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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125744
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In the Trophy Dash and the Heat Race, these two really put on a show. In each, Sammy Tanner
broke to the lead on the outside but was soon overtaken by Jody Nicholas, who scampered on
for the win in each.
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Photos by Dan Mahony
GARDENA, CAL., Sept. 10, 1971
Sammy Tanner, the "Flying Flea" of
Ascot Park fame, has finally hit the
milestone of 400 Professional Half·Mile
victories after being denied for the past
several weeks.
Tanner began his bid tonight in the
frrst combined Jr/Ex Heat race and took
the lead on turn two of the first lap.
Jody Nicholas moved up to second and
began to hound the "Flea" for two laps
and finally got by on the third and ate
up the ground the remaining two to
win.
As fourth fastest qualifier, Tanner
moved into the Trophy Dash and again
took the early lead but Nicholas caught
Sammy and passed him to again take
the win.
Since o.nly the first finisher in the
heats transfer to the Main, Sammy
moved in to the Semi detennined to get
400 and he wasn't denied as he took the
lead from the start and led all the way
amid cheers from the crowd.
Sammy tried to make it 401 in the
Main but was passed by Ron Moore, the
J uruor hotshoe who won his first Main
Event five days earlier at San Jose.
Moore appeared to be on his way for
two in a row but Nicholas got by in the
10th lap and eventually won to sweep
the evening.
Novice Scott Brelsford (Yam) again
proved unbeatable in his class as he set
Corona TT
Draws Crowd
record after record during tile .night.
Those records he set include: one lap
Novice: 23.05 and eight.lap Novice:
3:09.38. He also missed the five·lap
record of 1: 59.90 by .0 l.
(Results on page 32)
The "Flying Flea". Sammy Tanner. finally hit the milestone of 400 Friday night at Ascot Park as
he jumped to the lead of the Semi Main and was never headed. Tanner tried several times to win
but was denied each time by Jody Nicholas.
Jody Nicholas battles off the Junior Ran Moore (37R) in the Main Event at Ascot Park. Sammy Tanner held the early lead for the first three laps,
but Moore got by and held the lead until lap 10, when Jody slipped by and took the win.
Photo by Dan Mahony
CORONA, CAL., Sept. 11, 1971 Although the rider turnout still remains
a bit low, Corona Raceway continues to
draw the crowds and tonigh t they
witnessed some of the finest TT action
around.
Skip Van Leeuwen and Eddie Wirth
both put on a fine battle in the
combined Jr/Ex. Main with Skip coming
out on top after a see-saw battle. Skip
took the early lead but Wirth slipped by
on the infield of lap one. Skip again
took the lead on lap two and
maintained the lead all the --:ay but
Wirth, several times, got his wheel on
the inside but was shut off.
Ron Moore continued to show his
ability as he battled his way through the
early chargers to take third on lap 11
from
Lloyd
Houcliins.
Lloyd
experienced problems and had to pull
off the track to finish eigh th in the
all·Triumph charge.
Tom White and Scott Brelsford also
pu t on a fine duel In the Novice Main.
White led early but Scott got by and led
most of tbe remainder of the rac,
a1thought White continued to challenge.
Brelsford holds a distinct advantage over
the rest of his Novice competitors in
Half-Mile action, but on the TT he stills
shows he needs improvemenL
Steve Nichols managed to hold off
the charges of Ed Mitchell to take third.
Eddie Wirth found Van Leeuwen
againtoo tough to handle in the Trophy
Dasb and had to settle for second ahead
of the two Juniors Alex Armstrong and
Tom Warren.
(~U:IAa~n ,pa~l~.2) )
Skip Van Leeuwin (31) takes the earl y lead at Corona's weekly TT but Eddie Wirth (261 ,"ips
battled back to win.
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