classes A , B , and C , consisting of 250s , 350s , and 500 cc machines respectively .
Time moved slowly … three minutes to go … an eternity … push the bike backwards … flood the carburettor … then , finally , the flag drops and all riders push … take some steps forwards … hop on their machines , all hoping the engine will fire up as they should . The Finn Lampinen and Barthelsson are ahead , charging for the lead . People scream and wave the Swede ahead . Go for it , man ! The spectators could move easily from one side of the track to follow another . This was appreciated , of course – you saw more of the competition . After 8 laps , Gunnar was three machine-lengths ahead of Lampinen – how long could this last , though ? They had now been running a little over half an hour in this treacherous pace .
After 16 laps Barthelsson was shown a sign that he should fill the
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 164