Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

scene: WORLD SPEEDWAY by Peter White A - four man American speedway team has been contracted to appear in South Africa this month. The team, led by Californian star, Rick Woods, is s heduled to arrive in Johannesburg on Tuesday, October 24 and ride a series of test matches against the South Africans at Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria. The first match is scheduled for Friday. October 27 at the Wembley stadium" Johannesburg. The team's second appearance is likely to be at the Allan Ford stadium, Durban - a neat 220 yard circuit which should suit the Californians style admirably - on Saturday, November 4. Other members of the team are well known American speedway aces, Scott~ Autrey, Sumner McKnight and Mike Caruso. Both Autrey and McKnigh t received offers from British promoters to joing the hurly-burly professional league big time in England ...and they are likely to accept. Much will depend on their progress after their stin t in the sun in Africa. They should not have much difficulty in forging their international reputations though. The South African speedway scene is similar to that of America two or three years ago when dirt track oval racing was received after many years in the wilderness of motorcycle sport. After a boom period in the middle 'fifties, when regular tests were staged in South Africa between England, New Zealand and Scandinavia, speedway slumped in Africa and hot rod racing took over as the main draw card. Now, with a revival of the sport in Rhodesia and the beginning of test machines between Rhodesia and South Africa. the movements is under foot again. Most of the riders are veterans from the 'fifty era ... and their equipment is the same. Like California at the time of speedway's re-introduction in 1967, the bikes being used by the.. South Africans are vintage immediate post-war JAPs. The Czechoslovakian JAWA unit has not yet made its presence felt to any degree, although this is rapidly" coming as bike after bike appears at the import sheds. The main riders the Americans are likely to encounter are former internationals, Dennis Newton, Neil Mortimer, Des Haswell and Danie Fourier. All the riders are making comebacks after being on the sidelines for quite some time. They will provide stiff opposition for the Americans but Woods and his bunch should be able to account for them when it comes to the compete in a series of matches in Rhodesia at the conclusion of their African tour. Rhodesian promoter, Mr. Alex Hughson, said that he had reached an agree me n t with the African promoter, Buddy Fuller, for an inter-change of overseas imports during the coming se~son. Previously the Rhodesian public has been limited to local speedway action only during the winter and a series of special challenges during the summer featuring individual riders imported from all corners of the world. MeanwhiJe, it is rumou.-red in speedway circles Down Under in Sydney, Australia that flat track and speedway ace, DeWayne Keeter, could po~sibly visit the country during the 1972-73 season. Several promoters are reported to have made an approach to Keeter and negotiations are proceeding. Keeter is the most popular and most successful American rider to appeaT in Australia after two previous visits. He has also raced in England for a First _ftz _ stars, Henryk Glucklich (Poland), John Langfield (ydney), George Hunter (Scotland), Ole Olsen (Denmark) and Ivan Mauger (New Zealand). The British team will consist of seven English riders. For the first time in its history no Scotsmen have been included. The Englishmen are: Nigel Boocock (captain and manager), Chris Pusey, Peter Collins, Eric Broabelt, Arnold Haley, Bob Kilby. And Barry Thomas. Pusey, Broadbelt and Collins are all members of the Belle Vue, Manchester, team which, led by World Champion, Ivan Mauger. won the league championship this year. Australia will be relying heavily on Jim Airey in the tests, plus new sensation, Phil Crump. Crurnp, from MiJdura, has set the Second Division tracks in England a1igh t with his whirwind riding this year and is freely tipped for the top-most honors in the very near fu lure. Pioneer Rider and Promoter Dies Old timer rider and present day worth a good deal more in 1930 than it is now. He has often been described as the sport's first unofficial World Champion and he had no peer until his retirement in 1935. Mr. Arthur then. switched from the saddle to the promoters chair and took control of racing at the Sydney Sportsground and Sydney Showground tracks. He formed the company, Empire Speedways, which to this day is the longest running and most sound speedway promotion io the world. His loss is a great tragedy for speedway racing everywhere. Briggs Has Finger Amputated 'ews from England indicates that four times World· Champion, Barry Briggs, has now had to lose one of the fingers on his left hand which was severely lacerated in his crash with Russian rider, Valery Gordeyev, in the World Final last month. At first it was anticipated that the two injured frogers could be saved, but after being told by surgeons that one of the fingers would .......... , Division team and is the best known in temational speedway rider in America at presen t. Boom Australian Season Expected . promoter, Frank Arthur, passed away last month following a l1eart attack. Mr. Arthur rode in the early days of . speedway when the sport was first introduced to Australia by American, Cecil Brown. In 1928 Mr. Arthur and a band of Australian broadsliders sailed for "England where they in tum introduced speedway motorcycle racing to the British and showed them how it was done. A legendary personality, Mr. Arthur once rode in nine consecutive championships - and won - for a total purse of· 2,000 - which was, of course, probably remain stiff for life, Briggs op ted to have the operation. It 's nOt yet known if and when he will return to speedway racing in Europe . Keeter apart, the indications are that Stolen Russian Bikes Case More on the stolen bikes case from this summer will be a boom one for Australian speedway. While two major Wembley when three Russian Jawas tracks are throwing the accent on hot wen t missing: Th.e th ree western riders involved, Mike Broadbank, Bob Kilby rods and sedan car racers by importing up to six American drivers, the other and Tony Clarke, were actually charged circuits are chasing the big gold of the with receiving, and not theft, as bike boom. Already contracted for a previously reported. The case is crunch. scheduled to be heard on October 20. There is a possibility that the four month tour is yet another solo American team will be invited to team from Britain plus independen t Costa Mesa Speedway ---------~-:--"""':"~-"""':"-__:__:-""""::---__:___:_:__:___:---~----::_:__:_~__:_:_-_:_':""""~_::~were only three riders racing, when Sexton, and in third place was Mike grabbed first place with Dan Becker there normally are six. Sumner Mesojednik. behind him for a close second. In third by Jennie Johnson McKnight won it very easily. About In the Scratch Consolation, Les place was Bill Cody, who had some sort COSTA :\-lESA, CAL., Oct. 13, 1972 four bike lengths behind him was Jeff Chanky, who is getting better and, of bike problems. The evening began with the 'ational Championship Qualifying Round. The top ten riders were qualified automatically according to the SRA point standings. In order, they are: Mike Bast, the curren t National Champion, Bill Cody, Steve Bast, Rick Woods, Larry Shaw, Mike Konle, Sonny Nutter, Ed Williams, Mike CUrDSO, and Dan Becker. The other eight riders, six to race and two reserve, who qualified this evening, are: Scott Autrey, who had the highest number of qualifying points, Don Cullum, Les Chanky, Ron Taylor, Sumner McKnight, Jim Gresham, Guy Waterson, and Larrv Moon. Waterson reserve riders. and Moon are the Dan BeckeT really had a good nigh t here at Costa Mesa! From the 20 yard line. he won the Handicap Heat, the Handicap Semi-Final and the Handicap Main. The Handicap Main, he won quite easily, but Scott A utrey was scooting up pretty close to Becker in the last few laps. Autrey also raced extremely weU tonigh t in every race he was in. Behind Becker and Autrey were Don Cullum, who was looking good, in third place, Mike Bast, in fourth place, Dubb Ferrel in fifth, and Larry Shaw right behind Ferrel for sixth. In the Scratch Main, Mike Bast, who drew the outside position, took the lead from the very start of the race and held Heikki Mikkola - Husky, Ohio Trans-AMA winner onto it untiJ the very end of the four Brad Lackey - Kawasaki, Top Ranked American laps. Scott Autrey was getting close Team Yamaha - Gary Jones,. Jim Weinert, Marty Tripes toward the end of the race, but Mike 7340 Florence Avenue Bast, marc or less, won it by a safe Downey, Calif. 90240 margin. Autrey rolled in second, Larry Moon in third, and Jim Gresham in (213) 927-4781 fourth. In the Handicap Consolation, there The Pros ~·for Real two ... ~Molly Blue' Protects for Real When-these pros can't afford chain failure, they call on P4011y Blue.'

• Cover