Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

"' :g, . 0.. .... N '" ~ i5. en " ~ w Z W ...J U >- U by Dave Schoonmaker Back in 1956, at 18300 South Vermont Avenue in Gardena, there was a dump. Those who are clever or have been around, or both, will know that now the site is something altogether different. Early in 1957 a man named Bill McKay acquired the property and built the LA Speedway. McKay catered. to stock and sprin t cars in the short time that he owned and operated the speedway. After only a few months the trac!> was purchased by Harry Schuyler and Tom Haynes. Haynes and Schuyler started building up the facilities and turned the speedway into the forerunner of today's Ascot Park. In 1958 Ascot had only one track and grandstands held only three thousand people. The expansion and innovation which came about in the next ten years at Ascot are probably unmatched by any track in the coun try. From 1958 to L961 Ascot was run in conjunction with Gardena Stadium, a quarter-mile. Then in 1961 Haynes was bought out by Schuyler and Schuyler began the amalgamation of many different forms of racing at the same speedway. Schuyler began quarter-mile at Ascot using the same straightaway as the half-mile. The 11 track, know as the "jumping bean," was set up in the infield. This caused no small amoun t of uproar as car people were afraid that ouf-of-control sprint cars might find there way over the infamous jump. Ln 1962 the lakes were buil t and palm trees planted, both innovative move. In fact so innovative ~hal for en tire year, lifeguards were required at each lake, by officials. People who have been around Ascot for a few years say that the ducks and geese can probably tell you more about Ascot's history than anyone_ Ln any event, it is amazing that ducks and geese would condescend to having such a place for a home, but by now they have learned to watch, ignore, or at least accept the noisy proceedings. Early in the sixties Schuyler and his two track men J olm Kellow and Frank Churchwood built the first figure..,igh t track for cars. Schuyler admits that he was a "thrills and spills" promoter, "any kind of race, as long as it would bring a crowd_" At the time figure-eight racing was considered by many to be tantamount to suicide. Now of course it is a fairly accepted, if a little spectacular, form of racing. By now five different tracks have been incorporated fnto the Ascot arcna, allowing an incredible variety of events to be held and therefore drawing from a huge range of poten tial spectators. Ascot's success has to be tied to its ability to run four, five, even six events a week. In fact, there will be a figure eigh t race the nigh t of the afternoon National half-mile. Of course, the success of motorcycle events at Ascot centers around J .C. Agajanian. Agajanian basically brought motorcycles to Ascot, and while Ascot has many sides, motorcycles are without a doubt the most important. Agajanian took the bike races to Western . Speedway for a few years in the late six ties, feeling that the facili ties at Ascot· were deteriorating to some extent, but Agajanian did come back, buying Ascot in February of this year, and the monetary input for facilities is the stroke Ascot needed. It's been a very successful year for Ascot, a large step abead of all tl,e successful years before. What really makes Ascot what it is, is the incredible charisma centered around it. Thirteen National half miles and eleven National lTs, mean-that Ascot has been the starting place for many a "National Number," the center of many rivalries, and sort of home ground for the National circuit. The stories that have grown up around Ascot and the riders are numerous and fantastic. Just one example is the story that the dirt used on track is acquired from graves being dug across the street. [ inquired into this one and it is in fact true that some dirt does come from the graveyard_ (Where there are a number of racers buried) Whether or not the rumor or the digging started first in in doubt. If one was to have name a HKing of Ascot" it would undoubtedly have to be Sammy Tanner. Tanner was tbe winner of the first Ascot Half-mile in 1959 and then three consecutive Half-mile National between 1964 and 1967. Tanner is also the holder of four consecutive Ascot Championships. [n 1960 Sammy met up with one of the most exciting figures of Ascot's history. Bart Markel was invited to Ascot for a month from his Midwest home. The Tanner-Markel friendshjp, rivalry, and, eventually, antagonism is one of the National cirtuits better known stories: Markel came to Ascot expecting a run-away and met up with the likes of Tanner and Dick Dorresteyn. The competition was heavy and Markel quickly became a favorite. [t was here at Ascot that Markel was dubbed "Black Bart", by Al franken, Ascot's publicity man at the time. Bart gained his name by means other than most people suppose. Markel wore black leathers, had a black Harley and was quiet, almost in a sinister way _This led to the comparison to the Old Western desperado, Black Bart. Not until later did the name ever assume any personal conotations. Tanner invited Markel to live at his home during Bart's stay in California, and a friendship grew, only to be dashed by one-the-track battles later on. This Sunday, Ascot will run its fou rteenth consecutive National Half-mile. Some of the Ascot "old hands" will be there, like Mert Lawwill, a many time winner at Ascot and Mark Brelsford, 1973 Grand National Champion, who got his start at Ascot. For the first time ever the Ascot Half-mile will be run in the daylight. There is fair amount of interest over what differences the daylight will make. [t seems that the most obvious difference will be in the "spectacle." There is no doubt that, visually, there is an excitement about motorcycles screaming through the ligh ts at over 100 mph. Sparks from shoes and flames from exhaust pipes all add to that excitmen t. On the other hand, spectating' may be a little easier, and the absence of the inevitable shadows from artifici",1 lighting may make it easier for the competitors. Engines will run hotter, which may boost the mechanical toll. If the sun does show, the dnnk should flow freely and undoubtedly, a good time will be had by all. Memorial graveyard and land fill. , i I J I . .) J './ I ,

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