Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

..... '" GARY HAY BADLY HURT scene ~ By Peter White w Z W ...J U >- U SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Jan. 4, 1971 - The Great Britain solo speedway team, currently engaged in a seven match Test series against Australia, has found its form and hit back with a vengeance. After being down 3-0 following the first three matches in Perth and Adelaide, the British riders scored a shock win in the fourth ·Test at the Sydney Showground and then held the rampaging Aussies to a 54-54 draw in the fifth encounter at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground. The Tests, held over the Christmas-New Year holiday period in glorious summer weather, drew record crowds and again underlined the increasing popularity of motorcycle dirt tracking in Australia. The British riders, well off song for the early part of their tour, are now beginning to show a bit of sparkle and as a result jn terest in the two remaining Tests is now nation-wide. Australia cannot now lose the series - the worst possible result for the host country will be a draw - but most observers are disappointed that the Kangaroos have failed to make a clean 7-0 sweep. The British team, pitifully weak from the outset, was hampered further by an injury to one of its most vital cogs during the third Test in Adelaide. Yorkshireman Arnold Haley, of the British League First Division team Sheffield, suffered a broken collarbone in a spectacular crash. The injury failed to knit properly and Haley was advised to stay out of action for the rest of the tour. Accordingly he flew back home to England on New Year's Day to rest in the hope of being fit for the new British season in March. This left the Poms in a precarious position a.. another of their mainstays, Jim McMillan (Scotland), was also unfit to ride - the aftermatIL of a nasty accident in Sweden some months ago when he sustained a broken leg. Adelaide-based Scot George Hunter, overloGked in the original selection of the team, was hastily drafted in as a replacement. The British clicked when they hit the big third of a mile Showground bowl at Sydney - the track where Arcadia rider Chuck Jones crashed some two years ago. They totalled up Australia to the tune of 56-52 but to be fair it was pure luck that saw the visitors through. Australia, although minus regular captain Jim Airey (always good for at least 15 points), was running hot until a series of unfortunate incidents put paid to their chances. These included a fall and me!=hanical failures at an important stage of the match. The British boys maintained their successful run by holding the Aussies to a draw the following week in Brisbane. Much controversy surrounded the Ausualian team, however. The selectors, who include one of the staging promoters, chose a rather weak team - obviously in the hope of encouraging a British victory in order that the series might be levelled out a bit more. Australia should have consisted of New South Welshman John Langfield (who has picked up double figures in each Test staged so far) and the remaining six riders should have been residen t Queenslanders. Australia, weakened by the absence of Jim Airey, is forced to relay heavily on a "horses for courses" policy this season. Now the heat is on in the remaining two Tests to see if the British can eke out a tie or if Australia can prove it is still a force in international speedway. **FEB&lh** PRO INDOOR AMA Motorcycle Race. $1200 PURSE Cow Palace, San Francisco. Tenth mile concrete tracl<. Mini-Bike exhibition Races. Info: (415) 584-2480. Bob Barkhimer. Sydney rider Gary Hay has been seriously injured in a horrific crash at the Liverpool Speedway. The accident occurred during the running of the New South Wales Championship which was won by leading Australian rider Jim Airey. Riding in the seventh heat with Neil Cameron (NSW), Paul O'Neil (New Zealand) and Ole Olsen (Denmark), Hay crashed heavily on the first tum when rammed amidships by O'Neil. O'Neil lost control of his machine and soared high into the air. As he landed back on the track he rammed Hay and both riders fell heavily. . Hay suffered extensive injuries to his spine and was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition. The accident happened on Christmas Eve and since then Hay has shown slight improvement. However, almost certainly his speedway career has come to an end. It is cruel luck for the easy·going, blonde·haired sudie.cum-speedway rider who only six months ago survived the terrible mini bus accident in Belgium when he was the only one out of eight men to escape without being seriously injured or killed. A bus containing the entire West Ham team from London crashed on an autobahn in Belgium and five top speedway riders were killed. Two others were severely maimed but Gary Hay escaped uninjured. HONDA 100cc STRAIGHT PIPE The March 20-23 Mint 400 desert classic is offering over $12.000 in prize money to the cyclists. With the added manufacturers contingency money. this will be one of the biggest paydays ever for "off·the-road" cycle competitions. Shapely Miss Fay Kyker displays unusual form kick stand down while riding this Honda. Unusual form is th~ norm for many riders in the grueling $50000 Mint "400". • OLYMPICS TO M/C EVENTS "CONSIDER" The 1978 Olympic Commission will consider including a motorcycle competition event in the next Olympiad, according to AMA Exec. Russ March. The Federation Internationale De Motocyclist is preparing a proposal to present to the Olympic committee. CHICAGO M/C SHOW MARCH 26·7-8 Impresario Howard Yancey announces that the 2nd annual Chicago Motorcycle Show will take place in the Chicago Ampitheater, on March 26, 27 and 28. Yancey can be contacted at 7032 W. Belmont, Chicago, Ill. 60634. Telphone (312) 286-0262. This Honda 100cc straight pipe for the s~rious competitor, turns your Motorspon (SL 100 or CL 100 & CB 100) into a real blaster. On the trail or on the track, enjoy increased performance with this Bassani tuned hi·pipe. Installation is easy, using existing Honda mounts, fits stock cycle. Designed to tuck in tight to the con tours of the machine while allowing eady access to the side cover tool kit, the pipe is finished in desert black heat paint. $14.95 from Bassani Manufacturing, 1164 C Fountain Way, Anaheim, California. CHOPPER MANUAL Riceburner Publications is now offering a long needed step-by-step guide for customizing and chopping most Hondas, Kawasakis, Yamahas and Suzukis. This fully illustrated Shop Manual features how·to-do-its on everything from neck racking to extending front ends and also tells where to find many of those "impossible to find" custom bolt-on parts. This is not a magazine full of useless photos, but a highly informative technical manual that would be a valuable addition to any rider's library. The Japanese Chopper And Custom Shop Manual retails for $2.00 and is available now from Riceburner Publications, Dept. P9, P.O. Box 1267, North HOllYWOod, Cal. 91604. aM Motor NEW BULTACO DEALER SST - Mini Trials Access. - Parts & Ser. All makes and models. 17 Main Martinez Cal. 415 229-{)754 HANDLES BETTER TACO ...... 'OIl - Now. ~ ..... .h.. 1 perfonne' - $219.50. O,h... . . . . . as low as SlI9.95. Kita .... _ . duf

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