Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

C.-ta M_ - Saa &era.Nlao - ARet - Veatu... - Sacra.ento - Napa - C.-ta M_ - Saa ....nlU'dlao - Aaeot - Veatura - Sacra.eato - N SPEEDWAY WEEK _. _. Duane yarrow . . . . Mike F.... and Ron MCGill at Auburn. Bast and Yarrow victorious at Napa By Jann Houston NAPA, CA,JUNE 13 Harlan Bast, Jr. continued to uphold the family tradition tonight as he won his second Division One Handicap main, his first at Napa. It was Bast in the lead on every lay' with Ron Sweeton holding a very sohd second, until Tom Ferris took him on the outside on lap four with Mike Faria third and Duane Yarrow fourth. Going into tum three on lap four, Bast had the lead by an impressive margin as he held the pole with smooth, complete control to the checkered flag. What a beautiful rider In the Scratch main, Napa promoter Dennis Robinson shot into the lead off the wall with Yarrow threatening ~o we him on the inside in every tum. Success finally came for Yarrow on lap three in tum two, taking Robipson on the inside for the lead and the win. Robinson settled for. second, Tom Ferris third, and Marc Prince fourth. In the Division Two main, Bill Thomas, a 57-year-old scbooI 00. driver from Sebastopol who rides speedway to calm his nerves, took the lead with Jack Forseth, just up from Division Three, giving him a real race. With everyone's attention on Thomas and Forseth, Pat Linn came on the out· side and toolr. them both on the last lap for the win. In the Division Three main, Scott Briard took home his first trophy, holding the lead from start to finish. Charlie Haines was second, Dave Fonts third. In the Junior main, John ~ouston, Jr. managed to hold off Bart Bast in a close, exciting event to talte his first Napa Junior main. Bast was second, and Bobby Hedden, probably the smallest Class "A" racer in the United States, was third. Steve Elstios took the wall in the very first Handicap heat in the very fint tum. He was unconcious for several minutes and talten to the hospital for X·rays. Happy to report he was back at the track before the races were over with a medical release, nothing broken. Results HANDICAP MAIN: 1....... Boot. Jr.; 2. Tom Ferrio; 3. Mike F.iII; 4. Duone Yorrow; 5. ~c Prince; 6. Ron SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Duone Y.,.ow; 2. Dennis Robinoon; 3. Tom _ ; 4. M8rc Prince. D1V. TWO: 1. Pol Unn; 2. Bil Thoma; 3. Jock Dow_ DlV. THREE: 1. Scott Ilriord; 2. Chaolie _ ; 3. JUNIOR: 1. John Houolon. J<.;2.1Iort _;3. Bobby ~ 4. Cocn Wright; 5. Mitte,..,.... Faria and Long have their night at Auburn By Jann Houston AUBURN, CA,JUNE 12 Five years ago, Ron Long retired from speedway and became a fireman paramedic for the Sacramento Fire Department. In 1980, he was assigned to a station directly across the boulevard from the Cal Expo speedway racing facility. The smell of the alcohol, the sound of the cycles, and the excitement of the crowd proved to be too much for Ron ... he was hooked again. He purchased a brand new four· valve Jawa long stroke, new red and yellow leathers and helmet, outfitted his pit crew in matching jerseys and bought a new Toyota to match it all. He was ready! If there was doubt in anyone's mind as to whether he still has what it taltes, it was erased tonight as he literally fought his way to the checkered flag in the Handicap main. After a restart when Mike Faria, Ron McGill and Harlan Bast, Jr. went down in turn one on the first lap, Long took the lead with Bast, last week's winner, making him work to hold it. In the meantime, Faria, riding off the 50·yard line was gaining on every lap. On lap four, Faria was on Long's back tire 1000king for his chance, waiting for just one mistake. In turn four of the last lap, Faria went wide and turned it on in his famous last· minute style, as Long held the pole and turned on a last minute drive of his own. The checkered flag was out for Long as he finished less than an inch ahead of Faria. Long was in such a state of concentration, he never realized Faria was close to himl It was tJie kind of racing the crowd had come to see. They forgot the chill in the air during that one. The Scratch main was a classic as northern California's top four drew their positions in that order - number one Mike Faria on the pole, number two Duane Yarrow second, number three Eddie Ingels third and number four Dennis Robinson on the wall. After a restart caused by a broken tape which was determined to be a malfunction in the gate, it was Faria in the lead, Yarrow second, Ingels third and Robinson fourth. The fast race continued, never changing with Faria taking the win. In the Division Two main, Jack Forseth took the lead in his first night in Division Two, with Bob Holmes in second position. On the founh lap, Holmes came on the inside in tum three to take the lead and the win. Forseth was second, Andy Gilbertson third. The Division Three main was plagued with mishaps as Elmer McCleary lost a part of his muffler and ended up in the infield on lap one. Dave Fonts joined him. there in lap four. Oh well. Back to the race, it was Raben Curry taking the lead with Scott Briard second and Curt Miller third. Curry took his third consecutive Division Three trophy. Watch for him next week in Division Two. In the Junior main, John Houston, Jr. took his third win in as many weeks,. with Scott Brant putting on the pressure for the first four laps, going wide in tum four on lap four allowing Bast to move into second, as Brant settled for third. Brant· won both Junior heats one and two earlier in the evening with Bart Bast placing second and Houston third in both those events. On the subject of Juniors, in the "I Stand Corrected Department," Lance King's father called to tell me that he began his Junior speedway career in southern California and was National Junior. Champ before ever moving to Auburn in northern California. I had reported in an earlier issue that he got his start in the north. I do, however, refuse to budge on these points - he did grow up in northern California speedway and made his Junior reputation here. On that I stand fmn. Lance is a "graduate" of northern California Junior Speedway! Case closed. Results HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Ron Long; 2. Mike F.iII; 3. Jr.; 4. Eddie Ingell; 5....... Iloot. 6. Ron ...... _ McGill. SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Mike F• •; 2. Duone Y.,.ow; 3. Eddie Ingelo; 4. Dennis Robinoon. DIV. TWO: 1. Bob ti

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