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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125737
Nicholas/Norton Dominates Yamaha Gold Cup GARDENA, CAL., July 23, 1971 BSA and Norton took turns in the ~ Expert final trying to capture the w Yamaha Gold Cup before another new Z w record Ascot crowd of nearly 12,000 at ~ the second annual event at Ascot Park U > tonight. U A two-mile traffic jam prevented many people from reaching the track in time to see the time trials. For those who missed it, the fastest times were set by Sammy Tanner, Jody Nicholas, Tom Rockwood, and Terry Dorsch. Tanner opened the action by winning his 396th half mile race in the f1I'St heat race_ Nicholas started his sweep by winning his heat over Dave AIdana and Mark Brelsford. Mel Lacher grabbed the third and fmal heat to give Norton three-in-a-row in the warmups. Then it was back for the trophy dash that was paying more than $500 to the four fastest. Rockwood, who was forced out of the heat with ignition trouhles, was hack and ready, giving the dash a full field. Nicholas made it two in a row in the dash column, coming from a first lap third place to scoot under Rockwood and Tanner for the win, his third of the season. In the final it was AId'!"a up front and flying. Nicholas moved into second on lap three and closed the gap by lap six but AIdana was still in command. Then on lap seven it was all over for the BSA rider as the engine quit on the back stretch, giving Nicholas the lead for the first time. Another BSA, with lloyd Houchins in the saddle, then took up the challenge and the two diced the rest of the way to the finish with Houchins never quite getting close enough to attempt the pass_ Lacher was a close third and DeWayneKeeter was in fourth. Defending Cup champion Keith Mashburn and his Yamaha found the going rough this year. He was the last rider to make the Main Event after taking third place and last transfer in the semi behind Eddie Wirth and Dave 15 LAP EXPERT FINAL Jody Nicholas Lloyd Houchins Dewayne Keeter Keith Mashburn Sammy Tanner Mark Brelsford Nick Theroux Chuck Hart Dave Sen I Eddie Wirth Dave Aldana H-D Yam Nor H-D Trl Yam H·D Trl BSA Gary Scott Kenny ROberts Loyal Penn Denny Kanegae Randy Scott Ron Moore Al Baker Tim Wolf John Hoy Tom MonK Trl Yam Trl Trl Tri Trl Trl Tri Trl Nor Scott Brelsford Steve Nichols Steve Mudd Denny Carlsbn Tom Horton Guy Bailey Ed Mitchell Lanny NOrth Larry Collie Devon Sowell Yam Yam Suz Bul Yam Yam Yam Bul 10 LAP JR. FINAL Nor 6 LAP NOVICE FINAL Sammy Tanner won his heat and set fastest qualifying time, but only took sixth in the Main. Kaw Suz AMA LEADERS TO CORONA Scott Brelsford collected yet another Novice Main win. \.) beginner's class. Nichols made it close and tried for the win the first f~ur laps. An over-eager attempt on the sixth lap dropped him off the pace and it was Brelsford this night in for the win and the trophy. More than $5,000 was paid to the riders, plus money and awards from Yamaha, the AIM Helmet Co., TabLoc Inc., Bates Leathers, Norris Cams and Norton. Trophies were furnished by Custom Trophy Co, in Gardena. The Ascot Yamaha Cup series was started a year ago at Ascot and will close out this year with a night mile event at Arlington race track in Chicago on Friday night, Sept. 10th. The payoff to Nicholas was his biggest in nearly 10 years of dirt track racing, just under the $2,000 IIllU"k. Second place Houchins came in at just under $I ,000. Ascot half mile action continues each and every Friday night with all of the national riders expected back this Friday night for another try at Nicholas and the Norton domination of the Gardena oval. For the second week in a row, Jody Nicholas took the top slot at Ascot. Seh!. Jimmy Odom, second place rider in '70, did not transfer out of the semi to the fmal. Gary Scott returned to Ascot's Junior action for the first time in over two months and Kenny Roberts was back for thc first time since opening night. Scott came back with his 11-in-a-row win streak on thc line and built it to thirteen straight before the night was over. He is now just three wins away from the 16-straight record set in 1964. Scott and Roberts again waged a wheel to wheel and nose to nose battle in the final after each had won their heat races. Roberts led the first four laps before giving front spot to Scott on lap five. Then it was Roberts pushing Scott to the win the rest of the way to the finish. Loyal Penn out-raced Randy Scott for third place and Ascot point leading Junior, Ron Moore, pulled no better than futh this time out. The best in the West or any other place in the Novice class, Scott Brelsford and Steve Nichols, salvaged the only glory for Yamaha for the night by leading a lightw.eight sweep in the Nor BSA Mel Lacher In a very spirited battle. Gary Scott closes in on Ken Roberts during the Junior Main. CORONA, CALIF. The battle between veteran Dick Mann of Richmond and defending champion Gene Romero of San Luis Obispo for the 1971 AMA Grand National riding championship will give added spice to J.C. Agajanian's fJrst annual 20-1ap National Championship Motorcycle race at the Corona Raceway this Saturday night Ouly 31st) at 8 p.rn. Mann, fonner national title holder and CurTent point leader, and Romero, the defending champion and currently second-ranked rider in the nation, will headline a 100-rider field in the nine-event card on the ~-mile clay oval. With more than $20,000 in prize and contingency moncy on the line, riders from all parts of the nation will invade the Corona oval for the first national championship race in the Inland Empire in more than twenty years. Mann currendy sets atop the point list with 603 points to Romero's 558. Racing Director J .C. Agajanian has signed twelve of the top thirteeen riders in the AMA standings for the race, including such stars as Jim Rice, Jim Odom, John Hateley, Dave Aldana, Mark Brelsford, Don Castro, Don Emde, Da~e Sehl, Dave Smith, a'nct Eddie Mulder. This race will be the first time many of the riders bave tried the tricky Corona oval, with its downhill backstretch, and uphill front straight. Only Hateley, AIdana, Emde, Smith and Mulder have raced on the track to date. One rider who knows the track forward and backwards' is first-year Expert Terry Dorsch of Granada Hills, winner of four·out-of-five of the races run at Corona. Dorsch will be the "home pro" when he faces the star-studded line-up. Gates will open at 5 p.m. when 5,000 reserved seats go on sale, priced at $6 and $ 7. General admission is $5 for adults, $3 for juniors and servicemen, $1 for kids 8-12, under 8 are free, as is lighted parking.