Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

(Advertisement) "Shotgu'n Showdown" Slated for Finals Hannah-Tripes-Bell-Ellis Quaker State 011 Posts $3,000 Winner-Take-All Showdown Race Spectators at the COCA-COLA Bottlers Motocross Finals at A na hei Sta dirum on S.atu r d ay. elm November Ll th, are In for a special treat. Quaker State Oil has announced they are spen- soring a special six-lap race between only the overall winners of 1978 Supercross Series events . The race, called the "Shot~n Showdown" will be held immediately following the Finals at Anaheim, the last of this year's $400.000 Series . di r he Td hi 'l Wh lecreltlorteleaof tIS crowd-pleasing event should be given to Michael Goodwin. president of Stadium Motorsports and founder of stadium motocross racing, a spokesman at Quaker State Oil remarked. "When Goodwin approached us with the showdown concept we immediately realized the interest and benefit to race fans such an event would create and things moved very quickly after that. " The "things" referred to by the spokesman were numerous and varied, ranging from calls to the riders themselves, their team managers and factory representatives , to the incredibly involved logistics of settin~ up the track so soon after the Finals and coordinating the split -second timing necessary to stage another race in an event that already demands D·Day scheduling that must be expertly placed to allow the professional presentation demanded by Goodwin's organization. THE RACE AND THE PURSE aJSo required considerable thought, i.e, how long and how much. "I've always heard both sides of the story," says GOOOwin, "from the riders. and from the fans" (Ed note: It might be noted here that after every race presented by SMS. the Superbowl, etc ., Goodwin, his staff and a profressional marketing firm make hundreds of calls to attendees and ask their opinions and suggestions. They also pour hours into VTR instant ' replays to analyze the riders, track and fan reaction.] "The stadium courses are by necessity very tight and with so many racers on the track at any given time, even the best riders can get tied up in traffic and complain that t!tey could do better in a smaller field ," Goodwin smiled as he added. "I'm sure they're right, but I have two other considerarions that are of equal importance, the fam and upcoming races. We know from our experience and research that the ma~rity of fans like the spine- tingling excitement of a crowded field and there's also no other way for newcomers to gain a reputation or for the struggling privateers to earn a seat on the factory team," Never known as a man to miss an opportunity to expand the already gladiator-like aura of his events, 'Goodwin continued with a grin, "This way we hope to satisfy everyonel First we'll have 80 of the world's best racers, eliminating to a 25·rider field and ~dien follow it up with the most incredible macho head -to-head showdown race in stadium motocross history. Just think of it , this year's champions. the top four , and maybe five. if someone else wim the Finals, in a spectacular 6·lap dash, (Ed note: That's only about six minutes) for a S~OO per lap, S3,O?O purse and . it's wlnner.talt~.alll This reporter thinks he may be nght. THE RACEllS IN THE "SHOT. GUN SHOWDOWN" will be selected in the only manner that could not ~. bly ~ any ~plaints of favon~ . Very sunply, In order to .c0.mpet~ In the showdown, the qua1Jfyi?g nd~r must have w~n one of this yea~ s Supercr~ss Series events. or as a plus m Hanna.h s ~ase, taken ~he overall ch:,mpI~ns~l1P of the Series through pomt winnings.. Only four riders have met ' those The world'. top Stadium ride... ere ...tad for the S_hotgun Showdown following Nov. 11th Coc:e Cole Motocrou F1ne1s 8t Anehelm Stadium. qualifications and clinched a position in the showdown, "Hurricane" Bob Hannah, "Typhoon" Marty Tripes, "Mighty Mike" Bell and Jimmy "Capt. Cobalt" Ellis. This doesn't mean, however , that a fifth racer won't be entered on the night of November 11th. The COCA·COLA Motocross Finals. as the name applies, is the last race this year in the Series and a new winner may eme~. If so, that man will join the iIlustnow company above and become the fifth racer 'to enter what is expected to be one of the most exciting spectator events ever offered in motocross racing. ~---------------------------------------------------. . " , .., -- SCOTT IN N 'OU T B URGER -----------------------------------------I annot ••tend this nent. but pie. . indude me in tIM next IPenti ua.t m"'ing. NO. TICKf:TS spo....... Level Cocktail Club L.v.1 0 AMOUNT S2S V.I,P. R......ed. Field Level ed. Field. L_r & T......,. Levell R . --" ..... S15 S12 R d. Upper L.v.1 SIS S9 Chlld,.n uncler 10 (e.cept Cocktail L.vel) 'h price S .SO H."d1inll Cha'lle' Total Amount endosed elt handling charge il not Inc:lud&d. Ilcketl will be held at Win Call WindoW. NAME ~AGL_JHONE ADDRESS, CITy NO. , _ APT. NO. ... TATE S _ --.J,.ZIP, _ "-lASE S IE ND UL'-ADOAUSfO ENVELOPE AND YO UR CHECK TO AfCllVE TtCKns • IN"OAtUTION. MAI(IE CHECK S PAV••Lf: TO: COC ...· COL... BOTTlERS MOTOCROSS FINA LS. P.O. 80X 1523. LAGUNA BlEACH. CA . 92tS 2. PLEASE CH AR GE MV TICKETS Mol"., Ch.rQl' ~J [ ll p" oIlion Dltle _ _ 0 Ace f No , _ VISA ::J L~~-,....:=--=======J &.-k~lc ... d 3

• Cover