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/125614
... ~ .: ~ !l B ~ Po. By Mike Capallte PACOIMA, CALIF. May 3 - Speedway racing fans who braved the chill winds blowing through the San Fernando Valley Saturday night were warmed by the heat of the action as the fuel-burners provided them with the most actlon-f11led SPeedway spectacular for this seasoo. It started in the second beat with 'Tbe· Flying Flea', Sammy Tanner, always a crowd favorite, dicing for the lead with Mike Bast, when sudden1y Sammy went down on the east corner amid grOllllS of disappolnbnent from bls fans in the stands. No sooner bad be fallen down than be was UP, the engine r.unning, and althougb balf a lap bebind, took off cbasing them at a terrlf1c pace. Sam overtook Jimmy Stevens to cop 3rd place and guarantee a spot in the semi. When Sam crossed the finisb line in 3rd, the ovation from the crowd was greater than if be bad won. Another spill in the sixth beat by Greg Haserot was almost a repeat of Sammy's acblevement except that Greg was able to garner a second place beblnd Eso mounted Marty MacDonald when Sonny Nutter's JAP withdrew withengineproblems. The last beat was a consolatloo with only two men transferring' to f11l uP the semi. Sonny Nutter could not getbls JAP running so be borrowed an Eso. It was Sonny's first ride on one of the Jawabuilt macblnes and be looked great as be stormed to the win. His comment afterward, "it was so easy to ride, I was amazedl" We may seeacbangeofbrands for Sonny in the future. Rick Woods, the 1968 U,S, Speedway cbampioo whose classic riding style bas made bim a great crowd pleaser, bas been plagued lately with a problem of all sbow, but no go. He looks beautiful on the track, but basn't been wlnn1ng. It looked as thougb be bas it cured as be took the lead in bis heat and was doing everytblng right in the corners and getting reat cbarges down the straigbts that left the rest of the pack far beblnd. The difference was soon apparent when it was announced that be bad set a new track record of 56: 68, more than two seconds faster than the second fastest beat of the evening I In the first Semi, Rick again took his Eso to any easy win in a sizzlIng time of 57:03. The second semi bad the fans on their feet as Mike Bast and Jack 0' Brien slid side by side for the entire race with Mike on the inside and Jack taking the bard way, it looked as thougb the two were tied together but Bast was able to pull ahead by inches for' the win. A spill in the third semi by Marty MacDonald (Eso) marred an otherwise inJury-free night as Marty was taken to the bospital with an burt shoulder. The fourth semi began while the third semi prepared for a restart, and young Greg Haserot (Jawa) surprtsed second place man Sammy Tanner (JAP) and bls older brother Bruce Haserot (Eso) wbo fln1sbed in third, by taking the win. As the third semi was restarted, Steve Bast (Eso) led Sonny Nutter (Eso) all the way with Homer Knapp (Eso) In third. The Trophy Dash was figured to go to Woods as his times In the beat and semi bad been so rood, but be was bav1DC trouble aga1n. Tbe Bast brothers cornered SIde by side with blm all the way, making a team effort to keep Woods beck as the positions cbanged. With a last effort Steve took the win and Mike got second with Rick having to settle for third and Jolin Carter fourtb. The Handicap mains started with a bang as Bruce Haserot (Eso) and Larry Helnselman (JAP) jammed into the lead and were fighting so bard and close that on the third lap they slid out together, allowing Stu Morley (JAP) and Homer Knapp (Eso) to cbarge by for first and second, Bruce was able to right his macblne and crossed the line for third. The B main, being progressively better riders, was even more exciting. Tanner was beavily favored in this ooe. As the flag was dropped, Nutter came out like a cannoo shot and was really flying, Tanner was secood with Miller third, while 0' Brien bad gotten off to a bad start. Nutter was pulling away, wblle Sammy Just couldn't seem to get the groove as first Miller moved uP and passed blm, then Jack got around bim and Sam bad to settle for a 4th. The A main was everything that an A maln sbould be, with the top men ready to do battle, Rick Woods next to Steve and Mike Bast at whose bands be bas suffered so many defeats of late, Greg Haserot. Greg and bis Eso were destined for trouble as he was trying just a little too bard and spilled on the first lap. On the restart, it was Rick and Steve relieving their bosttllties 011 each other lD frmL with brother Mike not able. to ee* _ them. Tbey were rapidly pull1ne aWllJ" together and cbang1Dg positions t.ck:aud forth, first 011 the inside and tbeD OIl tie outside, when sudden1y Rick got a e-i drive out at the corner, took the leIId.. . . beld it to the fln1sh. On the third -.. Greg Haserot again sampled the of the track surface as be was tr7DC tID move uP into cootentl.oo. We may bave a surprise foc tbe foreign riders tbat come- over to a. "colonies" to hava a go at the easy speedway plcktnlS. Our boys are I'icDIIg" twice a week, Saugus on Friday IIIIl1 Whiteman 011 Saturday ntgbts, and It seems that they are becoming good t1I1ee as fast. Make it a point to au-t 0Dll or both of these events. It is the JD06:laetlon for the money since the ttmes at ancient Rome. .stare That makes ,3 weeks in a row DIDO Bergquist lLS ANOTHER st OVERAL Chowchilla Scrambles Apri I 12, 1969 125cc Am/Ex. Class 1st Chri s Ri ce - Bul taco Sherpa'S' 2nd Fred Gregory - Bultaco Sherpa 'S' 200cc Nov. Class 1st Bi II Cavanaugh - Bultaco Sherpa'S' 2nd Len Reed - Bultaco Sherpa'S' 3rd Lee Rice - Bultaco Sherpa 'S' 250cc Expert Class 1st Tod Sloan - Bultaco PurSang 2nd Merrill Biedleman - Bultaco PurSang So. of Kern County Line BULTACO WESTERN 10929 Chandler Blvd. No. Hollywood, Calif. 91601 (213) TR 7-2400 Bay Mare Com bo -Cross Apri I 27, 1969 125-200cc Senior Class 1st Jim O'Neal - Bultaco Sherpa'S' 125cc Trojan Flat Track April 23, 1969 250cc Main Event 1st Tom Vardeman - Buttaco PurSang (that makes 4 weeks ill a row) 2nd Charles Gann - Bultaco PtJr:Saog No. of Kern Co. Line ~r.. Stau BULTACO AMERICAN, LTD. CEJIOTO EAST IMPOITII& co. 2765 Scott Blvd. P.O. Box 29 Santa Clara, Calif. 9-5050 (408) 241-4672 SdfeRe€tady. /II. Y • (5fS) 31~412'l