From Tor McPartland:

"My memory is a little different.  Indeed I started the Enduro with the perfect LeMans start, I was third out of fifty bikes into the first turn. I remember a BSA Trident (who went on to win the overall) was directly in front and creating a lane for me to blast through.

It was a July 4th of heat in Vacaville that day. I was having an exceedingly spirited first stint when coming into Turn 2 I saw my brother Ladd Filming with his super eight camera. I decided to really hang the turn. Later when reviewing the footage I looked really good up until the rear tire (which was old and by this time very hot) let go and Ladd got truly remarkable footage of me sliding with a double correction directly toward the camera. Thankfully because of the sweet handling of the Bultaco I was never worried. In fact except for the face shield blocking the cameras view, you would have seen the shit eating (fifty cents) grin. 

Later that same lap the rear tire again let loose on the slow turn going onto the main straight requiring a brief dab of my foot to stay without road rash. I completed my stint without any further excitement. We were far ahead of any other 250 cc. bikes.

Jack did then take the bike back out for his first stint which I recall went without a hitch. I was really pumped about how well it was going and I saw great sorrow in Tip's eyes over his early DNF. Motorcycle racing had a funny effect on me, before I got on the bike I was terrified and would practically dry heave, but once on the bike it became an extension of my body and I had complete comfort and confidence. 

Not being on the bike it was an easy decision to let Tip ride my second stint. He was rocket fast as always, more than making up for the weight differential between him and I.  I remember asking Jack to split his last stint with me because of the heat and speed differential but Jack was firm about finishing the race saying that I got to start and he wanted to finish. 

It was past when he would have turned the bike back to me when the first of his two crashes happened. After his second crash which took place in turn two, Jack got back up and tried to bump start the bike without realizing he was still in too high a gear and pushed it around Turn three before realizing this fact. Finally getting back under way but lots of time lost.

This is where our memories are very different. I don't remember for sure whether there were 2 stops or 1, Jack is probably right there, but when I got back on that motorcycle for the last eight laps it was very different from the bike I had been on previously. It would then do tank slapping speed wobbles on the slightest bump (which were many at Vacaville) and after a couple of frightful laps (and this is where Jack and I diverge) the left foot peg (with the brake still attached by the cable). fell off in the middle of the fast right sweeper on the back side of the course, bringing on true fear. 

When racing, time becomes much slower or in reality one's brain becomes much quicker, for it seemed like a long time that I fished for the foot peg with my foot hoping it would not become entangled with the back wheel causing a catastrophic ending to our effort. I was able to locate the peg hooking the cable over my foot and pulling it up on to the engine casing. This is how I rode out the race and was unable to fend off the other much healthier Bultaco at the end. I felt just finishing was an incredible result considering all that had happened and 2nd in class was still a moment of pride."

Tor McPartland