25 Years Ago June, 1973
25 YEARS AGO JUNE, 1973
Judging by this month’s cover shots, all the world waited impatiently for news of a dual-purpose Husqvarna 250 and a Montesa MX bike named after some unpronounceable Swede. Meanwhile, an exclusive quad-test of Kawasaki’s 250, 350, 500 and 750cc Triples rated merely a cover blurb. Go figure.
• Finland’s great roadracer Jarno Saarinen led a Yamaha 1-2-3 sweep of the Daytona 200, in a race punctuated by the famous, fiery crash between Harley teammates Larry Darr and Mark Brelsford, then the defending Grand National Champion.
• A quick scan of the ads puffing up this issue’s 164 pages revealed some products that, sadly, did not withstand the test of time. Goodyear and Carlisle made motorcycle tires back then; Norton sold Commandos and Benelli sold Tornados; Bultaco made the world’s best trials bikes; Jawa-CZ was a power in motocross; Attex and Chaparral were just two of many minibike makers; Dunstall advertised speed parts; Vetter hawked the Windjammer; Hooker had headers; Hodaka was still around; and Saddleback Park was still open.
• Gone, too, are some of the screamin’ deals contained in CW’s classified pages. As in: “1948 INDIAN CHIEF Good condition and original. $600 or will make deal on good used 250cc OSSA Pioneer,” and “YAMAHA TR2B 350cc roadracer. Fresh and clean inside and out. Girlings, Goodyears, spares. $1000.” Sorta puts the “good” in good ol’ days, don’t it?
David Edwards
