Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Spencer checks off another sensational Lightweight • win By Bobi McGann Photo by Dale Brown SONOMA, CA,JULY 15 Freddie Spencer staged a repeat performance of his Loudon Expert Lightweight win as he rocketed the Howard Racing/ Arai Helmets sponsored, Erv Kanemoto tuned Yamaha into the winner's circle for the third time this year. Eddie Lawson, the 1978 Dirt Track Rookie of tht, Year, was Spencer's closeSt threat on the Ted Dann sponsored/ Matt Owens tuned Yamaha. Lawson, who's been successfully contesting local AFM club racing at Sears Point, .. used every available line on the track to get around the young Cajun - 'but nothing worked. Northern Californian Gennady Luibimsky, also familiar with the difficult Sears Point circuit through club racing, put his Harry Hunt Racing Products Yamaha into drird after a lengthy battle with Mark Homchick and David G"routte. Add three, take away nine, and the total came up to only 17 riders on the grid for the start of the 250cc Expert beat race. Injuries and mechanical problems had narrowed down the already slim lightweight field, but . Spencer rode it out as if he were qualifying for the pole position for the 750cc National. In fact, Spencer's winning heat race time of 9.06.71 was almost as fast as the first 750cc Expert heat which Aksland had turned in 9.06.24. Eddie Lawson was 15th off the line but charged up to second place before the first lap had been completed, where he remained for the ilurat(on. Luibimsky held down third lhroughout the heat but had to tum on the gas during the last, three laps in order to bold off Mark Homchick. Dave Garoutte on the DKG Frames Yamaha was futh and the front row was set for the Lightweight rmal. Lawson, Homchick and Spencer shot off the line in one-two-three formation at the start of the Lightweight Final. Lawson looked surprisingly comfortable during his short lead but SpenceI' didn't waste any time in setting up for the kill. By the third lap, the tables had turned, and Freddie was out front, in usual form, turning it on and waving goodbye at the same time. On the sixth lap the order' was Spencer, Lawson, Luibimsky, Homchick and Rudy Gafindo. Galindo had inherited fifth, courtesy of Dave Garoutte who. had just gone aown in turn seven. It was later reported that Garoutte had sustained a broken wrist during his fall. I From lap seven on, positions remained the same down to seventh place for the rest of the race. The only changes in pcisition that occurred was between seventh place Bruce Maus on the Ed's Service Y!lmaha. and eighth place David Bearden on a Yamaha from Harker Hts., Texas. On the last lap they swapped, and Be~rden took the finish flag ahead of Maus. Spencer said later that he had no problems outside of the fact' that, "Everybody's fast. It's always hard work. I had a little trouble getting the rubber to stay down right off the line." Lawson's only problem was, "The tire went away - other than that I had a good time." The shortened Lightweight Final, held immediately after the Novice Final, didn't allow Spencer a chance to taste the fruits of victory. Freddy didn't get any champagne - he had to get ready for the Superbike Final. No rest for the wicked, so "they" say. And "they're" right. Spencer has been wicked on every road race track so far this year. • Results ,. Freddie Sc>onco< (Yoml; 2. Eddie !.-.on !Y"",I; 3. Gonnady Liubimol !Yom); 9. Ron Wdlioms IYom); 10. AIon Wn !Yom~ 11. WoIIilIm Brinkerhoff !Yom); 12. Wdliem MuSins !Yom): 13. Jeff Allioon !Yam); 14. Mart< ~. !YarnI: 15. Robert Rcbens !Yam). Lougee and the lady take close Sidecar • win By Dale Brown SONOMA, CA,jULY 15 An exciting battle for the lead went down to the flag in the Sidecar final, with Wayne Lougee (Top) EM Lawson leads Freddie Spencer early in the Ughtweight fineI. .. (Above) John Glover (190) hole.hots the Novice fleld.ISelow) DrIver Weyne Lougee (2) end pasenger carter Alsop won the Sidecer event. 'and passenger Carter Alsop holding on to win by five feet over the rig of Larry Coleman and Mark Bevans. It had been a four-stroke versus twostroke battle as the Kawasaki-powered chair of Lougee/Alsop had jumped into the lead early only to have their lead taken away by the TZ750 Yamaha-powered Coleman/Bevans machine for a few laps midway through the race. Lougee and Alsop, winners of the heat race, started on the pole and jumped into a quick lead. They were followed by the machines of Kurt Kritikos/Peter Essaff and Vance Bre~/john Morris. Coleman and Andrews were fourth at the completion of one lap and then in second by lap three after passing Breese/Morris and 'seeing the retirement of Kritikos and Essaff. Lougee and Alsop built a healthy lead in the early going, with Lougee manhandling the chair through the hilly parts of the course in such a manner that the track's announcers were nearly going crazy trying to describe it. Carter was hanging on, though she said later that she nearly fell off once in tum two. "You should see the bruises r have," she remarked at the finish. However, once they were in second, Coleman and Bevans started reeling in the leaders in a hurry, and they took over the lead on the fifth lap. Behind the two (four?) leaders, the Kawasaki·powered chair of Bill Davidson and Pat Dunn had taken 'over third. Breese and Morris were out due to a sputtering motor. Coleman and Bevans stayed in the lead for two laps, until Lougee and Alsop-caught them.between turns two and three. From there to the fmish, it was extremely close but Lougee and Alsop held on to win. Finishing fourth was the Cana4ian team of Roy Richard and David McKenna on their Yamaha-powered outfit. Fifth went to Doug Rowe and jim Huber (Suz) while Canadians Ian Fillery and Stephen Quinn (Kaw) took sixth in a near dead heat with Gary Allison and Frank Lindbutcher. • Results 1. W_ l.ougee/e- Aloop (KIwi; 2. Larry CoIemanlMark Bevans !Yaml; 3. Bill OovidoonIPet Dunn IKlwI: 4. Roy Richa'dsIDevid McKenna (~: 5. Doug Huber lSuzl. TIME: 16.47.99. _Jim AVG. SPEED: 71.43 mph. ., 11

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