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/125516
fore the lights and Gary Richards red-lighted. The real debacle was tbe Martinez and Richards duel. When Gary drew the red light an automatic win went to Martinez, but -you must travel the full quarter mile. C YC I. £ A 1.1. £ Y by Bob Ebeling A Run For The Money! • Race for dollars" was theme and goal for a majority of the entries at Lions drag strip, but which it would be was left to the rider's decision. An extra large entry fee was the price for a go at the dough and half the price restricted the entry to trophy racing. To quote a business man, "you get just what you deserve: Don McEvoy's twin Triumph had lost its fire on the line and Buddy Martinez had to push from starting line to finish. Buddy did not push mph over Theiler's 11.45-131.00. The second half of round two saw first round winners Ray Downard and Buddy Martinez squaring off. Buddy didn't have to push this time, he just simply flew by Downard with a speed of 154.37 miles per hour. Downard was fast for a 350 Honda at 106, but he looked slow when he was pass ed. Bob Sirkegian vs. McEvoy-Marti- 0, '" ~ Cl. ..... <0 ~ "" Cii 51 = ~ Five was the number of entries in a top fuel category. Two were Vincents, two Triumphs and one a 350cc Honda. One Vincent fell to the wayside via mechanical troubles, leaving just one in contention. Ray Downard's 350cc Honda rapidly put the Vincent to shame. Nira Johnson and Ebeling, both Triumph-mounted. were matched for the class trophy. an automatic runner-up guarantee and chance for top in the money race. Here was an example of the most classic hole shot ever. Nira Johnson Ie ft the line wh ile Ebelin g was off in dreamworld. Nira won with 11.19 elapsed time. When Ebeling came to, he snapped the clutch out for a 10.85 second run. Ray Downard and Nira Johnson drew their wheels to the starting line and left in a huff of smoke. which later cleared to show Nira lighted a clear path to the winner's circle. Gas and Street In the gas di vision a Vincent held its own in the race for top. Chuck Gruebner's Vincent was way ahead of all contenders with aI2.24-112.00 quarter-mile run. Al Sherwin has been rolling up a steady string of wins in weeks past and this time added another length to the ball with a Top Street victory run of 12.38 seconds and 109.30 miles per hour. Walt Magnes put a 450cc Honda on top of the Junior Street challengers with a 13.66 second run that froze the mileage at 97.82. Irwindale Rich Richards and son Gary were top qualifiers on their 45 inch Triumph this saturday. in the race for Bob Braverman, on th. I... c. lone 305cc Yamaha Ca I. dracstrlps. Bob soon exp.cts to cloth. th. more speed. top eight fuel bikes. Their best e.t. read 10.24 while the clocks printed outaspeed of 142.85 miles per hour. Lowest on the e.t. totem was McEvoy and Martinez, for they failed to get in a full quarter mile run. Since there were exactly eight fuel burning ,entries, the process of bumping never took place and the twinengine Triumph was placed securely in the top eight lineup. Round one, which eliminated four of tbe contenders, was a scene of one sided racing. Three shut off be- Is stili coll.ctlnc doz.ns of trophies at 50. machine with a full, dustbin falrlnc to C.t with the weary drag of a racer but ran with the sprint of an athlete. BuddY's elapsed time was 95.64 seconds and he cleared the mile per hour clocks at 5.2 5. No one expected Bob Sirkegian's super bike to sprint its way to a victory in the second round. when he was matched with Theilets 650cc Triumph drag bike. it was a night of surprises! Bob Sirkegian's BSA amazed everyone from spectator to racer with a 11.08 second elapsed time and the hauling speed of 128.20 nes. Street bike against twin engine dragster. Ha! lets go home we know who will win. But wait, their engines are started now. You tum and Bob Sirkegian is through the lights with anotber 11.08 seconds and Martinez is nowhere in sight. How could that be? Unless-yep! it blew on the line. In fact, Don McEvoy now owns the' only 650cc Triumph engine that splits horizontally. Bob Sirkegian and BSA now have not only the worlds quickest and fastest super bike but Top Fuel honors in a match of some of the best. (Results 011 PIlce 16) HODAKABILITY AND TOM BRUCKENSTEIN COMBINE TO WIN ATHENA 100cc NATL. Ascot Novlc. Ken Llchthous. was recently ...n at Irwindale with his flat track ric. H. C.t off ... the lin. In typical Ascot "banzai" fashion. ~ ~ : 1st CHOICE Of CHAMPIONS • • • • • e Southern Calif. No. Calif. Distributor Area Representative ~I.: LEAVITT POWER TOOL co. INC. H.A. 'NELS' NELSON· 2265 Sunrls. Blvd. Pbone (2].3) 243-1011· Rancho Cordova1 Calif. GI - ....Ie, CaIIf. Deslllle'" Imported By PABATCOPh.... (916) 635-6970 - : CARL CRANKE - Ascot' Capitol openers ROGER GOLDTHWAITE - Wins Vallejo &/23 MARK BRELSFORD - Point Leader - Dist. 3& • ASCOT • DAYTONA GEORGE NEWSOM -125 mi. Natioaal e..o RICH THORWALDSON - PIDderosa H.S. 3J2& OIA • CASTLE ROCK • • GREENHORN JOE PYLE - R,,- , Nev. H.S. Open Expert CHARLIE HOCKIE, CHARLIE GATES, • • MONTEREY ••• WILLOW SPRINGS BILL THORWALDSON, AL LAUER, GLEN • COTATI CLINTON, JIM SAITONE - and more! • t T • KENT, WASH. LUBE to WIN - WITH • • • • • .' • •• • Ifi WMICAITS • PO 101 272, OIAIGlYAU, CAUf. ~t ~