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/125677
~ ~ CHINOWSKI WAILS AT ASCOT lo:I :c: lo:I ,.J w • Story and Photos by Eric Raits G GARDENA, CAL:, June 12,1970- Ascot's SUPerstars, the Laww111s, Aldanas, Rock- woods and such, wIlo bop Into Gardena wilen the National schedule permits, were en route to Laconia this weekend and lett center stage to the regulars. The show was first rate In spite of predictable winners in everything but the Expert Main. In the final event of the night, Dewayne Keeter figured as sure leader into the first turn on his qulck Norton until he, Sammy Taimer and Mel Lacher were sent back to the third row for impoUte starting tactics or eagerness to tuck away that guaranteed $500 Main Event purse. Tanner was st11l tingUng from a Trophy Dash win and st11l smarting from being beaten in his heat race by Alex Ch1Dowsk:! and Lacher after having led cleanly. Lacher was untouchable for weeks at a time last year and there has hardly been a race at Ascot this year wilen Keeter hasn't jumped into an early lead. Back row or no back row, wilen the flag dropped, Keeter and Tanner gassed it uP like kids pushing through a crowd to get Evel Knievel's autograph and they Alex (35x) Chinowski slipped past Sammy (7) Tanner for a win in the Expert Final. John (43r) got by Mi ke Spi tzer in the Amateur Fi na'. came out in good shape, with ouly Eddie Mulder breaking things uP in second place. Tanner got around Mulder'S Triumph and began chasing Keeter. Shorty Seaborne sat back in last place for a few moments, watching a dozen machine-gunning roostertails and contemplating the excessively dry track before he found a way through traffic to pick uP a few places. Lacher rarely falls but got oft and scraped the loose clay with his HarleyDavidson air cleaner andAlexCh1nowsk:! moved past Mulder for third place. Lloyd Houchins was a steady fifth and Seaborne was close bh1nd in sixth. SuddenlY Keeter sUd out and bumped over to the crash wail wIlere he sat and watched his almost sure $500 go round and round. This put Tanner in the lead and Chinowsk:! several bike lengths back. Tanner looked to have it sewn uP. Ch1nowsk:! moved to within striking position in the last lap and struck on the last turn to blip under the Flying Flea and make a repeat of their heat race. John Hateley got by Mike Spitzer in the Amateur Main and the two stayed well in front of a murderous battle for third place between Bob Fulton, Wayne Hosaka and Lynn Holloway. The ,trio looked like, a dance team suddeuly gone haywire; they were 30 yards apart and swapping places like mad. Hosaka was throwing clods across Vermont Avenue In great, sweeping drives out agains the wail, Fulton took a conservative Une most of the time and Holloway stuck like glue to the white tires marking the Inside. The finish was Hateley, Spitzer, Fulton, Hosaka and Holloway. Kenny Roberts and Gary Scott put on the most visceral demonstration of sk11l, sliding within Inches of each other for the duration of the Novice Main. Roverts took and held the lead and Scott kept poking his front wheel uP to different places on Kenny's motorcycle, feeling for a gap in the detense. Roberts made no mistakes and Gary's fierce drive out of the last turn failed by inches. (Results on page 22) Kenny Roberts fought with Gary Scott for the Novice win. EDDIE NEVER STEADIER S~ry and Photos by Eric Raits GARDENA, CAL., June 13, 1970- Perennial crowd pleaser Eddie Muld~r took a popular TT win at Ascot Park Saturday night. Mulder's bell-bottomed mechanics replaced an experlmental1gn1tion component, which was making Eddie's Triumph spit and pop as it was pushed all over Ascot's infield. They timed his enime very successfully using a pencil Instead of a dial gauge, much to the consternation of the sparse grouP of Amateurs and Experts wIlo showed uP to race. Mulder took easy heat race, trophy dash and main event wins. In the Main Mulder got his usual fine start and was followed into the first corner by Mike Haney and B111 Manley. Manley dropped out first, then Haney followed sult a few laps later. Ed stretched his lead somewhat, SkiP Van Leeuwen va1u1y tried to catch him, Dallas Baker nearly nipped Skip and John Hateley f1n1shed fourth from a third row start. Gary Scott and Ken Roberts provided a thrilling Novice Main, capped by an O'Henry surprise ending. Roberts chased Scott, trying to goad him into a mistake, but Gary seems to have a slight edge on the TT track and made none. Roberts lost ground and young Gary seemed to have it in the bag as the last lap flag fell. Gary's engine seized and Roberts couldn't believe his eyes as he watched the leader falter going to the finish. Roberts zipped in for an uPset win. Dean Hummer and Rulon Gulbransen topped a large field of SidehackAssoc1ation members in a well appreciated exhibition race. A really spUty demonstration of extreme courage, class, and good taste was put on by the Victor McLaugh11n Motor Corps. (Results on page 22) Eddie Mulder never looked steadier despite a last minute tune up for his Triumph.