Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Spee"wag~8 rising star By Bill Locey Photo by Scott Daloisio You may have noticed number nine in the blue and white icicle leathers flying around people on the outside (where the action is) on any recent Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday night. If you haven't noticed number nine, then you: (A) Are not a southern California speedway fan; (B) Are sitting in 16 ingwhen I was 120r 13,andacouple of years later, I was second for three years in District 36. "When I was 19, I started working [or Cycle Gear in Richmond (Caliyour seat badtwards; or (C) Took fornia) and one o[ the owners was a advantage of that coupon in the pro· big speedway [an. One day he told gram for the low-eost lobotomy clinic me, 'We'll buy the bike if you ride it.' in the back of the red van in the park· Well, I went for it and they bought ing lot. me a J.A.P. That thing did nothing Number nine is, of course, "Flyin' but throw me off - I was Third DiviMike" Faria. He sees a lot of checkered sion to the max. I went out practicing flags; the other riders see a lot of his [or [our or five Sundays, eight hours a back. Faria, along with Mike Bast, day,' and let that thing throw me Dubb Ferrell, Alan Christian, John around." Cook and Sam Ermolenko are the hot guys in domestic southern California Flyin' Mike started racing speed· speedway. way in late 1975 at San Jose and at At 26 - a relative old timer for a Cal Expo in Sacramento, and soon speedway rider - Faria has made enough was throwing his bike and more than his share of left turns over his weight around. Faria became Mr. the years. T and everyone else was Don KnOllS "I guess I've got racing in my as he was northern Cali[ornia Cham· blood. My dad and both uncles were pion as well as Auburn and Napa racers - IT and short track. My dad Track Champion from 1977 through had a n~tio~a.1.n.u.mber. I ~~~ r~<;- _" .. ~~~I.. ~~ore the 'S2season, Faria and Steve Lucero moved south and have been regulars on the SoCaI circuit ever since. "I accomplished everything I could up there. I'd worked seven years [or Cycle Gear - you can always go back to work, but you can't always race. Work will always be there. And everytime I came south to race I did well and ran right with the hot guys. Then one night after the Nationals, Harry Oxley told me how much money I was losing by not riding down here on a regular basis. He was right. I doubled what I'd made by working and riding up north when I made 40 grand last year." Besides becoming a tycoon on wheels last year, Faria also won the hearts o[ the fans as he ended up points leader at all three SoCaI race tracks. At Ventura alone, Faria won 10 mains. Faria was second behind Shawn Moran in the Nationals - his best finish in [our tries. And Faria just missed a transfer spot when he finished fifth, or a heartbeat away, at last year's American Speedway Final in Long Beach. Flyin' Mike's biggest speedway thrill (so Ear) came on June II at this year's qualifier when he surprised a lot o[ people by finishing second, thus earning a trip to England [or the Overseas Final on July 17 at Belle Vue. Togelthere, Faria won the races he was supposed to, and even a few he wasn't supposed to - including a win over Shawn Moran and John Cook. His most memorable night move came when he stole a point on Ronnie Preston with a nifty last-turn pass. Faria outgated and thrashed the top scorer in the British Speedway League - Lance King - in a run-of[ [or second place. Faria was the first domestic rider to transfer since Mike Bast pulled it 0[[ back in '79. "I was hoping and praying to be in the top [our. I knew it'd take 10 points to make it through - I just didn't try anything stupid. Right now, that June II race really makes me [eel like somebody. They said it would be the toughest quali[ier. At the beginning of this year, I wanted to win the Nationals, but my goals have changed since June II." It certainly didn't hurt Faria's cause when he went to England back in April to do his patriotic duty and ride against the British in the Test Matches, scoring [our points each in two meetings. And Faria, ever into time, even made it back from a Sunday race to ride Ventura on Tuesday. "The (irst time I raced over there was in the first test at Wimbledon on a track a lot like Ventura, only [aster. In one race, I passed Dave Jessup and Kenny Carter (rom behind and that reall y turned their heads - they didn't think I'd do much. And when I wasn't racing, I was watching videos - watching and learning. "The tracks over there - and I got to see three o[ them - are pro[essionally run, and that impressed me. The weather is terrible, but the racing is great. It's a lot of gate and a lot o( follow the leader. Just gear up and be ready, Jack, those boys over there are definitely racers. Racing is their business. Racing used to be a hobby [or me, but since I moved south, it's a business for me, too. I put in a lot of hours on my bikes and I hardly ever have a DNF. When your bikes are 100%, if you [eel 100%. "From what I've heard, it's going to take seven points to get through the next round at Belle Vue - I'll be leaving on the II th to get in some practice time. It·s not going to be a matter o( who you beat, but just counting your points and winning when you have to. It should be interesting. They don't know me and I don't know them. I didn't know any of the British riders at the Test Matches until I read the program the next morning. If I make it through the Overseas Final, I may just stay over because the next round is something like a week away. "I did get a (ew o[£ers when I was over there in April from Swindon and Eastbourne, but I'm not going this year. I told them no way; I'll talk: when the season's over. Then, I'll make my proposal, put it on the ta~ ble, and see what happens. I'd really like to go over and average in double (igures just so I could say I did it.' So, local speedway fans, the wri ing is on the wall and it says "EnjQY Flyin' Mike while you can." Soo' enough, he'll be just like Shawn Moran - a pleasant memory. Farta makes a weekly habit of hitting all three SoCal tracks, pi us Hemet whe it happens, from the Riverside home he shares with Lucero. And eveJ:i. though he shaved 0[[ his beard, the [ather o[ three still manages to have [un. "I enjoy Ventura - the larger tracks have always been my favorites. I think riding Ventura helped meout a lot at the big race in Long Beach and also when I went to England. A lot o[ riders won't go up there, but I will- it's an AMA track, with points and Jimmy (promoter Jim Naylor) needs the help. Ventura is really com· ing around - the track is good no and last time I rode there, I was paid overage for the first time in a year. "I know the cement crashwall worries some riders, but not me, I worry about the racetrack, not the wall. It's only a guideline, and i[ you can't handle a guideline, then Y9U have no business racing. When you start worrying about the wall - that's when you hit it. The other tracks may not have a cement wall, but I guarantee you i[ you hit the wood, you'll still know it. "San Berdoo? That's my track my favorite track. The people, the fans, the track are all excellent. Sandy (Sanderlin) - he's the Doctor o[ Dirt. - makes a track with an inside and an outside that are both East. San Berdoo is on the way back, too. Wi thou (announcer Bruce) Flanders, it was dead, but now he's back and the place cranks the way it used to. "Costa Mesa is a money track but sometimes it's of[ and sometimes it's on. It's gating - that's it. IE you're a sad gater, then it's real tough to catd\ up. Now the National is a dif[ererl1 story - you don't gear the same as [o{ a regular weekly race. Mostly, you just hope it's your night. I know what to do, it's only a matter o[ doing it. I was the top guy in points last year, but it all comes down to that one night. That's just the way it is. "Hemet is a lillIe rough yet, but it's a track with potential. Up north.... Auburn is a great track - another San Berdoo. I won something li4 eight or 10 Scratch mains in a row up there one year. apa is another Costa Mesa. "I like everything about speedway. The sport has been very good to me. I've gone places and done things because of speedway. I remember when I was riding in District 36 we were all enemies, but in speedway, everyone talks to each other. I really don't watch the other riders except for Mike Bast - he's my idol. The man is bad - know what I mean -he's good. Let's just say that he's pretty well dialed in to speedway. "This year I switched over to Weslake after a career on Jawas. It's taken me "awhile to get dialed in but Weslake's are (ast. It's the World Champ. If you can't beat 'em,join 'em. Besides, I had a good o[[er." Or, to put it all in perspective as any good Cali[ornia native would see it, Flyin' Mike says, "I've done it all [or rock 'n' roll." • ............. _-.. 5_ t

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