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/125800
ID '" CO> en ~ w Z W ...J U > U Mike Bast, Steve Bast, Mike Konle and unidentified friends. At least they seem friendly enough. This year there are three ti ties on the line in speedway. First is the California State Championship. Second, the United States National Championship and, new this year, the Pacific Coast Championship at Ventura. There are a half-dozen riders that could win anyone of these events but, in this reporter's opinion, just one that could very well carry all three titles with him in '73: the winner of the California State Championship for the fourth straight year, Steve Bast. Mr. Cool, as By Dennis the track side announcers have nicknamed him, showed what a seasoned veteran can do when all others are being eaten alive with nerves. During a pre-race interview, the older and milder young man thanked all the speedway fans for their support during the past season, and said he would do his best for them. He did! much to the deligh t of everyone. Championship events are set up so that during the twenty event program each rider will ride against all others. Greene .. Scoring is simple. Three points for first, two for second, one point for third and a zero for last. Rules are enforced to the letter, with no exceptions, and at the very first start, Mike Bast broke the starting tapes. He knew it and wen t to the pits with ·his head down and not a word. To miss this soon in a pain ts race was disastrous and everyone though t the curren t National Champ was out of the picture. No so. As the night raced by Steve and Mike Bast outran all comers and at the end of four rounds, Steve came to the start of his fifth and last event with a perfect score of twelve, all he had to do this time was run second o'r better to win the title for the fourth time, something 'that no one in modern speedway has done. Mr. Cool played it cool. When the tapes went up, Woods jumped to the lead and Bast, staying just ahead of the other two riders, was more than happy to come in second for . the two points that would give him the Championship. Mike Konle and Mike Bast were tied in points for second and had to run one more time. As the saying goes, "Bast are best" and Konk had to settle for third. It was this tight in the elimination for the California State Championship. Jim Gresham's wheel is about two inches from touching and going down. Irwindale Speedway IRWINDALE, CAL., Sept. 7, 1972 -. Bill Cody' recorded an Irwindale Raceway first last Thursday evening b'y sweeping to victory in every race he entered. It was the first time in the short liistory of the San Gabriel Valley speedway track that a rider has so completely dominated the action. Cody moved through his scratch heat, semi (recording the win over Rick Woods and Larry Shaw) and then survived a first-tum squeeze to squirt abead and run off with the Scratch Main event. Mike Bast, Scott Autrey and Larry Shaw circulated behind, never really threatening Cody. Taylor set the early pace in the Handicap Main but appeared to swing into ihe third comer a shade too hot or perhaps he grabbed a bit too much traction. Whatever the cause, Taylor careened into the infield, scattering infield workers left and right and, before he probably knew it, bounced back onto the track in front of the main event field. Cody was too close to avoid running up and over Taylor and endoed to a stop, the rest of the field threading through the mess. Cody made the restart as did the rest of the field but Taylor was excluded.. Later in the pits, ..... _ the personable Taylor was fuming over accusations that he deliberately rode back onto the track after sailing through the infield. Momentum appeared to be the culprit with Taylor apparently having no real choice but to slip back onto the track or lay his bike down on a particularly nasty section of asphalt infield area. The restarted race was all Cody although Mike Bast was able to move up to second, still several yards behind. Robin Nicolaides grabbed third with Jim Gresham and Danny Becker trailing. Becker dropping out late with mechanical woes. Nicolaides did a fme job in third considering he was also mixed 'up in the earlier collision with Taylor. The feature Match Race between Mike Konk and Ed Williams was never in doubt with Konk taking the nod over a slightly hesitant Williams, probably still smarting from a broken collarbone still on the mend. Jan Ballard and his sparks-spitting skid shoe trounced the opposition in Second Division Main action. Jim Castor, Keith Termis Tim Bradley, Barrie Idom and Marc Walker trailed. The GEMINI bikes are the toughest machines around. Both the "BOSS 80" and the 80 cc MINI will take on any bike in their class for performance, durability, dependability and comfort. Any bike that can do that is one heck of a good bike. One of the greatest things atnut the GEMINI's is you can have either of these great bikes and not lose an arm and leg paying for it. Isn't that the kind 6f dirt bike you've been lOOking for? Check out some of these facts that both the "BOSS 80" and the 80 cc MINI have: • 2 cycle single cylinder with rotary valve and oil injection system. • KiCk starter. • 4 speed foot controlled transmission. • Magneto type ignition. Check out all the detailed facts on the GEMINI "BOSS 80", 80 cc MINI. and the 80 MllIIt's little brother, the 50 cc MINI. See ... San Tong Co., Inc. 15514 S. Figueroa Gardena. Ca. 90247 213/532-1780 Arctco. Inc. Fargo Ind. Park Box 2307 Fargo, No. Dakota 58102 701/282.()833 Cycle Centers, Inc. 1406 E. North Harvard Tulsa, Okla. 74115 9181932-1829 Sno-Line I ne:. 2923 W. Superior St. Duluth, Minn. 55806 218/628-2377 Northwest Cycle'& Access., Inc. 1715 P.rttygrove N.W. Portland, Or. 97209 5031227~167