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/125622
Johl Carter 'likes First A Mail Wil By Mike Capalite PACOIMA, CALIF. June 21 - It was a star-studded night at the Whiteman track Saturday night as a full compliment of speedway aces were on hand to do battle for the fans. It was an impressive line-up as it included current highPoint man Steve Bast, California State Champion Sonny Nutter, U.S. Champion Rick Woods, Australian Champion Cec Platt and also present at the track, but not riding was the Argentine speedway champion who exPlained through his interpreter thathe had been unable to have his machine here in time to race this night, but that he will be out next Saturday, so here is a chance for you to see a whole host of speedway champions next Saturday night. The champions that did ride put on a show that will be talked about for some time as they moved only two men out of the heats into the semi-mains which made it a do-ot-die effortfor most of the riders which provided the fans with some exciting heat races. The trophY dash was again Steve Basts' meat as he jumped into the lead at the first corner and kept it while the battle between Woods and Nutter went on behind him. Rick and Sonny were going at it with everything they had when Nutter got into trouble and that was all it took because Greg Haserot was behin"d them waiting for his chance and he took it to the tune of a third place finiSh behind Woods and Bast. Steve received the trophy donated by Ron's Bella Capri Restaurant and the kiss from Miss Karyn Draper, the lovely mini -draped trophy gir 1. A match race between Sammy Tanner and Cee Platt again saw the champ from down under get beaten at the finish line. Cec and Sam were dead even off the line Cee had taken the coin toss and chose to ride the outside and it proved to be a smart move as this is Sam's favorite portion of the track. Soon it became a see-saw battle as Cec moved back to the inside while Sam was storming around the outer perimeter of the track. It looked like a sure win for Cec as he would take the lead out off every corner when all at once Sam got a fantastic bite as they charged for the checkered flag and he beat the Digger by inches. The C main was Greg Haserot's from start to finiSh, but he had Jack 0' Brien and Cee Platt on each side and close enough to reach out and touch him, but his advantage came from the fact that Jack and Cec turned it into a duel between themselves instead of challenging the leader and by the time that Jack had pulled ahead of Cec to grab the seeond slot, it was too late to catch Greg. Paul Conserriere couldn't get a wheel in sideways during the duel as they were taking up the whole track. 1be pace picked up as the B main roared off the line with up-and-coming speedway rider Jim Gresham taking the lead, Larry Heinselman right behind him and Stu Morley pushing Larry' hard. Larry had the misfortune to leave the gate open on the corner and Stu grabbed the chance and moved into second, but he scarcely had a chance to enjoy it as Norm Elledge came like a bolt out of the blue and took both of them on the inside. By the time they realized that they had been had, it was too late. On hand for '!'e Trophy Dash presentation were, left to rlCht, Harlan Bast, trophy Clrt KalYn Draper, an unIdentified member of 111. family, Stev.'s fa1ller, the Arcentln. Speedway Champion (wavln&), and Dude Crl swell, Whlt.man promoter. John Carler, Norm Elledce and Bruce Haserot. If a fan were to ever say "I would like to see a perfect race," the A main that was run this night would have been the answer to his dreams. Even though John Carter led from wire to wire and took the win, the win was not the important nor the climatic thing about this race. If you were not there to see it, you missed one of the greatest feats of riding ability and absolute vehicle control that has been presented in the United States so far. It was enough to warm the cockles of your heart to see these same riders, who a year ago had been clumsily flat- tracking these machines, transformed in one short year to the beautifully coordinated exhib1Uonists that would storm into the corners three abreast, turn the bars to the stops and come out the same way. I file1 that to try to describe this race with my meager vocabulary would only detract from the sheer beauty of motion that it was so I will limit myself to the finishing positions which were, first; John Carter, second; Sonny Nutter, third; Rick Woods and fourth, Steve Bast. (Results on page 21) Vanderpool Big Winner At Orange By Jim Vardeman Ray Vanderpool, riding in 3 divisions, came home with 3 Trophy Dash wins, several heat races to his credit and 3 Main Events all in one night. Riding a Yamaha, he won the 125cc TT Trophy Dash, the 125cc TT MaIn, the 125cc Short Track Trophy Dash and the 125cc Short Track Main. Next came the 250cc TT on a Bultaco and the story no different. A jubIilant Vanderpool received a third trophY for the 250cc TT Trophy Dash, and went on to win the 250Cc TT MaIn Event. Many of the young man's races were run consecutively with his pit men doing a marvelous job of shifting the racer from one cycle to another with virtually no hesitation. Vanderpool's victories were no easy chore. At no time was he given an inch by the other contenders. In the 125cc TT Main he was followed closely over the finish line by Loran Chapple (Yam), Carroll Heiland (Yam) and Jimmy Raymond (Maico). Throughout the race there were numerous duels being fought right down to the last place. In the 250Cc TT Main, the battle was fierce with Jim Raymond finishing 2nd to Vanderpool, Bob Prior 3rd and Ronnie Cardiel 4th. In the 125cc Short Track clli.ss, Carl Byers on a Hodaka gave Vanderpool a good chase and finished 2nd, Ron Taylor followed in 3rd place and Kevin Stafford over the line for 4th. The Open TT, TrophY Dash and MaIn went to Jimmy Peterson on his Triumph with several fantastic crashes among these big bikes. Al Smith came in 2nd, Gary Nord 3rd and Perry Armstrong made it over for 4th. The Qpen Class Short Track Events were canceled for the night due to the DATE SET FOR FIRST TIJUANA SPEEDWAY EVENT Your speedway reporter was lucky enough to be present last Tuesday in Tijuana when the final plans were formulated for the first motorcycle speedway event to be run in Mexico. The first race will be on July 6, 1969 at the I,N.J,M. Arena (National institute for the Youth of Mexico) which will seat ten to twelve thousand spectators and the promoters hope to fill the stands. As the races are being sanctioned by the American Speedway Control Board, the riders will be going for 40% of the gate, which should make it one of the biggest purses around this part of the country. The gates will open at 11 a.m. with the races getting under way at 1 p.m. so be sure to leave early enough to make it on time. lack of partictpants. For some reason the Big Fellows would rather TT. The time finally came for the 250Cc Short Trackers to perform and a new winner coasted in to the winner's circle. Tom Vardeman on his sleek Sonic Weld Bultaco won the 250Cc S,T, MaIn with Mike Toussau hot on his heels on his Kawasaki. jim Peterson also onaKawasaki made it for 3rd and Mark Kruse, Ducati rider, 4th place. Trackcooditioos were such in one turn that the short trackers had many problemsjUStstaytDg up-right and off the wan. However,Mike Toussau found no problems in wiDD1Dg the 250cc S. T. TrophY Dash with Vardeman settling for a second in that ODe. It was announced following the evening's show that a new surface is being put 1D this weekend and the fellows shouldhave no problems in that respect. The weekly Wheelie Contest for the little guys on bicycles was a great success and incidently kids, a beautiful trophy s given each nlghtforthewinner. Speaking of beautiful trophies, the Trophy Girl contest is now in progress and a Miss Orange Co. Speedway 1969 will be named at the close of the season••• Any girl that wishes to be a TroPhY Grll aDd get in the running the title please contact: Jim Vardeman, trackphCJtograpber,at the race track Wed. evening and a night convenient to all will be assigDed to her. Dresses will be the rule of theD1gbt, no bathing suits! Join the crowd from 7:00 for practice, races at 8:00 sbarp and we try hard to have you on the rode home by 11:00. 25 races were nm this past Wed. night with points for TT'ers, money for Short Trackers and Trophies for all. 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