two favorites. Nixon was outstanding in the infield swervery, but Grant was downright inhuman as he flicked the 500 Suzuki from peg to peg about one second faster in the infield than any other rider. Unfortunately, due to a start line crash in the previous day’s-250 race, the Kent National winner was a non-starter.
The 200-miler was started in two waves. Nixon, in the front wave, got off right behind Romero, followed by a surprised Aldana. Six seconds later the second wave left the grid, and CYCFE WORFD’s very own assistant editor, Jody Nicholas, screamed his Suzuki from the last row into the lead from the pit apron onto the oval, and within a lap he was plowing through the first wave in pursuit of the leaders.
Meanwhile, Nixon was up front and in complete charge. By the 4th lap, the Triumph ace had pulled out 4 sec. on Aldana to challenge 2nd place. Nixon was circulating at a comfortable 2 min., 17 sec., while Aldana and Castro actually interfered with each other to the extent that by the 9th tour Nixon had built up a 10-sec. advantage, and Nicholas passed both Castro and Aldana.
Until signalled in for the first of two gas stops, Nicholas, lapping at 2 min., 16 sec., forced Aldana and Castro ahead until they were right on Nixon’s tail. Nicholas lost a full second trying to pass a slower rider on the 18th tour, but once by he closed Nixon’s advantage down to 2 sec.
After the gas stop, Nicholas rejoined the fray in 7th place, some 42 sec. down on Nixon. Nixon and Aldana were having a fantastic duel for the lead, with Castro trying to outdo everyone on the braking into the first turn off the oval. On the 23rd lap, when it looked like Castro just might make it into Turn 1 faster than anyone ever had and zap Nixon and Aldana into the bargain, he finally overshot on the sliproad, while still doing about 130 mph.
One lap before the halfway mark the whole thing ended for Gary Nixon. After dueling with Aldana for six laps, the former National No. 1 had his throttle stick open going into Turn 3, and crashed heavily in the soft dirt infield. So hot was the pace set by Nixon and Aldana that Aldana lost only two places when he pitted a lap later, letting fastest qualifier Romero, followed by Castro, have a brief taste of glory out front in the No. 1 spot.
(Continued on page 82)
Continued from page 81
As Aldana recovered from his pit stop and settled back into his stride with little concern, because the two riders in front had not yet pitted, he was not aware of the Nicholas Suzuki right on his tail. Nicholas, however, the victim of several high speed crashes this year, was not about to throw it away when 2nd place was completely dialed in.
After spending several laps in the pits, Gary Nixon rejoined the race, only to get the black flag after two tours. Gary had received a push to get started after his crash in the infield, a violation of AMA rules.
AMA National point leader, Dick Mann, having his first ride on a BSA Three under the terms of a new contract, was enjoying a really great battle with Ron Pierce and Yvon du Hamel on their 350 Yamahas, after Cal Rayborn retired his Harley-Davidson from a brilliant 5th place.
By the 40th lap, the proceedings had become more organized. Aldana had lapped Romero, the fastest qualifier, and Nicholas pitted for the second time but still came back into the race 20 sec. ahead of Castro. At this point it was obvious that Aldana would win and Nicholas would be 2nd. At this point, too, everyone realized that the real race was for 3rd place between Mann on the BSA and Baumann on the Suzuki. With only a lap to go, Mann ran out of road on the turn before the banking, and Baumann slipped home 6 sec. in front of the Daytona winner. What no one can figure out about the whole thing, and Suzuki is too kind to push it, is where Jim Rice came from to be scored ahead of Mann and Baumann.
The start of the 250 race was marred by a serious accident on the grid when Dave Bloom ran into Ron Grant. Although there were only 35 starters in the 250 race, officials opted to begin the event in accordance with the Competition Congress ruling that races on Super-Speedways be started in waves. The intent behind the rule was to break up a hundred or so riders as they went thundering off around the banking. It was presented also because of the danger if there would be rain, in which case all but the front half dozen would be riding blind,” due to spray, at speeds above 150 mph.
The wave system does reduce the danger on the banking but, as demonstrated at Talledaga, presents another hazard on the grid. Grant started in the first wave but his engine loaded up as he got underway. Knowing the 2nd wave would be thundering by in a matter of seconds, Grant sat bolt upright, trying to make himself as visible as possible. But, in the heavy haze of two-stroke smoke, Bloom did not see Grant until one rider ahead swerved, and it was too late. Bloom’s machine flipped in the air and caught fire.
Two officials ran away from, the scene, and only the alert action of Suzuki mechanic Chris Young, who pulled Bloom away from the flames, saved the rider from being badly burned. To compound the problem, there was no ambulance at start-finish and, in fact, it was more than 10 minutes before a rental van, being used as an ambulance, arrived on the scene.
Grant suffered a fractured left leg and will be out of racing for at least six months. Bloom received a badly broken femur and a fractured arm and probably will not race again this season.
Accidents of this type happen in Europe under the push start system, when a rider at the front does not get off well. Then someone at the back screams away and is going like a bomb by the time he reaches the front of the grid. As a result, bad accidents have occurred because of the speed differential. Many riders in Europe, particularly Phil Read, feel the clutch start method is safer because of the low speed difference as the riders leave the line. Regardless, the most dangerous part of any race is in the first minute, and that is where at least two ambulances should be standing by.
It seems that the solution is the use of rolling starts on Super-speedways, which pose a dangerous problem because entries are many and risks are high.
AMA RESCINDS AGE RULE
The American Motorcycle Association’s Executive Committee over-ruled action taken by the Competition Congress in their recent annual meeting when a ruling was established, limiting age of participants to a minimum of 16 years in motorcycling events where speed was a determining factor.
By deleting this rule, which has created considerable ill-will, the former ruling was reinstated: it requires parental consent, not only for those under 16, but for all minor-age competition riders. It was felt, in making this change, that the decision should rightfully be the responsibility of the parents.
LAWWILL WINS CUMBERLAND
AMA’s No. 1 man, Mert Lawwill, won the 20-lap, half-mile National Championship event at Cumberland, Md. It was the factory H-D rider’s second win of the season.
Dave Aldana (BSA) and Larry Palmgren (Triumph), finished 2nd and 3rd. Lawwill, Aldana, and Palmgren were also the three heat winners. Lawwill turned in the fastest qualifying time of 25.96 sec.
Lawwill’s teammate, Mark Brelsford, jumped to an early lead at the start of the race. Aldana took over 1st place in the third lap and held it for 16 laps.
Mert had started in the middle of the pack, but by Lap 14 he had worked his way to 2nd place, close behind Aldana’s BSA. Mert made his winning dash on Turn 4 of the final lap and snatched the victory away from Aldana.
In the Amateur final, Doug Sehl of Ont., Canada, took top honors on a Triumph, followed by Ron Butler, also on a Triumph.
CRRA HOLDS FIRST MEET
A new road racing club, Central Road Racing Association (CRRA), will hold its first event, The Great Lakes Inaugural, on July 18 and 19.
The program will be run under FIM rules, with help from the AAMRR, and will feature seven GP classes, plus street categories for production racing. The races will be held at Gratton Raceway near Grand Rapids, Mich., on a twomile, 11-turn course.
For more information: CRRA, 1396 West 7th St., St Paul, Minn.
INTERSPORT MOTOCROSS MEET
As sun and warmth brought the first tinges of green to winter-blasted New England, the Eastern cradle of motocross awakened with the first of a series of big purse events.
The Intersport organization was promoting professionalism by offering $1000 total prizes to the top 250 and 360 riders on the newly redesigned Pepperell course. A warm sun and the disappearance of snow brought out a significant number and variety of spectators, classic bike nuts, cafe racers, Continued from page 83
(Continued on page 84)
solid citizens (with solid Harley hogs) and a multitude of good-humored freaks of every description. But, incredibly, the pit area seemed to grow faster than the parking lot, and it soon became apparent that this event was to have one of the smallest spectator:rider ratios seen outside super-secret factory test circuits.
An exciting practice session was run by classes, taking over an hour and a half and revealing an extremely rough and varied track. In fact, the track was so hairy that one section had to be closed after the combination of a jump followed immediately by a mudhole handed New England’s No. 1, “SuperBruce” McGuire, a broken collarbone.
Officials were alternating between the joys of box office success and the fears of organizational chaos, as they confronted over 400 entrants from all over the country. There was more leather assembled there on the track than in half a dozen tanneries. Starter Les Beach gave his usual hard-nosed delivery about not leaving the line before he flashed the flag, or else, etc., but a couple of minitrailers playing tag in the pits made it almost impossible to hear. When Les allowed that the unexpectedly large rider turnout forced him to look to older hands for guidance and turned the meeting over to a quiet red-haired rider, an awed silence fell over the area —Dick Mann was there. As the grand old Mann quickly and authoritatively explained the system of heats and scoring, the news of his presence spread like a wave to the spectators at the farthest end of the track.
The organizers cleverly put Dick Mann and the other surviving 250-class superstar, Barry Higgins, in separate heats. Ossa mounted, Higgins ran away with his 20-minute heat, leading 2nd place by several hundred yards, and delighting the crowd with a display of grace and virtuosity over the topsyturvey landscape. Higgins cut a consistent 1.40 over the course from start to finish, in spite of having to gazelle through the pack as he lapped them toward the end.
In the other 250 heat the crowd was astonished as 14-year-old Curt Varney took the lead and held it for several laps over Glen Vincent and Dick Mann. The superiority of the versatile Daytona Daddy showed, however, and Mann quickly took the No. 1 spot with a couple of mind-blowing 1:37 laps. In contrast to Higgin’s fluid grace, Mann used a sharper, more sudden style combined with flashes of blinding acceleration to demonstrate that there’s more than one way to ride an Ossa to victory.
With the stage set for a Higgins-Mann duel in the 250 main, the crowd was saved from boredom in the first open heat only by the consummate skill of Jim Weinert, as he powered his CZ to 1st place, fully 15 seconds ahead of 2nd. Amateur heats worth 10 minutes each followed, and many an up-and-comer took gas when the strain of riding in both 250 and 360 classes proved too much. Serious injuries were absent, but nearly all of the six ambulances and top-notch first aid crews got some work out.
The start of the climactic 250 main was well worth the wait, as fully 60 riders screamed toward the all-important first hairpin. Then—Wham! A bright orange Montesa well in front of the pack went down, and rider and machine skittered 50 yards along the grass as the oncoming wave of wailing two-strokes overtook them. Riders went every direction including through the fence in the attempt to miss the errant Spanish iron and rider. Ironically the mystery Montesa rider was able to get up and chase the leaders almost immediately, while many less fortunate souls spent 10 or more minutes extricating themselves from the drift fences.
Blasting out of the mess, Higgins led Mann and between the two was that unbelievable 14-year-old, Varney. The tad pulled it through a tight one a bit sharper than he should have, and as his rear wheel momentarily lost traction, the cool old Mann slipped easily by. Mann began gaining slowly on Higgins for about a lap when a loose-surfaced downhill, off-camber hairpin (yes—all of that and more) did it to him and he was down in the center of the track. Dick was up instantly, but the Ossa was reluctant to start, and Higgins gained at least two-thirds of a lap. Lrom that point on, Bugsy Mann put on a magnificent display of full-out, ragged-edge riding, but Higgins stayed smooth and cool and was never in danger. Nonetheless, it was a promising outing for Bugsy, who would like very much to win the AMA professional motocross title this Lall.
The 360 main that followed was another anticlimax except for the spectacular performance of Weinert. The low afternoon sun glinted off his CZ’s brightwork as he experimented with new forms of high speed crossed up jumps and drifts that had every semblance of a complete loss of control while actually demonstrating total mastery. Linally on the last few laps, Weinert turned complete ham and wheelied down the washboard “grandstand” straight at over 60 mph.
