Racing Review
RACING REVIEW
SAN JOSE HALF-MILE
With Ken Roberts and Gary Scott locked solid in the National Points battle, they were more than eager to get underway at San Jose. The half-mile was to be the first run under the new Experts-Only National racing program.
Kenny's factory Yamaha 750 served notice that it was more than just "in the hunt," by walking off with fast qualify ing time. In doing so, Roberts also went away with a new one lap track record.
Heat wins went to Roberts, von Castro, Rex Beauchamp and Mert Law will, but unfortunately one of the races turned to tragedy. Likable veteran Lloyd Houchins lost his life when he tangled with Pat McCaul just past the finish line in the second heat.
A Junior Invitational event was held for the point leaders of the class. As expected, Rick Hocking and John Gen nai waged a race long battle, with Hocking's Yamaha coming out on top. Gennai held for 2nd and Dan White followed in 3rd.
The riders that fail to make the program now have a chance at going home with something in their pockets, thanks to the Trophy Final. Dave Sehi took this one on a H-D. Sehi was relegated to the Trophy event after placing 4th in his heat.
When underway followed the National was flagged Roberts sprang to the lead, by teamate Don Castro. Scott is a little slow off the line on a grooved track and wound up dicing in the mid dle of the pack. By lap two it was over for Roberts when a point wire came loose, and Castro took over with a yen gence.
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Scott charged from back in the pack and picked off several riders to move into 2nd behind the now distant Castro. Jim Rice (on his second Harley ride) diced with Rex Beauchamp and finally settled in behind the official team rider.
Scott just couldn't close tile gap on the leader and had to settle for 2nd, still however, picking up plenty of valuable points toward the Championship. Castro's National win was his first ever; a decisive victory for the California native.
SAN JOSE HALF MILE
JUN/OR INVITATIONAL FINAL
ENDURO TIME
LONESOME PINE...
BOYD REYNOLDS
Local Penton rider John Hanley cap tured the 1973 Lonesome Pine National Championship Enduro at Bristol, Virg., with a loss of only 27 points. A capacity entry of 500 riders traveled into the Southwestern Virginia high country for the 1 50 mile event.
Spectacular scenery is the story of Lonesome Pine as riders rode mountain ridges high above the timberline. Vistas spread out below them were tempting and a few riders paused to look around before proceeding to slide down wet grassy slopes drenched by a short thun dershower. Crossing railroad trestles high over rivers that once originated in Kentucky, the riders traveled between the rails at high speed. The abandoned line wound around mountain passes and the contestants rode in and out of a rocky creek bed that followed the rail line. There was plenty of mud and slip pery clay between the water crossings, deep from heavy rains the night before.
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National Champion Bill Kain (Hus qvarna) lost 38 points. One point off (39), 18-year-old Don Cole of Newark, N.Y., was riding his first run as a Class A rider. Don was on an XL250 Honda.
Rider L. Keen (42) followed in the Top 10 from the Lightweight Class and Fallen Timbers winner Art Blough wa1 next (48) on a Suzuki. Cissy Webb rode her Rickman Zundapp to a girl's win and Sox Brookhart won the old man's class.
LONESOME P/NE ENDURO
LITTLE BURR...
The Enduro Riders Association re cently hosted their 16th annual Little Burr National Enduro. Run through scenic southern Ohio, the 250-mile event attracted nearly 400 entrants, in cluding defending champion Bill Kain, Jack and Tom Penton, Doug Wilford, Jake Fischer and Bill Uhi.
John Penton, riding his first enduro since a recent leg operation, was also on hand. In its 16-year history, Penton has captured six overall wins.
Due to an excessive amount of spring rain, much of the route consisted of slimy mud crossings and swamps, mixed with tight woods sections and an abun dance of hills.
By the noon lunch break, few ridei~ were still on time. To add to their trou bles, after lunch a steady rain began to fall. Only the best were able to negoti ate the slippery hills and nearly impass able swamp areas...the drop-out rate was tremendous.
However, there was a surprise left. When the scores were tabulated, it was announced that "Buzz" Whitlatch had only dropped 61 points. Whitlatch, a relatively unknown rider, had topped a field of 400 for the overall win.
LITTLE BURR RESULTS
MARKEL CALLS IT QUITS
Bart Markel, three time Grand National Champion (1962, '65 and '66) has officially announced his retirement from professional racing. The announcement came the day after the Northville Downs half-mile race where Team
I Michigan defeated Team California. f Markel was the Team Michigan captain, but experienced mechanical problems and did not transfer out of his heat race. Markel has been running an abbreviated schedule on the national circuit, and last year fractured a pelvis at the Colorado Springs Mile which kept him out of action for some time.
Bart has been a Harley-Davidson factory rider for a number of years and holds the all time AMA National win record at 28. His last national victory came at the Columbus, Ohio, Charity Newsies in 1971.
Nicknamed "Black Bart" because of the solid black leathers he wore for many seasons, Markel had a riding style all his own. And few could match the tough rider on a track rutted with holes; when the chips were down he came through.
Bart plans to help out a few riders on the circuit for the remainder of the season and sell his equipment, so he'll still be around the racing circles. Just the same, fans will miss watching 'ol Number Four barrel through the corners. He was something else. Eg]
