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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125641
FISHBURN A D AUGER TOP AT SANTA BA
Barry I3riggs,fourlimeWorld Champion glv.s Rick Woods I...ons In th.lr favorlt. sport. Brlus
and Ivan Maug.r t.amed up to trounc. Woods and Dewayn. Keeter.
SANTA BARBARA, OCt. 26, 1969- Residents of Santa Barbara turned out in
record numbers to watch what for most
of them was their first motorcycle race.
Valley Stadium 15 unique in the fact that
it ~ been buut without a cent of tax
monies, all the funds have been derived
from donations and charity events. The
Speedway races were to helP purchase
lighting for the football tleId so night
games could be played there.
Having been trounced two nights before at Costa Mesa, Mauger, Briggs,
Airey and Harkins were eager to regain
their stature. And regain It they did for
here was a track more to their l1k1ng
rather than racing in a "teacuP".
Sonny Nutter and Steve Bast each won
their Scratch heats and Jim Airey, the
Australlan Champ and Ivan Mauger, the
World's Champ copped wins in the other
two. Mauger was again pitted against
Rick Woods who had beaten him at Costa
Mesa on Friday night. Here Ivan was on
home ground so to speak.
It Was amazing to stand in the corners.
as these riders would come through in
full lock slides and be able to hear the
tires squeal on the hard surface.
Although Woods gave It all he had, he
was no match for Ivan on this large
track and had to settle for a second spot.
In the semi, Woods who seemed to be
America's hope to ·beat the visitors
finished behind Mauger and Airey and
thus did not make It to the main event.
John Fishburn was to salvage some of
the day for the U,S. riders. Enjoying the
defln1te advantage of a C-yard handicap,
John stayed out in front in his heat, his
Semi and in the Main Event he again
Jumped to the lead. Starting from the 120
yard line, Barry Briggs was the only
visitor in the Main Event and the put on a
tremendous display of riding ab1llty
while trying to catch John. He was able
to move right up behind Fishburn, but he
wasn't able to take the lead away before
the checkered flag dropped and John
came across the line a beaming winner.
Having beaten the American riders in
two previous International Pairs races,
Barry Briggs and Ivan Mauger came back
in a final to trounce Rick Woods and
De Wayne Keeter.
In the Scratch Final, Ivan Mauger
streaked to the lead and stretched it out
every laP. nus was despite the fact that
he was walking with crutches. He had
injured his foot at Costa Mesa on Friday. He would walk over to his machine
on crutches and then get on to ride.
After the race his pit crew would hand
him the crutches when he got off. I guess
that 'true grit' is one of the marks of
a champion.
Surley the people who were out for
the first time went away impressed with
speedway racing and since a large
amount of money was raised for the
stadium the benefit was a success.
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