Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

00 0') IAboveleft) Hank SCott finished second. putting him atop the mile point _ ners this year. (Above right) Scott IWkw roundec:l the top thrH. (fie photoe.l ,Harley, finished fint, inches ahead of runner-up Scott. Third went to Bubba Rush who had a similar battle with Garth Brow during the closing laps. Junior Invitational Five of the 12 riden who qualified for the 12-lap Junior Invitational race took turns leading the event, but when Mike Hilley unloaded on the 11th lap the red flag was waved to stop the race and Ken Houston, who was leading on the previous lap, was declared the winner. Fred Miller, who was in the hunt right down to the stripe, was second with third going to Ms. Tammy Kirk. The points Kirk earned were enough to earn her an Expert plate for '82. She's only the second woman in AMA dirt track history to make it to the Expen ranks. Diane Cox preceeded her. Houston thanked sponsors "Suzuki of Paris (Tennessee), Carl Patrick, Castrol, Fass Gass and KK Supply," adding, "I wasn't sure whether I'd get it or Miner would_ We reaJly had a good race." Semis Two riden from each of the two 10lap semi races would advance to the National staning field's third row. Advancing out of the first semi were winner Alex Jorgensen and runner-up - by inches - Steve Morehead. The pair put on.a lead swapping show and had pTellllUTe applied by Willie Crabbe. The second semi was a crowd pleaser as well that saw Ted Boody nip Ganh Brow at the finish line. Brow held the lead for the first six laps, but Boody, who had swiftly changed engines between his beat race DNF and the semi, took the lead on lap seven and then held off Brow's charges. TrophyRece The 12-lap consolation race, the first Expert event of tbe day with money on tIie line, turned out to be tlte hiJ{h point of rookie Expert Rodney Farris' career. The diminutive Baltimore, MD, resident won the race after an exciting liverider battle that was conducted from the bginning of the race to the end. Eventual runner-up Rickey Campbell, third place finisher Tim Mertens and Farris mixed it up with Rob Crabbe and Chas Roberts in another drafting. slingshot passing tbriJler. After collecting his first time ever kiss from Miss Winston, Lynn Griffis, Farris said, "I didn't think I could win it after I slipped off the groove on the third lap. I'd like to thank KRW Helmets and Chuck Palmgren, Champion Spark Plugs, Castrol Oil, Gary Nixon, the Maryland Harley dealers. and Lancaster Harley-Davidson and all the guys who helped me here today." Farris' father. Norm, a Maryland Yamaha dealer and former Expert flat tracker. took it all in with a big smile on his face. National Jay Springsteen, winner of the fastest heat, chose the outside pole position. next to the grandstand wall and smack on the hard groove. Lance Jones, Parker, Poovey. Hank Scott and Goss filled out die front row. Lining up on the second row were Rush, Gary Scott, Eklund, Rainey, Kidd and Pearson with Jorgensen. Boody, Brow and Morehead on row three. Every start of the day had been picture perfect and the stan of the 25-lap National was no exception. Texan Terry Poovey puJled off the holeshot and led the field into turn one, but by the time the Rolling Thunder Show crossed the stan/finish line for the first time it was Springsteen in the lead. By lap two Springsteen had already puJled away from the Test. of the field while Hank Scott and Terry Poovey fought for second in a dice that continued lap after lap.. Behind the Springer runaway and the Poovey/Hank Scott came Scott Parker, unable to gain on the leaders but able to maintain founh ahead of a position swapping battle behind him. That fight involved Gass, Gary Scott, Kidd, Jones and Boody. On the 11th lap, Lady Luck frowned on Gass and he coasted to a stop with what was thought to be a trashed front piston on his factory Harley-Davidson XR750V-twin. Mter Springsteen crossed the line to complete his 15th lap nearly a straightaway ahead of Hanlt Scott and Poovey and even further ahead of fourth place runner Parker. the four-man pack of Jones, Kidd, Boody and Gary Scott flew into turn one. Boody stuffed it in lower than Kidd and the two apparently touched with Kidd going down and sliding into the haybales. That brought out the red flag to stop the race. Springsteen's rear tire was all but worn out and he and most of the other riders helped their crews mount new rubber. The single file restan had Springsteen in front with Hanit Scott, Poovey. Parker, Jones, Boody, Gary Scott. Jorgensen, Morehead, Rainey, Pearson. Rush, Eklund and Brow lined up behind Jay. The crowd buzzed as talk centered around Springer's runaway, the fact that both Kidd and Goss had retired with no points, and Gary Scott's chances on improving his seventh place to pad his points lead. But two laps after another perfect stan Springsteen had been . dropped to third by Hank Scott and Parker:' and Gary Scott had dropped back to 11 th, where he would finish. Springsteen regained the lead on the 19th lap, although he was unable to puJl away from Hank and Terry. Behind the front three came Poovey in alsolitary founh, but behind him was a scramble for fifth which eventuaJly went to Lance Jones ave orehead and Boody. Gary Scott was obviously not pleased with his perfonnance. "We've lost the combination. This was OUT chance to get 'em (Kidd and Gass) when they were down." said Scott. He brightened up when he added, "I'm 99% sure I'JI ride Hank's bike at San Jose and he'JI ride mine. That's a ton of weight off my shoulder. How's that for a brother?" For winner Springsteen it was "about time." Jay suffered a broken right collarbone at Santa Fe in early August and his recurring stomach ail· ment hospitalized him as recently as two weeks prior to the Syracuse Mile. Third place finisher Parker praised Springsteen and noted, "He was running into number three so hard - that was the difference." Runner-up Hank Scott said. "I'm not going to be Number One, but everyone will know I'm there (when he races). n Mter taking a champagne bath, Springsteen said, "I didn't know what was going to happen on the restart. but I got into the breeze with 'em (drafting Scott and Parker) and that was thatl" It certainly was, and as one spectator shouted. "When Springer's well, he's hell." • Results 3l.AP NAT1ONAL: 1. .My Sprio U , IH-OI; 2_ _ IH-OI; 3. _ _ IH-Ol; 4. Torry flooIIey IH-O); 5. ...... Jar.-IH-OI; 8. 5 _ _ IH-O); 7. Ted Boody IH-Ol; 8. Scott - - . IH-OI; 9. 5 _ Eklund IH-O); 10. W.,e Rolney IH-O); 11. Gory Scott IH-O); 12. GInh _ IH-O); 13. Alex J o r _ (H-O); 14. IluIlm _ IH-O); 15. Mike KicId IH-OI; 18. Rondy G.-IH-OI. No lima due 10 _ _ 12 LAP TROPHY RACE: 1. -.ay __ (H-O); 2Ridly ~ (IHl); 3. 11m Manono ~l; 4. C'-.oIH-Ot, 5. Rob er-IH-O); 8. W1lIia er-I~ D); 7. _ GiIka'f IH-OI; 8. _ Grant IH-OI; 9. S1ava DoortIH-OI; 10. FIomiaJar.-IH-OI. TIME: 7 "*'-. 22.«77_. AVERAGE SPEED: 97.84 mph. _GlWlDNATlDNAL~ PlIO SERES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Gory _ (177); 2- _ KicId (171); 3. Rondy G.- 1188l; 4. _ - - . n34t, 5. . . . _11321; 8. .My Spri .......' 11281: 7. Alex.Jarvor-I1131; 8. Torry F_11121; 9. 5 _ _ (111); 10. S - _ 11031; 11. Scott _ 1811; 12- Ted Boody C851; 13. Riel< ~ l7OI; 14. W.,e Rolney l8II; 15. !TIEl GInh _Jin FiIica l58I; 17. Dale SingIalDn l52l; 18. Rondy Jar.I48l: 19. Nick Richic:tli I46l; 20. Mickey Fay 144). 7

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