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/125617
s..... But tDok tile Iud Ia tlto Konle-Bast rivalry willi a trophy dash win. But Is hidden behind RId< Woods (full coverall holmoted.) I Apollo Has Nothing On Speedway Orbiter By Mike Capalite PACOIMA,Cal., May 17- Speedway tans wbo made the treck to Whiteman Speedway were treated to the most actionpacked night at tull-power, dirt-spewing broadslldes to date. Looking torward to the match race between Mike Konle and Steve Bast, tile Bast tans were delighted when their man won his heat race handily and Konle finished second to Sonny Nutter In bis heat. Then it was announced tbat Sonny had set a new track record of. 56.05 wb1le the time on Steve's heat was slower. Ron Miller look the lead in heat 5 and as he crossed tile Une on the !irst lap, looking like a cinch win, he suddenly went hard and wide, bit the dirt bank like one of. Evil Knievel's launching ramps flew into the air! For a minute it looked like he was going to beat the Apollo 10 into orbit. He landed on the wbeels,took a nasty spill, but was uninjured as he picked bimselt up and waved to the crowd. Nutter had to drop out with engine trouble wb1le 1ead1ng his semi, which lett the battle between Jack 0' Brien and Sammy Tanner. Although Sammy had dropped back to 4th behind Lonnie Arnold, he was able to move up on him to take second bebind Jack. The second semi showed wbat Rick Woods can do If JIe really bas to. His riding was fIIhuloos as he pick bis way tbrougb tile pad; !rom last place. Mike Koole, boId1Dg the lead all tile time, was not about to relenqu1sb it without aftgbt, and f1ght it was tor two tull laps, side by slde and booking baDd1ebars in each corner. Rick made the last big ettort In a charge tor tbe tln1sh line and look tile win by a length. Sbow' im, sam! Mike Koo1e and Dash winner SIeve Bast had the match race tbat they challenged each otber to tile week before. It was a running start. As they accelerated out of the corner, Steve pulledahead about two lentils just as the flag was dropped, and although he had de1ln1ately jumped the flag, the starter could not see it from bis angle, so the race was allowed to run. Try as he could Mike could not make up that dlfterence of. a couple at 1engtbs. Alter the race Sammy Tanner told Steve tbat it was easy to stay ahead of. someone If you cheat them a couple of. lengths ott the Une, wbereby Steve told Sam tbat he 'IIOu1d run against bim and give bim the same lead and still beat bim and Sam accepted the cballenge, so it looks like tbere will be another match race nen week between Steve Bast and Sammy Tanner! The C Main looked like it was going to be Bill Todd'S until a bollle let Stu Morley and Homer Knapp slip under bim alter Lonnie Arnold, wbo was le?.dlng, ran ott the edge of the track and just arnout emulated Ron Miller's leap, but instead he lit it go outside the crash wall, no doubt thinking ot what happened to Ron. Morley was able to hold back the bid by Homer Knapp to take the win. Norm Elledge grabbed the lead in the B Main and was looking good as Mike Koole moved up to do battle with bim and as Mike pushed harder ahd harder Norm gave a little ground and Konle took over only to go wide with Norm on the next corner wbere Larry Heinselman grabbed the opportunity to move into tirst. Sammy "The Flying Flea" Tanner was right behind Larry and tried to move up with bim, but bis machine wasn't running UP to snutt and Norm and Mike pulled ahead. The A Main again lived up to expectations as Gred Haserot took the lead with Bast and Woods side-by-side trying to catch bim and Jack 0' Brien right on their rear wbeels. Greg looked good, but with steve and Rick breatb!ng down bis neck, It raitled bim a liitle and he tried to accelerate out ot a corner to soon, had to drift out to save it and Rick and Steve took bim, still side by side. Greg saved it soon enough to pull back in tront of 0' Brien, but now there was no catching Rick and Steve as they pulled away and went through the corners in beautiful control. It looked like af1ght to the finish again wben suddenly Woods slowed down and then pulled in bis clutch and raIsed bis hand as bis engine had seized and he retired to the pits leaving Steve an easy win. One at the SaturdaY'night events that started out as an amusement during the intermisslon has grown to gigantic proportions: the bicycle wbeelie contest. It started a tew weeks ago with tour or tive youngsters on bicycles going tor a !ive dollar bill tor the one wbo could do the longest wbeelie. The nen week there were about ten of. them so lirst place got ten dollars with sive tor second. This SaturdaY, there were over twenty-live bicyclists dicing on the rear wbeel tor a twenty dollar bill wben an announcement was made over the loudspeaker tbat there would be a $250.00 cash price to !irst lad to ride completely around the asphalt track at Whiteman. Try as they could, none of. the boys present were able to do it, but according to promoter Dude Criswell, the otter will stand all season until iUs won. Scali you neighborhood wbeelie champs 12 years of. age or younger, here is your chance to lose your Amateur standing and pick up a nice piece of change. Just bring Mom or Pop and your bicycle out to Whiteman Stadium next Saturday night before 8: 15. {Results on page 26) Bast lOts his Just deserts for 1110 trophy dash win as his unclo and falll. 10011 on. Abo...: Now speedway _ord holder So.. y Nuttor sets up for tum loft, and Grol Haserot hide a tltird rid.. In tltls duel. 00" Bolow: Nor. Ellld...