Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

:~§!ASCOT Rockwood Out-Lachers Lacher By Eric Raits G}..RDENA, CAL., Aug. 15, 1969 - Tommy Rockwood turned the tllstest qualltying time Friday night at Ascot and then chased Mel Lacher and Shorty Seaborne for twleve la,ps during the Expert Main event. He sqUeezed past Shorty in the thirteenth lap and set his sights on the front-running Lacher. Tom was sl1d1ng ferociously and looked tllster than the San Diegan and passed him in the last turn to take the win, his second in three weeks. Amateurs and Experts ran together again because of a shortage of riders and Terry Danaher waged his own race with Paul Conserriere for third. VelDmounted Danaher beat Conserriere's Harley and they finished third and fourth. Seaborne fell off in the North turn shortly after Rockwood passed him. Sammy Tanner got a bit anxious early in the race and tried to pass Conserriere down low. He caught his left foot in the dirt and was forced to retire with a painful ankle injury. Novices Don Emde, Freddie Edwards, and John Hateley put on the same Idnd of race they always do when all three of them are in Gardena on the same night. Emde led the close race all the way and Hateley passed Edwards halfway through for second place. Ted Longwtlh took fourth. Rockwood beat Seaborne, Carl Patrick, and Mel Lacher in the Trophy Dash. Lloyd Houchins' victory in his heat prevented a Rockwood sweep of the evening. (Results on page 21) First turn aclion sorts Itself out. Ron (12l) Kruseman and Carl (29l) Patrick led briefly. Tom Rockwood Is still cetlinc the feel of the track and looks for an openlnc. BAY MARE Continued from page 9. Tom Rockwood follOWtld Mel Lacher for fourt..n and half laps and mad. th~ wlnnlnc mo.e In the last turn. falling (literally) from third spot and had decided that Bailey should stay in !1!th spot. They raced. And they raced. Balley did it to him but he had to work to get around. R:ludman was a former pro baseball player. Each time somebody yelled "Get a hit, Shorty," he would stick a h::ndiebar in the track. In the last moto, Balley was making breathtaking wheelles over the top of a tall hill and continuing down the other side, 20 yards down and steep. Here he'd come, front wheel way off t'1e ground, front end cocked over, and doing 40 miles an hour all at the same time. Guts. Look out Europe! A dirty old man race for cats over 40 was held. It was horrible. The smell of castor oll,and rubbing llniment lingered with the odor of old age. 40. Man, is that old! Jelly Man Pierce on an ancient Matchless was crouched over the bars agresively untll he retired to have his corset readjusted. Doddering old Mr. Scott, sponsored ty one of the popular convalescent homes was really humming around the grounds on his Bultaco powered wheelchair. They became surly, prior to the start of the 2nd moto, and Mr. Nicholson had to take away the checkerboard to make them race. "Ears" Tamlinson surged past several riders when his hearing-aid transmitter became entangled on his exhaust pipe. Thinking the noise was from competition and finding it hard to see through constricted puPils he involuntarilY reverted to his Cushman days, th1nk1ng he was turning it off, he twisted it toward him. The tecbnical marve! of this wbateverit-was, was a Yamaha ridden by "Gums" Beall. He was~onsored by Preparation "H" and had one of their mod1!1ed rear ends. Thanks to the Shoeman for re-sur!acing the walJdng canes. A Powder Puff and hllicllmb rounded out a dusty, competition peppered day that will bring us all a step closer to seeing an American on the International scene. Wendy Littell, 27 and a mother of two, far outdistanced the other girls. riding for the first time with her own sex. (Results on page 20) Dude Criswell Presents Authentic EUrDpef/h (",\itt" Every Wed. 8:00 p.m. Whiteman Stadium 13020 'Pierce St. Pacoima ~~l~' EXTRAVAGANZA ~ Starting Aug. 20th 8-10pm Filming For TV Sept 7th - 1pm e San Oieco Freeway free Parking

• Cover