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/126422
it appeared that Poovey. Kidd and Crabbe would finish 1-2-3. Lap eight saw Kidd charge up to Poovey, and the Texans en'tered turn three side-by·side. Kidd took the lead for good on lap nine as Poovey slowed to a crawl due to his gas tank coming loose which pulled the fuel lines out of the bike's carbs. Poovey coasred across the line in· sixth place, semi-bound. while Kidd. Crabbe and Scott Drake, who had worked his way up from sixth in the early laps, were National bound. The third heat earned the tag "rolling thunder" when Michiganites Springsteen and Parker, and former Michigan resident Corky "Mr. Dirt" Keener got down to some serious racing. Keener slipped back from'the duel on the sixth lap and after swapping the lead several times the high-riding Springsteen and Parker ~ finished in that order. The fourth and final 10-lap heat race turned into another battle but only in the final laps. Rookie Expert Tommy Duma basked up his fourth fastest qualifying time by leading all but the most important lap. Randy Goss led the checkered flag lap after closing on Duma on the eighth lap. Behind the Goes/Duma dice Californian Skip Aksland and Texan Bubba Rush carried their fight for third down to the wire. It was PJl·sponsored Altsland nipping Edwards Motor Co.lJemco/ Lee Rush-sponsored Rush for the National advancement spot. Semis Terry Poovey returned to the race track intent on showing that his nearmiss win in the second heat wasn't his fault. With his brother, former racer Teddy Poovey, and bis mechanic Tex Peel cheering him on. Pooh Bear Ie every lap and a spot in the National was his. Behind him it was a different story as H·D West-sponsored Scott Pearson aboard his Bubba PattIDan prepared XR ran second on every lap but the one that counts. Taking the checkered flag in second and advancing to the National was KK Motorcycle Supply/Smitty's H-Dsponsored Rickey Campbell. riding ,the Edgar "Fergie" Fuhr prepared ,xR. Campbell had "warmed up" for DuQuoin by winning the recent Syracuse Regional Championship Mile. The second semi was a "fireworks" race as Kentuckian Dewayne Howton. Bubba Rush and Ronnie Jones hooked up in a mid-race three-man battle. Each led at least a lap, but it was privateer Howton taking the win and Texan Bubba Rush the runnerup and final National advancement rider. Howton's crew had stood on the side· lines during this heat race and quickly noticed that he wasn't fully "tucking in" down the straights. He tucked in a lot more in the semi and a spot in the National was his. National With threatening black clouds - rolling into the area, referee Duke Olliges gridded the National ahead of the Trophy Race. The sun-blocking clouds brought a welcome respite from what had been blistering temperatures and also provided an eye-plealiing respite for the riders, most of whom were using darkly tinted face shields. Fast heat winner Steve Morehead led the 16-rider field around on the fint circuit, but unlike most of the races that had preceded it, this race was not a one·man affair. In fact, for the first eight laps it was anyone's race. Morehead led lap one, Parker led lap two, Morehead lap three, Parker lap four, Morehead lap five. Kidd.laps six-seven-eight and then it was Parker, Parker. Parker. Parker - all the way. While Parker, Morehead and Kidd were taking turns leading, CorkJlKeener.'was always ight there, and when Parker broke away on lap nine, Keener pulled out of the Kidd/Morehead/Keener dice to occupy second alone. The race continued to be a Parke.rfim. Keener-second affair from lap 10 through lap 18. But on the next goaround Morehead and Springsteen. who had gotten by Kidd and hooked up with Morehead on the 14th lap, sandwiched Keener and two laps later had dropped Mr. Dirt to fourth_ The winner's circle cast was set - Parker, Morehead and Springer. Keener's fourth turned into a fifth as Hank Scott passed him going into the fint turn after receiving the "one lap to go" white flag. Keener's bike . had all but called it a day, and Corky coasted across the line just ahead of sixth place finisher Steve Eklund. Rounding out the top 10 were Mike Kidd. Skip Aksland, Tommy Duma and WiUie Crabbe. Ignoring the (act that he isn't old enough to consume aIcohol.ic beverages. Parker took a swig of champagne after spraying everyone in the winner's circle. "I almost got off four laps from the end. I really scared myself." said Parker, who had just become the youngest rider to ever win a Grand National Championship race. With a happy crew gathered around him, he thanked his sponson Klou/ Wiseco and tuner Rick Toldo and with the quiet urgings of a crew member who in just about a whisper said, "Don't forget Larry," Parker chimed in with "Right! Larry Shafer built us an engine for this race. Thanks. Larry." Shafer. who finished seventh in the 1964 Grand National Championship point standings, said. "I built it, but he rode it. Boy, did he ride it!" (Top) Jay Springsteen (1) and Moreh8ad took their battle over second to the wire. with Morehead taking It. IAbove) Morehead leads Hank Scott In a heat race.IBelow) Terry Poovey and Mike Kidd battle. Trophy Race With most of the crowd already long-gone. the Trophy Race gridded in an almost "who cares?" atmosephere, but those who didn't see it missed one of the best races of 'the year. Rookie Expert Charles Roberts, who took over Rick Hocking's Southern Nevada H·D/Chris Armstrongsponsored XR after Hocking failed to post, scored the win in a race that could have gone to anyone of five riden. Of those five, Steve Freeman the eventual runnerup. appeared to have the best shot at it. But Ronnie Jones, SCOtt Pearson and Kenny McDonald added spark to the abbreviated - due to a sprinkle of rain - 10-lap race. • Results NATIONAL: 1. Scan Park., (H-DI; 2. Steve Morehe/Jd I~DI; 3. Jay Spri~ IH-O); 4. Hank Scan (H-O); 5. Corky K _ IH-D); 6. Steve Eklund IH· D}; 7. Mike Kidd IH-DI; 8. Skip Akslend (H-O); 9. Tommy Duma IH·DI; 10. Willia Crabbe (H·DI; 11. Te<'y Poovey IH-DI; 12. Bubba Rush (H-DI; 13. Dewayne Howton IH·DI; 14. Scott Drake IH-Ol; 15. Randy Goss IH-O); 16. Rickey CampbellIH-OI. TIME: 15 min., 37.66 sec. TROPHY RACE: 1. Clwleo Robefta IH-O); 2. Steve Fr-...n (H-Ol; 3. Ronnie Jones IH-DI; 4. Scan "-eon (H-DI; 5. Kenny McDonald (H-Ol: 6. Steve Dallenfald (HOI; 7. Steve Lewis (H-Dl; 8. Steve Powell (H-DI; 9. Ron Edgens 1H-01; 10. Ron England. AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPI WINSTON PRO SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Steve Eklund 1170); 2. Randy GoA (1361; 3. Jay Springsleetl 11281; 4. Gary Scon 199); 5. Mike Kidd (75); 6. Rick Hocking (741; 7. Skip AksIend 1721; 8. Hank Scon (89); 9. Garth Brow (661; 10. Corky Keener 1651; 11. Steve Mor_ 163); 12. Scan Parker 160); 13. Ricky Graham 1481; 14. Ted Boody (4n; 15. Scan Peerson 14n; 16. Mickey Fey 143); 17. Getie Romero 1321; 18. Dale Singleton 131); 19. a.ed Hurst (29); 20. Rich Schlachter an. 9