Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125464
DRAGS tnaI 'IP 5 ... Q ~ oil and refueled for the next race which placed them again st Payne. Q", When P & S towed for the start, "Stagefright" had a case of its namesake and would not fire. Leo Payne made a single run for the victory. ~. Since both "Flustration" and .. "Stagefright" had one loss each they ~ were matched together for the next ~ round which would retire one or the go other from the competition. co V) V) ~ .... ~ spur· spur ... eRAS H As the tow vehicles gathered speed Perry held on for that extra few mph that would help avoid a loss from not c..> starting. There were only some vague sputters from Perry. The thought of a last chance held Perry too long for he crossed the starting line at too high a speed and the dead end of the staging area was right there. The rear wheel brake of "Stagefright" was locked in a vain effort at an immediate stop. A Harley-Davidson was parked in the staging area and was struck by the double which then went over on its side and came to a halt. Fortunately Perry Prentice was not hurt and neither machine was badly damaged. Perry later regathered his shattered nerves and was heard to quip "I wanted to get those Harley-Davidsons one way or another." In fifteen minutes Murray & Cook and Leo Payne were ready for what could be the final race as M & C had one loss and if Leo could "do it to them" it would be all over. Both bikes fired without difficulties and were staged without delay. The light turned green and smoke rolled from each lane in a beautiful start. Leo took a line not quite the shortest distance between two points with a side- ~ G wiDder movement. Cook ran straight and true to the fmish lights and won the round, which left one more race to decide the winner of "A" division. Again a perfect start, with Triumph and HlI"ley engines reving insults to each other, but the riders were silent and staring hard at the starting lights. Green! It was that quick and Leo Payne's reflexes got the message first. The race was as close as it was quick with Leo Payne reaching the finish lights for division Victory, turning 10 seconds flat at a speed of 144.23 miles per hour. Leo Payne carefully placed the trophy in hi s car and left the following morning for home, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and a racing tour of the East Coast. Leo will return to California next February. Until then we will wonder, can ANYONE defeat this Harley-Davidson champion next time? "FIVE" Five machines traveled the five hundred miles from Calif., to Arizona and returned with five division championships. Arizona motorcycle drag racers that turn elapsed times ranging from 10.50 seconds to 14 seconds have a new respect for California machines as there were two Triumphs, two Harleys and one Yamaha that defeated all (as if there was any) competition fer divisions B thru F for the Arizona Championship trophies and prize money. Bob Ebeling, Triumph; Sonny Raslawski, Harley; M. Di haroon, Harley; Willie Butler, Triumph; Bob Braverman, Yamaha; all retain the Arizona victery banner and will meet any challanges that the desert dwellers ofArizona may offer in the future. ------- The quickest Arizona champion was Hugo Be Jeon and his Suzuki. Hugo waded through a heavy field of competition for the "G" division victory turning an elapsed time of 14.35 at 86.00 mph. The balance of divisions were all retained by "Arizona's own" in this order : "H" Rick Bingham, Harley; "I" Robert Razabek, Suzuki; "J" Mike Mercer, Triumph; UK" Regan Wilson. Honda, Speeds and elapsed times of these new champions can be seen in the results section. Each raced hard to I':ain the victory banner. Your correspondent is pleased to see that Arizona dealers are on the • • • II ASCOT continued from front page of the national opener, only more so. Romero put the skids on Tanner's shortlived win streak to take the event with the Flea in second and BIackie Bruce taking third. The final spot was a near triple dead head fInish with Dick Hammer getting the nod over Paul Conserriere and Gary Nixon. They crossed the line in tandem. One would guess that the main event would not have as much to offer but it was one of the best ever seen. Romero powered by with Markel right Top: Ron Kruseman did It alaln 10 the Amateur class and took aver the point lead. Above: Novice winner Larry Pruett. BaRking off the Wall SIMPSON MOTORS 5475 S~n F"rn~ndo Rd. West Lo, Anl:c1", 39. C~lirornia DISTRIIlUTOR of JUDSON produ"ts (indudinl: Cyde-Tron transistor i:::nition) ~nd FRANCISCO OILS and "hem;".'s. the lead all the way to the finish. Haaby edged in for his second dash decision of the season. Prior to the dash, all riders were given one test lap, that is all but Ralph White who only made It to the first turn before he took another of his familiar .. Headers". He came back for the official race and ran fourth. Due to the large amount of expert entries four heat races, instead of three, were run. Only the first four from each heat bransferred to the final or semifinal. The opening heat was a near repeat GOO~EAR BLUE STREAK M010RRACPR Now Avillable In These Sizes 2.75x18 & 3.00><18 3.00><19 & 3.50><19 SHELBY ~~c~a:..Ck Tires . ~il BI"ENl.IDI •.(2].3) 321-6166 Gadena, Calif Commg Soon Above: Marke' at lett is superimposed to shaw the line he took deleatlnl such stars as (77) Chris Draayer and (37) Mel Lacher. Bart is the undisputed billiard champ 01 Ascot. behind on the opening lap and the duel was On between the freshman and the senior. AI Gunter Ralph White Fred Nix RESULTS OLD INDIANS NEVER DIE 2707 - W. lst StrHl Saota Ana, CallI. lorge stock of Indion Ports, from 1930 to 1961 - Scout, Chief & Worrior (No "4" Ports), Mat BSA H-n 10 Lap Amateur Ron Kruseman Randy say Shorty Sea born Dewayne Keeter Jim Berry John Carter Bert Ershig Pete Bodette 15 Lap Expert Final: Bart Markel H-D Gene Romero Tn Chris.Draayer H-D Dan Haahy BSA Sammy Tanner BSA Chuck Jones BSA Elliott SChultz Enf ~pMt~ Lap six saw Markel, again working his way to the nigher than high groove and taking the lead. From then on it was a riding display of Markel off the cashwall and Romero on the low groove. Every lap the grandstands shrieked as if they thoughtBart would never make it. Markel pulled away in the late laps to win his fourth main event since 1960 at Ascot and remain the only ouklfstater to ever defeat the locals. They will all be back again next week to do it all over again. Surprises kept cnming in the Amateur class when Ron Kruseman came from third to blow off Randy say and Shorty Seaborne to win the main event for only the second time this year. He also took the point lead for the first time as previous leader Casper Grief again [ailed tn qualify for the Amateur final. FOr the second week in a row Larry Pruett was the big noise in the novice division and again scored the sweep to run his undefeated string to five straight with another tum-reck ride in the final over point leader Marty MaeDonald who again finished second. Mike Tedder lost his machine in the opening laps and Dann.v Reed cartwheeled over the tOIl ofit. Reed waiked away but Tedder took the ambulance ride. It was another bad night for Sam Tanner. Second in the heat race, no dash ride. a second row start in the final and a distant fifth place finish. Maybe it was just a breather after taking home the Eight-Mile National title, trophy and over a thousand hucks the week before. Bargain prices. Moil orders promptly filled Sammy Pierce Indian BSA Sales 933 San Gabriel 81., San 'abriel. Cal. BSA BSA BSA BS!\ BSA BSA BSA H-n 8 Lap Novice Final: Larry Pruett Marty Macnonald Phil Tod1l Gary Waldo Mike Morrisey Len Earl Monte Dennett John Taylor Dick Fox Don Roberts Dan Reed Mike Tedder Yam H-n Hon H-n Bul H-n Suz Yarn Yam Yam Enf Yam • ~1Ite~ Speciali zing in HONDA world'. bineat aeller! 620 N. Main-Corona, Calif.-135-5&0lI •