1978 USA World Round
This world-round event was the fourth edition of the Wagner Cup, named after Wiltz Wagner, the North American Trials Council founder. It was held at Roaring Branch Motorsport Park in Roaring Branch, Pennsylvania, just 30 miles north of Williamsport, known worldwide as the home of the Little League World Series of Baseball. This 400-acre park had hosted the 1974 and ’76 rounds of the NATC series. All were put on by the Pennsylvania Trials Riders led by Jerry Young, who was The American Motorcyclist Association National Trials Champion in 1972. Young became known throughout the years as someone who would always introduce something special when it came to promoting the sport. This time though, Young hit a home run by partnering with the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Athletes vs MS program. This partnership resulted in media coverage leading up to the event that brought attention to hundreds of non-motorsport enthusiasts, who otherwise would not have known about it, in exchange for proceeds from the event. The unprecedented turn out of spectators created a traffic jam of over a mile long, which closed down Route 14 in both directions to the site and required local police to direct the traffic. Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 were in attendance, most lining both sides of Cascade Run, the highlight of the trial, a mountain waterfall featuring ten sections with an elevation change of 1,000 feet.
JUST LIKE THE CAT JUMPS
These were the words from one of our local club riders during a conversation we were having about attending the upcoming seventh round of the 1978 FIM World Trials Championship Series held in Pennsylvania, USA. He was describing the way top riders would launch their machines up these seemingly impossible waterfall sections after witnessing this firsthand at a US National Championship round, held at the same location two years before. You see, this was my second season riding, and at that time, I had not yet attended a world championship round or a national event. This was back in the day when there was no YouTube, mobile phones or social media. There were photos in publications showing the amazing feats of the top world riders, but of course, they just did not do justice to witnessing it in person.
The stars must have aligned to that very warm day in Northern Pennsylvania to create one of the most memorable American rounds in history. It was a time like no other for the sport in the USA. It was when top riders from America, who would traditionally struggle overseas, would mix it up with the top riders from Europe at home. However, with the recent performances in Europe by Bernie Schreiber, there was renewed hope for an American to win the Wagner Cup. This really began when Marland Whaley, as an 18-year-old on the factory four-stroke Honda, placed second to
the then-World Champion Martin Lampkin at Gold Bar, Washington, in 1976. Then, at the following year’s Wagner Cup held in Port Huron, Michigan, it featured five Americans in the top ten. This included podiums by Marland Whaley in second again, followed by Mike
Griffiths in third. These results actually did not include Bernie Schreiber, who was fifth in the world standings at the time. He finished out of the points in Washington in 12th after a crash resulted in a painful hand injury, which included losing a complete fingernail.
ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE
There was an electric atmosphere on the day of the trial, mainly because Schreiber came into Roaring Branch on a roll with back-toback victories in France and Spain, followed by a second in Germany. That first win in Sommieres, France, was historic on two fronts. Not only was Schreiber the first American to ever win a round of the series, but he also became the youngest rider to do so at 19 years of age. There was an excitement to see the hottest rider, an American, now as the favourite to win, something that never before seemed possible.
A slow start at the first three rounds, ninth in Ireland, eighth in Great Britain and out of the points in Belgium meant Schreiber was not leading the championship but in third position behind points leader Martin Lampkin and current World Champion Yrjo Vesterinen. All three Bultaco riders were tied in wins with two each.
At that time, the world championship round was held together with the NATC Championship Series, the fourth round in 1978, and included a total of 119 riders. There were 19 sections and two laps. The world and national classes rode all 19 sections, with the national support classes rode all but the four toughest sections. The time limit was five hours plus one hour penalty-grace period.
Since there was no Canadian round in 1978, four of the current top ten riders in the points were missing, those being Rob Shepard (HondaGBR), Jean Marie LeJeune (Montesa-BEL), Jean Luc Colson (Montesa-BEL), and Jaime Subira (Montesa-ESP).
It has always been tough for the factories and sponsors to justify the expense of sending their riders overseas for just a single round. However, Bultaco sent their young up-and-coming rider, Toni Gorgot (ESP).
NEW MACHINES
Four of the top riders entered were on new machinery. Mick Andrews had returned to Ossa after his five years with Yamaha. Charles Coutard, the winner of the previous year’s USA and Canadian rounds on Bultaco, was
now on the new SWM. Long-time Montesa rider Malcolm Rathmell looked different in the yellow-and-black Brema riding gear on the Beamish Suzuki. Both Coutard and Rathmell struggled to find their form on the new machines and were currently out of the top ten.
On the American side, current National Champion, Marland Whaley, made his first return to Montesa since 1974 after leaving Honda. Also departing Honda was one of those top-ten riders from the previous year, California’s Mark Eggar, who did make the
cross-country trip. The other top-ten American from the previous year, Mike Griffiths, was also absent.
One Californian who did enter the world championship was Debbie Evans; perhaps this is the most forgotten milestone of the day. Evans became the first woman ever to ride in the top class of the FIM World Trials Championship, a feat that has yet to be duplicated, taking on the tough sections on her Yamaha TY 175. Evans had ridden the previous year in Michigan in the National class.
DATELINE: 11TH JUNE 1978
The trial began around the bottom of Cascade Run. Section one gave no indication of the evil awaiting the riders as the feature was a basic double step before the ends cards. A small step with a machine’s length in-between, followed by a five-foot step before the exit. Most cleaned the initial section with relative ease.
Number four’s challenge was a ledge just after the begins cards. The section was very wide, and there were two different lines over the ledge. Although there were ten sections in Cascade Run, some, but not all, were ridden consecutively.
In order to avoid potential long queues, the course took the riders away to other sections on the loop, which were normal for that time period – deep mud, large log crossings, steep off-cambers, and two hill climbs, named ‘Nail Factory Mountain’ and ‘Loose Rock Camber’.
As the sections progressed through ‘Cascade Run’, which became steeper and more severe, the top riders also separated themselves. Vesterinen came through with the smoothest, most effortless riding style, followed by Schreiber. Lane Leavitt was one of the riders with the best form in the waterfalls. His Bultaco featured a very interesting rear swingarm with very different bottom shock locations that were claimed to provide better action and grip to the rear wheel. After witnessing his rides, it would be hard to dispute that claim.
Around this time, the popular banner ‘VIVA Montesa Spanish Motorcycles of Superb Quality’ was hung between the trees at Cascade Run, which drew a lot of applause and a smattering of jeers from those of other makes. The Montesa importer, Cosmopolitan Motors, was located in Hatboro, just outside of Philadelphia; hence Pennsylvania was Montesa country.
The steepest climb in these waterfall sections featured a breathtaking step of about eight feet. ‘Just like a cat jumps’ – I now know the meaning, as the top riders approached using perfect throttle control and weight transfer while launching their machines up and over, through the roaring water.
Marland Whaley looked good, having changed from the four-stroke Honda back to the two-stroke Montesa Cota 348 at the start of the season. After this trial, he would receive the factory Cota 349 Ulf Karlsson rode. Whaley affectionately referred to this as ‘the long model’ because of its one-inch longer swinging arm. He would be on the works 349 machine at the following weekend’s US nationals in Rhode Island and New Hampshire. It was fairly common then for the top US riders to inherit the factory machines off certain manufacturers after the Wagner Cup.
ON A MISSION
Schreiber seemed to be on a mission to avenge his disappointing result the previous year in Michigan, as he dropped just 11 marks on the opening lap. Of these, five were from a maximum after failing the hill climb named ‘Loose Rock Camber’. Schreiber had the lowest score on that opening circuit, followed by Vesterinen, Karlsson, and Lampkin.
Word began spreading quickly that Schreiber was in the lead as the riders made their way up Cascade Run on the second lap. At this time, the crowd really started to get into it, sensing an American winner for the first time, as all the riders were still rewarded for their attempts and especially the clean rides. Schreiber’s rides received the most applause, followed by Evans, whose riding was nothing short of remarkable. Also rewarded with applause was the local favourite Tom McKinney
III, the current National Number Seven and Pennsylvania Number One, with his effortless riding style.
After another clean and followed by applause, Schreiber sat on his Bultaco, leaning forward, resting with his arms on the crossbar, waiting to enter the next section. He casually looked to the right and left. Not showing any emotion nor breathing hard, it dawned on me this was just easy for him. Also, judging by the scores, the event appeared a little on the easy side, and Schreiber seemed to not even be breaking a sweat despite the heat. However easy it may have appeared for the top riders, others did not find it so easy. They struggled with the severity, requiring help from the volunteers to get through and out of the tougher sections in the waterfalls.
Towards the top of Cascade Run, in the distance were the sounds of motors on full song as riders took on the steep climb of Nail Factory Mountain. I made it to the bottom of the climb to see some amazing attempts. There were several different lines available as the markers were so far apart. It was stunning to see how they would attack the climb, shifting weight to compensate for either lack of grip or too much when the front wheel came up while never shutting off the throttle. Mick Andrews and Alabama’s Curt Comer Jnr had two of the only clean rides on the day.
SCHREIBER’S SUCCESS
When the riders began making their way back in on the final lap, it was becoming clear to all that Schreiber was going to win. There was a certain euphoria that began to spread around the paddock, as this was really a unique moment in time. It should be pointed out that this was not just because Schreiber was an American, it was because he was a phenomenon — someone who was doing what had not been done before.
On this day, Schreiber entered the history books once again, becoming the first American to win the Wagner Cup with a convincing victory, losing just 13 marks on the second lap, despite recording another maximum on Loose Rock Camber, to win by 11 marks over Vesterinen. Third was Karlsson, followed by points leader Lampkin. Whaley was fourth as Curt Comer Jnr had one of the most impressive rides to fifth. Lane Leavitt was seventh but his points were later taken away and not counted, reportedly because of not having an up-to-date FIM license on the day of the trial. Malcolm Rathmell inherited the position, followed by Andrews, Gorgot and Coutard, rounding out the top ten. Crowd favourite Debbie Evans took her place in the history books finishing 18th.
The event was a tremendous success, as everything went off smoothly and was praised by all the competitors. The organisation was second to none, and even before some had left that day, there was talk about the next time the next world round would be held. But, unfortunately, there would be no next time. No trials were held at Roaring Branch Motorsport Park for two years until a local D-6 trial took place in June of 1980. Sadly, it would end up being the last one, as the property was sold not long after that.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
RESULTS: 1: Bernie Schreiber (Bultaco-USA) 24.2; 2: Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco FIN) 35; 3: Ulf Karlsson (Montesa-SWE) 38.6; 4: Martin Lampkin (BultacoGBR) 39; 5: Marland Whaley (Montesa-USA) 50;
6: Curt Comer Jnr (Montesa-USA) 50.6; 7: Malcolm Rathmell (Suzuki-GBR) 59; 8: Mick Andrews (Ossa-GBR) 60.6; 9: Antonio Gorgot (Bultaco-ESP) 65.7; 10: Charles Coutard (SWM-FRA) 71; 11: Tom McKinney III (Montesa-USA) 76.7; 12: Don Sweet (Montesa-USA) 78.7; 13: Martin Belair (MontesaUSA) 81.5; 14: Morgan Kavanaugh (Montesa-USA) 86.9.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
RESULTS: 1: Schreiber; 2: Whaley; 3: Comer; 4: Lane Leavitt (Bultaco-CA) 54; 5: Terry Cheney (Bultaco-MI) 74; 6: Bob Hopkins (Bultaco-MI) 75; 7: McKinney III; 8: Sweet; 9: Belair; 10: Jack Stites
(Montesa-FLA) 82.6.
MEMORIES
Recently I asked Bernie Schreiber and Martin Belair what they remembered about Roaring Branch. The two Southern California riders and long-time competitors travelled together in Schreiber’s Chevy El Camino.
Bernie Schreiber: “1978 was a special year since I became the first American to win in France, Spain, USA and Italy. Of course, all of them were special wins to be remembered, but it’s always nice to win on your home soil for the fans and supporters. It was strange to win the US world round before I had ever won a US National Championship title. The venue was fantastic, with spectacular waterfalls and technical sections. The Roaring Branch organisers, The Pennsylvania Trials Riders, were the most experienced club at that time to set up European-style trials, which gave me an advantage after a year overseas.
“I remember Jerry Young, Wiltz Wagner and the NATC board being more shocked than me about the win! Bultaco, as all my sponsors, were very pleased to witness an American victory by an American rider.”
Martin Belair: “It was at a point in my career where I was thinking about stopping. I had been riding a long time. The factories were starting to cut back because of the economic problems of the time. Then Bernie asked me if I wanted to go with him to ride the world round and the nationals in the east, and yeah, I said yes! That motivated me; it was going to be a good time.
“What I remember about Roaring Branch was the heat. I wore a one-piece riding suit, and they were hot back then. During the first lap, I tied the top off at the waist. Cascade Run, I remember that as you had to stay in the water. There was grip where there was flowing water, but moss and algae everywhere else. I remember the hill climbs; I always loved hill climb sections.”
Jerry Young, the event coordinator: “We held about five or six club trials a year and nationals there in 1974 and 1976. We worked on the sections for the world round, each time clearing out more and more areas. I had so much help from the members of the club. We wanted to donate the proceeds to charity. My cousin was the one who suggested the Multiple Sclerosis Society. We ended up donating $4,000 to them.
“We knew there would be a good crowd turning out but did not really know how many. They had to close Route 14 in both directions, and the State Police sent up a helicopter to try to figure out what was happening!
“One day, when we were clearing brush and getting everything ready, I saw Jim Ellis doing something up in the top of the waterfall sections. Then I saw he had a wire brush. He actually spent all this time scrubbing all of the lines in the water. He did all the sections. His idea was he wanted everyone to have an equal chance at it. He did not want the first riders out to be at a disadvantage as the section scrubbers, so he worked his butt off scrubbing every section.
“You know, I did not really see any sections on the day of the trial; I was just so busy with everything. What I will always remember was this letter I got about a week later. It was from Wiltz Wagner who rode the Senior Class. He said, ‘Jerry, your event was the best trial I have ever ridden’. To have had Wiltz say that to me was really something special.
“We didn’t know it at the time, but owners, Rick and Dot Von Gerbig, who owned the restaurant where the reception was held, were having financial problems. They let us use the property just about whenever we wanted. They also had motocross events there, trying anything to make as much as they could. When it was known they had to sell the property, about 25 local families came together to purchase the land and be joint owners. Some of them had dirt bikes and ATVs that they rode there for a place for them to enjoy. That was the end of the motorsport park. It’s now called Mill Hill Manor.”
MONUMENT
Ever since the event took place, Young had always wished to see a monument so it would always be remembered. He wanted something placed at the site as a tribute to Schreiber and all riders who took part in the trial or had a hand in
making it happen.
After the owners granted permission, he created, using his own money, a four-foot-tall, 1/4” thick steel three-sided monument. He wanted it to be higher (about eight feet) but was told by the landowner who gave permission that it would be too tall. Using a torch, he carved out words and two different design emblems of the Pennsylvania Trials Riders on two sides — one side pays tribute to the 1974, ’76, and ’78 US National Championship rounds; the other to the FIM World Championship. The detail is incredible. The third side features laminated photos of the trial, the complete results of all classes, and a dedication tribute written by Jim Ellis.
One interesting result listed is that of the third-place finisher in the Sportsmen Class, Joseph Raga. For a time, he lived in Rhode Island and was a member of The Rhode Island Trials Club. Joseph would be more well-known some 20 years later as the father of someone called Adam!
The monument was placed at the site in 2018 with the help of two PTR club members, Craig Parker, who had the tools and equipment to assemble the three sides, and Frank Watson, who had the truck necessary to transport and place the monument at the site.
Young continues to improve and make modifications to the monument, which is 20 feet off the road, so it is easily seen and accessible (GPS location Latitude: 41.5751 Longitude: -76.9082).
THE FUTURE
Jerry Young: “I have a lot of ideas. I want at some point to have a dedication at the site, with those of us who are still left who were involved. I want to try to have Bernie Schreiber come if that would be possible. I also want to get in touch with the department of tourism to see if there is a flyer/brochure/pamphlet that I could make to have at these places, such as local rest stops. It would be three-sided, just as the monument is.
“When you think about what is there to do in Williamsport? Well, we have a lot of things. For example, there is The Little League World Series, and you see these fliers about that. Well, we put on a World Championship, so I think it would be a really good point of interest to see the monument. I want people to know what took place there so that it won’t be forgotten.”
Thanks to the efforts of Jerry Young, the most significant Wagner Cup in history will always be remembered.