1979 Isdt
1979 ISDT
Americans Take 19 Gold Medals
Dale Brown/Cycle News
Italians will always have fond memories of the 54th running of the International Six Days Trial (ISDT), after their KTM/SWM-mounted team took the World Trophy over the West German and East German teams. Several Italian riders also took class victories in the event held in the Siegerland area of West Germany.
The 40 American riders did fairly well, bringing home 19 gold medals despite tougher gold requirements introduced this year. U.S. teams finished sixth in both the World Trophy and Silver Vase (won by Czechoslovakia) competition.
Husqvarna-mounted Trophy team member Larry Roeseler led the way for the Yanks this year, finishing sixth in the 500cc class. After hovering about 10th in class through the first four days, Roeseler came alive in the final two. He posted special test scores in the top four on the fifth day, and then in the final day gave the American spectators something to cheer for. In the final special test, a seven-lap motocross, Roeseler came up in the final heat, started about fifth, passed several established ISDT superstars, and won going away. He set the fastest time of the day in the 500cc class.
Earlier on that day, ISDT rookie John Ayers (Maico) won his motocross heat to move from silver to gold medal status, after a flat tire cost him some route points earlier in the week.
Second fastest American this year was KTM rider Ted Leimbach, who finished ninth in the 250cc class after a smooth ride all week. Leimbach was also a member of U.S. World Trophy team. In fact all the members of that team finished on gold. Jack Penton and Dick Burleson, both on Husqvarnas, each won their sixth gold. KTM pilots Kevin Lavoie and Jeff Hill both took golds. Hill was a last minute replacement for Frank Gallo, top American in last year’s ISDT. Gallo had to withdraw his entry due to tendonitus in his left hand.
The four-man Suzuki-backed Silver Vase squad didn’t have lady luck on their side. Dave Hülse was the first one to run into trouble, having mechanical troubles on day two that cost him a lot of route points. To make matters worse, he wrenched his back badly during a special test. From day three on, Hülse rode with a nerve stimulator, provided by American team physician Dr. Richard Meyer, strapped to his back and finished with a silver medal.
Teammate Mike Rosso ran into troubles on day three, picking up a flat tire that dropped him to silver, though at the end he was only 72 points away from gold.
Drew Smith and Jeff Fredette both picked up golds. Smith was third-fastest American, finishing right behind Leimback in the 250cc class. Fredette rode most of the week with a broken toe, but still did well. Rookie Ed Lojak (Hus.) rode two days with a broken collarbone, and earned a silver.
Veteran Carl Cranke (SWM) joined Penton and Burleson in earning gold medal number six.
There were a number of rookies on this year’s American squad. Probably the most impressive was young Darryl Kuenzer. From the start. Darryl aimed to upset many of the European veterans and that he did, finishing ninth in the 175cc class on his KTM.
Husqvarna’s Greg Davis finally finished the event after trying twice before. He took home a Gold and was top American in the I25cc class. Jim Fishback who like Davis crashed the year before and DNF, came back. He was fourth fastest among the Americans, 'and took a solid gold in the 500cc class.
Yamaha’s John Fero didn’t finish, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Near the end of day four he threw a chain, breaking the shift shaft and punching a hole in the cases. Working feverishly in impound the following morning, he replaced the shaft and patched the hole. It took him 56 min. to get his bike to the starting line, 4 min. short of houring out. But after the gallant effort, the transmission locked up for good.
Final stats on the ’79 American effort: 40 started, 33 finished, and 19 took gold.
