WOOD-S TAKES' SPEEDWAY fINALE
,....
en
By Mike C~palite
Photos by Dennis Greene
COSTA MESA, CAL., Nov. 5, 1971
The way the riders were going at it
tonight, you would think it was the last
race forever instead of the last race of
. the season. With the track in good
shape, the ride~. were still having more
than their share of spills due to the
quest for achievement more than
handling cbaracteristics.
Rick Woods went out in great style,
riding his last race in whi_ch he will be
wearing the coveted number one on hlS
back (unless he can win i~ back next
year). He put on a terri(ic battle to take
the win. With four-time World's
Champion Barry Briggs starting on the
pole position, Rick had his work cut out
for him as his other two opponents were
Bill Cody and Mike Bast.
As tbe gate went up, Briggs got a
beautiful hole shot and came out of the
corner in the lead with Cody right
behind him on the inside with Woods
trying to take second spot from Bill by
taking him on the outside. After two
corners of .trying to take Cody on the
-
U
~
Debbie Marshall was sleeted as the trophy girl
for inaugural USRC_ TT and Short Track
races at EI Toro Speedway. Here, Dana Fitch
(It.), Mark Balzer (c,) and Jy Scott pose for
some publicity.
USRC TRIES TT & ST
The United States Racing Club has
inaugurated regular Sunday afternoon
IT and Short Track events beginning
Nov. 7 at El Toro Speedway in El Toro,
Calif.
.
There will be four classes of
competition: 100, 125, 250 and Open
and each will be divided into the
standard Expert; Junior and Novice
classifications.
Pit gates open at noon with the entry
fee set at $5.
outside, Rick had 10 change his tactics
as Cody was getting it on too well. So
Rick shot deep into the next corner and
came out on the inside with a strong
drive and passed Cody to move into
second.
As Woods inched up on Briggs, there
was much doubt in the stands that he
w~uld be able to pass h.im, for although
he was going into the comers right next
to him, as they came out, Barry would
be just a few inches ahead. Suddenly on
the last lap, Rick got a terrific charge
out of the comer and pulled ahead of
Briggs to go into the last corner in the
lead as the' fans were screaming their
heads off.
Every Rick Woods fan's heart
stopped as he went into the last comer
and headed for the checkered flag; as he
was coming out, the machine over-slid
and Rick had to shut it off for a second
to get it straightened out and there was
a large gasp from the crowd as he
seemed to hang in one spot for an
eternity as Barry was attempting to
come past him a.t a million miles a
minute.
--II!!!I!!I!II!!!-".
A.C.E. RELOCATES
Alexander/Conrad
Enterprises
(A.C.E.) announces the relocation of
their executive' offices. The company
management has relocated in the Plaza
Posada complex, 23560 Lyons Avenue,
Newhall, Calif. A.C.E. are the promoters
of the motorcycle racing even ts held
each
weekend
at
Indian Dunes
Recreation Park, Valencia, Calif.
A.C.E. has just recently expanded
their
company
operations,
the
expansion will include national events
for their 1972 racing season. The
nations will be staged at several key
tracks located in the United States.
Ernie Alexander and George Conrad,
co-owners of A.C.E., offer a cordial
welcome to all their friends, business
associates and loyal racers to drop by
their new offices for coffee or just plain
old bench racing conversations. Suzanne
Claspy and Conrad'd girl Friday.
promises to be on hand Monday
through Thursday to extend a friendly
smile and a warm welcome to anyone
droping in.
But much t& the crowd's delight,
Rick pulled it out of the bag and beat
Briggs across the "line by inches to take
the win with Cody in third and Bast in
fourth. As Woods and Briggs came past
the line on their cool-off lap, announcer
Larry Huffman ca.Ued for a standing
ovation for these two riders and the
crowd was mo'e than happy to oblige.
The Handicap Main, while not quite
as exciting was a fine example of racing
and control as Do? Cullum jumped into
the lead when tbe gate went up and
after the first lap the riders had set
themselves up right behind each other
with not more than about two feet
separating them with Cullum leading,
Ed Williams second foUowed by Larry
Shaw, Barry Briggs, Rick Woods and
Jim Airey. While they kept these
respective positions for the r~maining
four laps and there was no passing, it
was like watching a ballet as all six of
them would go into the comer right
behind each other, cross up' together
and all hold the inside line. Nobody
could get them on the inside and then
come out with the same distance
Lightning Larry Shaw tries the inside while Bill Cody and I"an Mauger attempt more of a sweeping turn.
You can lie ex'remely for'una'e'
~he HOUSE OF HANDLEBARS•.".
....is acceptilg applicatiol-s
'or malagers
0' pe.dilg retail outlets.
"ONLY ONE HITCH"••••
..•do no' apply unless•••
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a.... acceuory salesman
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