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/125734
Speedway Remains Latest'Northern Headliner ~ ;:: By Sam Mangalin SACRAMENTO, CAL., June 25, 1971 Speedway racing has come to Northern California, and judging from the enthusiasm of the near capacity crowd, it is solidly on its way to becoming an instant success for promoter AI Lauer. making up the distance from the forty. On lap three everything happened at once as Cranke got squirrely, giving McKnight, just enough room to slip by into the lead. Behind McKnight, Gifford was also trying to take advantage of the opening when he suddenly found hUnself closing the gate on Terry favorite of the fans, Les Chenky, sat on the pole, with his rival and Bad Guy Dave Gifford, on the outside. Rick Blake and Don Cullum were sandwiched in between, but seemed to go unnoticed as th e crowd awaited the Chenky·Gifford duel. Chenky had taken measure of Gifford in the Match race, but Gifford has experienced mechanical difficulties and this was his chance to vindicate himself. . All riders got an even break and Gifford managed to hold on a little longer into the corner. Chenky was a close second on the outside. Going onto the back chute, Blake clipped the wall and took a hard spill bringing out the red f)al!: for a restart. Again they came to the line.; Chenky, Blake, Cullum and Gifford. Chenky got the drive on Gifford and beat him into - the comer with Gifford hanging on to the outside line in second. Chenky pulled out a length down the back chute while Blake and Cullum were having their own battle for third. On lap two Gifford went in hard on tum one, trying to make up distance and get under Chenky, lost traction momentariJy, and had to ride it high and wide before he could recover. From then on it was all Chenky for a very popular win. Gifford couldn't find his groove again and narrowly finished second as Cullum and Blake closed in on him at the finish. There are strong rumors of a possible second track down in the Bay Area, south of San Francisco. Anyone interested in speedway should contact Pat or Terry Graham at the Family Cycle Center, (408) 379-0303, in San Jose, or call (408) 356-7700. Also, there is word coming out of the South Bay that soon a team will emerge to challe.nge the northern and southern sp'eedway contingents. Anyone who hasn't yet taken in a speedway program should make an effort to do so. I assure you, you'll be surprised. (Results on page 28) LOTSA NON-NATIONAL CASH Les Chenky puts on the chase after Terry Graham. Diminutive Les Chenky, although a southland representative, has become the favorite of the Northern Californn. fans. They cheered him wildly to a victory from the hard-eharging forty-yard line in the Handicap Consolation and a later Handicap Main win over New Zealander Dave Gifford. The Handicap Main provided one of the more spectacular races of the evening. Motocrosser Carl Cranke took an early lead from the zero-yard line but was soon feeling the pressure by Ron Miller, and then Sumner McKnight and Dave Gifford joined in the battle after Graham who was charging up hard from a poor start. Both Gifford and Graham went down and out of the running. Meanwhile, Ron Miller had managed to hold onto second in the midst of all the battle. Gifford was a bit perturbed over the outcome of events and stalked off the track leaving his bike behind, but' not until after a few words with Graham. The crowd immediately took up the challenge and Gifford was soundly voted Mr. Bad Guy for the evening. The crowd was ready when the Scratch Main rolled to the line. The Hard-tofind parts, eas~·to·,et at Valerian's. oo~:.~~.~~~~,"~.~~~"~td. Los Angeles, California 90064 - Telephone: (213) 475-4541 Sales - Service - Accessories - Parts - Rivetts Champion Leathers HUSQVARNA' JAWA/CZ· SUZUKI' PENTON· MZ· MONTESA' ZUNDAPP· MINI-TRAILS open monday through saturday Sumner McKnight awaits Handicap Main. In conjunction with the Kent National Road Race and the Castle Rock IT National in Washington, other events are being planned offering a large amount of additional cash for the AMA circuit riders. Within nine days, the Oregon Sidewinders will be offering $6300 minimum for three Pro IT races. The first Ouly 9) is a $2100 Friday night affair. The night before qualifying for the Castle Rock IT, the club will have a $1200 event. Both nights events begin at 8. On Sunday, July 18 will be the 6th Annual 25-Lap TT with a $3000 purse. This will be a twi-ligh ter with qualifying beginning at 6. All three events are at the club's track on SE Lawnfield Road, east of SE 82nd near Clackamas, Ore. Information; 503/659-1022. In addition, a $3000 indoor Short Track is set for July 14 in Seattle, Wash., which brings the total of Non-National cash to $9300. • .aJa Wins again! lost Coyotes Hare Scrambles June 27,1971 l00cc Trailbike Class 1st Terry Clark - Baja 100 ~ (Expert - 5th Overall) 2nd Mitch Mayes- Baja 100 (Expert - 11th Overall) the HarleyDavidson 'r. 0> M' > ~ ~ ~ w ..J ~ U