Bob Denike using the fairing helmet that he designed and built to full advantage.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6. THE DAY
AFTER THE CAPITOLA CLASSIC
Here I sit in the Turbo Volvo Parnelli
Andretti Special, somewhere on hiway
80, not near enough to Sacramento. The
'Starsky and Hutch' of the industry
chose me in a 2 to one vote, to guard the
deceased vehicle while they went in
search of a rental car. I don't know how
long they will be and my life is severely
bummed.
I'm forced to write this scoop, on the
Capitola Classic, under exterminating cir-
cumstances, that even I am unworthy of.
First, I was stranded in Del Mar, after the
contest held there. It took me three weeks to
finally make it back up north for Capitola.
In these three weeks I managed to get ar-
rested twice. Once for being a vagrant.
without a permit and the other time for
jaywalking in front of a Police Station.
Well, at least they gave me bread and water
to sustain me through my captivity.
Finally I arrived in Capitola. I took liber-
ties of relaxation, enjoyed the race and all
the pretty girls. Now this morning, I get up
really early, because there is an impromptu
race in Sacramento and 'Starsky' is suppos-
ed to cover it. Randy Katen from Sacto,
said that he has us set up with some 'white
liars' and I figured, what the hell, I'm
game. So I go. Then the damn vehicle
decides that it doesn't want to go all the way
to Sacto. We're late, it's hot in here and I'm
way bummed. I don't deserve this.
Looking back on yesterday morning (ear-
ly yesterday morning) it was cool out and it
was heavily overcast. I had enough money
in my pocket for a large cup of coffee. It
was to be sufficient for the day.
I was hanging out around the course,
observing the goings on as it was being set
up. The course itself looked pretty
challenging. It was slightly altered from the
year before with the addition of a hairpin
turn at the beginning. This made it more of
a 'Gun Ho' type of start, meaning that if
you didn't make the turn with the best line
ahead of the competitor, you would have lit-
tle chance of winning the heat.
Walking over to where the finish line and
announcers bed was being set up, I looked
at the official entry list to see who were the
invited. The list numbered the top riders in
the sport.
I was impressed with the expansive field
of entrants. Some were high quality pool
shreddies, while others were strict downhill
speed practitioners.
If I remember correctly, this was to be the
big duel between Hickey and Hutson. I was
looking forward to this and I was pretty sure
that Roger and John were pretty anxious as
well.
Mike Goldman on the right line with Byron Miller looking to pass.
CARLU