Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Ascot Half-mile _ Photos by Dan Mahony GARDENA, CAL., Oct. 20, 1972 - It wasn't Friday the 13th but it might as well have been if you were riding a Norton at Ascot tonight. Brian LaPlante, winner of the Junior final the previous week, was the first to find out. He blew his engine corning off the line in the heat race. Parts flew over the fence and into the stands. His engine split right down the middle and,it was al! hanging out for the fans to see after the races. It was probably Ascot's biggest blow, or at least the biggest for LaPlante. On the starting line for the Expert final young Mike Kidd carne up with a burned clutch and had to move to the back. He was also Norton mounted. Dave Aldana, who had earlier won his heat and the trophy dash, took the lead early in the final and had only John Hateley to worry about. Then his engine tied up at the end of the back straightaway and from then on it was rider against machine with the bike finally coming to rest against the north turn wall. Smoke was rolling out and Aldana bailed off, landing on his feet one of the few times this year. It was still not over for Kidd who had earlier lost the heat race at. the finish line to Hateley. Lloyd Houchins and DeWayne Keeter were having a duel for third place when Houchins dove to the inside on the south turn and took Keeter's left handlebar with him. Keeter hit the dirt, right in front of Kidd who did a perfect job of braking and missing. But it cost him at least three positions. Hateley went on to win with Terry Dorsch coming from the back row to take second, Houchins stayed in there for third and Ron Moore ran fourth. The four fastest Experts in time trials were all in the !Wen ty two second category for only the second time in Ascot history. Hateley was the fast one with Eddie Wirth second. Kidd third John Hateley got another one. and Aldana, fourth. The Experts now take a couple of weeks for a breather before the final race of the year for the state championship title. The last event for '73 will run on Friday night, November 10th. There will be no AMA big bike racing un til then. Tom Horton all 'but clinched the high point Junior title for the year with a win in the ten lap final. He was challenged early by Larry Gino but Larry was forced to the back 'and an even tual last plac; with ignition troubles. Denny Kanegae came on midway to apply pressure, but Horton pulled away in the final laps to wrap up the win. Tom White took third with John Sperry, fourth. Mike Renslow finally put it all fell for the battle of second and third spots. Corbett, trying on. every lap to understand the handling characteristics of his unfamiliar machine which he borrowed from some garage, made every move count while at the same time avoiding -a close-quarter confrontation with the likes of the brash, and confident Junior rider, Garcia, who is currently making it most uncomfortable for many of the Senior riders. While Garcia probed for a passing pattern to catch Corbett, apparently he completely forgot about Byars riding his exhaust-pipe, and on lap nine as they headed for the white flag, Byars surprised Garcia as he went flying past together in the Novice class, winning the handicap dash and the final. Hank Scott nipped Renslow fOT the heat race win but from then- on Scott did the chasing and Renslow the leading. Randy Bailey held off Danny Hockie for third place in the final. Earlier, Hockie had turned in the fastest heat,.ace win but a slow first lap by the Ossa rider kept him from breaking up the Yamaha Brigade in the fmal. Randv Bailev takes the high line. Trojan Speedway _ by Art Loya SOUTH GATE, CAL., Oct. 19, 1972 Is J arney Blun t the best rider to come along at Trojan Speedway since Ga[)' Scott? He looked like it in a great display of indIvidual riding brilliance at the South Gate track and won all eveqts he entered. He lead every lap in all four events. In the 250 IT feature event, Blunt (Oss) continued his victory streak by breaking fast at the starting line beating Corbett and Bob Byars (Yarn) to the corner with the rest of the field in hot pursuit. Corbett, although riding a strange bike while his own Bultaco is under extensive rebuilding, made an impressive attempt to stay with the ''Torrance Tornado" fOT the firsl two or three laps, but was unable to match the speed and performance of Blunt. At the checkered it was Blunt being chased in tbe distance by Corbett, Jim Medlin (Oss), Leon Desmone (Yam), Vern Hill (Suz), Byars, and Larry Ronning (H-D). The 250 F.T. Main was pretty much the same patter as Blunt got the jump over the field once again beating Corbett to" lbe comer, but this time it was the "Super Mex", Brian Garcia, applying the pressure after moving to third abead of Clark on the third lap. Throwing his mount into a near horizontal position in the turns while maneuvering the tight corners, Blunt showed his class over the field as he quickly built a comfortable lead over second place Corbett, and Garcia. As in the IT feature, moSt of the attention • ( .... ~ ! ~ l _ to grab third. With his fourth and final victory for the nigh t "in the bag", Blunt just abou t coasted the final lap and could have walked the final few feet to the checkered had he chose to climax his best performance of the season. Staging their own private battle in the 125 IT and F.T. features. Elbert Tumer, sponsored by Turner's Silencer Expansion Chambers. and Tom Dory gave it the one-two punch in the TT main as they battled every foot of the 10-laps while they started to lap the field as early as the sixth lap. Turner refusing to be out-classed .by the more experienced Doty, won this exciting event. Jamey Blunt picked up a bunch of wins. But in the 125 F.T. main, the tables were reversed, as Dory got the jump on Jerry Mulkey, and Turner. Although Turner tried, he was unable to get pass Mulkey (Kaw) , to get at Doty for three laps. Instead, Turner as if he wasn't having his hands full attempting to get by Mulkey, was passed on the fourth lap by an inspired Steve Young (Yam), and what made it even more frustrating was AI Glover 'doing the same on lap five. While Dory continued ,to lead the pack, Mulkey held his ground despite challenge by Glover and Turner in the final laps after Young headed 'into the pits on lap six. Second was Mulkey over Glover, Turner, and Stacey Berry (Yam) who just managed to stay in front of Don Rockwood (Ric). Mulkey scored in the 100 IT main over John Matherson (Hod), and Jeff Kerr (Kllw) for his victory. while Robert Murray (Kaw) who is making it a habit of winning the 100 F.T. features pulled out another win over Mulkey and Jack B;rrett· ·Bon):. .- t.)Jb .•h~~ ~,\] ...-: J ~ uE,f\ .ntJl j 1(. ,( C I

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