Race Watch
RACE WATCH
The Latest from Russ Darnell, More on the AMA MX Schedule, and Hanna Wins the Supercross Series Opener
D. Randy Riggs
MR. PIBB SUPERBOWL OF MOTOCROSS SOUTH
Twenty-year-old Bob Hannah started off the Supercross Series in the proper frame of mind and in the right manner by winning the series opening event on the manmade motocross in Atlanta Stadium, riding a Yamaha YZ250.
Hannah, the defending 125-cc AMA National Motocross Champion, fought hard for the win with Honda’s Jim Pomeroy and Kawasaki’s Gary Semics in front of just over 45,000 spectators. That’s a larger crowd than the Atlanta Braves were getting last season for many of their home games. It might’ve been bigger yet except for the fact that the race was run during inclement weather, keeping some potential spectators at home. Nevertheless, it was the largest crowd ever to attend a first-time AMA professional race.
For Hannah, the win was not an easy one. Though he did qualify for the 20-lap main event by virtue of a heat race victory, he found himself the chaser rather than the chased during much of the big race. It was Gary Semics who was out front for a goodly portion, only to be sidelined with a thrown chain two laps from the finish.
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Pomeroy and Hannah had been dueling for 2nd behind Semics when Hannah unloaded over a series of jumps. He restarted eight seconds behind Pomeroy’s Honda and put on an impressive charge to be able to take advantage of Semics’ and Pomeroy’s misfortunes, Jim’s occurring in the final corner of the race when he collided with another machine and stalled his engine. The “Hurricane” zipped by for the win, Pomeroy restarted and held 2nd place, with 3rd position going to Can-Am's Jimmy Ellis.
Defending Supercross champion, Jim Weinert, had to sit out the event because of an injury suffered while practicing for ABC television’s Superstar’s competition, in which he was a finalist. Weinert damaged some tendons in his arm and is hoping to be back in action as soon as possible.
YAMAHA YZR500 GP UPDATE
Yamaha works riders chasing the 500-cc GP World Championship will be running new versions of the monoshock Fours this year. The latest is even more compact and lighter than the smallish machine of last season and power has been upped in an attempt to give the Suzuki RG500s a tougher run for the championship. Bore and stroke have been changed from 54mm x 54mm to 56mm x 50.5mm, an effort that will supposedly broaden the powerband a bit.
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The frame is also revised and a newly designed fairing and seat combination is shaped to gain more top speed. The TZ750D is similar in appearance. The YZR500 is the machine American Steve Baker will use to go after the 500-cc World Championship. He will team with Johnny Cecotto.
LATEST FROM HONDA IN MOTOCROSS
Check out Honda’s latest works machine for the Open Class. They call this one the RC500M, which reportedly displaces 401 cc. The exact configuration is not given. As expected, most of the machine, including the engine, is finished in Honda’s racing red. The rear tire is a 5.00 x 18 for an attempt at traction. Now if Brad Lackey can grow his legs about a foot longer, he may be able to climb aboard (with the help of a ladder) and do some business.
RUSS DARNELL MOTOCROSS SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Not only has Russ Darnell announced his 1977 school schedule, but he’s made a rather interesting offer to those who are likely candidates for the 1977 U.S. ISDT team. All those named by the AMA as a team member or as a potential qualifier will be eligible to attend any of Russ’s schools as many times as they like at no cost to the riders, the team, or the AMA. With so much emphasis put on special test scores, the importance of motocross conditioning and speed is all too apparent.
The entry fee for two-day schools is $30 per student. Five-day training camps (except Donner Ski Ranch) are $100 per student. The five-day camps include a daily program of physical training, and daily time trials to check your lap times. Students must provide their own bikes, food, lodging, etc. Camping is usually permitted at the track.
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For entries and reservations please call (213) 249-5032, or (213) 367-1722. You may also write for reservations to: Russ Darnell MX Schools, 14851 Genoa St., Sylmar, Calif. 91342. Your entry must include your name, address with zip, the date and location of the school you plan to attend, and a deposit of $10 to secure your spot in the class. All schools are limited entry.
RUSS DARNELL MOTOCROSS SCHOOLS
1977 SCHEDULE
May 7-8 Sprockets Park, Bakersfield, Calif. May 28-29 Hollister Hills State RV Park, Hollister, Calif.
June 11-12 Barona Oaks Raceway, Ramona, Calif, (near Escondido)
June 20-24 Training camp, Tipton Hills, Tipton, Iowa
June 27-July 1 Training camp, Byron Motosport Park, Byron, III.
July 4-8 Training camp, Indian Dunes, Valencia, Calif.
July 11-15 Training camp, Roaring Branch Motosport, Roaring Branch, Pa. (near Williamsport)
July 16-17 Roaring-Branch Motosport, Roaring Branch, Pa.
July 20-21 Honda Hills, Ohio (near Columbus)
July 25-26 Saddleback Park, Orange, Calif. Aug 2-3 Road Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga.
Aug 6-7 Cycle World U.S.A., St. Peters, Mo. Aug 15-19 Training camp, McMinnville, Ore. Aug 22-26 Training camp, Saddleback Park, Orange, Calif.
Aug 22-26 Training camp, Donner Ski Ranch (Donner Summit) Soda Springs, Calif.* Aug 29-Sept 2 Training camp, Mosier Valley, Texas
Sept 5-6 Indian Dunes, Valencia, Calif.
Sept 10-11 Roaring Branch Motosport, Roaring Branch, Pa.
Sept 17-18 Spearfish, S.D.
Sept 23-24 Tipton Hills, Tipton, Iowa Sept 31-Oct 1 Byron Motosport Park, Byron, III.
Oct 15-16 Diamond Back MX Track, Cocoa,
Fla.
*Entry fee $200, includes lodging and meals. Call school numbers, or Norm Sailor at Donner for reservations and info 916-426-3578.
WORLD ICE SPEEDWAY FINAL
With speedway on dirt just taking hold in the United States, it’s sometimes difficult for us to imagine the tremendous following of ice speedway racing in Europe. The bikes are basically the same as the ones used for dirt, except for the fact that they’re fitted with 28-mm spikes to get traction on the slippery stuff'. Guards are fitted over as much of the exposed tire as possible since those spikes can make a nasty hole in another rider’s body. The spikes are set as close together as possible and the traction afforded allows some incredible lean angles.
Russians have always done well in the sport, not surprising in view of the winters they’re faced with. Currently, the ranking World Champion is 26-year-old Sergei Tarabanko, who won the title in 1974 and 1975, then again this year at the Inzell Stadium in Bavaria. He did it the hard way by falling in his first heat, but then swept the next nine events to score 27 out of a possible 30 points. The Jawa Tabaranko used was one of the latest four-valve models.
THE PASSING OF DOUG SCHWERMA
Those who follow AMA Grand National racing have surely run across the name of Doug Schwerma and Champion Frames. Doug was found dead the day following the Daytona 200 on a road near his home in Northern California of selfinflicted carbon monoxide poisoning.
There is not the need for too much detail here. Doug was a personal friend of mine and many others in the motorcycle racing field and in the industry. We have all read and watched the successes of Doug’s projects on the nation’s race tracks and those close to him have been inspired by his tremendous energy, his genius, his incredible personality and special uniqueness. His bikes have made racing history time and time again and it is not easy to forget the likes of some of the Schwerma inspired victories and TZ750 Milers and all that went along with Doug. From drag racing to short track to TTs, half-miles and miles, the clout of Schwerma design was felt heavily. It still is and will be for a long time to come. Doug was more than a frame builder, he was an artist, and treated his projects like Van Gough would treat an oil. He’ll always occupy a special place in my memory.
