Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126069
Rick Woods U. S. National Speedway Champion -1968, 1970-1972. Woods . had already retired from Speedway competition ' once. At the close of the 1973 season, he moved to Mammoth Mountain and turned his talen ts to racing snowmobiles. In 1974 he returned to his Huntington Beach home and after watching a few events from the outside decided to give it another go. His many fans welcomed his return heartily. Captain of the Orange County Eagles, Woods feels happy with his showing of the past season and especially likes the team co n cep t of racing. Four years ago Woods was the superstar of American Speedway. A lot of people still regard him as the most most "stylish" Speedway racer the United States has produced since the sports re-birth in 1968. Larry Shaw Mark Cherry Captain of the San Bernardino Sizzlers, Larry Shaw is a multi-talented Speedway veteran. He's a professional durmmer and quite a musician as well. " Ligh ten in g Larry" can also play the tenor saxophone, piano, trumpet and guitar -when he .finds the time. He's even thinking of taking on an offer to race a midget car. This will be his seventh National co m pet it io n . He's been in the top five.five times , an d finished third twice . An off-track accident put him out of ac t io n for four wee ks this season an d by the time he returned to the circuit, he had dropped o u t of the top ten. He was the second highest scorer in qual ifying rounds, easily making up for lost time. He'll be riding to win every match he's in at the final. This wiIl be 22 ·year""ld Cherry's second National appearance, the only San Berdoo Sizzler to automatically qualify for the final, After what happened last year, it's a big relief for Mark. A special fin al match determiner _was held last year to break up a three way tie for the 15th and 16th spots. Cherry just made it by the skin of this teeth, co ming in second. This ye ar he was tenth and the hassle of last minute do or die wasn't missed at all. Cherry spent six weeks earlier this year racing Speedway in England, but p acked it in after too many me chanical failures and made it home in time for the SoCal season. He wants another shot at Europe eventually, but with George Wem, providing his maj or wrenching stateside, it's cert ainly easier here at home. Jim Fishback "Animal Cra ckers " is the biggest man in the lin e up and doesn't move o ver for anyone. His first go for the title co st the Coliseum three broken seats and gave the fans one spectacular show. A former AMA District 3 7 Number One 250cc desert rider, Fishback still co mpetes in a vari ed assort m en t of races outside of Speedway, and he still wins th em, too . A broken ankle put him out of action for four we eks and edge him out of t he top 10 points ra ce. He barely qualified for the National event. Jim owns h is own equipment and his family lends both moral and sponsor support. Right now Jim is trying to induct ano t her of his off-road racing buddies onto the Speedway oval. Larry Roeseler might be come the next new face on the scene if Fishback talks quick enough. Sonny Nutter 34 It's a wonder the American Dairymen's Association don't have him making milk co mmercials, or some toothpaste co mpan y hasn 't grabbed him off the track - but lucky for Speedway fans , Sonny Nutter is still around. Captain of the Ventura Shakrs, Sonny's very proud that four of his team members will go ~nto the Nationals. After poor showing In the first two qualifying rounds, Sonny came on strong in the third and started putting his act together. His fans breathed a big sigh of relief when "Mr. Charisma" stacked up enough points to make the final. Sonny's shop, Speedway Only, in Santa Monica, has se rved as a gathering places for a lot of young racers. Bobby Schwartz has worked for him in the shop for three years. Sonny enjoys winning every bit as much as anyone else, but his main objective is to be an asset to the sport. Randy Marsh Actually this is Randy 's first try for the National title althou gh he wa s ready and willing to go for it last year. lie was sec on d reserve rider in 1975 a nd ended up with very red ears from taking his helmet on and off during the bizarre accidents in the Coliseum . He was drafted this year by the Ventura Sharks and chalked up his first full season o f scratch racing, He 's been riding since he turned nine and he now o wns two speedway bikes and a cou ple of dirt bikes. Randy picked up the speedway bu g at the Ventura Fairgrounds. After watching the races for one season , he de cided to try it himself. Off the track Randy spends a lot of time in the water, surfing and water skiing. He co mb ines a lot of natural ab ility with his own style. He's come a long way sin ce last year and wo-n 't have to worr y about red ears this time. Scott Sivadge Lat year Scott rode for Sonny Nutter and spent much of his time working at the "Speedway Only" Shop. This year Scott has his own equipmen t and does most of the wrenching at his home, He's had a lo t of mechanical problems this season, but things have been looking up recently . Scott was one of the favorites in the 1975 final andTeels there may have been too much pressure on him to make a good showing. This year co uld tum out to be quite different, even though he bare ly made the final, qualifying in a tie for the final two spots. Scott owned his first motorcycle at 13 years, st arted ra cing at 15 and went from Novice to sixth ranked Expert in District 37 Flattrack and IT events. In his first Speedway se ason, he was recognized as rookie o f the year. This year hasn't bee n eas y. but Sivadge is ca pa ble of a gra nd slam upset.