Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

• BECKER SI , TEAMS NO IRWINDALE, CAL., Aug. 9, 1972 The winner of the Handicap Main just a week before at Irwindale Raceway, young Danny Becker added the Scratch Main event to his growing list of wins last Thursday evening at the San Gabriel Valley speedway oval. He did it the hard way by out-scratching Mike Konle, Rick Woods and Mike Bast for the four-lap Main. The gating told the tale with Bast just perceptibly off-guard when the tapes shot up and Woods and Konle off. But it was Becker who gated quickest and rode four flawless laps to never lose his lead. Woods and Konle mixed it up most of the way with Konle getting a good drive out of the last comer to nab second in front of Woods. Bast's getting error relegated him to fourth. Jim Gresham, worried by ignition gremlins earlier, got things sorted out in time to change to the Handicap Main eve n t win, riding a low groove consistently and never giving anyone an opportunity to slip by. With Gresham fi.rmly entrenched in the lead, all eyes were on Woods who weaved his way through the pack from the 40-yard handicap line but ran out of laps before he could pressure Gresham. He finished second. Third went to Scott Autrey with Sonny Nutter, Mike Bast and Sumner McKnigh t trailing in order. Robin Nicolaides scored another Second Division Main win with Jim Castor close behind. Jay Carter and Jim Ashworth trailed with Mark Cherry laying his bike down halfway through to avoid hitting Billy Meister who had slid down. The after-in termission gap was filled by a special re lay match race that resembled a Chinese fire drill. Rick Woods and Sonny Nutter beat Bill Cody and Mike Konle in the event which was mercifully over in two laps. ~ 0. ::I « ~ w Z w oJ u > u CHANGES AT I R W I N D A L E - - - - - - - - - - - - - "The winner of each Second Division scratch heat will automatically be transferred into the high-pressure, big money First Division program the following Thursday evening," explained promoter Ed Meister The riders have to prove themselves capable of transferring plus our program is expanded to 25 heats. Everyone benefits." The extra races will cater to the lower echelon riders who make up the Cal Expo Speedway bulk of SRA riders on the circuit yet are not quite skilled enough to immediately transfer into the First Division. Additionally, team racing will be replaced by the expanded 25 heat program, the largest in local speedway. Mike Konle (left, captain of a team without a home track. as Irwindale has dropped team racing. Danny Becker won at I rwindale, rode well at Ventura for Ventura. CALIFORNIA RIDERS _ YOU WON THIS YEAR - WHAT ABOUT 19731 19741 19751 By Patlones SACRAMENTO, CALIF., Aug. 18, 1972 - A "victory wheelie" that backfired cost Alan Christian a Scratch Main event win and left Joe Henry the winner in a bitterly controversial race. Problems with the run started immediately when Henry and Carl Cranke jumped the start but managed to halt their bikes before breaking the tape. As they pulled their J awas back, however, the bottom tape broke and referee Ray Vatoy blackfJagged Cranke before starting.the heat. Wbile Cranke protested vigorously in the infield, the race wen t on and Christian jumped to an impressive 10-yard lead. On the last lap, however, Christian apparently let his feelings get the best of him and he wheelied just short of the finish line. Instead of crossing the line, he flipped and his bike shot over the_mark ahead of him and he slid across on two knees and an Bell Star. Henry finished righ t behind him and was awarded first place because Christian was not riding his bike where he crossed the finishing line. The infield was immediately filled with pro testing fans and racers arguing about the decisions to black flag Cranke and award the race to Henry. Cranke argued that it was impossible to tell if the tape was broken by his bike or by Henry's - a position many fans agreed with. But Vatoy's decision stood and track officials said the referree had no choice since the rules clearly called for somebody to be ousted when tape was broken. Officials noted that Vatoy has been popular with the riders so far because he has no hesitation about enforcing the rules and has been particularly tough on dangerous riding. The referre can't win. The handicap main was less controversial, but saw some better riding. Stu Morley led the pack for five laps as they ran under a blanket almost all the way. Morley nipped Henry for the win with Rich MacMurray coming from the 40-yard line for third. Dale Stetler, wbo bas gone from the second division to a 20-yard first division handicap in three weeks, was the favorite to win the bandicap main bu t instead had to watch from the sideline when his bike dropped a chain on the starting line. All was not lost for Christian, despite the scratcb main event spill. He set a new Expo Track record of 11.9 seconds, a full half-second under the old record held by Jim Doron. Christian did it the hard way. He forgot to tum on his fuel during his first shot at the record and had to restart. The young Reno rider ignored his embarrasment and set the record on his WE HAVE LIVED WITH THIS SITUATION FOR FIVE LONG YEARS. WE'VE HAD ENOUGHII The "public burden theory" was used In a recent U.S. Federal Court decision to declare helmet laws constitutional. This theory holds that without a helmet, a rider might be Injured, and might become a public . burden (hospitalization, welfare, etc.). If this decision Is allowed to stand on unsupported theory, the government can closely regulate every personal activity. Therefore, an appeal will be filed In the U.S. Supreme Court. . YOUR $$$ ARE NEEDED NOW, to carry this fight to the nation's highest court. In this alleged "land of the free", libe~ and individual rights are not free. It costs money to prove In court that you have these rights. The U. S. Supreme Court - not your elected state legislators - may decide whether or not you will wear a helmet! IT'S HELMETS TODAYI WHAT COMES NEXT - AIR VESTS? SEAT BELTS? Mak. Checka Payable to the National Motorcycle Helmet Committee, Inc. clo Motorcyclist's Post Stiles Lake Avenue Leicester, Massachusetts 01524 Under I.R.S. regulations personal donallons ara not tax dllductlbls. LEGAL FEES $22,000 SOFAR SEND A DONATION NOW ----------------------------------------------~------Cut on above line NAME ....,...._------- ~ STREET CITY _ --'- STATE QUESTION OR COMMENT DONATIONS_$ _CLOAD ----;-_ ---" The decision in this case will affect all - 50 States " • .- se~~~fMth'.~~~Wt~rord.l~_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ attempt. ~

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