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/125469
SUPEHSA BOUNCES BACK! ~otos by Dennis Green Left: What's amateur Shorty Seaborn doing In tile EJlIIerl iIlaln? Let's ask our tricky photograpber, Below: All crosse~up In thrilling style, Ascot super-star Dan Haaby, National 1t22. They may be changing Sammy Tanner's name from the "Flying Flea" to the ·Super Ball· if the current pace by the veteran dirt tracker continues. His last four week record in the Ascot main event reads 8th, 1st, ith, 1st. Consistent, but hardly a record for a rider who has won close to 350 half mile events in his career. sammy finaJ.l.y scored his 340th half mile win by taking the heat race last Friday night over Gene Romero, Chuck Jones and Bob Bailey. His five lap tour around the Friday night playground was the fastest of the night and put sam back in front position for the first time in two weeks. The point leader, however, could not get up enough steam to win his favorite race, the trophy dash. This went to rapid Mel Lacher and Harley-David for the third time this year with Tanner settling for a distant secood. Dan Haahy ran third with Romero staying in fourth all the way. It's fast becoming a babit for Lacher to win ev"erytbing but the main event. Once again the san Diego slider took the lead in the fealure and beld it all the way to the very eDd of Ibe tenth lap before TlUIDer squeezed by just as they completed the final ro... d. Lacher made only one mistake, going high on the north turn on the ninth lap, letting Sammy make up the required amount of ground to catch am pass the next lap. Mel appeared to lose heart after Tanner took the lead and also gave away secood place before the finish. Chris Draayer came from the back row to overhaul Lacher late in tbe race and finish second. Neither Lacher nor Draayer, the two main H-D hOPeS for a main event win at Ascot of late, have won a main event this year on their • home " track. Both have come close on many occasions lilt have yet to cross the line in front. Tibben Challenges expert qf the night was Cbicago's John Tibben, the latest of a loag line of ·CaJPetbaggers· to move west and become a local rider. Johnny led his beat race most of the way before finishing a close second to Dan Haaby. He ran 9th in the final but was ahead of secoad raDll.ed Ralph White aU the way. It was Ti bben's third time 00 the well-wom oval that bas onlY three more times to nm this year. streakin' Shorty seaborne added two more amateur wins to his fast growin g list and again scored the sweep in the yellow plate class. Shorty broke out in a n set of brightly colored leathers and gave the fans an extra thrill Qy starting dead last in the heat race - on Surprise Below Left Three top novices all In a rowMarly MacDonald, Donnie Roberts, Larry Pruitt, Harley-Davidson and two Yamahas. Middle Left #33 Bob Bailey takes It onto tile back slral ghl. Boltom Left Super Sam checks the opposition last FridaY nlghl. Not even close. Boltom Right TrophY Dash topper lIIel Lacher, Harley-moWlted.