Race Watch
RACE WATCH
Howerton and Hannah happen, Springer bounces into 1st
H-D DOES IT
Road racing’s World Championship action has cooled off for the year in Europe, but not without a final fling. The hotly contested 250 and 350 titles were finally wrapped up by Italian Walter Villa, the Harley-Davidson factory rider on the continent. The 250 win was his third straight, an unprecedented achievement in Grand Prix racing. With a total of 11 GP victories, this has been Harley-Davidson’s most successful season. Putting a good chase on Villa in the 350 class was Daytona winner Johnny Cecotto, mounted on a Yamaha.
LADIES, START YOUR ENGINES!
Watch for Russ Darnell to field an allwoman motocross racing team in 1977. Initial plans show a 10-rider team traveling around the U.S. with many surprises in store.
A FULL HOUSE
Team Suzuki plans to contest the U.S. Trans-AMA series in a big way this year. Riders will include Roger DeCoster, Gerrit Wolsink, Tony DiStefano, Steve Stackable, Billy Grossi, Danny LaPorte and Jeff Jennings. Nothing like stacking the deck ....
VICTORY FOR HOWERTON AND HUSQVARNA
Husqvarna hasn’t won a National title since 1971, but did it this year in the 500cc AMA National Series, thanks to Texan Kent Howerton. It was the first such title for the “Rhinestone Cowboy,” who just missed 250cc and 500cc National titles in 1975, when the points battles were decided in the respective series finales. This year, nearly the same situation existed, with Team Kawasaki rider Gary Semics spearheading a strong bid in the last half of the series, making the Popeye AMA 500cc finale a do-or-die effort for Howerton. Kent finished the seven-event 1976 series with three moto wins and two overalls, as opposed to Semics’ four moto victories and three overalls.
Final 500cc National Standings: 1. Kent Howerton (Hus), 286; 2. Gary Semics (Kaw), 279; 3. Steve Stackable (Suz), 211; 4. Pierre Karsmakers (Hon), 197; 5. Tony DiStefano (Suz), 188; 6. Rick Burgett (Yam), 162; 6. Rich Eierstedt (Hon), 162; 8. Tommy Croft (Hon), 141; 9. Gaylon Mosier (Mai), 125; 10. Chuck Sun (Hus), 119.
OUT SCOUTING
Yamaha International has just signed
16-year-old Broc Glover for its 1977 motocross team. The El Cajon, Calif., youngster has raced for three years and compiled a most impressive record. Glover won the High School California State Championship in the Anaheim Stadium event last year, ran 3rd in the H. S. Superbowl of Motocross at the Los Angeles Coliseum, won the Sportsman class at Hangtown, and did extremely well in the 125 Nationals this season. He is definitely one to keep an eye on in the future, and will be giving up his DG 125 Honda for the factory water-cooled 125 Yamaha.
HANNAH HEADS 125 STANDINGS
Another twinkle in Yamaha International’s eye has been first-year professional rider Bob Hannah. Hannah is the young man who became this year’s AMA 125cc National Champion, riding the little Yamaha factory water-pumper. Bob won five out of the eight races in the series, staying well ahead of rival Team Honda rider, Marty Smith. In fact. Smith nearly lost 2nd position to Suzuki’s Danny LaPorte, who won the final event of the year on his fgctory-backed machine.
Final 125cc National Standings: 1. Bob Hannah (Yam), 347; 2. Marty Smith (Hon), 260; 3. Danny LaPorte (Suz), 259; 4. Steve Wise (Hon), 243; 5. Broc Glover (Hon), 222; 6. Warren Reid (Hon), 154; 7. Ron Turner (Hon), 144; 8. Mike Kessler (Kaw), 142; 9. John Savitski (Suz), 141; 10. Bill Grossi (Suz), 117.
TROPHEE DES NATIONS MX
Back to the international side of things, riders chosen for the annual Trophée Des Nations Motocross included Suzuki’s Tony DiStefano, Yamaha team member Bob Hannah, Husqvarna rider Kent Howerton and Harley-Davidson-mounted Rex Staten. The 250cc event took place in Switzerland, but the American effort was beset with mechanical problems and the team finished 6th in the standings among 15 other nations.
At the 500cc event two weeks later, this time in Holland, Tony DiStefano once again led the U.S. effort, which was hurt by a first-lap crash involving Howerton. Kent was forced to retire from the event. That, coupled to a starting line problem suffered by Rex Staten, combined to hold us back to 5th overall. Scoring problems left the final results in doubt and under protest, an unfortunate situation involving an event with so much prestige.
SUPER SIGN-UP
Superbowl of Motocross winner Jimmy Ellis has signed a new two-year contract for 1977-78 with the Can-Am Motorcycle Division of Bombardier Ltd. Ellis, who has excelled in Super Series events, recently completed a testing session and development work at the Bombardier-Rotax engine plant in Austria for the new series of Can-Am motorcycles soon to be introduced.
POWDERPUFF TAKES A POWDER . . . PERMANENTLY
In a recent edition of its newsletter, the Western/Eastern Roadracers’ Association made one of the most sensible statements yet about the role of women in road racing. Because the sport depends to a greater degree on brain power and experience than physical size or brute force, a large number of capable female riders have emerged within WERA membership.
Best of all, WERA welcomes the women wholeheartedly and offers the assurance to other interested women “that they will be accepted as equals on the track and will not be forced to race in some special category which implies a lesser degree of riding ability. Ladies have two arms and two legs just like us guys and those items plus some functioning brain cells are all it takes to go Roadracing.”
To prove its point about the competence of women racers, WERA cites the recent outstanding performances of Liz Wemmet and Kathy Teague. Wemmet won the Open Street class heat race at the Pocono Eastern Divisional Championship this year on her BMW, and Teague beat out 20 male competitors to take the 200 GP event at Indianapolis during the Midwestern Regional there.
Other interested racers can contact WERA at 1742 Addison St., Philadelphia, PA 19146, (215) 732-2128.
BAKER TURNS ON THE HEAT
As you’ve become accustomed to hearing this season, Steve Baker has once again proven his mastery over the road racing scene by defeating all in the Race of the Year at Mallory Park in England. Following Baker were World 500cc Champion Barry Sheene, American Pat Hennen, Englishman Barry Ditchburn, and Italian Giacomo Agostini. Our own Gary Nixon, who is barely leading the World Formula 750 standings, dropped out with mechanical troubles.
POLISH SPEEDWAY NO JOKE
Another American made the news in Europe, this time in the World Championship Speedway Finals, held in Katowice, Poland. A crowd of more than 100,000 watched Scott Autrey finish 2nd three times, 3rd once and crash in the final race. He placed 9th in the 16-man field. New World Speedway Champion is Britain’s Peter Collins, who is the first limey to win that title in 14 years.
WERNER WRENCHES FOR WINNERS
On the National Class C racing scene, Jay Springsteen has at last sprung into the AMA point lead, following a win in one of two Indy Miles, a 4th in the Talledega Short Track, another win at the Syracuse Mile, and, oh yes, one more win at Toledo, Ohio’s Half-Mile National. Under the fine preparation of mechanic Bill Werner, the Springer’s factory Harley-Davidsons have compiled an impressive finishing record this year. Werner wrenched last season for Gary Scott, who, of course, went on to Number One, and Bill intends to do it once again with the help of Springsteen. Werner’s bikes never got to wear the No. 1 plates on this year’s circuit because Scott quit the H-D team to go on his own. Whether or not Scott’s gamble was worth it will shortly be decided.
National Points Standings after Toledo: 1. Jay Springsteen, 261; 2. Gary Scott, 249; 3. Kenny Roberts, 232; 4. Steve Eklund, 127; 5. Randy Cleek, 119; 6. Hank Scott, 110; 7. Rex Beauchamp, 109; 7. Ted Boody, 109; 9. Gene Romero, 86; 10. Rick Hocking, 85.
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ALL-TIME CHAMPIONS
Ever wonder about the All-Time Grand National Win List? Here’re the latest standings of the greats of racing, their number of wins, and whether they’re active (A) or retired (R).
1. Bart Markel, 28 (R): 2. Joe Leonard, 27 (R); 3. Dick Mann, 24 (R); 4. Carroll Resweber, 19 (R); 4. Gary Nixon, 19 (A); 4. Kenny Roberts, 19(A); 7. Mert Lawwill, 15 (A); 8. Everett Brashear, 14 (R); 9. Gene Romero, 12 (A); 9. Bobby Hill, 12 (R); 9. Dick Klamfoth, 12 (R); 9. Jim Rice, 12 (R). Take notice that Kenny Roberts could be the one to overtake Markel’s record, for he’s compiled those 19 wins in just five short years. Then again. Jay Springsteen isn’t doing badly with seven wins in not quite two racing seasons. It’ll get better. ... [<5
