Six Harleys made the main, and two Triumphs. The new 750-cc limit for ohv machines did prove to be a problem to the Harley 750 sidevalve machines. In the midwest, Gary Nixon, Bart Markel, Darrel Dovel, Larry Darr and Ronnie Rail clashed with other AMA Experts in an exciting warmup half-mile at Springfield. Also, a 250 Suzuki, ridden by Richard West, captured the 250 class of that same race. Grant’s bike was the same machine that carried him to 2nd place at Daytona this year. At the recent AFM meet held at Orange County International Raceway, the 500-cc Suzukis of Art Baumann and Ron Grant placed 1st and 3rd, respectively, in the Open class GP. It looks as if Suzuki may be in for a good year. The significance in the San Jose results is that this track is a natural for a good Harley sidevalve.

And farther north at the long, tight turning San Jose track, Romero, on the 650 Triumph, won a fabulous main event in which the lead swapped many times. For instance, Eddie Wirth and his 650 Beeza qualified second fastest at a subsequent Ascot meet. But the general consensus is that time is growing short for the “old rule” bikes, as the bigger machines overcome teething problems. In the weeks following the opener, the usual “shoes,” on the usual machines-not to mention a string of wins racked up by Sammy Tanner on his R-E Single-staved off the over-500-cc ohv bikes. It was clear that Romero would have placed well had he not dropped out of both his heat and the trophy dash with cam timing problems. The 6th and 7th spots went to the 650 BSA of Eddie Wirth and the 750 Norton of Ron Kruseman, which were the highest finishing “new rule” machines. Haaby won the Expert main, followed by Lawwill, Seabourne, Geezer Emick (500 BSA), and Jimmy Odom (H-D). The fastest qualifier was Mert Lawwill, on the traditional 750 sidevalve Harley, followed by Shorty Seabourne (500-cc BSA), Dan Haaby (H-D sidevalve), and Gene Romero (650-cc Triumph ohv). The stiff clay-tailored for racing-poses unique problems in traction and steering geometry, different from those encountered on other tracks, many of which give preference to horse racing and rodeos. What wins at Ascot doesn’t necessarily win everywhere else, and vice versa. But Ascot, because it meets so frequently and involves so many top-flight competitors, is a puzzling venue for writers who would like to make predictions about the coming round of AMA nationals. Interest was keener than usual at the first race of the Ascot Park flat track season due to the new AMA ruling allowing up-to-750-cc ohv machines to run in the big bike classes.

Just Before Dark by Jack MacLane