Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

,Coda )l_ - San Bernardino - AMot - Ve ntura - Sacra.ento - Napa - Cona)l_ - San Bernardino - ~t - Ven tura::' ~. .e;'io ~ N ap SPEEDWAY WEEK Dennis Robinson and Eddie Ingels practice at Sacra mento's Cal Expo, Mike Bast and Dennis Sigalos shortly before their match race at Ascot. Speedway returns to Cal Expo. On July 24. yet another former Junior, Andy Gilbertson , will reach the magic age, enabling ' him to ride the surprise he recieved du ring intermission at Cal Expo on his Birthday last year l It 's been a long wait , Yes, Juniors are an important part of Speedway in Sacramento. The 1980 Northern California Season expands as rider-promoter Dennis "Choo Choo" Robinson opens for an eight week run at the Fairgrounds in Napa , CA , on Saturday June 7. By J ann Houston SACRAMENTO, CA , MAY 50 An enthusiastic crowd , the largest in recent years , braved unsea sonable cold weather to cheer the opening of the 1980 Speedway 38· • season in Sacramento. Excitement filled the air as riders and fans alike welcomed the relocation of Speedway to the original Cal Expo facility where Class "A" Speedway began in Sacramento in 1971. Better lighting, better facilities and to quote several riders , "a bitchin' track ," added to the enjoy ment. Ron Day retired his racing leathers and put on the black and white stripes of referee. Judging by the efficient way he handled the race, he recieved excellent instruction from Irwin Moon in Costa Mesa earlier this season. Together with starter Ron Mc Gill, another racer turned official , they are a winning team, utilizing their knowledge and past experience in Class "A" Speedway to full advantage. The evening began on a somewhat somber note as announcer Don Jordan dedicated the race to the memory of " Rollin' Rich " Mac Murray who died in a private plane crash in Reno, NV , on February 15. A moment of silence was observed preceding the National Anthem and then, to quote Jordan, "Now, let's get this race going; let's do it for Riehl " That's exactly what "Flyin' Mike" Faria, northern California's number one, did in the Scratch Main. He jumped out in front from the number three position on turn one and comfortably retained his lead threatened only on the final lap, turn four, as "Do It" Duane Yarrow closed in on the outside followed by Dennis "Choo Choo" Robinson and "Mighty Mouse" Paul Orlandi, finishing exactly in the order of their 1979 northern California point standings: one, two , three, four . The Handicap Main saw Harlan Bast in the Iead as Robinson and Yarrow battled it out for second and third , giving the ' crowd unquestion-: ably the most thril1ing rac e of the evening, Bast slipped to third place on lap three as Robinson took the lead with Yarrow putting on the pressure. There was no doubt in any one's mind it would be a battle to the finish . As they entered turn four on the final lap , it was anybody's guess , as "Choo Choo" took the checkered flag on t~e outside by half a tire length. Robinson gave a jubilant kick with his right foot and raised a winning fist. This win had been a special one for Dennis, as he presented his winning trophy to Rich Mac Murray's mother, in memory of his best friend . Bast finished third, Mike Delacy fourth . Greg Martz got the season off to the right start as he won the Division Two Main with Marv Webster taking second. Dave Schlosser, a former motocrosser, made everyone take notice as he tried Class "A" for the first time, easily winning his heat as well as the Division Three Main with true Speedway style. I have a feeling it will soon be Division Two for Dave and then .. . Who knows? AI Underwood took second. In the Junior Division , John Cryer won Heat One. In Heat Two, John Houston, jr., started his second year by taking home his first trophy. Bart Bast carried on the winning fam ily tradition by taking the Junior Main. (These Juniors can handle the trophy girls as well as the racing!) The Junior Division, ages 8-16, is an added attraction to every race night at Cal Expo . It is currently the only California track running the Junior Division . Promoter John Houston considers this an important part of the show , considering these youngsters "Speedway of the future." Two excellent examples are the "Lil' Ghost" Lance King, who grew up in Speedway at Ca l Expo , and Steve Lucero who "comes of age " on June 29 and promises to be a real competitor. Preceding Lucero by one short week, Harlan Bast, Jr. , yes, that's right another Bast , turns 16 on June 22 and is already signed up to ride on the June 27 program along with his father Harlan, becoming the onl y father/son team that I'm aware of. There's no doubt he will make his cousin Mike Bast veryproud: Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Mike Faria 2. DuaneYanaor. 3. ; Dennis Robinson; 4 . Paul Orlandi. • HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Denn;' Robinson; 2. Duane Yanow; 3. Harlan 1lao1; 4. Mike DoIacy . SECOND DIV. MAIN: 1. Grog Martz; 2. Marv Wallster. THIRD DIV. MAIN: 1. Dave Sch_' 2. AI Und...• wood. ' Tuesday's heroes: Bast and McConnell By Bill Locey VENTURA, CA,jUNE 5 Following the close encounters here and at Costa Mesa last week, speedway racing returned to normal. That venerable summer rerun , The Michael Bast Speedway Show, dazzled the patrons with predictable brilliance as he won the Scratch Main at Ventura Raceway Tuesday night. Shawn McConnell had fun , too , as he won the Handicap Main for the second time this season. It was a warm evening at the Fairgrounds - so warm in fact that two motorized streakers (remember them?) entertained or embarrassed the crowd with an unannounced lap between races. In the Handicap heats, Jimmy La wson went down on the first lap, destroyed his motorcycle and sent Charlie Morse into the wall. John Sandona and the low yardage trio of Moose Kennedy, Greg Ayers an d Marty Spellma n were the early winners. In a Semi, undecided until the final lap, Morse was able to hold off Mike Muntean and Keith Chrisco for the win . In the other Semi , Spellman caught Kennedy's rear wheel just out of turn two and went down hard. The race was restarted with McConnell taking it off the 20. In the Main, McConnell caught - Kennedy on ' the second lap and won going away . Young Shawn looks better every week. In the Scratch portion of the frogram, Mike Bast won all three 0 his rides in convincing style. Alan Christian and Jan Ballard, both stubborn to the end, tangled in a heat , neither would give an inch and both went down in a crunching collision. Later, Christian in an attempt to get a wheel under McConnell, instead bumped Shawn which sent him into a lead he never relinquished. In spite of this , Christian was there at the end for yet another confrontation with the Champ. Unlike last week, the suspense ended quickly in the Main as Bast, with one of his rocket starts, had the race won by the first tum. Alan took the wrap-up spot. T hat's two wins in a row for the Cha m p and four out of eight for the season. Pat Hawley won his heat and the Second Division Main off the zero-yar d line . And Jimmy O'Dell out of Kansas took Third Division honors. It was a forgettable night for the local riders. Mike Peddicord and Dave Smith stayed home with a broken bike and the flue respectively. Dave's brother , Pat, made the D-2 Main , but bike troubles left him in fifth place. In the same race, Bobby Hill crashed, remounted, but could only manage fourth. And in the D-5 Main, Oxnard's Henry Swain had second place locked up when his motor went south with half a lap to go . And finally , some low life ripped off Kym Mauger for two bikes last week. Is that any way to welcome him to SoCal? Resu lts SCRATCHMAIN: 1. Mike Boot; 2. ~ Chrillion; 3. DaveDeTompIe;4. S'-n McConnell. HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Shown McConnoII' 2. Keith K';""""; 5. Chrioco; 3. Mike Mu_; 4. _ o..tio Mcno; 6. Donny Pyoon. SEC OND DIV: 1. Pot Howley. third div: 1. Jim 0'0011. MATCH RACE: Koilh Chrioco dol. S'-n McConnoII. Bast and Cogar take crash-filled San Berdoo action By Scott Daloisio SAN BERNARDI NO , CA, JUNE 4 Defending Natonal Champion

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