Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

II cana M_ - Saa ....a_dlao - Ascot - Veatara - Sacra.eato - Napa - Cana M_ - Saa Bern_tllao - Ascot- II SPEEDWAY '~EK ~ E o 00 0) Stylish, but no, he didn't make it. Shawn Moran going down at IMS. Curosoand Gagnon score at San Berdoo By Scott Daloisio SAN BERNARDINO, CA. SEPT. 5 Mike CUTOSO, riding the only Weslake in the field, scored his second Scratch Main victory of the season at John LaDouceur's 18 Inland Motorcycle Speedway Wednesday night. Alan Christian, who staned in the number four position, and Gene Woods, who staned on the pole, came together in tum two on the opening lap while battling for the lead. Christian immediately retired to the infield while Woods dropped out at the end oflap two with a flat rear tire. John Sandona tried to pull even with Curoso the entire distance, but was unable to do so and had to settle for the bridesmaid poIition with Woods getting credit for third and Christian founh_ Phil Gagnon continued with his impressive second half of the season by taking his fint Handicap Main of the year at IMS. Gene Woods twice jumped the gun on the stan and was penalized 20 yards; forcing him to stan on the 70. Dave Miller jumped into the lead at the stan over Shane Hawley and Gagnon. Hawley got by Miller for the lead coming out of tum two on the opening lap with Gagnon taking second from Miller coming out· of four. The fireworks started on lap two. as Miller dove to the inside in tum one going by Gagnon and doing a wheelie while next to Hawley in tum two. Miller and Hawley came together in the back chute and tumbled down the . track in spectacular style. Jeff Tomlin and Denny Pyeatt also became involved. Hawley was shaken, but was able to continue when brother Pat loaned him his bike. Miller was the only rider involved who was unable to continue on the restan. Hawley again took the lead on the restan over Gagnon. Gagnon got by Hawley coming out of two on lap two for the lead with Pyeatt also getting by Hawley as they exited tum four on lap two for second. Pyeatt pulled right in behind Gagnon, but ran out of time before he could get the job done and was forced to settle for second. Hawley hung on to third while Tomlin edged Woods at the line for fourth with Miller getting credit for sixth. Vietor Robledo made it two Second Division mains in a row at [MS. Robledo moved out front at the stan over Tom Conrad and Pat Hawley. "Long" John Silva slipped by Conrad in. tum !our on the. opening lap for third. Silva then tned to go inside Hawley for second in tum three on the second lap taking Hawley and himself down and causing a red flag. Hawley was able to continue while Silva was sent to the pits for causin,; the crash. On the restan Robledo again took the lead over Conrad and Hawley. Hawley assumed second coming out of tum two on the opening lap. Greg Ayers and Jim Lawson moved inside Conrad coming out of tum two on the second lap dropping Conrad from third to ruth. Lawson got by Ayers coming down the front chute on lap four. Robledo hung on with a comfonable victory over Hawley, Lawson. Ayers, Conrad and Silva. "The Miracle Worker" Shawn Moran made a surprise visit to IMS. Moran transferred from his Handicap heat, but dumped it hard in the semi eliminating himself for the night. Moran was removed from the track on a stretcher, but was later seen walking around the pits. It has been announced that Ron Preston, the winner of the under 21 World Title last year in Russia, will be on hand on the final night of racing at IMS for the California State Championship Saturday September 20. Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Mike CuroIO; 2. John s.ndolW; 3. Gene Woodo; 4. AIIn C _ . HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Phil Gegnon; 2. Denny ~ 3. ShIne Howley; 4. Jeff Tomlin; 5. Gene Wooda; 6. DoveM..... -.v; SECOND DIY: 1. Viclor _ ; 2. PIll 3Jim lBwoon; 4. Greg Ayers; 5. Tom Cornel; 6. John -SIIw. lMlRD DtV: 1. Ilusty Jenningo; 2. KaTy MIIIof; 3. Eddy Lynch; 4. Ron BIIlnton; 5. Ken WilIioms; 6. Chris MATCH RACE: 1. IIoblIv ~ dol. Dove SimI. Schwartz takes Ventura Track Championship By Bill R. Locey VENTURA. CA, SEPT. 2 The envelope, pLease. Bobby "BoogaJoo" Schwartz of Santa Barbara delighted the 'large partisan crowd as he won the 1980 Track Championship last night at the Ventura Raceway. It was a familiar ending for Schwartz who won the Scratch Main on his two prior visits here this season. But nothing comes easy, especially in speedway, as "The Boogaloo Kid" had to win a runoff over track points leaders Alan Christian and Lance King to take the trophy. Sixteen of the top First Division riders were on hand for the all-Scratch season finale with each taking five rides for a possible 15 points maximum. Schwartz, Christian and King took turns beating each other in close ones and everyone else in laughters, and wound up with identical totals of 14. Seventeen-year-old King could have won the title outright. In his first race, Lance got the gate and by the time Christian could get around Keith Chrisco, it was too late. King maintained a four length lead until the checkered. In his confrontation with Schwartz, King took the early lead by a length. On the first lap. Schwartz tried to pass on the outside, but King blocked him. On the second lap, Schwanz again tried the outside, but King slammed the door. By the next lap, it was clearly a time for some fresh strategy as Schwartz faked outside, cut quickly to the inside and got a wheel underneath King in Turn Two. It was wheel to wheel down the straightaways, but Schwartz held on to win by a single length. Schwartz, who starred for the Ventura Sharks in the team racing days a few years back, also could have won the title outright himself, if not for Alan Christian - a familiar lament these days. Schwartz led for the first lap, but Christian, as he so often does, hung on the inside line and finally muscled his way past, pushing Schwartz to the outside. The experienced Christian succeeded in blocking Schwartz's entire repertoire of nifty passing moves to win a close one. The crowd was standing for the runoff which found King on the pole, Schwartz in the middle and Christian on the outside. The gate went up and Schwartz took the early lead. Christian was third until the second lap when he blew by King like he was standing still in Tum Two, Alan was going so fast he picked up three lengths and nearly caught Schwartz coming out of Turn Four. Down the straightaway they flew and just as things got exciting, just as Christian got a wheel inside Schwanz, just as thoughts of their earlier encounter came to mind - Alan crashed. Sliding on his back, he seemed a sure bet to make it to Malibu or at least Oxn'ard, but fortunately came to rest uninjured about a foot from the wall. The nailbiter became a yawner as Schwartz finished about 15 lengths ahead of King. Before the runoff, Schwartz had complained about being up for 28 hours straight, but after the way he rode, a case could be made for insomnia as an integral pan of future training programs. Everyone else was so-so at best as no one could manage more than one win. The 1979 U.S. Long Track Champion, Shawn Moran, made his seasonal debut, but last night "The Miracle Worker" was fresh out of tricks. He led for the first lap of his first race before a turn for the worse (the fourth one) put him into the crash wall injuring himself slightly and his motorcycle mightily. And if you think Ventura is foggy, apparently we've got nothing on England. Moran, who has been away since March, has faded from a blonde to a brunette. In Second Division racing, John Foster and Dave Van Horn took easy wins to qualify for the Main. Last year's D·2 champ Bobby "Crash Wall" Hill picked a good time to win his first race of the vear as he did it by plenty eatara -Sacra.eato to win his heat. In the final heat, old timer Terry Bilton picked himself off the ground after a red flag and came back to earn the final spot in the Main. Suspense ended quickly in the Main as Foster had it won by tn first turn. After 20 weeks of speedway fever at the Ventura Raceway, the regular season is finally over. But like other sports, there's always one more. The final go'round will be held on September 50, opening night of the County Fair. Results 1. B. Schwartz 1141; 2. L. King 1141; 3. A. Chr;stian 1141; 4. B. O.ley 1101; 5. D. Pyean 191; 6. T. MOfIev 191; 7. M. Munteon 181; 8. D. DeTemple IB); 9. S. McConnell 17); 10. B. Mclain 16); 11. J. Sandona (5); 12. K. Chrisco 151; , 3. G. Ford 141; 14. J. Tomlin 14); 15. S. Moran 121; 16. E. Clark 111; 17. M. Kennedy 101. SECOND DIVISION MAIN: 1. John FOSler; 2. Davo Van Horn; 3. Terry Bilton; 4. Bobby Hill. King and Pyeatt ~ pulverize Ascot By Gary Hoffman I GARDENA, CA, SEPT. 4 You remember Mike Bast? Seventime National Champion, retired a few weeks ago? Well he came out of retirement just to ide Ascot. A little out of practice, but still looking good, the champ didn't make the main events, but it was good to see him race again. And as long as we're dropping names, how about Bobby Schwanz and Shawp Moran? Hai'l, hail the gang's all here. What a program, The big surprise was that out of all three, Schwanz was the only one to make a main event, and he came in third! On thing that no one failed to do, thougll, was put on about the best speedway show at Ascot this year. After taking on all of Ascot's Pros and qualifying not only for the Handicap Main, but for the Scratch Main as well, Keith Chrisco blew his motor and! was out for the rest of the night. So, five riders staned the Handicap Main with Dwight Hill breaking out first and taking an early lead. Dwight held on for a lap with Greg Ayers in second followed by Tom Morley and Lance King. The rest of the race consisted of Denny Pyeatt and King using every bit of skill and speed passing the pack to move inta fint and second place followed by Hill. King threatened to take the lead several times, but Denny's folks were in the stands and he wanted to show them what he could do by taking the checkered and the coveted Handicap Main trophy. Coming in second was King followed by Hill and Ayers. The Scratch Main brought Pyeatt to the pole position with Schwanz in the number two spot and King on the outside. The tapes flew up and Lance shot out first followed by Pyeatt and Schwartz. As far as I can remember, no one has passed Lance at Ascot once he was out in front and that's the way it was. But let us not forget Second Division. In their main event, Ron Blanton took an early lead with Kerry Miller in second followed by Dan Braviroff. IOn lap two, Miller took over first place and Braviroff took second while Dave Van Hom started moving up. Lap three brought Robin Bourgeo~ on the move and at the finish it was hard riding 20-year-old Miller on a two-valve Jawa taking the win followed by Van Hom and Bourgeois. For those of you who may be under the impression that there may not be

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