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Page 15 October 2, 1973 to stop for gas once in each heat, which will hurt. Even if that doesn't keep them down, the big Kawasakis don't have the reliability record of Yamahas in long races. If anybody can make one win it though, it's Irv Kanemoto. Nixon ride's Irv's bike, and, nobody has any doubts about Gary being back on the bubble. Then, too, Kawasaki is reigning champion after their win last year via Paul Smart. (Yvon also gave Kawasaki tire Talladega win last year). You can't count Kawasaki out. II you think back to Ontario last year and look past victory circle, one name will stand out: Cliff Carr. Cliff was the popular hero last year, the underdog who led until his engine broke. Cliff still hasn't finished a race without trouble, but he scored second at Laguna Seca with no rear brake, and ran second at Charlotte until his transmission went away. RUl!1or has it that other riders won't go to near Cliff in the pits because they're afraid that some of his bad luck might rub off. It may be that Cal Rayborn got too close to Cliff. His luck hiU been about as rotten. Cal will be one ~f the four-stroke lover's favorites along with Gary Scott, Mert LawwiJI, and Dick Mann. A look back a t the history of the season teaches us that Scott will probably be the highest finisher of this group; he's crafty enough to win. Nobody on a four stroke has the horsepower to win on that alone, but Mann has the patience. People who have done well here in the previous two runnings of Ontario won't be very well represented. John Cooper, the r\fst year's winner by the depth of the tread on his front tire, won't be on hand. He's retired. Also missed will be Geoff Perry and Renzo Pasolini, who finished second and third last year, both of whom have been killed this year. Nor will fourth piace Mark Brelsford be back in business. 1972 winner Paul Smart will be back this time on a Suzuki. He took one of his 750's to England without a mechanic and never even changed the spark plugs in all the races he entered. He can.do it again. Peter Williams' name must go down in the "good chance" bracket for two reasons. First, an Englishman lias always won this eve'1t. Secondly, the John Player Norton mounted rider is the hottest thing going on British pavemen t because he has lots of talent and because he rides an excellent handling, rather quick machine. He'l rival Gary Scott for top four stroke. But I don't rlgUl"e any of these guys to -finish second. I pick Teuvo Lansivuori to fill the number two spot the Champion Spark Plug Motorcycle ,it The MW NlItionaI Champ doesn't need the points, but he'll score well. Classic. Lansivuori will be second because he's smart and because he rides a Yamaha and that's the combination that will be required to win the long race on the tricky Ontario track. While I'm saying foolish things that I'd rather have forgotten come October rn-st, 111 fIn a few other spots. Third will be Cliff Carr. I think that's based on sentiment more than anything, but Cliff tries very hard and keeps going despite a lot .of adversity. Fourth will be Peter Williams, fifth will ~ Kenny Roberts on his way to the number one plate, and sixth will be Gary Scott. There are ·enough specifics there that I can't possibly be right, but I won't be surprised if half their names appear amongst those positions. Ontario's road course is 3.19 miles long and has at least 19 turns that you have to consider in picking your way around it. Probably the two most difficult parts to get through are the fast left handers, the 7-8-9 series and the 12-14-15 series. (There is no tum 1-3, of course). Both sections are series of tums that inter-relate; that is, your line through one tum is related to the tum fonowing and/or preceding it. Tum 9 particularly is quite slippery. The most important tum on the course is tum 19. It's importan t because it leads onto the straight. It is vital to get a hard drive out of 19 for a good lap time_ This year for the first time, the infield will be open for campers and cars. The hot set up is probably to pick a tum and park your camper overnight at the fence near it. The single disadvantage of Ontario is that it is so flat and hard to see. Having something down there to sit on (like a camper) would overcome the problem. Campers have to be in by 5 AM Sunday. Ontario Motor Speedway is located in Ontario, California (unfortunatdy, everyone seems to think that the only Ontario in the world is in Canada), right next to Interstate 10 on the North side_ This puts it about an hour or less east of (Jowntown Los Angeles. Gates open at eight every day and the schedule will be something like this. Friday will be used for practice all day. Admission will cost you two bucks. The 250 ",ces will be held on Saturday, September 29. The Novice race will be 76 miles long and the Junior-Expert Combined will be 120 miles long. Saturday admission will be four dollars_ Sunday's program will start with the 80 mile (cut from the original 120 miles) Junior event for big bikes. The Champion Spark Plug Motorcycle Classic will -be run Sunday afternoon and will again be two 125 mile segments. Points are awarded by position in each "moto" and the winner takes the most. You can buy a ticket to the garage area for rIVe dollars, and it will cost you the same to park in the infield. Sunday admission is six buclu ten if you want victory circle seats. Victory circle at Ontario is a I\ell of a good place to be. - The two most ferocious men on uphill. Yvon is ovent.. for the win. Rayborn is IlICking horsepower and luck. Teuvo Lansivuori is picked for sec:ond.