1971 Houston Astrodome Grand National Series - 2-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1971 Houston Astrodome Grand National Series - 2-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, Vintage Magazine Article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
THE American Motorcycle Association
kicked off its 1971 Grand National
Championship series with two record-
breaking events held at the Houston
Astrodome, January 29th and 30th.
Nearly 25,000 spectators witnessed
the first night of racing action, the third
annual 20-lap Indoor T. T. National.
BSA-mounted Dick Mann of Rich-
mond, California, captured the win after
the rear wheel of Jim Odom’s Triumph
failed late in the race.
At the drop of the starling flag, Odom,
a Fremont, California resident, stormed
into an early lead. He was followed
closely by Mann, Skip VanLeeuwen on a
Triumph and Dave Aldana on a BSA.
Odom maintained his lead over the
other riders until the 19th lap. With the
checkered flag in sight, Odom’s rear hub
assembly broke, and he was unable to
finish.
Mann slid easily into the number one
position and took the checkers first.
VanLeeuwen and Aldana finished second
and third respectively.
California riders, Gary Scott, riding a
Bultaco, won the Junior main event; Loy-
al Penn (Tri) finished second and Bob
Ring (Tri) placed third.
The second night of racing saw more
than 35,000 spectators at the Astrodome
for the 25-lap Indoor Short Track Nation-
al. The number of spectators was an all-
time high attendance record for this short
track event that has gained in popularity
each year.
And what an event it was! A deter-
mined Jim Odom returned mounted on a
Bultaco to win the event, much to the
pleasure of the large crowd.
1970 winner Mert Lawwill, San Fran-
cisco, California (H-D) charged into an
early lead. Not far behind was Mark
Brelsford, San Bruno, California, also
aboard a Harley-Davidson.
After 10 laps, leader Lawwill fell, and
Brelsford and Odom swept by and began
an exciting 15-lap duel for the lead. The
head position see-sawed between the two
several times but at the drop of the
checkers, it was Odom first and Brelsford
second. Charlie Chapple, Flint, Michigan
finished third.
Ken Roberts, Redwood City, Califor-
nia, riding a Yamaha, captured the Junior
main event. Second place went to Gary
Scott, aboard his T.T. winning machine.
Bultaco rider Mike Kidd filled in third
place.
Short Track National
1—
Jim Odom
2—
Mark Brelsford
3—
Charles Chapple
4—
Keith Mashburn
5—
Rex Beauchamp
6—
Dallas Baker.
7—
Mert Lawwill
8—
Wayne Hosaka
9—
Chuck Palmgren
10—
John Hateley
11—
Frank Gillespie
12—
Dave Aldana
JUNIORS
1—
Ken Roberts
2—
Gary Scott .
3—
Mike Kidd .
.
. Bultaco
.Harley-Davidson
. Yamaha
. Yamaha
.Harley-Davidson
. Ossa
.Harley-Davidson
. Bultaco
. Yamaha
. Triumph
. Ossa
.
.
.
. BSA
. Yamaha
Bultaco
Bultaco
T. T. National
1—Dick Mann
.
. BSA
2—Skip Van Leeuwen
. Triumph
3—Dave Aldana
.
. BSA
4—Dave Hansen
. Triumph
5—Gene Romero
. Triumph
6—Jim Rice
.
. BSA
7—Dan Haaby
. Yamaha
8—John Hateley
. Triumph
9—Dusty Coppage
. Yamaha
10—Jim Odom
. Triumph
11—Dallas Baker
.
. BSA
12—Paul Bostrom
JUNIORS
. Triumph
1—Gary Scott
. Bultaco
2—Loyal Penn
. Triumph
3—Robert Ring
. Triumph
12275-7105-02