"
ASCOT APPETIZER
Until op enin g night of th e 1966 Ascot Park !}-Mile season on April 1,
feast your peep ers on th ese memo rable glim pses of last year's action in
th e South Tum, cau ght by W alt Mahony's cam era at the height of th e
season.
On th e top, Richard Hamm er scowls in hot pursuit of Sammy Tanner one
FriMy night. Triumph-mounted for Howard Barnes again next season,
and going bett er than ever, Hamm er's may become the first ve rtical twin
to dominat e the Ascot clay since Sammy first stormed in from Texas.
Middle picture: Least in physical poundage but seldom last in California
competition, Jim Nicholson gets our vote as racer of the year. He authored
most of "A Motorcycle Journal" currently 11lnning in CYCLE NEWS .
Learning his profession on four different brands in his Amateur year,
Jim maves out of California National Gua rd trainin g soon after the season
opens, and into the Expert campaigns , wearing national number 28. H ere
he is seen setting the season's Ascot lap record while the fabulous Simv
Matchless was in its prim e.
Bottom picture: Ralph White, making all the right maces of a Champion ,
proved to be both dirt and pacement specialist last year. He'll probably
remain u;ith Gary Bray's BSA demolition squad in 1966 Ascot battles,
as he was mast of 196.5. This picture shows him crossed-up on S11ell Motors'
Royal Enfield speedway machine.