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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125698
o ~ Cl> ~ ,; o Z ~ w Z Americans Improve Showing But Anglos Win Series 33-21 By Mike Capalite Photos by Dennis Greene w c:l ~ COSTA MESA, CALIF., Nov. 6, 1970The American riders were able to hold the Speedway riders from overseas to a tie in all three races Friday night, but the commanding lead they had built up the previous two weeks was enough to cinch it for them. While the American riders finished second and third in each race for a total of three points, Barry Briggs, Jim Airey and Ivan Mauger each copped a win to make the evening's total of nine points each which meant that the American riders were still trailing by the 12 points that they had been last week and lost by 33 to 21. Th e Anglo-American series this evening was plagued by re-starts right from the' beginning as the first race pitted Mauger and Briggs against Rick Woods and Sonny Nutter. As they stormed into the first corner Briggs and Woods went down and the race was restarted. This time they went in the same way, but were able to keep them up and it looked bad for the Americans as Briggs and Mauger were leading. The crowd suddenly went wild as Rick and Sonny were right behind Mauger and Nutter on the inside. Nutter passed with Woods behind and it was looking better. Woods then passed Nutter and was looking to move up on Briggs, but Barry was using the moxie that has made him a World's champion four times and he crossed the line an bsy winner with Woods, Nutter and Mauger behind to make a total score of 27-15. The second go-arounti was Dave Gjfford and Airey against Larry Shaw and Bill Cody. Off the line it was Airey and Gifford leading, but Cody and Shaw were able to pass Gifford for second and third place with Larry pulling the third spot out of the bag in the last drive for the checkered flag. Them 30, Us 18. The last of the Anglo-American brought together World Champion Mauger and United States Champion Steve Bast, with Greg Kentwell and Sonny Nutter the teammates. There was great hopes in the American camp as Mauger had made a rather poor showing in the first race and Kentwell was out for his first ride on this small track. What was not known by the fans was that Ivan's pit crew had made a very important gearing change between the first series races and this last one. It was the same tight fight, for the first corner as this time both teams were Ivan Mauger holds the lead. , The victorious Anglo team. trying for a win to finish up the series when Bast and Mauger went down making a restart necessary. The restart and the enthusiasm was still strong into the first corner where Nutter and Kentwell went down. Another restart, and everybody made it through the first corner with Mauger in the lead followed by Nutter, Kentwell and Bast. Stev.e quickly dispatched Kentwell and moved up on Nutter to move into second. Riding a beautiful race and doing a fantastic job of holding it low in the corners, Bast was riding hard and doing everything righ t, but the gearing change that Ivan's pjt crew made was the difference. Ivan was showing the fans what made him the World's Champ as he took the win with Bast, Nutter and Kentwell following to give the win to the oversea's riders with a 33-21 score for the series. The main events followed with Butch Fishburn taking a win in the second division main by leading it all the way. Carlin Yokum made a valiant bid for a win by moving up through the pack into a challenging position only to lose it in the corner on the last lap. In the Scratch Main Event it looked like the last race in the series as Bast moved up past Jim Airey into second 1"9 the pack••• behind Mauger and dogged his rear wheel all the way. But Mauger wouldn't give an opening, and Bast had to settle for a second with Airey third and Bill Cody rmishing fourth. The Handicap Main Event turned into a Bast·Briggs battle as Mauger was unable to squeeze through the same hole in the front runners that the leaders got through. Steve was working his way through the pack with Briggs close behind. With Bast going well through the pack and riding a fabulous race, Barry was still moving up fast. As Steve moved into the lead, it was the last lap and Briggs was a picture of sheer determination as he went into the comers harder and harder. In the last corner. Barry gave it everything and Steve was just as determined. A t the line Bast had just a little bit more inches ahead of Briggs. Following them were Greg Haserot,. Cody, Roy Williams and Mauger. This was great racing to rmish off the Speedway season at Orange County Fairgrounds with Southern California fans having only one more chance to see these riders in action as the last race of the season will be this Friday at Ascot Park on the half-mile track. (Results on page 32) is MIKE CRM1, QC nutDer ate, nounted en a MAIm race prepared by N£RIO\N mroc:xss. Whether you are racing to win or just riding for fun performance is inp::>rtant. Have your MAIm super-bmed by AMERIO\N MJ1'OCRJSS. MAJCO 1971 Models in stock - P.ts - Service 1320 EAST ORANGETHORPE • FII.LERTON CAUFORMA (714) 870-4997 Kendall Motor Oil used exclusively J. . Rick Woods has a rou!tl time holding off his foes.