Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126643
JUNE'11 Preparations are underway to again. tum the beautiful Long Beach Veterans. Stadium into a first class. internationally approved speedway motorcycle race plant in anticipation for the June 11 Nissan American Speedway Final. Long Beach Veterans Stadium. located just off of the 605 Freeway and Lakewood Blvd. is easily reached from anywhere in Los Angeles or Orange Counties. The stadium was built just after World War II. and features 12,000 permanent seats in it's main grandstand. According to race promoter Harry Oxley. "the stadium is set up perfectly for speedway racing. We have plenty of room to put in all of the improvements we need and the City of Long Beach is just fantastic. cooperating in any way that they can to help make this the premiere event of the 1983 speedway season." "Even though the event we ran there last year was very successful. we are making major track changes and adding an additional 5.000 seats. The biggest difference in the race track will be that the comers will be banked to encourage more passing on the outside." The Nissan American Speedway Final at Long Beach is the only event of the year held in the United States that qualifies American riders for the World Championship. The American Speedway Final is absolutely the toughest race of the year for U.S. riders. and is the key to their progression to the 1983 World Championship. So, the first step in the super competitive World Championship qualifying process turns out to be the toughest. as only 4 riders will go foreword from the American Speedway Final. An engine failure. a broken chain. or just a simple flat tire could spell disasterfor any ofthe 16 men on the program. Put together a talented 16 man field of the best American riders in the World. a newly banked 1/4 mile oval, a beautiful stadium with all new first class lighting. and experience the Nissan American Speedway Final: it all adds up to excitement! PENHALL GRAND MARSHALL LONG BEACH It was a dream in 1981, an American had not won the World Speedway Championship since Jack Milne did it in 1937. Could it happen again? Before a crowd of 92.000 at Wembley Stadium in England. Bruce Penhall became the first American World Speedway Champion in almost 4 decades. In 1982 the World Championship came to America for the first time. and the question was. could Bruce do it again? Indeed he did, in incredible style . just 40 miles from where he grew up. The world was stunned by this incredibl feat and then saddened when Bruce retired to pursue his Hollywood career. That brief career has been very successful as Bruce is now the co-star of NBC television's "CHiPS" series. As busy as he's been. Bruce has been a frequent visitor to speedway and has honored us to host as the Grand Marshall of tonight's prestigious event. Bruce has been involved with speedway since 1972 when his Dad sponsored Rick Woods. A short time after Rick quit racing Bruce started racing in Junior Speedway. As soon as Bruce turned 16 he began racing in the big leagues. Bruce moved through the ranks fast and furious as a top ranked rider. No matter where Bruce goes or what he does. he will always be known as one of America's Best. If you have seen this form of racing at Costa Mesa. you know what a fantastic sport it is. 500cc alcohol burning motorcycles competing inches apart at breakneck speeds with no brakes. At Long Beach. you'll see this expanded to a full Yo mile track wherin speeds reach 85 m.p.h.• and you,t be able to enjoy the talents of America's Best Speedway Riders. This makes the Nissan American Speedway Final a racing event not to be missed! Make plans now for this very special evening. Saturday June 11 and after the races. you'll have a chance to go into the pits and meet one of the best this sport has ever produced. and one of Hollywood's brightest stars.. Bruce Penhall. CREAM OF THE CROP SCHEDULED FOR LONG BEACH During August of 1982. qualifying races were held at Costa Mesa. Auburn, Ventura. and San Bernardino for riders to earn their way to the Nissan American Speedway Final. As a result, these qualifying rounds Mike Faria. Alan Christian, Mike Bast, super John Cook, Lance King. Steve Gresham. and Brad Oxley. We think you will agree that with a line-up of speedway stars like this, the 1983 Nissan American Speedway Final will be an event to be remembered. TICKETS AVAILABLE NOWI The Nissan American Speedway Final is guaranteed to be the major speedway racing event in Southern California this year. Tickets are available at Costa Mesa every Friday night. your local Ticketron Gates open at 6:30p.m.• first race is at 8:00p.m. Adults $10.00, Child (Under 12) $5.00 and UNDER 5 ARE FREE. DON'T MISS THIS BIG EVENT Rick Miller. Shawn McConnell. Steve Lucero. Gene Woods, and Dubb Ferrell have all been made part of this June 11 Speedway challenge. While the U.S. For more information call or write based riders were battling it out in their International Speedway Inc. P.O. Box qualifying rounds. the men who race in 3334. San Clemente. California 92672. British League were hammering away (714) 492-9933. night after night to establish a point average. The highest 8 averages of the 1982 season were Long Beach American Speedway Final's 1982 winner Dennis Sigalos. U.S. National Champion Shawn Moran. the "Boogaloo Kid" Bobby Schwartz. "Rapid" Ron Preston. Kelly Moran. JUNE 11 23