California International Grand Prix
CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX
Wilvert Wins Feature Event, Takes Home $1000 Kawasaki Contingency
AS A RESULT of good advertising, perfect weather, and Castrol Oil’s sponsorship, the third annual California International Grand Prix featured a $2300 purse and the largest turnout of riders ever seen at an AFM road race in Southern California.
Due to the recent AMA-F1M affiliation, AMA road racers are now able to compete in FIM-sanctioned races throughout the country without being penalized by the AMA, a situation which was likely to happen anywhere but in California.
The AMA’s executive director, Russ March, was present to view road racing under FIM rules, and seemed quite impressed by the day’s racing.
“Hurley who?” they asked. Hurley Wilvert, riding a Kawasaki H-IR for Norm Reeves Motorcycles, found himself winner of the 1000-cc final event after early leaders Don Emde and Jody Nicholas dropped by the wayside. In addition to receiving the lion’s share of the prize money, Hurley bagged $1000 in contingency money from Kawasaki Motors Corp.
Second place went to Reg Pridmore (750 Norton), and 3rd to Steve McLaughlin (350 Yamaha). Jim Deehan
(Kawasaki 500) beat Don Castro (Triumph 750) to the line for 4th place. This was Castro’s first ride at Orange County, and the big Triumph proved to be too much for tight corners.
The popular 250 CP class battle
rode Yvon du Hamel’s Yamaha and was sponsored by Fred Deeley Ltd., the Canadian Yamaha distributor.
Production racing again proved to be popular with the spectators. A threeway battle between the Nortons of George Kerker, Bill Manley and Jack Simmons was broken up when John McGillivary pressed his BSA Rocket Three into 3rd. Even though outfitted with lights and mufflers, many of the production machines are little less than full-blown racers. “They should call the production race the funny-bike race,” quipped George Kerker, who just missed earning the $100 contingency prize from Norton-Villiers Corp.
Sidecars always provide an interesting race at Orange County, and GP entries kept the tradition going. It looked as if the Hummer/Gulbransen Harley-powered outfit would score a runaway victory, but magneto problems put them out early in the race. This let the Pridmore/Caesar team’s beautifully constructed Norton 750 through for the win, followed by Auer/Carnett (Kawasaki) and Bakker/Bender (Triumph).
Many new sidecars are under construction in this area, so next year’s races will prove even more exciting, [Q]
between Don Emde and Jody Nicholas didn’t materialize due to Nicholas’ bad start, but racing throughout the pack was keen. Nicholas cut Emde’s lead down to 9 sec. at one point, but settled for 2nd place ahead of Jim Dunn. Jim
