Racing Review

RACING REVIEW

CAROL SIMS

WATHCH OUT FOR DICK MANN when it's down for the money. The wily champ had to come through at Peoria to regain the National point lead .... and he did, leading a five-man California contingent across the line in the Heavyweight Tourist Trophy Race. Ronnie Rall, victorious in the Lightweight go, was handicapped in the big bike event by a perilously - dangling skidshoe, but managed to salvage sixth.

First off the line in the Lightweight final was versatile Bennie Bowden (Michigan f 1 at t rae k champ. National 25()cc Scrambles runnerup). Hot on his heels came Roger Reiman and Rail, but a fourman tangle sent Bowden sprawling on the fifth time around, along with Bart Markel. Don Howell and Clark White. No injuries resulted, and the track was quickly cleared. Rail took over and stretched his lead to the checker, ahead of Reiman, Billy Holcomb. Ralph White and Don Shiflett.

Mann, forced to the rear of the little bike final with mechanical problems, had his G-50 Matchless in readiness for the 14lap Heavyweight final. Fourth into the turn behind White. Fddic Mulder and Bob Bailey, he steadily forged his way to the front — 3rd on the second lap. 2nd on the fifth. But getting around White was a knotty problem, and a breathtaking wheel to wheel battle ensued. Going over the jump for the seventh time. Mann passed White in midair, only to be overtaken in the next turn. Finally, diving low on lap 10. the champ got his man for good . . . . and wound up with a scant five point lead over Reiman in National standings at the finish. Rounding out the first five were White, Mulder, Bailey and Lawwill; Reiman wound up seventh behind Rail.

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Several accidents marred the day's proceedings. In pre-race practice. Dick Hammer crashed heavily over the jump, sustaining a concussion which hospitalized him for a week. Sid Payne came to grief at the same spot. Hopes of a repeat Heavyweight division win were abruptly squelched when he unloaded while running a close second to Mann in their heat race. Another over-the-jump accident sent Billy Taylor to the hospital during a lightweight preliminary. Uninjured in the fall, he was struck by an oncoming rider as he scrambled off the track; presstime reports listed him in "fair" condition.

The somber atmosphere created by I aylor's accident was relieved somewhat (and strangely enough) by still another accident. A spectator, craning for a better view from his trectop vantage point, fell from his perch and landed in the bed of Bart Markel's pickup truck. More embarrassed than hurt, he declined first aid treatment and slunk off into the crowd.

OHIO SPORTSMAN HILLCLIMB CHAMPS

Well known in Sportsman Hillclimb circles throughout the midwest are Tom and Bernard Clark of Lancaster. Ohio. During the 1964 season they again chalked up an outstanding record including wins in the Indiana State Championships in both the 500 and 650cc classes, plus first and second for out-of-state riders in the West Virginia State Championship, and the heavyweight division of the Ohio State Class Championship. They are shown with just a few of the great many trophies they have amassed during the last two or three years of competition.

VINELAND TRACK RECORDS TUMBLE

More than 2000 satisfied spectators witnessed a full day of motorcycle road racing at Vineland. N.J. recently. The 12-race meet was organized by the Association of American Motorcycle Road Racers (AAMRR) and run in accordance with the rules recommended by the Federation Internationale Motocycliste (FIM), with which the AAMRR is affiliated.

One hundred and twenty-five AAMRR members participated, employing almost 200 pieces of racing equipment, including 50()cc BMW Rennsports, 35()cc Aermacchi and 350cc Ducati models, DOHC 5OOcc Manx Nortons and DOHC !25cc Hondas.

AAMRR "Senior” riders put up a terrific battle in the 25()cc class. Bo Gehring on a dual-disc brake equipped six-speed Bultaco. Charles Ingraham. Canadian ace on a Honda. George Rockett, current AAMRR 25()cc high point leader on a Ghost-tuned Ducati. Jack Creelman on a hot Parilia, and Roger Chase and Kurt Leibmann both on Hondas put on an exhibition of speed and skill that thrilled the crowd. Kurt Liebmann, after a poor start, managed to obtain the lead after a furious battle for every position. With only one lap to go. and the crowd going wild with excitement, the leader failed to appear at the head of the pack. Kurt hail gone off the course, giving Bo and his Spanish Bultaco a first; Ingraham on the Honda twin finished second with Rockett third.

In the 250cc "Junior” division, Frank Camillieri on a Ducati displayed definite “senior” qualities. He finished first, with Barry Hall on another Ducati taking second ahead of Charles Faulkner (Parilia).

The 125-175-200cc bikes raced together, and George Rockett ( 175cc Ducati) was no match for the field. He ran away, leaving the rest to fight for the other positions. Second in the 175cc class was Roger Chase on an Italian M.V. Agusta. In the I25cc class Andres Lascoutx was the winner on a Honda; The 200cc class honors went to Larry Shank (Bultaco).

The feature event of the day was the 350cc. 50()cc and unlimited race. “Big Ed” La Belle, an Eastern favorite who races both here and in Canada, and some years ago participated at the Isle of Man. rode his 500cc Manx to victory. Taking the lead right from the grid, he was never threatened. The big surprise in this event came when George Rockett, riding a 350cc Ducati prototype, managed to run second to the leader, and keep some 500 feet ahead of various “big” bikes running in third place. These included Kurt I iebmann on the BMW. Floyd Hutton on a 650 BSA. Tom Mayberry on a 650cc T riumph and Seed Hedgecock on a Manx.

The finish for both I.aBelle and Rockett came simultaneously — as I.aBelle got the checkered “victory” flag. George Rocketted out of the turn, went down, and never had time to remount. Second then went to I iebmann and 3rd in the 500cc class to Hedgecock. First 650 across the finish line was Tom Mayberry; he was also 3rd overall. First 350 to get the flag was Canadian Johnnv Nelson on another Ducati prototype. Dave Dcl.ong (350 Sprint) was 2nd in the 350 class.

LaBelle. in winning the race, established an all-time Vineland motorcycle speed record when he beat the time set by Jody Nicholas in an earlier AAMRR race meet. The new record: 1 minute and 5.4 seconds. Rockett now holds both the l75cc and 35()cc track records with times of I min. 6.9 sec. with the 350 Ducati. and I min. 10.8 sec. with the I75cc Ducati.

The AAMRR "Road” class (for street bikes, less headlight lens, stands and license plates) was captured by Alvn Carlson on a Harley-Davidson Sportster. Harry Penn took second with his Triumph 650 followed by Bob Sweeton on a Royal Fnfield 750 and Don Rose on a Norton Atlas 750. Ray Dey. riding a Norton 500. was the first 500 winner, and Joe Collins (Honda 305) and Larry Welsh (250 Honda) each won their class.

REIMAN TAKES NUMBER ONE

Roger Reiman, personable 25-year-old son of a Kewanee. Illinois H-D dealer, is the new 1964 Grand National Champion point winner among American Motorcycle Association riders.

The Illinois veteran, who has been riding competitively since 1957. finished a weak 10th in the final race of the year but he still came in two places above his nearest competitor to win the crown. Reiman's |()th place finish came in the final AMA point race of the year, the 50-lap Tourist Trophy race at Gardena. Calif. Two places behind him was 1963 Grand National Champion Dick Mann. Pinole. Calif, veteran, whose 12th place finish (after falling and then running out of gas) ended a last diteh effort to unseat Reiman as the top point man for the year among the nation's two-wheeled experts.

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Reiman, who won only two races in the AMA's 17 race National schedule, finished the season with a total of 503 points. Mann copped four firsts this past season, hut still finished with 467 points. 36 behind the new champion.

Wins in the Daytona 200-Miler. his second in four years, and in the Santa Fe short track quarter-mile distance went to Reiman. In addition to wins in the longest and shortest races of the AMA schedule, lie racked up four seconds on his way to the title, finishing runnerup in the I ightweight " IT" at Peoria: the 175-Miler at Indianola. Iowa: the 50-Mile National Road Race at Windher. Pa., and the 15Miler at Heidelberg. Pa.

I he 1964 season also saw the retirement ot Bart Markel of F lint, winner of the point crown in 1962. who is devoting all his time to his job in Hint. Mich., as a tool and die maker at General Motors. Markel looked for a good part of the season like a potential "repeater" as Grand National champ, and. despite missing the last two point races, finished in fourth place behind Reiman. Mann, and Ronnie Rail of Mansfield. Ohio. Rail did not qualify at Gardena, and finished with 454 points to 382 for Markel. Ralph White of San Diego finished fifth in the final AMA standings which saw 75 riders earn points.

150-MILE NATIONAL ENDURO TO BAIRD

Over the past two years, three top enduro riders have been splitting minutes and sharing honors for one National Championship after another. In 1963 Sal Scirpo from Connecticut won the 150-mile event at Cayuta, N.Y. on a H-D Sprint, then Bill Baird (Triumph) from Illinois went on to take the 125-mile and 100-milc Nationals, held in New Jersey. Due to an injury in the Six Days Trial abroad. John Penton was a runner-up for most of the season: however, his BMW reached the winner's circle several times in 1962.

At Cayuta. N. Y. for this year's 150miler. it wats that same threesome battling for top scores. Both Baird and Scirpo ended up with 986 points and the final decision came at the emergency check. An II-second advantage gave the victory to Baird. Penton was close at hand with it 982 point score, a good 9 points ahead of George Talcott, a BSA rider in the same Mediunnveight class.

The Lightweight crown was carried off by Robert Maus. 968. while the Lightweight class went to Charles Stapleford with a 977 mark. Bob Cole and Sox Brook hart were the only two Class A Heavyweights still running at the finish and Cole came out on top with 965 points. Jim Wheaton put his side h ac k farthest down the trail to win the threewheel title. Two in the saddle honors went to Gordon Potter and his son. Bobby. In the gray hair division, it was Wendall Hicks with a 910 mark score.

Many months of drought took much of the punch out of this event, which usually sports some rough water crossings and mud lanes. The dried-up creek beds became no challenge for the more experienced competition, but a lot of tight sections kept the boys on theii toes.

After the noon break the trail wound over Connecticut Hill where a few hookers were thrown in to spice up (he proceedings. In the middle of an open field atop the hill, solid ground suddenly turned into a spring-fed rift of bottomless mud. Catching many by surprise (mostly Class B riders), it was a real point loser. Seventyfour of the 140 starters eventually rolled to the finish line.