Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

....·B·....-oIda..o••·'I'u.u· ••w ....co-COlo....o••y . . . . . . .o. Sunday as he took home the biggest slice of the purse at Tommy TCR will run races every fint and fifth Sunday for the rest of the year. Connen' day track grand opening. Former Harley dirt track tuner Conners, owner of Tommy Connen Racing (TCR), has put his chips into the motocrolll pile. TCR has obtained the old Austin Day Track, one of the roughest sand tracks in Texas. Sunday's grand opening was a roar· ing success, due to rain that would haYe ruined other tracks but left the track a ribbon of loamy sand with no dust despite 90 degree heat. .Sunday's racing was spiced up by the anticipated duel between Austin Yamaha support rider Blackwell and Houston Kawasaki shoe Mickey Pizzatola. Jerry Farmer jetted his Yamaha off the concrete start pad and gassed it into the fint tum in the lead but was caught between riden and the hill. As the Experts came out of the back sec· tion, Blackwell bunt into view with the lead. Holding down second was Kallan Yamaha's perpetual Expert Jack Hicks, a central Texas Expert since 1969, on a VZ465. Pizzatola slid his Kawasaki into the show position. Blackwell stretched his early lead but Hicks began to reel in some of that lead. Pizzatola was staying with both riden but not a threat to either. Hicks went down, putting Pizzatola into 1IeCODd. Getting a look at Blackwell leeIIIed to light a fire under Pizzatola, and he pssed it and began to pressure Rick. Blackwell hung tough, and Piz· zatola began to make some mistakes. Fanner worked into third, where he would finish ahead of Husky pilot William Phee-. Blackwell took the mota with a sizable lead over Pizzatola. Reflex man of the second moto was Pizzatola who grabbed the lead at the start. Blacltwell and F~er tucked into second and third. Blackwell was on the gas, and Pizzatola was definitely feeling the pressure. In a pass/repass lituation in the back section, Pizzatola crashed out Blackwell, and both bikes were stuck together. Pizzatola helped free Blackwell's Yamaha, and both riden continued. Blackwell had no front brakes, and Pizzatola had no back brakes after their tangle. Results After the races, Blackwell's sponsor commented that it was very nice of Pizzatola to free Blackwell's bike before his own. Blackwell said, "Mickey knew it was his (ault; I could see his expres· lion on the back of his head." Farmer held the lead briefly but dropped back. John Middleton inher· ited it and fought to hold on, but Phee took over on his Hualty when Middleton tired. Blackwell charged hard and moved through the pack; Pillatola came through the pack also but fell again. Blackwell began to pressure Phee for the lead. Both riden were tearing up the track on the last lap, and Blackwell made an inside pass. Phee held the gas on and rocketed around an outside berm to repass; he led to the flag. Blackwell took the overall followed by Phee, Middleton and John Ham. HOUlton's Ricky Collins took corn· mand of the uSec Expert class, winning both motos. John Middleton swapped second· place finishes with Mark Brown and relegated Brown to third. Sandy track conditions made for a lot of falls, and results were generally not too consistent, but Chuck Loftin, Eddy Coker, Steve Cardwell, Rusty Burns and Bill Kasson ignored the shifting of positions beneath them and won both motos of their respective classes. MINI JR: 1. Dolo S _ lV"; 2. Eric c..... lV"; 3.'-" Krempin lV". 125 NOV: 1. FUry ..... lSuz); 2. Rory Jorden lV"; 3. Joo ~ lV". 2IiO NOV: 1. Jim HIIlHanI; 2. Jo/Vl CherTy lV_I; 3. ~ 00 0') S _ Siml*>n lHonl. ~ 125INT: 1. Eddy Cobr lSuzl; 2. e.t _lSuzl; 3. _ _ ISuzl. 2IiO INT: 1. ChucIc LoIlin (Hanl; 2. R _ ChIpmon lV_I; 3.11uddy K.-lSuzl. OPEN: 1. S _ e . - lV_I; 2. DevId H..-u lSuzl; 3. Tony DulIDn lSuzl. 125 EX: 1. Rid/It. CYCLE CENTER 11135 E C-.on S1 2 Block_ bat of _ frwy~ 12UJIU-U2J ~ *' G...o.n.. c•. 1071' c..non. Lincotn oft ..... Haw.. 011 (714IUI-4MJ 65

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