Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

c:..ta Mesa - San Bernardino - -'Hot - Ventnra - Sacra.ento - Napa - c:..ta Mesa - San Bernardino - AHot - Ventura - Sacra.ento SPEEDWAY WEEK (Top Thla Ia the bIggeat Ieed Mlk. 8Mt held over Alen Chrlatlen In their match rlICO. Baat'l retum to Ip•• dwlly WlI8 IUcc•••ful .. he .Iao won the ICl'lItCh meIn.lAbovol Opening night JItten eHeocted e number of rid... Bast beats Costa Mesa opener By Ken Kellogg COSTA MESA, CA, APR.ll Opening night of the 1981 speedway season could also have been called old timers' night for many of the names that are written in 30 the journals of ~way history returned to provide fans with much . more excitement than they could have hoped for. Top names were all over the place with perhaps the mOSt recognizeable being Mike Bast and brother Steve Bast. Mike showed everyone that he 10lIt nothing during his semiretirement. He was fast and steady and, as in days gone by, Mike won ~ery scratch race he was in including the scratch main. Abo riding tonight were some other "oldies-" Jim Fishback, Mike Curoso and Mark Cherf. Event number one began a super night of non-stop, tire-to-tire, fastpaced action. Steve Bast, in his first race after two yean in retirement, took second place behind Tom Burba and just in front of Dubb Ferrell. In the second event, Mike Bast, riding from the 50-yard line, fought it out in every tum with Dave DeTemple, Phil Gagnon and Shane Hawley. On lap four of the last tum, Bast edged past Hawley to take third and the last transfer spot. DeTemple rode a superb race and beat out Gagnon for first_ • The match race was no let down even after an unbelievable first half of racing. No fans were allowed to rest as rivals Mike Bast and Alan Christian met in the feature match race. Harry Oxley had matched up two of the best riden in U.S. speedway history for a one-on·one confrontation. It was close all the way from the gate to the finish with the riden changing places several times but at the wire. it was fonner National Champion Bast in front. •• J • II During half time, Gene "The Dancing Machine" was not allowed to perform his usual crowd pleasing antics due to a restriction put on by the state of California so E.J. and the drag truck had to go it alone. The third division main gave Pat Cain his fim chance to race speedway and race he did, beating out Steve Bauer, Ron Blanton, Dave Wooten, Ed Castro and Steve Murray. The second division main had some trouble getting started and getting finished as nearly everyone at sometime during the race went down. Co,!,ing out on top was Greg Ayen followed by Artie Nay, Jeff Havaco, Kerry Miller, Keith Lanen and Tom Hughes. The handicap consolation was of championship caliber and probably the best race of the night. When the starting tape went up, it was a tight start with no rollers because of the new rule - a 20-yard penalty. In tum one, everyone met in what looked like a possible tie-up, but no one went down. Mike Bast had some trouble and was never able to catch up. The race was between Steve Columbo, Steve Bast, Lance King and Dubb Ferrell. Steve Bast was on Columbo's rear tire and threatened to pass at every comer while King worked hard looking for a spot to make his move and doing all he could just to stay in front of Ferrell. At the finish it was Columbo by a spoke over Bast, King and Ferrell. The handicap main gave zero-yard liner Dave Miller a chance to ride for his life and prove that he can hold off the best. Miller won the race but not without a fight from Gary Ford who came from way back on the 40-yard line. Dave DeTemple did a fabulous job of working his way through traffic, but there weren't enough laps to let him catch Miller or Ford. The scratch consolation matched Jim Fishback, Craig Schaefer, john Sandona and Gary Ford. Schaefer rode like he wanted to win the big one. Well, it wasn't the big one but with riding like that, he'll soon be there. Finishing second was Sandona; third going to Ford and fourth after going down and getting back up to finish the race (insuring fans they get what they pay for - to see riders do their best), Fishback. The big banana, the scratch main event, brought the house to its feet about three times as there were three restarts. First, with Mike Bast in front, King and Ferrell went down. On the second start with Bast out in front, King and DeTemple went down. DeTemple was disqualified. The third time, Bast got in front, but King and Ferrell went down for one more restart. So far Mike has won this event three times because when Mike Bast is in front no one passes. When the race finally got under way, Bast was out in front where he stayed for the remainder of the race. F'mishing next were King and Ferrell. DeTemple was credited with fourth. U.S. National Champion Bruce Petthall returns here from England for one night on Apr. 10, and with the Bast brothen. Christian, Ferrell, DeTemple and everyone else out to beat him. Penhall will have to give )01%. • Results THIRD DIY. MAIN: 1. I'M c.ln; 2. s_ _; 3Ron BIInIon; 4. Deve Wooten; 5. Ed e-o; e. S _ Murroy. SECOND DIY. MAIN: 1. Grell 2....... ~ 3Jell _ ; 4. Korry _ ; 6. Keith Ln.!; e. tom "'yen; ~DK:AP ~N: Deve DeT""", 1. Deve Milia'; 2. Gery Ford; 3- SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Mb IIool; 2. Ln:e KIng; 3- Dubb FemoII; 4. Deve DeT""",

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