1953 Shreveport LA Motorcycle Race Albert Gunter BSA - 2-Page Vintage Article

Description

1953 Shreveport LA Motorcycle Race Albert Gunter BSA - 2-Page Vintage Article
Original, Vintage Magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 9" x 12" (23 cm x 30 cm) each page
Condition: Good
Shreveport
Albert Gunter-B. S. A.
7-Mile Championship
Half Mile Dirt Track
October 26
TWENTY-one year old Albert
Gunter of Stockton, Calif., riding
a B. S. A. motorcycle, edged past Tom-
my Byars from Beaumont, Texas,
aboard a Harley-Davidson KR in next
to the last lap to win his first National
Title and become the new seven mile
flat track Champion. Gunter flew across
the finish line with a couple of motor
lengths lead on Byars who was closely
tailed by Bobby Hill, Indian, of Colum-
bus, Ohio, following a thrilling race
which had seen the number one spot
change hands five times as the three
leaders see-sawed in the top three slots.
Shreveport seems to be Gunter’s
track, for last year, riding in the
Amateur Class, he set the track record
at the blistering speed of 26.84 seconds,
and followed this with a win in the
Amateur Final.
The track was not as fast this year
as last, and although it was in excellent
condition and free from dust, Bobby
Hill’s time of 28.35 seconds proved the
fastest of the day. Gunter’s time trial
was made in 29.33 seconds.
Ernie Beckman, Indian, of Battle
Creek, Mich., led the titled race for two
laps before Gunter took over, only to
lose his lead in the ninth go-round to
Hill. Hill left the groove a bit and
Byars swung in under him for the hon-
ored spot until he too went a bit wide
coming out of a turn and Gunter took
him in the thirteenth and held his lead
for the checkered flag.
In the back of the field, two Harley
riders, Buck Brigance of Charlotte,
N. C., and Everett Brashear of Lake
Charles, La., on a KR, were battling it
out with Beckman, each intent on cap-
turing fourth position. Beckman hung
on until the seventh lap, when he was
passed by Brigance, and Brashear took
fifth slot in the last lap.
Finishing up the line-up was Jimmy
Chann of Columbus, Ohio, aboard a
Harley-Davidson KR and Bill Tuman,
riding Indian, from Rockford, Ill.
Following the feature event, trophies
were presented Gunter in recognition of
his new championship and to Claude
Morgan of Houston, Texas, for his part
in this race as tuner of the winning
machine.
Time for the seven miles was 6 min-
utes 32.03 seconds.
Hill looked like he would take home
another Championship, when he backed
up his fastest time trial with a win in
the first Expert Heat. Behind him, not
too close, were Chann and Brigance in a
hot contest over second spot. Chann
finally passed Brigance in the fourth lap
and held it for the finish. Time for this
race was 4 minutes 38.3 seconds.
When Gunter took the checkered in
the second Expert Heat with a good
lead, and his time was announced as 4
minutes 37.5 seconds, business picked
up. Here was a real threat. Second,
third and fourth places went to Byars,
Brashear and Beckman. Beckman held
second for four laps before being over-
taken by Byars, then Brashear slipped
Photo: The three top men in the 1952 7-miU w »•
(I. to r.), Tommy Byars, who took H Natlona* Championship race pictured on machines are,
man. Pictured at left front of ..SeCO, A*bert Gunter, the new champ, and Bobby Hill, Number 3
standing with arm around Gunte^ c"a‘hine is Bil1 Myers, Beck factory representative, while
coveralls, is Pete Dalio, Ft Worth '$TC °Ude Mor9an, Gunter's mechanic. In rear, wearing white
mechanic, Dick Gross.
’ ' Texas B-$-A. dealer. At right front of Hill's machine is his mechanic Dick Gross.
11773-5302-02