Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

C . g , , _ - Sa. Bernardl.o - V_tIIra- A_t.8r_ - N. . . -Ceeta . . . . - ................ - V_tllra- A_1narn - N. . . -Ceeta . . . . - . . . . . SPEEDWAY WEEK Alan "Crazy" Christian In 8Ction at tho eo.tIi M... OuIillfler. An eftorth.·f8ct decl"on by tho jud.... gave Chrinian the win over. dluppolnted Kelly Moran. Christian declared winner at Costa Mesa By Jim Brown COSTA MESA, CA, AUG. 19 The qualifying round held al Costa Mesa today started out slow, but as the night progressed things got very excit 26 ing for everyone. Alan Christian sponsored by STP and First National Monetary captured a perfect score of 20 points by winning every race he entered. Christian along with the other riders, is trying to secure a spot in the National to be held here in October. The main event was a photo finish between Christian and Kelly Moran; not only exciting but confusing. Without a final decision from the officials, the announcers called out Moran as the winner. After the trophy presenlation and fanfare, it was determined that Christian was the official winner per the judges. Moran Slated that he felt the decision was not accurate and that when the Nationals came, he would show everyone who the real champion is. Gene Woods has to be awarded most surprising rider in the qualifying rounds. Now wearing his old leathers, he has proved to be a big threat even with his having a poor season thus far. The riding was fast and furious all evening, and with few crashes. The first crash was in event nine where Pat Linn crashed twice. , When the semis started, so did the crashes, as the intensity increased. In the first semi Cook came into turn one too' hot and took out Christian. The referee's ruling left Cook back in the pits to watch the restart. Semis also saw Moran lake over the lead in a spectacular wheelie right through the center of the pad. The consolation race was won by Sam Ermolenko, followed by Faria in second. Lucero and Robinson were in hard pursuit, and Robinson clipped Lucero's back wheel and sent them both spinning trying to stay up. They both succeeded, but Lucero eventually fell down in the next lUrn, apparently not having gained tOlal control of his bike. Results MAIN EVENT: 1. Alen ChriMilln; 2. K8l1y Moren; 3. G-. Wooda; 4. Mi... C.......,. 1. Alen ChrlMilln (201: 2. Kelly Moren (181: 3. M'''' Cur..... (18): 4. (tie) Gene Woods/Sem Ermo. ....ko(15t. 6. MI... Ferie03t. 7. S_L_o(l1t. 8. (tie) Buddy Robinoon/MiluI a.t (9): 10. Dubb Ferrell lBl: 11. (tiel Keith ~ Jim a.->I John Cook (7): 14. (tiel Dweyne Verrow/BredOxley (6t 16. Tom Burbll(4t 17. (tie) Devid Ferie Jr.lJohn SendoN/Dennis ~P8t Unn (3); 21. (tiel Denni. Robineon/.....' Orlendi/Herien _ Jr.l Denny ScopeIIn./Dennis Breneford (2t 28. (tie) Tom Ferri./Ron McGiII/St.... C'-ord/Greg AyenITim McCedend (11; 27. (tie) Men: Robert _nglRon BlIIr-. (01. _I Faria is perfect at Ventura Qualifier By Bill Locey VENTURA, CA, AUG. 16 Mike Faria enjoyed yet another Tuesday night at the "Commotion By The Ocean" as he won all five of his races, scored 20 out of a possible 20 points and won the main event, thus taking round two of the U.S. National Qualifiers. If Faria was merely perfect, then Gene Woods was nearly as dever. All he did was come back from the dead, or in this case, a three·point SalUrday night in Auburn. Woods ended up second in the main and scored a heallhy 18 points. Woods was second last year as well but notably niftier in '79 when he won this race. In a real surprise, Faria was the only Tuesday night usual who made it to the main, therefore, so much for experience, locals only aDd aU maL Besides Faria, it was like an old timer's race - a qualifierout of the time warp - featuring Woods, Mike Bast (who won the first Scratch Main here in June, 1971),andMikeCuroso (who starred for the Ventura Chargers back in '72). Anyway, Woods got a killer start and began £lying around the outside (of which there is plenty here), and led for two laps, although Faria kept the heat on. Woods got too much traction coming out of four on the second lap, wheelied for a second, and whiz-bang, "Flying' Mike" had nown by and nown away. Bast was third, ending with 16 points, while Curoso, also reborn on Tuesday scored a frantic 14. "If I like a track, I ride hard, if not, and I think I could get hurt, I'll just go home. But I like this track, I just wish I'd been coming up here the last few months," said Woods later. In the consolation race, "Sudden Sam" Ermolenko seemed to have ended his string of bad luck and had the race won until John Cook stole it with a sneaky lasl-lurn move. Ermolenko ended with II, and another resident hot guy, Valvoline-decorated Rob Pfetzing, scored a dozen. "I should've won the main," said Ermolenko later. Well, maybe. He won his first heat then knocked over Dubb Ferrell and was kicked out, then came back and thrashed Cook to win his final heat. Many of the heats, as per usual, tottered on the verge of the mundane, but the semis were worth the drive. In the most important semi, Dubb Ferrell and Faria went wheel to wheel around turn one then suddenly Faria crashed into the bales even as Ermalenko, off the pole, had streaked to a big lead. Ref~ Andy Cadoni redfla~ed the race and the restart did not mclude Ferrell. Result. MAIN EVENT: 1. Milul F_: 2. Gene Wooda; 3. Mi... IIat; 4. Milul Curoeo. CONSOLAnON: 1. John Cook; 2. Sem Ermo"RIco; 3. Rob P1etzlng; 4. John SandoN. POINTS: 1. Milul Ferie (201; 2. Gene Wooda (8); 3. Mba.t(lSt.4. MI... C......., (14t 5. John Cook (121;6. Sem Etmolenko(11);7.JohnSendone(11I; B. Bred Oxley (91; 9. S_ L.-ro (8); 10. 8uddy Robinaon (Bt. 11. Dubb Ferrell (8t 12. Denny SCopellite (7t, 13. Ron Blenton 17t 1~. Kelly Moren (8); 15. 0... Fer'" (5t 16. AlenChr_n(5); 17:Tom Blirbll(4l; 18. KeithChr_(4t 19....uIO...ndl(3); 20. Oemi. Robineon (3); 21. DUllne V_(2); 22. Jim Lewaon (2t. 23. G..... Avera (2t 24. Tom Ferris 12t 25. Dennia 8renaford (2t 28. Ron McGiI (1); 27. Men: Prince (1 t 28. Dennia _ (01; 2lI. P8t Um (ot 30. Herlen a.t Jr. (01; 31. Steft Crewford toI; 32. Tom Mc:CaIend (01. Budman the top cat at Auburn By Jann Houston AUBURN, CA, AUG. I~ Auburn broke another attendance record tonight as the 198~ qualifying rounds began. Perfect weather and track conditions gave the fans all they could hope for in a night of special speedway. Buddy Robinson and Mike Faria, two riders particularly familiar with the Auburn track, met in the very first heat. Robinson got the lead from the pole position, northern Californian Pat Linn was in second and not about to give Faria a chance to move any further than third. Mike Curoso had to senle for what was left. Robinson went on to hold a perfect score to the main event, and with the exception of his first heat, Faria did the same. In event 12 John Sandona broke the lape. A protest was filed by his ile, wlao did A hav.e.the achIarna~ of viewing the vid~, which erases alI doubtl One thing is for s~, track officials are grateful that the majority of the wives view the races from the grandslandsl Prior to the semis, a runoff was necessary to fill the last two semi positions, between Andy Gilbertson, who was first reserve from the nOM replacing Kelly Moran who had been excused from the first round by t~ AMA in order to represent the U.S. isl the Best Pairs competition in Swed , replacing his Brother Shawn wbb had broken his leg. Tom Ferris, Jolin Sandona and Dennis Bransford were the other partici pants. Sandona and Bransford went to the Semis. In the consolation main, Sam &·t molenko go the gate and held .tho lead easily for four laps. Steve LUCelO was second on the first lap, Law~ took him on lap two securing tlie number two spot. On lap four Oxley got past Lucero [or third, and that was the finish. Lucero continually tried to use the outside riding position and it just did not work. In the main event, Buddy Robinson had the pole Position once again, Faria was in the number two position, Bast was third and Dubb Ferrell was on the wall. Faria was out of tlte gate in his usual superior style, with Robinson a close second. Bast got an unusually slow start, as Ferrell was wide to the outside. By the finish 91 the second lap Faria had gained In his lead as Bast and Robinson tightened up the battle for second. At tlie checkered flag it was Mike Faria taking the win, sharing top honors of the night with Robinson who went away with the top points of the evening, edging Faria by one. Robinson was second, Bast third. A bit of humor was added to tonight's show by the showman himself, John Cook. In Event number two, Cook met Mike Bast for the fint time since the "incident" down south, and it was a game of "come on and catch me if you can" as Cook slowed up and waved Bast on. It was a crowd pleaser to say the least! Results 1. Buddy Robineon 1191; 2. Milul F_ (181; 3. MI'" a.t (17); 4. DuIIb Ferrell (1St 5. en._(13);8. BredOxJey(12t 7.JImLewaonll1tl. Stew l.ucIIro (lot B. IIob "'-t2ing (9); 1O. Deoid Fer'" Jr. (8t. 11. John Cook l8); 12. Alen ChrlaIIen lBl; 13......, O... ndi (St 14. Demia Robineon 151; 15. Tom Ferris 14t. 16. Dennia 8renalard (41; 17. John SendoN (4t 18. ,.,." Gl---. I4t 11. Keith Chrieco 13t 20. Demia _ (3); 21. Gene Wooda(3I; 22. Gng AyenI (3); 23. DenniaSc,~ , . , (2); 24. Tom Burbll In 25. Ron BlIIr-. (2t 28. P8t Unn (2t 27. Milul e - 12t 28. Steft Cr-'ord (2t. 29. _ _ Jr. (It 30. Ron McGill 11t 31. Mere Pri.... (It 32. DUllne V_(ll. s.m Blevins wins seasonender at Visalia By Bill Locey VISALIA, CA, AUG. U Randy Blevins demonstrated need (he needed cash to transport some junior riders to New York) and also ability (he won the Scratch main) at the season ending swan song in humid, airless Visalia. Earlier, he demonstrated greed by being kicked out of his Handicap heat for crashing into Marty Nation. Blevins led the main from start to finish, while behind him, Chris Hedge got by Gary Ford on the third lap for second. Steve Hill brought up the rear. Ford, who is leaving California to return to Canada, left Visalia in hi~ style - he won the Handicap maIO off the forth. It was an extra-weird race. After Ford, The Budman's ,ounger brddler, Rocky RobiRson,

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