Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
SANDY LANE ENDURO
The 1971 Eastern National Enduro season ended with a splash at the famous Sandy Lane Enduro, held near Chatsworth, N.J. Bob Fusan lost only 16 points to become one of the chosen few who have repeated wins in this brush contest. In 1969 the Pittsburgh Husqvarna rider lost 28 points to win.
Like ’69, it was back to the Pope Creek area, only this year both mud and water were worse than ever. The main section was a logging road criss-crossed with 4to 6-in. logs under a foot or so of water. It was about 0.3 miles long and followed a mile of muddy trail that became bottomless in spots. Rider traffic jams were numerous, and many contestants were down to the hubs trying all angles to get through. Finally, they resorted to helping each other. Mud flew in all directions, and the surrounding brush turned into a gooey mess that transferred to everything, including goggles and glasses. One or two photographers who made it back into the worst mud section looked worse than the riders when they returned. There were no other spectators around, so many riders just sat exhausted on their submerged machines hoping somebody else would get stuck next to them so that they could help each other out. Bob Fusan was the 3rd man through this section, and luckily the bottom was still firm enough to get him into the check at the end with only a small point loss. By the time the last of the 400 riders got there, it was so bad they never made the check.
Prior to this was a hundred miles of brush trails, mud sections, creek crossings, and a climb up Bear Swamp Hill past the fire tower hit by a jet last winter. Then, riders were directed down the mile-long crash path to another of those endless sandy gravel roads that criss-cross this area just northwest of Atlantic City.
After the noon layover, there was a ride north, mostly on railroad beds, to complete the 150-mile total, then back into Chatsworth where a shower at the fire hall was the only way to get off the mud, now caked on with white sand.
Fusan was the only rider to lose less than 20 points, but only eight points farther down the count was Dallas Nichols on a Kawasaki. Last year’s winner Buck Wallsworth (Ossa) finished 3rd with a 25-point loss. First fourstroke was Triumph rider David Mead with a 28-point loss.
SANDY LANE RESULTS
CORDUROY INT'L. TRIAL
For years, enduro riders have talked about the Canadian Corduroy International Trial, but little has been reported of this great event. Wilderness and hospitality abound in this contest and the fellows from Toronto do their utmost to make sure that every rider not only gets a good ride, but has the best in accommodations, food and drink after each day’s ride.
Commencing from Les North’s Gold Rock Lodge just up the road from Coboconk, Ontario, 200 hungry stump jumpers turned north towards the heavy timberlands. Winding, third-gear trails onto gravel and top-gear trails around tight turns and into Bancroft made up the first part of the run.
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Prior to the noon layover, nothing was really difficult, but that was soon changed. Over a hump riders were greeted with a paper sign “the ho chee chee trail” and the next mile or so was an elbow scraper through tight brush. Then in and out of a check and down a twisting gravel road bedecked with signs like “Radar speed trap ahead,” “speed limit 50 mph” (an impossibility), and “do not despair, you have just begun to drive.”
Further along another paper sign said “Peterson Trail.” After 36 miles of perhaps the longest continual woods trail thrown at any enduro rider, weary looking competitors bounced onto a gravel road for the long road run back into Gold Rock.
When the scores went up, young Jack Penton of Ohio had lost only 9 points, Dave Eames (Ossa) had lost 16 and Dave Latham (Ossa) had lost only 18. Jeff Penton and Bud Peck were supporting clean, white casts up to the knee, and many other riders were limping around.
A run through the steam bath and a dip in the lake perked up most of the weary riders and for those it didn’t rally, there was a shapely miss in a skimpy yellow bikini riding around the grounds on a lightweight which seemed to do the job.
Run on international rules, there were about 60 bikes in the compound area that were back on the trail Sunday morning. The second day’s ride of 140 miles went through the Haliburton Highlands. Bonus point contests were included with a hillclimb just before1 noon and an observed trial at the end. Promoted by the British Empire Motor Club of Toronto, the event was sanctioned by the CMA and the FIM and limited to 200 riders.
Jack Penton had a flawless ride on Sunday to win the Premier Award, and Dave Eames had one additional point loss to give him the “Best Other Class” award. Piet Boonstra won the Senior class and Karol DeGraw rode the 350 miles in almost flawless fashion to lose only 152 points.
CORDUROY TRIAL RESULTS
(in points lost)
DISTRICT 37 MUFFLER RULE
AMA-sanctioned amateur competition in Southern California’s District 37 entered a new era August 1 when the district’s competition committee ruled that all machines used in such events must be muffled.
District 37’s bold stand concerning the noise problem is in line with a national AMA ruling which will require proper muffling of all motorcycles used in amateur activity, plus those used in professional motocross after January 1, 1972.
To assure that only effective mufflers are used in amateur competition throughout the district, the competition committee’s resolution mandates that cycles make no “loud or unusual” sounds. The more precise nationwide muffler rule will require that amateur competition and professional motocross machines produce a sound level of not more than 92 decibels on the “A” scale at 50 ft.
Early reports from throughout District 37 indicate that implementation of the new ruling is going smoothly with most competitors making an honest effort to comply for the good of the sport.
GEBOERS 2nd TRANS-AMA WINNER
A crowd of 10,000 spectators witnessed the best national and international motocrossers compete for top honors and a portion of the $8000 purse at the second Trans-AMA race, held in Boise, Idaho.
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Top honors for the day fell to Sylvain Geboers, a Suzuki rider from Belgium. Geboers also won the opening event of the series at Carlsbad, Calif. For his efforts, he collected an additional $100 from Champion Spark Plugs and $10 from Cycle News. Second place went to another Belgian, Gaston Rahier (C-Z), while Sweden’s Torleif Hansen (Husqvarna) gained 3rd place overall. First American honors went to Bill Clements, of Pasadena, Calif., aboard a Husqvarna. Clements finished 7th.
BOISE TRANS-AMA RESULTS
250cc SUPPORT CLASS
WEIL TAKES 3rd TRANS-AMA MX
West German rider Adolf Weil (Maico) topped the field in the third event of the Fall Trans-AMA Motocross series, held at Elkhorn, Wis.
Second place went to Suzukimounted Sylvain Geboers of Belgium, winner of the first two series events. Torleif Hansen of Sweden rode his Husqvarna to 3rd place honors.
Top American rider was Mark Blackwell (Husqvarna) of Mission Viejo, Calif. Blackwell finished 4th overall.
In the 250cc support class action Doug Grant (AJS) got his first series win ahead of Tim Hart (Maico) and C-Z rider Bob Norgaard. [Q]
ELKHORN TRANS-AMA RESULTS
RESULTS OF 250cc SUPPORT CLASS
TOP TEN RIDERS TO DATE
