Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

.... N '§. « "' ;;: w Z w ~ U >U Photos by Dan Mahony Ready for the Trophy Dash are fastest Qualifier Gene Romero (1), John Hateley (43rl, Jody Nicholas (23) and Dave Smith. ASCOT PHOTO FINISH GARDENA, CALIF., April 16, 1971 - The rCUi:ing gets closer and closer and faster and faster as the new Ascot AMA half-mile season builds up steam. Can nobody stop Jody Nicholas? The track was the fastest last Friday night that it has been in nearly three years. Experts were on top of long-standing marks all evening and three of the Junior records were blasted off the books. Seven Experts battled for fast time honors in time trials but it was number one Gene Romero, who decided to try twice, getting the top one-lap time at 22.76 seconds, the fastest this season. Romero, John Hatj!ley, Jody seven for 4th place but then sa;w a rod Nicholas and Dave Smith were the go through the side of his Triumph, four top timers of the night but it can 7eling his chances with the third N' I Ch . straIght week of mechanical problems was t h e G ran d atl.ona amplon for last year's point champion. who came back In the Trophy Then young Hateley, who just missed Dash to take the win over the main event win a week ago by a few Nicholas who hasn't won a dash feet, found himself dropped to 3rd by yet this ;eason. Hateley was third. R~mero on the ninth lap. Gene and . . . John both pIcked up the pace and It was the fourth straIght time thiS closed the gap on Jody. year that the Ascot Dash has The next four laps was a three rider produced a different winner. end-for'end locomptive with Hateley in Romero warmed up the heat race action with a win over Smith and Loyd Houchins. Point leader Keith Mashburn could pull no better than fourth and Chuck Palmgren again falled to transfer Hateley, Dave Aldana and Don Emde supplied the action in the second Expert heat with John holding the two England returnees for the win. J ody Nicholas and Tom Rockwood raced down to the wire in the final heat with Jody the winner. The Junior class belongs to Gar-y Scott. The new yellow plate sensation broke THREE track records in only his third outing under the lights on a big machine. In the heat race, with only the clock to race, Scott broke both the one-lap competition mark and the five-lap heat race record. His one lap competition speed is faster than any other Juniors (Amateurs) have ever gone and it now stands at an amazing 22:56! In the final race Scott was actually led by Loyal Penn for the first five laps as Soctt pressed hard, trying to get by. The two Triumph riders pushed the record and once Scott got .by, it was all over - and again a new track r~cord. The old one had stood up since 1968. The competition for winners is picking up as Scott Brelsford jumped from his winning Ossa after the first two weeks to a Yamaha last Friday night. He won his heat race but had his tail raced off before again coming up defeating the hungry K&N team of Steve Nichols and Scott Autrey. Nichols led the first lap but gave wa y. He appeared to have the horsepower edge but made too many mistakes to come back and again take the lead. It was the third straight victory for Brelsford but this one paid less money. Ossa was paying $50.00 per win . at Ascot while Yamaha is only posting money in the Expert class. FANTASTIC EXPERT MAIN Mark the Ascot Expert main event down in history books of racing, for few will ever top it. Nicholas, looking for his third straight win, was out in front at the end of the first lap, with Hateley, Romero, Aldana and Rockwood all barrelling close behind. Rockwood shot by Aldana on lap 3rd and not liking· it. At less than hvo laps t~ go Hateley turned up th~ WIck and tried to pass Romero who tned to keep the rookie back by ·running him up to the wall on both straJgh taways. It didn't work. . Hateley shot mto 2nd on the front straIghtaway as the racers thundered down the lane on the fmallap. Hateley made it and theri for the second. straight week, did bis last lap, full-throttle thing I'll the way around. The lead actually changed twice coming out of the last turn. before the checkered flag. Hatdey had It once but Jody took It back and won at the Ime by no more than three inches! That's three in a raw for Nicholas and the N orto.n. . . Kerth Mashburn faIled to qua.lify for the fmal and thus Yle!ded the pomt l~ad to NJcholas. Jody JS now th~ thud Expert to lead the pomt race thrs year. BAD ACCIDENT IN NOVICE HEAT Two errors by Novice Tom Banks sent himself and another rider to the Gardena hospital. In one of the lightweight heat races Banks lost control and crashed. Dazed, he jumped up and ran in front of Bob Burg, causing Burg to collide with Baks and his machine. The latest report is that both riders are seriously injured. Half-mile racing continues every Friday night under the lights at Ascot in Gardena. The new family discount price is just one of the many innovations this year. Ascot flat track racing can't get any closer without having to use cameras to decide the winners. (Results on page 22) • .aJa Wins. again! lOa's M.C. Hare Scr. Adelanto, Cal. - 3/14/71 1st Trailbike Mitch Mayes - Baja 2nd Larry Rosier - Baja 3rd Jim Sumners - Baja 5th Tom Sawyer - Baja (1 st Junior) Optimist Combo-Cross I ndian Dunes - 3/14/71 100 Expert Class 1st Terry Clark - Baja BlUFF111 WITH THE NEW STUFFER REED VALVE THE ULTIMATE IN EFFICIENCY ANO POWER BULT,ACO YAMAHA SUZUKI INTRODUCTORY 529.95 / DEALER INOlJIRY INVITED NORTHWEST LARGEST STOCK OF ACCF5SORlES I CLOTHNG FOR STREET OR TRAIL 'tOUR MOTO x HEADOUM'1'ERS Wversity Honda Bultaco KawasakI & GZ 5908 Ro

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