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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126060
I Jorgy claims Gardena Gold Cup ~ Novice Randy Mamola (127Z) zips on by, unaware of the painful fandango taking place right behind him. <, By Maureen Lee Photos by Dan Mahony GARDENA, CAL ., AUG. 6 Ron Woods had to be the happiest tuner in the world Friday nigh t as his ·Nortons finished one, two at the Gardena Gold Cup. The riders, Alex Jorgensen and John Hateley had served early notice of their intentions by both making the trophy dash, with J orgy setting fastest time of the night, 22.44. (Above 1 Alex Jorgenson (441 paired up with Ron Wood 's Norton to claim the Gold Cup. (Below) 'Ted Boody (84Y) and Mike Meyers (84R) created a little confusion and a lot of excitement in the Expert ranks. 8 There were two expert heats with Jorgensen in the first one. -As per usual he was out front, going straight and hard through the first tum while the rest of the pack shaggled around for position and traction behind. Walt Foster (Tri), pulling out aU stops, gotup to second with Mike Myers on his tail and then Allison right behind as the last direct transfer. Second heat it was Hateley 's turn to lead for a while 'with Jim Wright (Yam ) second. Right behind Jim was Ted Boody (H-D), a fast rising star, sponsored by Bart Markel. The lead changed hands several times, Boody finally took hold of it, Hateley finished second, with Wrigh t third. . Natura lly the novice heats had led off the evenings racing and Charlie Summers (Yam ) ran off with the first on e, after a re-start caused when Arthur Junker really got o ff hard in the north tum. Charlie was followed in by Mike Devlin (Yam) . Second he at looked like the start of the main since most of the top novices were in it. They were Eddie Lawson (Bul), Tim McWhorter, Don Grigsby and Dave Lujan all on Yamahas. It was Lawson off first, then McWhorter and Grigsby who nailed McWhorter for the second spot going down the straight. Fastest heat honors went to Mark Murray (Kaw) with a very fast 2:01.53 as he really drove hard to take the lead away from Don Bailey (Yam). . Road race star Randy MamolaI'Yam] won the fourth contest despite sparks arcing visibly across his engine's head on the starting line. The engine didn't malfunction and he blew off into the lead leaving Chris Paulson (Kaw) to take second away from Jeff Kerr (Yam) . The Junior Heats would take two to the main. Number two man in the point standings, Ted Davidson (Yam) won the first one with Scott Pearson (H-D) the second direct transfer. The second heat was spectacular. One rider literally lost a wheel and within split seconds it looked like three riders and their motorcycles were having a hay fight in the south tum as they all tumbled in to a big pile. Gordie Kidd (Yam), who had luckily been in th e lead when all the uproar started behind him , shot off to the front again, with Lowell Moural (Tri) right after him. Rich Warren (Yam ) reaUy had a drive going at th e end for Moural's transfer spot but couldn't quite get it . The last heat went to Randy Gibbs (Yam) with Randy Miller (Yam) second and current high point Junior Steve Fortune (Yam) third. In the Novice semi, it was Tim McWhorter from start to finish, followed in by Rick DeLacy. In the Junior go, Travis Petton (Yam ) became first alt ernate, lo sing the transfer spot to Kirk Tardiff (Yam ), whil e up front it was Rod Se xton leading them home. End of the first lap of the Expert semi it was John Gleason (Yam ), Paul Bostrum (H-D) , Bob Sanders and Dan McWhorter, on Yamahas, out front. McWhorter got by Bostrum to take over and hold second. Bostrum didn't lose third but Rob Morrison came on through past Sanders to take the transfer to the Gold Cup Main. After intermission there was a short presentation by the city of Gardena's Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the race. Each year they honor an outstanding local citizen. Past honorees have been J .C. Agajanian, Tom and Roxy Rockwood, and Don Hawley. This year the honor went to Max Zeigler, the owner of Ascot Park, who was there in person to accept his award. In the Trophy Dash Paul Bostrum replaced Hank Scott who had not lined \ for his heat. The line-up wasJorgensen, Hateley, Myers and Bostrum. Bostrum grabbed the lead momentarily but Jorgensen went right around the group