Kenny Roberts Wins the Roughest Mile (1973)

• Larry Lawrence
Famous Dan Mahony photo of Kenny Roberts (80) and Rex Beauchamp (31) battling on the mile at the Pikes Peak Turf Club in July of 1973. Heavy rain the day before caused the cushion track to deteriorate during course of race day and many longtime flat track fans recall the track to be the roughest AMA Grand National Mile race ever held. It came down to a last-lap battle with Roberts and Beauchamp trading the lead a couple of times. In the end Roberts powered his Yamaha over the ruts to earn a wheel-length victory over the Harley of Beauchamp. It marked Roberts’ first Mile win. Interestingly the Turf Club was eventually paved over and 20-some odd years later the facility began hosting AMA Superbikes on the revamped Pikes Peak International Raceway road course. (Dan Mahony photo) 
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