January 15, 1975
Vol. 3  Issue 2
    










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BCA-MX


The hacks came out to Indian Dunes and put on quite a show for the spectators,.
Kiel photo.
The hacks came out to Indian Dunes and put on quite a show for the spectators,. Kiel photo.

BCA-MX at Indian Dunes
Sunday January 5, 1975
By: John
Grout

A completely redesigned International track was the setting for today's BCA sanctioned motocross program at Indian Dunes Park. Gone, buried and forgotten was the old TT-type course that had been a battleground for racers almost since the park's beginning. In it's place, ready to bring in the new year with a giant bang for the field of 333 riders assembled for the daylong action, was a REAL motocross track. A genuine whing-dinger of a tight, twisty and challenging circuit that would drive a wart hog up a banana tree.

Among features in the all-new layout, which, by the way, was designed and constructed by the joint efforts of Bob Hendrix and Bill Tilstra, are several low-speed launching ramps (jumps, that is), and a number of serpentine-type straightaways-one of which cuts right up into the main spectator hillside. In all, it's a beaut; a real crowd pleaser that has considerably picked up the excitement factor of motocross sport: While initiating the new twister, Maico riding Bill Payne collected a pair of 20-minute victories to gain an overall win at Open Expert.

Though pushed right to the ragged edge in both of the lengthy heat events by a hard-charging Ron Haase, who was astride an almost ridiculously rapid Kiel's Cycle Parts Bultaco, Payne displayed his hard-earned racing savvy in both instances, maintaining a narrow lead to the checkered in the two motos. Among closest runners-up to the top two were Pat Dailey and David Byrd. Hal Strauss (Mai), scoring a win in his first moto and a second in the finale, upended a large grouping of contestants at 250cc Expert.

Mark Kiel's dad came out to race with the Old Timers on the new track at Indian Dunes. That's Mark's old Bultaco, in case you are wondering.   Kiel photo.
Mark Kiel's dad came out to race with the Old Timers on the new track at Indian Dunes. That's Mark's old Bultaco, in case you are wondering. Kiel photo.

With main contention being supplied by Revell racer Will Harper (CZ), who was a handy winner in the last round, and Mike Sixberry (Bui), who recorded a good second in the first heat, only to have his handlebars snap during the running of the second, Strauss went on to gain the overall triumph for the division by a scant point. Harper was first runner-up, followed by Chris Bartlett (Pen) and Sixberry, who took a seventh place finish in the last moto. Hard luck award for the day would have to go to Don Hansen, who was attempting to campaign one of the big Maicos against Open Experts for Sun Valley's Revell's Raiders.

After establishing the day's fast time (1:15) while competing in the first moto for the class, Hansen was faced with one catastrophe after another. First, while holding the lead, he lost his saddle; then, during the racing for the final round, he went end-for-end while chasing Payne on the backchute. Wow!! Brad Eyre (Hon), a rider down from the Ridgecrest area, tallied wins in both motos that involved Experts on the 125cc machinery. Runners-up included, among others, Jeff Haase (Hon), Kevin Berger (Hon) and Rob Westbrook (Hon).

Outstanding Novice rides came from Tom Harper, lOOcc (Hon); George Viens, 125 (Hon); Richard Titus, 125 (Hon); Ronnie Cardoza, 250 (Hon); Rick Roberts, 250 (Hon); and Kit Malone, Open (Mai). All of them were the overall victors in their respective divisions. Members of the Sidehack Assn. were out in force on the new International, with wins going to the team of Jim Stevens and Bob Sanner Jr., working on a 750cc Honda for the Heavyweight victory; while the team of Rick Lucchese and Dennis Morgan (Yam) accounted for a win against the Lightweight class. And the hacks again proved to be a great crowd pleaser.