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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126065
An inchisas qood'as aSqracuse mile By Gary Van Voorhis SYRACUSE, N.Y., Sept. 12 "It was so clos e that I don't kn ow which of us won," commented Jay Springsteen, with a shrug of his shoulders, 'as he signed 'au ta graphs on slips of paper, programs and a ch ampagne bottle. Jay had been declared the winner of the Pepsi -Cola Syracuse Gold Cup mile and in doing so had taken over the AMA Grand National ' Champ io nsh ip /Cam el Pro Series points lead from Gary Scott (24 7-23 3) with Kenny Roberts in third (22 6). Only minutes earlier Harley-Davidson teammate Rex Beauchamp had. been wreathed in flowers and announced th e winner. Then, halfway through the ceremonies, it was anno unced that Jay had won (all this while Yamaha International rider Kenny Roberts took his third place bows).• Rex's smile quickly evaporated to be replaced by a protest on the scoring. "I might as well protest because I think I won. -Ir's that simple. " Beauchamp's protest was disallowed by Eastern Regional referee Charlie Watson leaving Rex 48 hours to appeal. Rex will decide on his action after seeing a movie film of the finish which is in his possession. Payoff for the top two spots , was riot made. Also disallowed was a protest by Gary Scott on rough riding by Kenny Roberts. Heats The 41 rider field was divided in to three heats of 10 riders each with the fourth heat running 11 of which four would transfer direct to the National with the semis sending two each to fill the 20 rider field. The first heat provided what would become commonplace during the rest of the day: super fast racing and enough lead swapping to boggle •the mind. Beauchamp, Roberts and Ted Boody engaged in a triple threat tangle with the race going righ t down to the wire. Beauchamp got the nod. Roberts was not happy. "Damn, 1 won that heat. I know I did. Anyway that ought to , shake up some people. I've got more traction than I know what to do with and the power to match it . I consistently got, better drives off the corners." Roberts did look damn good; better by far than Indy and he was no slouch there. Scott Drake took the last transfer inwhat was the fastestlO mile heat ever recorded. Until Jay Springsteen scorched the track with his Bill Werner tuned team Harley in heat two. Springer knocked two seconds off Rex's record (6: 0 7. 25 1) to lead start to finish while the pack shuffled behind. Keith Ulicki held second early until Steve Morehead came by. Billy Eves then displaced both on back straight slingshot passes on successive laps and closed the gap on Springer. The four finished in that order. A worn cam lobe gave Jay Ridgeway, on the Kennedy Triumph, a short ride. Enter heat three and a fantastic show by Harley's GregSassaman, Greg, caught in mid pack on lap one , set out foot by foot to reel in ' leaders Gary Scott and Randy Cleek after taking care of traffic the final heat on the second lap from This is the wh ole ballgame Sp ringst een and Beau cha mp at the finish line. Steve Droste and held it to the flag ; a chute pass and then held off Scott at feat that was not easy . Droste and the line for the win. Cleek took third Ricky Campbell stuck to Steve like glue with Bubba Rush moving to fourth, exiting turn four, at times three abreat, Steve Eklund took over the lead in This heat also went to nt~h~e~Wirf~~'~.1-~~~~~Har~l~ey- into the winner's circle ~ ~ Eklund on top by a slim ,ots of . Schaeffer on Corky hustle by the "Houst rnet," rniler in miler trim , Hurst, put him . and el-Ray Harley of National. eld off John nson took a nli Scott happle aeffer, lap Springsteen held the inside pole with Beauchamp, Eklund, Sassaman, Eves, Roberts, Droste and Scott on the front row. Morehead, . Boody, Campbell, Cleek, Ulicki, Drake, Hurst and Rush too k up the second grid line with Aksland, Romero, Doug Sehl and Bostrom in the rear. The 20 rider pack hit turn 'o n e and Springer emerged in front as the pack hit the ba ck chu te. The scramble was on. Droste sorted out for second with Eves , Scott , Roberts, Beauchamp , Morehead and Sassaman behind. Droste dropped back after slipping off the groove; Sassaman held position finding him self th e ' lead er of a fierce pack beh in d ; Springer had Eves on his rear wheel with Sco tt, Roberts, Beauchamp an d Morehead inc h es further back. Rob erts charged through on about the fifth lap to ta ke th e lead en teri ng turn three and just as q uic kly slid off the grove to return to sixth ; Gary Scott managed the same move and it cost him four places ; Beauchamp then swooped the lead from Springer. Behind the six pac k Sassaman had his hands full holdirig off (m o st of the time ) a group containing Romero, Cleek Droste, Ulicki and Aksland. Rush was in the pits with one lap to his credit; Eklund ended his ride in the hay bales of turn one; Hurst and Drake were slowing Four abreast with two behind, the thundering 12 wheel sextet exited turn four time and time again banging 'and bouncing, slipping and scooting; it was anybody's race. Beuchamp swooped the lead from Springer; Roberts took it over orr .alp 13; Morehead swooped through the pack to challenge; Eves wrestled with Gary Scott'; the blur of co lor and sound moved well ahead of the rest, of the field, Morehead took the lead on lap 17 with Springer and Beauchamp alongside as Roberts came up to tangle handlebars and Eves and Scott stayed righ t in the middle. Starter Mike Anthony did the quickstep, waving the white flag Morehead, Beauchamp, Springer and Roberts crossed the finish line in a dead heat. Beauchamp took the lead in turn one; held it through two; picked up a good drive for abou t five bike lengths and motioned those behind to come up to race; somebody ' ticked wheels and ,Mo reh ead , Eves and Scott went very close to the wall. "I caught his draft," said Springer, and pulled righ t up." There was silence except for ' the throb of engines when Springer and Rex, as one, rocketed from turn four with only inches separating them at over 100 mph. Side by side to the last foot they came; it was. too close to call. • as Results TROPHY RACE , 1. Mike Kldd (H-D). 2. 8 111 Schaeffer (H-O). 3. Phil McDonald (H-Dl' 4. M ike Eades (H-O). 5 . Steve Freman (H-C . 6. cnanes Chapple (H-O). 7. Mark Sm ith ( Yam). 8. Ed Ingram (H-O). 9 . Hanl< Scott (Yam). 10. John Johnson (H ·D). 11. Chuck Joyner. Winner's Time: 7 :27.088. Average MPH 96.625. PEPSI CO LA R SYRACUSE GOLD CUP, 1. Jay Springsteen (H-D). 2. Rex Beauchamp (H-O). Tr ophy Race Mike Kidd, riding his own bike until , San Jose where he will again .be aboard Mert Lawwill's machinery, put his in front. Sassaman caught Cleek on lap eight, rocketed by and closed on Scott, passed on the white flag lap with a back 3. Kennry Roberts (Yam) . 4 . Steve Morehea d \H-O ). 5 . Bill Eves (H-D). 6. G.uy Scott (H-D . 7. Greg Sassaman (H-D). 8. Gene Romero (H-D). 9 , Randy Cleek (H·D). 10. Keith Ullcki (H-D), 11, Steve Droste (H·D). 12. Ed Aksland (H-O). 13. Rickey campbell (H·D). 14. Ted Boody (H·D). 15. Doug seni (H-O). 16. Paul Bostrom (Ho O) . 17. Scott Drake (H-o). 19. carryl Hurst (Vam). 20. Steve Eklund (H-Dl. 21. Dave Rush (H-D). AMA GRAND NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Jay Springsteen 241 . 2. Gary Scott 231. 3. Kenny Roberts 223. - 7