1962 Bart Markel 20-Mile National Race - 3-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1962 Bart Markel 20-Mile National Race - 3-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, Vintage Magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
Market Scores In
20-Mile National
by Roxy Rockwood
Bart marker returned to California for
the second time this year and invaded
northern California for the first time.
When the 20 mile national was over the
crowded grandstand knew just why Bart
is the new Grand National Champion of
the AMA.
Markel arrived late on Sunday morning
and obtained a minimum amount of prac-
tice before turning in one of the ten best
time trials.
The track was the fastest ever in its
four year history of the national race.
Joe Leonard posted the fastest time trial,
two-one hundredths off the one lap record
set by Resweber a year ago. In the first
expert heat it was a two man go between
Leonard and George Roeder with Leonard
the early leader. George moved into the
lead on lap six but lost it again the next
time around to Joe. The two rode as one
until the final turn when Roeder shot by
on the outside and went on for the win
with a new ten-lap record which was over
three seconds faster than the old mark by
Resweber.
The second heat was even more of a
thriller as Sammy Tanner came from way
back to take the lead and hold it until
the last two yards at the finish. Down the
final stretch a five pack group of riders
stormed towards the flag. Dick Mann
made his bid and nipped Tanner right at
the line.
The third and final expert heat started
as a duel between Neil Keen and Markel.
Bart slipped off the groove on lap two
and lost four places. Keen continued to
pile up a big lead with Markel again
moving back up but having trouble on
every lap slaying on the path. At the
finish it was Keen with Markel closing
but still in a distant second.
The 20 fastest experts lined up for the
20-Iap national in two lines. Leonard was
off to a fast start with Markel getting off
in 13th position. Roeder was running-
second to Joe at the end of one round
with Markel still back in about 10th.
Gunter replaced Roeder as the number
two man on the second lap with Markel
up to eighth. At the end of three laps it
was Leonard, Gunter, Roeder and Markel
with Tanner, White, Mann and Keen
running right behind.
Bart took over second behind Leonard
on lap four and ran the same way at the
end of five. Bart took the lead for the
first time as the riders completed lap six.
Gunter got into second with Ralph White
11P lo third and Leonard dropping to
lourth. Leonard went out a few seconds
later with a flat rear tire.
loom this point on it was a two man go
between Markel and Gunter. Markel could
not shake loose from the rider that had
turned him back in the eight mile in July.
Meanwhile, back down the track, Darrel
Dovel was moving up fast but having his
problems with the groove.
Dovel had moved from 18th on lap
lour to sixth on lap eleven and was still
closing up when he moved into fourth
behind Roeder on lap 14. Gunter was also
moving between lap nine and 18. He
got by Markel no less than three times
just as the riders would complete a lap
but Bart would dive under and regain the
lead going into the first turn on the next
lap.
Bart wrapped up the win on lap 18
and at the same time Dovel moved by
Roeder for third place. Neil Keen was
a close fifth with Tanner in sixth.
The amateurs tore around the track
like experts all day long. No less than
seven amateurs broke the one-lap time
trial record with Dale Norlund the fastest
of the group.
The yellow plate riders really had the
fans jumping in the first ten-lap heat as it
was a three rider dead heat finish with the
nod going to Ronnie Nelson, who came
from a distant fifth to lake the lead for
the first time just inches away from the
finish with a new track record.
The second amateur heat found Fresno’s
Gil Allison taking the lead on the second
lap from Dick Moore and going on for the
win, again in record time.
(Continued on page 31)
Start of the 20-mile national. Stover Studio photo.
Winner Bart Markel receives congratulations and
awards from J. C. Agajanian, Lin Kuchler, and Mrs.
Glen Anderson, wife of California’s Lt. Governor.
Wayne Hesselgrave photo.
Earl Flanders measures winning bike while looking on are Fred Price,
president northern California Riders Assn., Dud Perkins, Bart Markel,
Windy Lindstrom, ex-hillclimb great, and Ed Warren. Stover Studio
photo.
A full House. Leonard (98) is still leading at the end of four
laps but Markel (4) has moved up and is about to pass.
Gunter (3) close in has Roeder (94), Ralph White (26X), Tan-
ner, and Keen right behind. A short ways back are Mann (64),
Dovel (45) and Stu Morley (8). Walt Mahoney photo.
Amateurs Ron Nelson (93R) and Elliott Schultz (20X) run a
wheel-to-wheel duel. Schultz went on to place second, but
Nelson spilled. Walt Mahoney photo.
A three-way duel between Roger Reiman (55), Ronnie Gould
(45R) and Babe DeMay (51). Reiman and DeMay went out
but Gould hung on to the finish. Walt Mahoney photo...
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