Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Going for it. In the scramble to be first in t o tum one of the National . Jay Springsteen (25) found his hole and drove. were deciding who would be fourth in a tight swap and swap again race. Ridgeway finally took the nod. Semis When there's only one ticket to the National and 12 riders sitting on the line looking for it, you know the racing is bound to be close. Billy Kennedy p u t a holeshot on the field at the start of semi o ne, slid o ut in tu rn one an d p ulled an o th er holeshot o n the field when the race was re-started after the re d fl ag. Chuck Palmgren moved quickly to take over the lead with Randy Cleek close behind. Palmgren used a ll his tricks to keep the lead, bu t he appeared to be unable to get traction in turns three-four, This is where Cleek closed and fmally passed Chuck for the win . Jay "Underdog" Ridgeway gave all the underdogs in the crowd something to cheer about as he buzzed his Triumph into the lead of the last semi with four laps to go and held on for the win leavin g early leader Mike Eades to ponder his chances in the Trophy Race. the turn it was Springer with Kenny Roberts hooked on followed by Morehead, Doug Sehl and a large bunch of wheel to wheelers. The sorting out began on the fourth lap with the leading quartet maintaining position followed by Jim Zeigler, Boody, Gary Scott, Lawwill, Eves, Keen er, Rader, Dave Sehl and Cleek. Jay Ridgeway was spectating from the tu m fo ur rail after m oving fro m last to six th in two lap s only to have the bike go ou t from u n der hi m exiting tum fo u r when he ap plied a little too much gas. Doug Sehl bumped Morehead for third on the fifth lap and began to set sight on the leaders as Keener was picking his way through the field. ("1 made most of m y time in the first turn. I had a good line ; better than anyone else 's .") Boody pressured Morehead, as Eves moved past Scott into sixth with the rest of the field strung out. Springsteen and Roberts kept up their pace until the halfway flags when Springer began to occasionally slip off the groove in three-four, In one such move Roberts closed t he gap by te n bike lengths and began to really p ut the pressure on. Sehl dropped out with magneto problems on lap 11, moving Morehead back into third. R o be r ts began to creep ever closer making up a foot here and a foot there. He picked up a good drive au t of tum four on lap 16 a nd eased his way alongside Springer, barely holding the lead until the pair re ached tum three on the next lap where Springer took over for good. although one slip, with Roberts so close, would have cost the race. Keener worked his m agic on Boody fo r fo urth after dispatch ing Clee k , Scott an d Eves one by o ne with m eth odical precision. Springer settled in to a pattern of giving not an inch for the final three laps, leading Roberts by abou t half a dozen bike le ngths to the checkers with Morehead, Keener, Boody, Eves and Gary Scott rolling in behind. There was pandemonium when Springer took the checkers as tuner Bill Werner let out a whoop , hugged everyone in sight , slammed his hat onto the track and then danced his way to victory lane to be the first to congratulate his rider. • Keener setting up Gary Scott in h is come-from behind march. Results 2Q- LAP N ATIONAL: 1. Jay Spr ingsteen ( H·D ). 2 . K en Roberts ( Y am ). 3. Ste ve M o r e h ead (H-O ). 4. Corkey Kee ner (H-D ). 5 . Ted BoodY (H· D). 6. Bill E ves (H-D). 7 . Gary Seott (H-D ). 8. RandY Cleek (H- D). 9 . Da ve Sohl (H-D). 10. J im Ze'gler (H -D). 11. Mert Lawwill (H-D). 12. Scott Rader (H oD!" 13. Doug $ehl (H-O). 14. Jay Ridgeway (Tr l • T ime: 9 .06.028. 12·LAP EXPERT TROPHY RACE, 1. Steve Freeman (H-o). 2. Mike Eades (H-O). 3 . ,£:huCk Palmg ren (H-O). 4 . Steve Droste (HoO). 5 . Han k Scott (HoD) . 6 . R ic k ey Campbell (H-O) . 7. Del Arm ou r ( H -O) . 8 . Lar ry Z u m bru n ( ...... 0). 9. K ei t h Uli ckl ( ...... 0). 10. Charl ie Chapple ( H -D) . Time: 5 .34. 368 7

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