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/125731
WOODS ICES OWN CAKE ~ w Z w oJ c.J > c.J By Mike Capalite COSTA MESA, CAL., June 11, 1971 There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Friday night was Rick Woods' birthday as he fans had huge 'happy birthday' signs all over the place at Orange County Fairgrounds. Rick also gave himself the best possible present he could by winning every race he was entered in .except his handicap heat where he finished second to Sumner McKnight. To make the evening even more complete for Rick, his little brother Gene Woods took the win in the exhibition mini-enduro race, beating out the crowd's favorite, little Jeff Ward, but Gene didn't have an easy go of it as they were side by side for almost the entire race with Gene having just a little more engine down the straight. It seems like the promoter has run out of competitors for Valvoline sponsored Bill Cody for the feature match races as this· week's match was between two new riders who have just ransferred into the first division. While this retires Cody with an unbeaten string of victories, it in no way detracted from the show as Ed Williams and . McKnigh t were indeed evenly paired and while it was only two laps, it was an exciting two laps with Williams inching ahead to take the checkered flag which was wit;lded by none other than the president of the Fair Board himself. Replace The track was again in the terrible shape it was a few weeks ago as a total of 24 riders went down at various times in the program. In th e Division Two Main, in the first corner, Kurt Lewis, Andy Harris, Bruce Flanders and Mike Curoso piled up in one ot the most spectacular crashes yet seen here with only Steve Gresham and Nick Nicolaides being able to avoid the pile-up. Everyone made it to the re-start, however. In the Handicap Main, Rick's fans were pulling for him, but he was sitting on the 60-yard line with Steve Bast and Sonny Nutter. Off the line into the first comer Nutter got a wheel under Rick to move into fourth behind Hatcher, Gresham and Williams. Rick went to the same system that had worked all night, that of going wide and cutting back in corning out of the comer and took fourth spot from Sonny. As Rick passed Chuck Hatcher to move into third, Gresham took over the lead from Williams, but it was short lived as Rick made one gigantic charge corning out and to the delight of his fans, passed them both to take over the lead. Nutter and Bast followed Rick into the forefront, but there was no catching the Huntington Beach flash as he stormed across for the win and the Trophy from Tustin Honda. In the Scratch Main he was up against Nutter, Cody and Bast and that is a hard combination for anybody to beat. Rick's luck was with him as he drew the pole position and when the gate went up, he was Ill'St to the comer. But Cody was right beside him on the outside and everyone knew the outcome of the drive out of the corner would probably decide the winn.er. Woods got another of his terrific charges and took over the lead with Cody second, Nutter third and Bast fourth, and that is the way it went for the whole four laps. (Results on page 24) AMA DEFINES SPEEDWAY SUPER A Super Speedway as defined by the AMA is a road racing facility with multiple courses with~ the compl~x. This includes road racmg courses Wlth either bankeank Motorbike Park Now Open Ride all day on two new, excitin, minibike and trail bike (to 125cc) courses. Complete with jumps. Course changes every weekend for continuing enjoyment. Helmets and boots required. Genuine Lucas replacements are available at British motorcycle importers and dealers everywhere. JOSEPH LUCAS NORTH AMERICA INC. 30 Van Nostrand Avenue, Englewood, N. J. 07831 Also at Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Jackaonvllle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle ., , Easy directions: off the Golden ~tate Frwy, Olive turnoff east to Glenoaks Blvd., north to Walnut, east on Walnut...follow the signs. Sat. 9-5, Sun. 12·5. Admission $1.00 per bike', 50¢ per rider -ALLDAY. Info: Dick Sunderland (213) 846-2141 ext. 456.