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Motocr By Marshal Swanson A man brings down a bright yellow flag and a deafening roar rocks the atmosphere. Twenty-five motorcycles Jump off the starting line and begin careening, skidding and bouncing over a one mile dirt track. Some bikes are barely off the starting line before their riders lose control and tumble to the ground. Others dart to the front of the pack immediately, mud flying. So begins the start of another motocross-cross country motorcycle racing over an unimproved course not exceeding two miles in length. The sport, considered by skeptics as the surest way to. get killed and by enthusiasts as the only way to spend a Sunday afternoon, h,4s been popular in Europe since the fifties and came to this country about 10 years ago when Swedish racing star Torsten Hallman impressed Americans on the west coast with his riding ability. Not long after the sport caught on in California it spread eastward. A prominent figure involved in the Columbia motocross scene is Al Miller, 41, who owns and manages the Campus Club South, and whose latest achievement is the purcLaae of a motorcycle dealership in Five Points. Miller opened his track in July of 1972 and held four races on it during the remainder of the year. The races are held every third Sunday because as Miller puts it, "we don't want to oversaturate the area." OfELCOMI STUDENI I DAILY SAVINGS, PABST OLD MILW BUDWEISE oss Provia The sport, once considered a "sleeper" by Miller, has caught on in a big way. "If a person wants to get into motorcycling in Columbia the equipment, personnel and fellow enthusiasts are here." he said. According to Miller, motocross is unique in that it requires more stamina than most other sports. Motos demand total physical and mental concentration along with reactions quick enough to enable a rider to steer clear of unexpected obstacles in the course. The Columbia motocross track lies four illes north of town on 20 acr of farmland. Every third Sunday riders and spectators from as far away as Charlotte, N. C. and Jacksonville, Fla. visit the area. Miller claims that on a clear day the event can attract upwards of 1,000 spectators and 300 competing riders. DISCOVER E rs SAVINGS by the - ~ truckload I F'an ta sti 6 pack $1.39 AUK EE $1.39 R $1.54 EXTRA.SI Country Clul 7 Oz. 6 Pack......... KILBOURNE RD. & RO ies Su The number of spectators d turn out depends almost entirely the weather at 8:00 a.m., accord to Miller. "If it's raining overcast in the morning the peo won't bother to come out no mat what the weather is like at- r time," he said. Most riders and spectati travel a "circuit" of motocr events. The big attraction money, Miller said. Riders stanc win $35 for a first place finish iL single race. By riding in mpre U one race and one class a rider 4 conceivably go home with $210 an afternoon's riding. The prize money-$1,000 total the Columbia track-is raised fr receipts received at the gate. The crowds line the entire ri route, often endangering thi AMERICA cally to' 'ECIAL" EWOOD DR. (Next I nday Excilt 'at selves and the riders by getting too On. close or sitting in exposed vantage ing points. or ple At times the spectators pose one ter of the promotor's biggest tce problems. "They're fanatical," said Miller. "They don't use common sense and they expose themselves to the bikes." )rs DO At one race last year Miller said Is a motorcycle careened out of I to control into a crowd of spectators m a standing too close to the track. an There were no serious injuries, M however. for According to Miller, it's his at responsibility to make sure the om races are conducted safely. "If I see someone in a precarious ice position I'll stop the race," he said. Im- Safety measures and facilities We IRWBI I ope a prii 9.c *strxwberr *L Beerd& Pric es! LARGE SI CHI LLED PARTY M The Club" a JIM CASEY FIREWORKS are important to riders as well. Miller said he takes special effort to ridersprovide adequate medical and safety measures or some riders will not compete. "If a rider thinks he's fair away from the nearest hospital and there's no ambulance to get him there if he's involved in an accident he may shy away from riding," Miller claims. Despite the fact riders compete at their own risk Miller thinks motocross is one of the "safest motorized sports in existence." He added that his track has seen only four accidents, the most serious of which resulted in a broken bone. More often, riders get the air knocked out of them if they happen to go down on -their machines. ate charge ... Arcade Mal o.. 138 0 Main Street. Downtown 264-4446 OPEN 10-10P.M. Mon. thru Set. IWine LECTION WINES IXES