25 Years Ago May, 1970

25 YEARS AGO MAY, 1970

ROUNDUP

As we edged toward the new decade's first summer, Cycle World covered flat-track action from the Astrodome Nationals in Houston, Texas, a ladies trials competition in San Antonio, Spain, and bikes from here and abroad.

“Crash, Pop, Bang, Crunch, Endo, Center Punch, Wobble, Dog Pile, High Side, Bail, Rattle Bars, Wahoo, They Shore Like That,” was what we called the flat-track story. As that title implied, it was a carnage-filled night in Houston. Mert Lawwill on a Harley took the victory over OSSAmounted Dick Mann.

Competition was more sedate in Spain, where Inez Bulto outperformed 11 other challengers. “This is San Antonio, where everyone attending is a friend,” we said.

Keeping our attention focused on the far side of the Atlantic, we tested BSA’s 650 Lightning. As much as we liked the bike, seeds of the future had been planted. Better-handling, more-powerful motorcycles had already made their mark. “In this age of superbikes, the easygoing BSA makes no pretenses," we said. “It is a sumptuous, torquey machine suited to a wide open highway where it can stretch its legs. A hefty machine, it is not quite the ticket for playing racer on country roads.” Meanwhile, back in America, Harley-Davidson had just introduced its Baja 100, a cross-country racer. Basic components were fine, but the Baja suffered from a tall seat, a too-stiff fork, and other minor problems. Our sense was that a few changes would make H-D’s Baja as race ready as was Mert Lawwill's flat-tracker.

Robert Hough