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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125802
- -, - .. Photos by John Bethea and Buzz Baty The largest field of riders to ever try to compete in a Half-Mile National at Ascot showed up to try for the big "kill" on the fast boys that race in and out of Gardena every year. The word was out that the switch to Z a day race for the first time in fourteen W ..J years was going to find many things U > being considerably different. In many U cases they were right but where the money was, they were wrong. One reason so many came from so far, from Washington, Oregon, Texas, Michigan, Canada, and other localities was that they felt the Ascot locals would be going just a shade slower, under the sun instead of the Iigh ts. The Harley te.am of late has been scoring heavily due to a number of riders showing up and filling the spots in the final. They were all there. But in the end it was two of Triumph's aces, both riding as privateers on dealer-backed equipmen t. Gary Scott and Tom Rockwood took horne the Lion's share of the $26,000. For Scott it was the topper to a great first season as an Expert. He scored his second National win of the year. He's been backed all season by City Cycle Center in Pico·Rivera. For Rockwood it was a near miracle. He destroyed both the heat and Main event track records a year ago but was hospitalized just four days before the race this year from drowning in the ocean. When he was taken to the hospital there was no heartbeat and no pulse. The water was pumped from his lungs and he recovered in time to get back to Ascot for the comeback of the year in anybody's book. Torn rides Triumph for Ed Kretz in Monterey Park. Four riders took turns breaking Rockwood's old daytime one lap record that he set back in February of 1971. Scott came out on top with Mert Lawwill in second, Rockwood third, and Don Castro, back on Triumph; in fourth. When the time trials were over it was announced who the thirty·six fastest Experts were. Missing from the heats would be Gene Romero, Kenny Roberts and Ron Moore. They didn't go fast enough. Canadian ace, Dave Sehl, just barely made the program. Scott and Rockwood again hinted that it was going to be a Triumph day when the heat races rolled around. Scott toppet! Chuck Palmgren, Don Castro, Rex Beauchamp, Terry Dorsch and John Hateley. Rockwood and four other riders were knocked down on the first lap of the next heat. Rockwood came back for the re-start to pick off three riders and grab the win in a close finish over Dave Aldana. Mark Brelsford held off a host of other Harley riders to give H-D their only win of the day. Mert Lawwill and Dave Sehl ran two-three with Gary u o ~ w Gary Scott won both of Ascot's season~nd Half-miles. With a longer season and more Halt-miles, who knows? Fisher in fourth. Before the time trials ever got underway Dick Mann had troubles with his BSA. So a quick'Switch found Dick. on Gene Romero's spare Triumph.-But it was the same story for Dick when it comes to racing at Ascot. He failed to transfer from the heat to the semi, finishing ninth in a twelve rider heat, won by Scott. Romero and Moore both got iilto the heat won by Rockwood. Both, in fact, made it to the semi with Moore running sixth, Romero seventh. The Semi, as is normal in an AMA National, was close most of the way. Only three could transfer to the final. Jim Rice came from the back row to win over Terry Dorsch in a close one. Early leader, Dave Hansen held on for third. Rex Beauchamp crashed and Gary Fisher, Randy Scott, Romero and Hateley, all failed to finish high enough. The the stage was set for the l4th annual running of the famed Ascot National. Twelve riders from an original field of six ty were ready on the line. Harley, Triumph, BSA, Yamaha and Norton were all represented for the last dirt track National of the year. Rockwood took off like a shot and grabbed the lead on the first turn. Scott was second with LawwiJl, Sehl, and Palmgren close behind. Aldana, for the second time in the day, crashed on the first turn. Jim Rice bailed a short time later. Rockwood built a good 'Iead, but Scott, with pressure from behind, was staying within striking distance. By lap seven the two Triumphs were fighting only each other. Rockwood, who swapped the '71 lead fourteen times, was caught by Gary on lap ten and gave way. -The last half of the race found the two Triumphs holding the top two spots and the race centered on third place where the Harleys -were dueling each other and Palmgren's Yamaha. Palmgren got over-eager on lap thirteen and dropped from fourth to sixth, being pass$d by both Sehl and Brelsford. Positiom he was not going to get back. Brelsford got by Sehl on the 17th lap for the last major change up Tom Rockwood was technically dead (by drowning) four days before the National. Sunday he lead until Scott gOt by. Here he is chased by SCOlt, Lawwill (7),Chuck Palmgren 138), and Da.. Hanse~ 1231. fronL At the finish Scott and Rockwood had picked up all the lap money and first and second dollars in the highest paying Ascot National ever. A one-three finish in time trials and each with a heat race-victory . The race was taped for a later nationwide showing on the ABC "Wide World of Sports" program. Some of the action should be great but many of the riders later stated they were glad they were going back to night racing next Friday night under the lights. __ Tim Wolf kept the Triumph string going by taking fast time honors in the Junior division, but for Wolf it ended there. Tim failed to transfer out of his heat race. Scott Brelsford grabbed the win in the opener with Tom Horton leading and then taking second. Tom White was third with Larry Gino in fourth. Mike O'Brien pointed his BSA in the fast direction to win the second heat with Steve Nichols second, Sal Peluso third and Barry Patrick, the Texan, in fourth. Illinois Mike Caves grahbed off the sixth and last transfer. Horton got the perfect start in the final and jumped to an early and big lead on his self-sponsored Triumph. Brelsford was over-e.ager to try for the lead and slid off the groove twice before finally crashing at the end of the back straightaway and getting last place. With Horton in command from start Lo finish, the race was a hOl one for second. Nichols, riding a Yamaha this trip, held off Norton qJounted Patrick and Yamaha rider Caves until the last few laps. Then both non-Californianas got by and it was close at the finish with Patrick second, Caves third, and Nichols down in fourth. Horton became the fourteenth Junior to win a final at a National this year. Sonny Burres ran into trouble early when his engine lacked up in practice. The happenIng pit.ched the former TT champ over t.he back wall along with his machine. He later walked away with a sprained ankle. Another rider lost his exhaust pipe on the front straightaway. It eventually landed on top of the bracket that holds the red signal ligh ts on top of the fence. . Hard luck rider of the meet? No question, it was Keith Mashburn. Keith qualified for the final for one of the few times this year only to break a piston just as he crossed the line in the heat. After he pulled into the pits, the rear lire went flat! And so once again for the 14th straight time California has won the Ascot National. It may have been the only chance for the out of staters and the Canadians as the even t reverts back to nighLtime..n.ext season.