...Road Atlanta
ROAD ATLANTA IS probably the finest road racing circuit in America, combining uphill and downhill turns and a fast straightaway in a 2.5-mile lap. Some of the turns are practically blind, making a knowledge of the track mandatory. Off-camber stretches test the rider and his machine to the limit. Brakes are abused and fairings scraped. Here is a track that demands the expertise of a professional with much experience, and one such person was there to take home the lion’s share of the gold. Australian Kel Carruthers became the first non-American to ever win an AMA national championship road race. Showing that his title of 1969 250cc World Champion was no mistake, Kel streaked home to win Saturday’s 250cc Junior/Expert race, and followed that victory by out-pacing America’s best in the 125-mile National on Sunday. This was also the first Expert class AMA National road racing win for Yamaha’s 350, which has often been a bridesmaid but never a bride.
125-MILE NATIONAL
Kel was challenged by Harley-Davidson-mounted Cal Rayborn during the early stages of the race, but by the 17th of 50 laps had things pretty much his own way. Rayborn hung behind tenaciously but just couldn’t gain an inch. On the 27th lap, he pulled into the pits with transmission failure and left Carruthers with nothing to do but coast home the winner.
Half a minute behind, Daytona winner Dick Mann (BSA) and Suzukimounted Jody Nicholas were having a battle royale, circulating around the hilly swervery within feet of each other. Mann pitted for gas on the 35th lap, putting Nicholas into 2nd briefly, until his Suzuki sputtered to a stop on the 42nd lap, out of gas.
Farther back, Kawasaki teamster Ralph White had moved into 3rd, with rookie Don Emde holding a scant lead over former grand national champion Gary Nixon, whose leg and wrist were still mending. Nixon showed a gallant turn of speed and passed Emde, while National No. 1, Gene Romero, rode consistently into a 6th-place finish.
Carruthers’ average speed for the race was a rapid 89.946 mph, and his fastest lap netted a speed of 93.525 mph. Not as fast as the Can-Am cars, but fast enough to hold the attention of 20,000-plus spectators.
NOVICE-JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT
Young Kenny Roberts, last year’s top AMA Novice in dirt racing, set a rapid pace from the drop of the flag and led all but the opening two laps. Jeff March, who led the first two laps, stayed right behind Roberts, but his machine went sour and he dropped out on Lap 10. Jerry Christopher then moved up into 2nd and held off Northern California rider Jerry Green and Southern Californian Loyal Penn, while 5 th place was taken by Daytona novice winner Howard Lyngaard on a badly misfiring Yamaha.
250CC JUNIOR-EXPERT
As far as the Don Vesco Yamaha team of Kel Carruthers and Cal Rayborn was concerned the 250cc race at Road Atlanta was a re-run of the Daytona race. After a rather slow start, Carruthers worked his way past Jerry Green and bore down on Rayborn, who had led from the drop of the flag. Young Gary Fisher fouled a plug in his Yamaha at the start, but rejoined the fray right behind Rayborn, one lap behind. Carruthers soon got by, and he and Rayborn pulled away steadily. Jerry Green rode a solitary race, to finish 3rd, while Steve McLaughlin and Ray Hempstead had one of the best duels in the race for 4th spot. McLaughlin managed to coax a wee bit more out of himself and just pipped Hempstead at the flag. Carruthers’ average speed was just slightly slower than his speed on the larger Yamaha-just over 87 mph.
Two Road Racing Firsts ... An AMA Expert Class Win For Yamaha, And For A Foreign Star. . .
...Road Atlanta
