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Page 27 September 18,1973 Gennai wins Lancaster Hateley Foils Keeter By Dee Photos by Dan Mahony LANCASTER, CAL., AUG. 30 Professional races were back out at the Antelope VaHey Fairgrounds Thursday night. J.e. Agajanian brought out the big boys on the little bikes for the annual short track at the fair. Track main tenance did as good a job as they could, considering what they had to work with. The sand didn't hold together so there were holes everywhere. But the Lancaster people were there in force to cheer on the local talent. The crowd wasn't disappointed when three of the eight heats were won by Tom Horton, Jim Foley, and Ron Powell, all Antelope Valley racers. Southern California scored three with Danny Hockie, Bob Hosford, and Tom B e.try. The riders from Northern California, referred to as the "Short track capital of the World", won the remaining two via John Gennai and Pat McCaul. From the eight heat races they went to three semis. Then ou t of the three semis they took the fust three to the final even t. The first semi set up John Genna! with another easy win to put him on the pole position in the fmal. There was a duel going on for the last two transfer positions, fmally going to Ron Powell and Mike Renslow. The second semi dropped Lancaster hopes a little. Jim Foley fell in the first corner which left the way clear for Bob Hosford to pick up the second semi win. Also going to the fmal from this semi were Danny Hockie andJoe Brown. Third semi brought up town hero, Tom Horton, against National number 98, John Hateley. It looked like it would be a good race until John got bumped and lost a position, bu t he got it back together to pass Tom Berry for second. After the semis they ran off the consolation race. This race is for the people who didn't make the money paying semis. Rick Huchins jumped out in the lead for the first two laps but then seemed to have maneuvering problems (the track was really getting rough by this time), and he dropped back to sixth. The duel for first was between Steve Scott and Doug Ha,lmon, giving the win to Scott. Third went to Ray Martin with Jamie Blunt and Scott Marshall fourth and fifth. The trophy dash was another win for John Gennai with Ron Powell second. Bob Hosford and Tom Horton tangled in the first turn and the second lap to leave them with third and fourth. In the Main event John Gennai showed others how it's done. Gennai is the only man to win this Lancaster event two times in a row. The rough track conditions didn't seem to slow him down a bit. He got out in front with the first lap and left everyone else behind. The other riders didn't have it as easy. Tom Horton found one of the holes in the second turn, almost taking Joe Brown and John Hatdey down with him. Hateley, who wen t through a big mud puddle to avoid hitting Horton, splashed the people in the pits. The races were really close for second through fourth positions. Mike Renslow was having a good battle with Bob Hosford and Danny Hockie, only to have his chain come off from hitting the front wall. With Renslow in the pits, Ron Powell came up to make his bid for third place. As it ended up it was Bob Hosford second with Danny Hockie third and Ron Powell fourth. • Results Main Event: 1. John Gennai (Bul). 2. Bob Hosford (Han). 3. Donny Hackle (Yom). 4. Ron Powell (Kow). 5. Pot McCoul (OSs). 6. Tom Berry (Yom). 7. Joe Brown (Yoml. 8. John Hawley (K.w). 9. Mike Renslow (Bul). 10. Tom Horton leul). Trophy Dash, I. John Gennol (BUll' 2. Ron Powe.. (K~). 3. Bob Hosford (Hon • 4. Tom Horton (Bul). Consolation, 1. Ste.. SCott (Bul). 2. Doug Honnon (Bul). 3. Roy Mortln (Yom). John Hateley is homing in on that Regional title. By Fuzzy Howler GARDENA, CAL., SEPT. 7' DeWayne Keeter set fast time tonight .and won the Trophy Dash, but his efforts to extend his point lead were foiled by John Hate1ey for the second week in a row as Keeter's lead was cu t to a slim thirty poin ts. In the Novice heats only the first place fmisher from each of the five heats would transfer directly to the Main. Nick Nazzisi took the only transfer in the flrsrheat with Tom Berry and Jeff Coleman ,headed for the semi. Skip AksIand took the win in the second heat and ran away from the rest of the field. Scott Smith and Pat Guthrie took the transfers in the second heat to gain rides in the semi. Rick Kraft took the third heat ahead of John • Allison and Dave Harris. Chuck Soderstrom got the wi,n in the fourth heat ahead of John Allison and Dave Harris. Chuck Soderstrom got the win in the. fourth heat ahead of Dave Racine and W.E. Whisenant. The futh and fmal heat went to Denny Briggs ahead of Scott Marshall and Dennis Huff. The combined Junior/Expert heats saw DeWayne Keeter win the first race Gennai. feet UP. sideweys at unCllSter. followed by Rex Barratt, sending Sal Peluso and Pat McCaul and Art Fredenburgh to the semi. The second heat gave John Gennai and Rob Morrison the only direct transfers with Mel Lacker, Mike Myers and Al Kenyon headed for the semi. The third and final heat went to John Hateley followed by Tom Hort!,n. The last men to make the semi were Larry Gino, Ron Moore and Devon Sowell. The Novice semi took the first five riders to the Main. Taking the first spot was John Allison, followed by Jeff Coleman, Scott Smith, Dave Harris, and Scott Marshall. The Junior/Expert semi transfera:d Sal Peluso, Pat McCaul; Larry Gino, and Art Fredenburgh was the fIrSt alternate to the Main. The Trophy Dash, for the second week in a row pitted two Juniors against the veteran Expert,. DeWayne Keeter and the rookie Expert Larry Gino. The' Juniors were Rex Barratt and John Gennai. Keeter shot to an early lead jus t ahead of Rex Barratt. Keeter's experience paid off as he held the lead for me bucks, Trophy and kiss. Barratt took second ahead of John Gennai and Larry Gino. Skip AksJand is knocking on the door of Tom Berry's point lead as he is now within futeen points of Berry. Aksland ran away and hid from the rest of the field in tonight's main. Running second was John Allison ahead of Nick Nazzisi and Chuck Soderstrom. Scott Smith took futh with Rich Kraft sixth. The combined Junior/Expert Main was to be as exciting as any this season, with the top three Experts and three of the top five Juniors running after the points and the money. Keeter and Barratt were first into the south turn with Gennai, Hateley, and Tom Horton all mixing it up for position. Down the back straigh t it was Keeter in the lead and trying to open up some breathing room on the pursuers. Gennai'was on the move and closing a little on Barratt. Hateley was running fifth and trying the outside line. Hatdey is an Expert and he seemed to know just where to stuff the Triumph in order to gain the ground on the rest of the field. Gentlai passed Barratt and started to gain on Keeter as ·the laps passed by. Hateley was also on the move and gaining on the leaders. By lap thirteen Hateley was in the lead with some handlebars getting pretty tight in the turns. Gennai was running second and Keeter settled into third. The white flag came out and Hateley was getting alittle distance between himself and the rest of the field. Starter Chuck Murray brought out the checkered flag and yet another Ascot Main event was Little John's. The poin t lead has been narrowed to just thirty points with only a few more weeks left in the season. John Gennai got the second spot ahead of DeWayne Keeter, Rex Barratt got the fourth slot ahead of Tom Horton, and Rob Morrison. Next Friday night is a TT Steeplechase with the Picnic Festival Sat urday afternoon featuring Jose Feliciano, EI Chicano, and Brahma. Saturday night is the half mile action for the lame price as the admission to the -Festival. $5.50 to see both the Festival and the half mile racing that night. • Results: Novice Main: 1. Skip Aksland (Y~m); 2. John Allison (Vam). 3. Nick ~zzlsl (Vam); 4. Chuck Soderstrom (Vam); 5. Scott Smith vam); 6. Rich Kraft (Vam); 7. Scott ~u"alt Vam); 8. Denny Briggs (Kaw); 9. OlIve acine (Yam); 10. David Harris (Kaw). Trophy Dash: 1. DeW.yn. Keeter (H-D); 2. Rex Barrott (Nor); 3. John Gennol (Trl); 4. Larry Gino (Trl). Junior/Expert Main: 1. John Hateley (Trl); 2. John Gennal (Trl); 3. DeW.yn. Keeter (H-O); 4. Rex Barratt (Nor); 5. Tom Horton (Trl); 6. Rob Morrison (Nor); 7. SOl Peluso (Tril; 8. Ron Moore (Yom); 9. Pot McCOul (Trl ; 10. Lorry Gino (Tri). ~