Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

M' ,; o Z By Mike Capalite Photos by Dennis Greene ~ w Z COSTA MESA, CALIF., Oct. 23, 1970 - Showing the fonn that made him a four-time World Speedway Champion, Barry Briggs along with Bert· Harkins brought first-place wins to the 'overseas riders' pits to take an lIto 7 lead in the special Anglo-American gold cup series. The 1971 U.S. Champion, Rick Woods, who has had some bad luck the last few weeks, was able to bounce back after problems in both his heats where-by he didn't even make it to the semi's, and cop a win in one of the series races. The Gold Cup competition will be run as a series of three races each week for three weeks including two American riders and two foreign riders with points being awards first-3, second-2, third-l and fourth-O points. At the end of the series, the team with the most points will take home the gold cup. The first one was Jim Airey and Bert Harkins pitted against Steve Bast and Sonny Nutter. Off the line it was Harkins and Bast side by side with Bast hanging in there like a bulldog, but Harkins was able to pull ahead leaving Steve in second and Sonny in third. This finish would have left a tie score and Jim Airey was aware of this as he was able to muster the extra steam needed to pass Nutter for third, this set the score at 4-2. Next up was Barry Briggs teamed with Dave Gifford against Rick Woods and Bill Cody. Woods had been having lousy luck for the evening, but Cody had been tearing up the competition in both the handicap and the scratch races. Briggs won the toss and from the pole position he grabbed the lead with Woods right behind him and Cody on Rick's rear wheel as Dave Gifford spun out in the comer but kept it up-right and running and continued on. About this time, Woods had a little trouble and went wide and Cody moved into second, but Woods came back to move back into second. But, there was no catching Briggs who had built up a good lead. As they came around for the last lap, Bill lost it in the comer and was unable to keep it running and had to settle for a fourth place while Woods finished second for a total score of 8-4 with the Americans on the tail end. In the third and last race of the series, Woods and Bast were up against Briggs and Harkins. For this race, Woods had borrowed Cody's machine as he complained of handling problems with his. Off the line, Bast was crowded into the inside track marker and went down w ~ o > o . Barry Briggs grabs the inside track while Bill Cody tries the outside where he was very successful most of the night. as Barry took over the lead on the outside with Rick and Harkins right after him. Woods was looking the best he had looked in two weeks as he was lifting the wheel off the ground in the comer trying to catch Briggs. wheel to wheel down the straightaway and the fans were on their feet as Woods came out of the comer in the lead. Into the next comer, Woods went wide and with Briggs behind you, that is all she wrote as Briggs regained the lead. Rick was able to pull up beside Briggs as they went into the comer and went through side by side as they went With one lap to go, Woods gave it all he had going down the back straight as he went into the comer with a wheel under Barry and the crowd was going wild as Rick held it down. As they came out charging for the finish, there was near-hysteria in the stands as Woods took the checkered flag with Briggs second and Harkins third, so the score going into next week's match is Anglos-II, Americans-7. Just these three races are worth the price of admission. Rick Woods holds slight advantage on Barry Briggs in Gold Cup action. • '1' V

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