Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
CAMA RALLY
The small, central California town of Visalia seems an unlikely spot for what is probably the world's largest show of classic and antique motorcycles. But each year a portion of the Visalia Fair shopping center is roped off and as many as 160 machines are parked and displayed to interested people at no charge.
The Classic and Antique Motorcycle Assn., founded in 1968 by energetic Frank Conley, the current president, has grown to over 500 members from all over the world, many of whom were on hand for the 1973 rally.
Most of the machines on display were restored to like-new condition, but a few were left in their original state. Demonstration runs around the parking area proved to one and all that the machines did indeed run and weren't just for show. Many which are no longer in production were on display, including examples of the Ariel, Crocker, Douglas, Excelsior, Flying M erkel, Henderson, Indian, Rudge, Scott, Sunbeam, Velo cette and Vincent.
After the show on Saturday, mem bers and guests went to a banquet where winners of the afternoon's judging were presented with sterling silver brandy snifters for the best classic, best antique and best modern motorcycle. Various other awards were made to the person who traveled the farthest to attend the rally and the person who entered the oldest machine.
On Sunday morning those interested again met for a poker run which started in the parking lot. Either of two courses could be ridden: a 90-mile run for hearty souls and a 30-mile jaunt for owners of older machines. Riding in the company of so many machines brought back happy memories of earlier riding days.
"Founded for the preservation, re storation and operation of classic and antique motorcycles" is the slogan of the Classic and Antique Motorcycle Association, but membership is not limited to those owning classic or an tique machines. The membership fee of $5 a year includes two issues of CAMA's publication, "The Bulletin," and the opportunity to meet and correspond with owners of interesting motorcycles. For further information, write to Frank Conley, 808 So. Church St., Visalia, CA~ 93277.
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FALLEN TIMBER ENDURO
BY BOYD REYNOLDS
Arthur Blough, an unknown from Michigan, rode to a 964 point score to beat out the Eastern Enduro perfec tionists in the Fallen Timbers National Championship, at Delta, Ohio. Possibly by fluke and check placement at the end of short intermittent wood sections, Blough gained a commanding 7-point lead over Husqvarna mounted National Champion Bill Kain.
The Northern Ohio farmlands are as flat as a good concrete floor and the contest crisscrossed the multi-sectioned Maumee State Forest with considerable road between the short 2-3-mile wood sections. Simple as this may sound, the event was far from easy. Twisting be tween tight trees wears an enduro rider down and brings him panting into spectator lined mud holes. For once it was not raining and the trail was drier than in the past years, but far from dry.
The mud in Ohio is undoubtedly the blackest in the nation and when churned up by a good 400 knobbies, it goes like a homing pigeon to the closest rider, or in some cases, the closest pretty female spectator.
Some riders were not recognizable near the finish. Efficient scoring produced results before 6 p.m. Marking was not spectacular, but adequate. Promotion of the contest turned out 400 riders and complaints were literally nonexistent, a refreshing change from some other National events that have been fiascos.
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Following Blough and Kain in overall top scores were Norm Ford (956), Dick Berrlisen (945) and Ed Schmidt (942) riding Husqvarnas.
FALLEN TIMBER RESULTS
CLASSA 0-125
1. Dick Burleson 945
2. Bill UhI 936
3. Fred Duvall 936
A OPEN CLASS
1. Norm Ford 956
2. Ed Schmidt 942
3. John Clark 940
CLASS 80-100
1. Harold Hall 882
2. Carl Stewart 825
3. Daniel Benson 798
201-250
1. Craig Denny 911
2. Gerald Sergent 886
3. Robert McGlasson 861
8 OPEN CLASS
1. Leonard Keen 893
2. Marrell Bailey
3. George Bliss
200
1. Ken Sharphorn 935
2. Tom Prator 936
3. Ed Tingley 899
A 250 CLASS
1. Larry Hall 946
2. Richard Cromer 926
3. Frank Piasecki Jr 925
101-125
1. Nesbit Marcus 892
2. Jeff Seymour 858
3. Al Henslee 825
250-450
1. Chuck Kramer 879
2. Debert Woodward 816
3. Robert Heller 785
Overall Champion Arthur Blough
Class A Champion Bill Kain
OPELOUSAS MOTOCROSS
Jim Weinert of Middletown, N.Y. and Mike Hartwig of Hadley, Mich., took top honors in the 250cc and 500cc classes, respectively, at the AMA Na tional Championship Motocross held at 0 pelousas.
Weinert took a commanding lead in the 2 50cc national points standings with his performance, winning two of three motos enroute to the overall win. De fending 250cc national champion Gary Jones of Hacienda Heights, Calif., took the first moto, but retired while trailing Weinert in the second heat, due to engine problems.
Hartwig won the first two 500cc motos, then nursed his ailing Husqvarna home 4th in the third go-round to take the overall win. He narrowly out pointed Peter Lamppu on a Kawasaki and current 5 00cc point leader Pierre Karsmakers, on a Yamaha. Hartwig closed to within 20 points of Kars makers in the standings, 250 to 230.
OPELOUSAS RESUL TS
OPEN RESULTS
1. Mike Hartwig Hus
2. Peter Lamppu Kaw
3. Pierre Karsmakers Yam
250cc RESUL TS
1. Jim Weinert ....................Kaw
2. Richard Thorwaldson ............ Suz
3. Barry Higgins.................. Yam
TOP 10 OPEN RIDERS TO DA TE
1. Pierre Karsmakers ..............250
2. Mike Hartwig..................230
3. Mike Runyard ................. 180
4. Wyman Priddy................. 140
5. Peter Lamppu ................. 120
6. Brad Lackey .................. 100
7. Gary Semics ...................65
8. Tony Wynn ....................55
9. Tony Distefano....................
10. Mark Blackwell .................40
TOP 10 250cc RIDERS
1. Jim Weinert ...................270
2. Rich Thorwaldson ............. . 160
3. Bob Grossi.................... 150
4. DeWayne Jones ................ 140
5. Gary Bailey ................... 100
6. Barry Higgins.................. 100
7. John Franklin ..................80
8. Rick Jordan................. j 63
9. Scott Jordan ...................55
10. Gary Ingham .................’ 50
HANGTOWN '73
JOHN BETHEA/CREATIVE IMAGES
Plymouth, Calif., is a small, sleepish kind of township plopped along several turns in the road winding further back into the Mother Lode country just east of Sacramento. On a Sunday morning, the area has the mellowness of soft fur and it becomes difficult to awaken. That’s for 51 weeks out of the year. On the 52nd, however, thousands of outof-towners stop by for a visit and take in a little race fondly called Hangtown. >
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Many of America's greatest moto cross stars have tried the muddy, sandy course at least once. Even guys like Dick "Bugsy" Mann. More recently, though, the NorCal twosome of Bob Grossi and Brad Lackey have had more than a firm grip on the affair.
When the invasion came this spring, for the fifth time, it brought along some new faces to replace those who have headed out to the bigger world. Two 1 6-year-olds dominated the early parts of the 250s: Marty Tripes and Billy Grossi. Two other rapid up-and-corners shared wins in the 125s: Ray Lopez and Marty Smith. Only the 500 showed the veteran edge with the likes of Pierre Karsmakers, Tim Hart and John DeSoto trimming off the top three portions of the overall results.
More than 19,000 spectators dotted the wooded, rolling hills surrounding the mile and a half course, the largest turnout in the history of the classic, staged by the Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club. Since this year’s race was unsanctioned, the four class program (125, 250, 500 and Sidecars) of more than 200 entrants, made the entire affair the biggest club-promoted motocross in America.
The massiveness of the racing card forced the club to throw qualifying heats in the early morning, before the smell of the few remaining campfires had a chance to evaporate. Although 20th qualified just as good as first, these short 10-minute heats quickly showed who had it and who didn’t.
In the 125s, the Penton crew, which outnumbered all other brands, had both factory teams and SoCal’s private teams thrashing away at the front. A few other factories and independents were in the bid, too, like young Grossi on a DKW and Marty Smith on a Monark. But it looked like the cards were against Smith as his rear wheel got completely obliterated several laps from the end and he failed to qualify.
The 250s were runaways by Grossi on a Montesa and Tripes on a Honda. Marty did it without having had a complete lap of practice as his new Honda two-stroke had the peg snap off, leaving the screw-in portion embedded in the frame. The hour of practice ended before it was finally removed.
Pierre and Hart clearly had the 500 in their back pockets if nothing went wrong; they easily showed it, too.
When it was announced that neither the 125s nor the 500s had to run a semi and that all those who were waiting for them at the line had qualified, a lot of guys gave a sigh of relief, including Marty Smith who was back in the running again.
As the huge field of 250s were trying to decide the final ten to make the $6000 program, the small bores lined up, 50 abreast.
Like a streak, the Pentons were off at the drop of the gate with Grossi up there, too. Things sorted out quickly, and Charlie Bower held the lead with Grossi 2nd and Lopez, coming from 15th, in 3rd. Ray clearly had the momentum and after Bower spilled and Grossi slowed a bit, he went on to win handily. Smith stuck around and eased up to 2nd.
The 250s didn’t even have a chance to get off the line before the first race was pretty well decided. Tripes accidently jumped the gate and got penalized a lap. Instead of continuing on around the track as he should have under the interpretations of the rule, Marty thought he hadn’t been penalized as there was no start, so he returned to the grid again and lined up behind the gate for the even start. He rode all the way from the early stages in the lead and looked to have won with Tom Rapp 2nd and Rich Thorwaldson 3rd; instead, he learned later he finished 14th. Grossi, the first 10-minute foe, crashed and could not make up the ground.
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What can you say about the 500s? After Maico’s Billy Payne shut the door on everyone in turn one and scooted to the lead, Pierre and Tim eased by within a few laps and trotted home.
Off went the Pentons like a flash in the 125 final. Bower was out front early but crashed hard and broke his arm, which left an open track in front of Smith, who never looked back in winning his first major event. Lopez couldn’t find the power he had in the initial race and managed 2nd overall despite taking 7th. Newly signed Penton mount Dave Bunker from Sumner, Wash., showed his national caliber riding style with a 3rd.
Determined to make the best of what was left, Tripes winged off the line again near the front of the pack, but it was Rapp who had a clear shot at turn one. As things strung out, Marty took over the helm and appeared to be on his way. Then, the peg snapped off again and Rapp scurried by. For 20 minutes, Marty hassled the “up-on-the-peg” dilemma before finally figuring it out and concentrating on Rapp. Five minutes remained when he closed in for the kill. Two laps from the end, Marty made the pass and won, taking 3rd overall behind Rapp and Thorwaldson.
There was no way to stop Karsmakers once he got the lead in the final race of the day. Hart, too, was all alone in 2nd. Billy Payne, who led early, soon heard the pressure coming and glanced around to see DeSoto really flying on his tail. John lost his Kawasaki ride and is now back on a familiar friend, CZ. He reeled Payne in and grabbed 3rd place cash for his efforts.
Unlike previous years, the pits cleared early. Only a few hundred stuck around for the post-race hoopala. The corks flipped up into a fast darkening sky, the bottles were passed around, and suddenly it was over. Night settled over the little community of Plymouth and it was quiet and still. A few campfires flickered here and there, but it seemed empty once more...awaiting the classic to return.
HANG TOWN RE SUL TS
125s
1. Marty Smith ...................Mon
2. Ray Lopez..................... Pen
3. Dave Bunker ....... Pen
250s
1. Tom Rapp ..................... Bui
2. Rich Thorwaldson ............... Suz
3. Marty Tripes ...................Hon
500s
1. Pierre Karsmakers .............. Yam
2. Tim Hart ..................... Yam
3. John DeSoto ................... C-Z
