Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

• 2 •. Campbell lined up ahead of the field and the flash of the green saw Goss hold the point position although he was' pressured by first Springsteen and then Kidd. Red flag n1,lmber two came 'out when Dave Parker became the second rider to jump off in tum three on the seventh lap. Goss held his lead' again when yet a'Dother single-file start was flashed off, again pressured by Kidd, Springsteen and Campbell. On the final lap Goss and Kidd br.oke away from Springsteen and Campbell and the latter two had the crowd screaming as they exited turn four side-by-side. At the line it was KK Motorcycle Supply/Smitty's H·D/ Fergy-sponsored Campbell edging out Springer for the third and final transfer spot. Springsteen, fighting for National points, was semi-final bound as was fourth place finisher Ricky Hocking and trailing riders. Semis 1 As usual, the semis were real fireworks shows. Providing the sparks in the first semi were Skip Aksland, Terry Poovey, Scott Pearson, Billy Labrie, Gene Romero and Gary Scott. Aksland and Poovey finished onetwo after a race long battle that saw them side-by-side on every lap. Behind thb a four-man fight between Buschsponsored Romero, Mother Fletcher's H·D of Largo, Florida-sponsored Labrie, KK Motorcycle Supply/Jack Sisemore Traveland-sponsored Gary Scott and H-D-sponsored Pearson was conducted in a similar side- by-side manner, and they finished in that order. Semi number two was Jay Springsteen's last chance to get into' the National and he rode a furious race, dicing with Lance Jones and Bubba Rush in the early laps and then pulling off a do-or-die move through turns 5-4 on the last lap to nip Rick Hocking for second and a ticket to the National. While Springer was hustling to m'ake the National, 1977 Cycle News/ East Rider of the Year Lance Jones ignored the points-minded National Champ and pulled off the win. TrophyRace .If the semi events were fireworks shows, the 12·lap consolation race was a world war. Rick Hocking, Scott Pearson, Gene Romero and Billy Labrie finished in that order, but any one of the quartet could have been the winner. The closeness of their racing had race watchers shaking their heads in wonderment. Reflecting the intensity of the race was the "expletive deleted" remark from Gene Romero when he pulled his helmet off - only to follow that with an ear-to-ear grin. He knew he had been in one helluva race. veter~n National Scott Parker took his pole position next to the grandstand wall and was joined on the front row by Eklund, Goss, Brow, Hank Scott and Keener. Second row occupants were Kidd, Mitchell, Boody, Morehead, Campbell and Duma, with Aksland, Jones, Poovey and Springsteen making up the third row of the 16-rider grid. Randy Goss and his Larry Johnsonprepared XR led the field around on the first through eighth laps with Parker, Kidd and Keener breathing down his back every inch of the way. Goss slipped off his line in turn one, and Parker took over the point position. The track was developing a narrow groove in turns 1-2 and an even narrower one in turns 3-4. Riders were changing their lines on every lap, alternating between a 'low "hang the bars over the guardrail" line to a "run up against the haybales" line. (Above) Winston Pro pointllleeder Steve Eklund (11) finished fourth, enjoys a 44-polnt lead over Springsteen and Goaa. (Below) Skip Aakland'(27), Hank ~ott (14) and Jay Springsteen (1) finished eighth through tenth. While Parker, Goss, Keener and Kidd were battling as a group, so were Morehead, Brow and Eklund. Positions shuffled at every point on the tr"ck for the first 20 laps at which point the order read Parker, Kidd (in a near dead heat at the line), Morehead, Goss, Eklund, Brow and Keener. The final five laps saw the trio of Kidd, Parker and Morehead riding as one while behind them the battle for fourth shaped up between Goss and Eklund. The run for the money down the front straight on the final lap saw the edge going to Texan Mike Kidd. He thrust his left fist into the air as he crossed the line with Parker's front wheel even with Kidd's rear wheel, and Morehead right behind. Missed by many in the excitement of the finish was Goss' nipping of Eklund at the line for fourth. A jubilant Kidd endured a champagne soaking by Parker and exclaimed, "This is the big one. The Indy Mile. When Storme Winters (Kidd's tuner) and I got together last year, we talked about winning an Indy Mile. We've had our problems this year, but we pulled off a win we wanted. The track was great. I rode mainly down low by the guardrail and I remember at one point looking up and seeing Corky (Keener) running up by the haybales. He and the others eventually came down, but we could ride anywhere. A great track and a great race - wow! Let me thank the Army, Harley,Davidson, Jardine, Fury, MXL and a new sponsor - TC Fast Gas." Runner-up Scott Parker, who returns to high school this Wednesday, said, "I like being in the winner's circle. It was a great race. It doesn't matter how old you are, those guys don't give you a breu." "I thought I was in a good seat coming down to the end of the race," said third place finisher Steve Morehead. "I ran a high line to get it working early in the race. I'm glad to be up here and I want to thank my tuner Steve Storz. We've had some problems this year, but I think we have it all hooked up now. " The track that all com'petitors praised, allowed for a new Indy Mile National record for the main event, which was run just under a 98 mph ai/erage. An even better indication of the quality of the surface was provided by a glance at the first three finishers' tires. They appeared to have enough tread left to go through another 25-lap race. Whi·!e. Steve Eklund picked up another five points on Springsteen and Goss, Springer didn't aPBeared bothered by the situation. He appeared in the Aksland/Lawwill pit area to shake Skip Aksland's hand in an indication of the super race those· two and Hank Scott had conducted in the latter stages of the main event. Former Grand National Champion Lawwill looked at Springer and Aksland, shook his head and said, "You guys are nuts'" Cool - for this time of the year temperatures had provided a virtually attrition-free meet with the only retiree int he National being rookie Expert Tommy Duma. "I was way over-geared, and I pulled out rather than blow it up. See you in Syracuse," said Duma. And the Syracuse Mile is the next .stop on the Winston Pro Series rolling thunder show - a do·or·die race for Springsteen if he hopes to retain his crown. "There's 80 points to be won over the last four races," said Springsteen. "Don't count me out yet." • Results NATIONAl: 1. Mike Kidd (H-D); 2. Scan Perker 1HD); 3. SIeve MorehMd (H-D); 4. Randy Goos (H-D); 5. Stelle Eklund (H-D); 6. Gorth Brow (H-DI; 7. Corky K _ IH-D); 8. Skip Akslend IH-D); 9. Hank Scan (HD); 10. Jey Spt'ingoleen 1H-D); 11. Ted Boody IH-D); 12. Terry Poovey (H-D); 13. Rickey Campbell (H-DI; 14. Jockie Mitchell IH-S); 15. lence Jones IH-D); 16. Tommy Dume (H-D). TIME: 15 min., 52 sec. TROPHY RACE: 1. Rick Hocking IH-D); 2. 'Scott Peerson IH-D); 3. Gene Romero (H-D); 4. 8my Labrie IH· 01; 5. Billy Schaeffer IH-D); 6. Gory Scott IH-D); 7. SIeve Powell (H-D); 8. SIeve Fr..."., IH-DI; 9. Bred Hurst IHD); 10. Ken McDoneld IH-D). TIME: 7 min., 43.84 sec. AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPI WINSTON PRO SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1. SIeve Eklund (239); 2. lTIE) Joy Spt'i~Randy Goos 1195): 4. Gory Scott (130); 5. Mike Kidd 1121); 6. Rick Hocking (1181; 7. Honk Scott 1116); 8. SIeve MorehMd 199); 9. Scott Perker 196); 10. Gorth Brow 1901; 11. Corky Keener 182); 12. Skip AkeIend (79); 13. Scan "-son 177); 14. Ricky Grehem (64); 15. Ted Boody (801; 16. Mickey Fey (56); 17. Terrv Poovey (47); 18. Bilty Labrie 141); 19. Bred Hurst 135); 20. Gene Romero (32) 9

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