1967
OPENER
Half Mile
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The Ascot veterans and rookies displayed their wares on the Ascot half-mile for the first time last Friday night.
One race doesn't make a season, naturally, but if the opener is a
hint, great things are in store for many riders this year at the weekly
Vermont Avenne clashes.
The veterans all rode like champions, the new Novices looked
especially good for the first night, and the Amatenrs may be more
evenly matched than they were last year.
The only ones to suffer were the
many first year ElIPerts on band. They
were cOlIlPletely shot down. with all
knocked out of the running in the heat
races.
sammy Tanner started his 12th year
as a dirt tracker hy grabbing a heat race
win and then coming ba.ck for the feature
to win over four-year veteran Dan Haaby.
In picking up two more victories.
Tanner has now run his all-time win
total to 345. just eleven shy of the
record held by Al Gunter at 356.
Tanner. Haaby, White and Mel Lacher
s\lllPl1ed the action in the Expert class.
Each rider won his respective heat race.
Then the four met in the Trophy Dash
with Haaby, who had clocked tbe fastest
heat race time, turning back Tanner.
White raced to third with Lacher, fourth.
Familiar Chase
It was Tanner from go to stop in the
IS-laP final with Haaby and Lacher
rubbing elbows most of the first half of
the race. Dan broke free in the late laps
and the old familiar chase was on. but .
time ran out and Tanner was the winner
of the opener for the second straight
year in a row.
Eight of the ten Experts who started
the Main Event were still around at the
finish. All were there except Pat Gosch
and Dick Hammer. The Triumph twins
both hit the deck - Gosch on the North
turn, and Hammer on the SOuth.
The only other Triumph Utreat to Ute
ancient BSAs was Gene Romero and he
was shot down by AMA conunitteeman.
(Continoed 00 page 13)
Second year Navleo RIck Waads won every IV..t hI ..tored _ hUI raeo, Trophy Duh and
Main ev..1 _ aboard a hal Suz,*I,
Four lastost Isports tako on at start 01 3-lap Dash. Froll len. (15) Ralph Whll.. (37) Mol Lach., (7) Sammy TannB, (22) Dan Haallr.
F__ ln. low tIIraugll tIIo Ascot tam, Mel
Laeh••
A erowllled comortul ollop-fllglll Esport ride.. u tIIo main event bogtns. Lachor and TanB are noell and nock abud 01 Cal Raybom, Ralpb Whltl,
Pst Goscll, Paul Consn.., Dan Haally, Dick H..m. and Chuck Jones.
Dlversl eomortn. ItJlos aro displayed by Dan Haaby (22), Jolin
cuul. track was In Its bost shspo OVB'
..,...arod
T1~
(60), Chuck Jonos (24), Johnny Isaacs and Jim Bo",.. no bllaatllUIly-
