Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

SPEEDWAY WEEK points behind Brad Oxley, Rob Pfe ing and Cook who were all tied for the fi!1al qualifying spot. Sadona's long shot chances began to look brighter when he soundi whipped his competition in his first two rides while Pfeuing only managed two points. At that time S~ dona had quickly made up four of!Jle nine-point deficit. Sandona's chayces were looking better going into rke third round, but it was niH a slim hope at best. Pfeuing then cas a huge cloud over the Sandona ca !p when he defeated Christian in fils final heat, while Sandona took' ~ third behind Bast and Tom Burba I his final heat. 0, Keith Chrisco got Ihe gale in e firsl semi over Bast and Christian. Christian found some daylight QIl the inside of the second corner and rocketed by the two lead riders and away from the pack for the eventual win and trip to the main. Bast got by Chrisco on lap three to earn a trip ~o the consolation. Cook made it look, easy in the second semi to earn his ticket to the main event. Sandona, fighting for his speedway life, came out of the gale second behind Oxley in the third semi. It didn't take Sandona long as he made his most important pass of the year when he went by Oxley for the lead in turn two. That pass, which gained him one point, eventually put him into the 1983 National Championship. Pfeuing saw his hopes of making his first National go up in smoke if{ the final semi. On the first try he ended up against the crashwall in tile first corner. He got a reprieve when Gene Woods went down in the neit bend forcing a complete restart. the second go, Pfetzing was trailin~ the pack near the end of lap one when clutch problems set in which droppe(l him far 0(( the pace and into an eventual fourth-place finish. While Pfetzing was having his problems, Kelly Moran and Mike Faria were having a spirited battle for the lead, which Moran eventually won in a photo finish. After Bast defeated a determined Faria in the consolation, Christian (STP/First National Monetary Good) jumped in.to the lead from the pole in the main over Moran, Cook and Sandona. Cook tried the inside on backchute on the first circuit but was forced back by Christian. The standing-room-only crowd then went delirous as Christian, Moran and Cook roared down the front chute three abreast in a battle for the lead heading into turn one on lap two. Christian won that battle, but Moran and Cook continued to badger him for the lead spot. Cook swept wide coming out of four on lap three in a dramatic move to challenge for the lead. Equal to the task, Christian also moved high and took the track away from Cook. Christian rode the final lap in relative peace, taking the win' by three lengths over Moran, who l>ea.tCook to the line by inches for second as the crowd roared its approval at the end of a fine night of racing. John Cook at intermission showed that Moran was definitely "dialed in" Friday night. Bast also came into the main event a winner and had the lead, but one wide turn left Moran a hole and cost Bast the victory. Mike Faria, who just introduced Budweiser into speedway racing sponsorship, had second place sewn up in the semi, but I0 yards from the finish line, his lower end seized and Christian smoked past for the transfer spot. Sam Ermokenko took the consolation race in front of Faria, who was followed by Mike Curoso and Jim Lawson. Handicap racing left some top riders out, due to a slick track that made the outside line more like no-man's land. Alan Christian tried and fell down, Jim Lawson got out there and went into the pit gate, knocking it open and sending a pit man for a ride. Two riders did manage to get through from the back; John Cook and Gene Woods. Cook, sponsored by Cody, Hi-Point. PJI and Bell went on to win the semi, having to work his way past Dennis Briggs. In Ahe main event, Cook put on a ride that was exciting for everyone. Taking the outside and riding on the edge of destruction. Cook worked his way right into a win and a trophy. Second Division racin~ had two riders hit the wall with not only their bikes, but caught the top edge with their chests. Trace Willis went right on over, but Tom Walton came toa dead stop. Both walked away sore but unhurt. Greg Ayers, Guy Waterson, and Ron Williams won the heat races. Pat Hawley worked his way past several riders to capture the win. Hawley is sponsored by Jim Busby, Michael's Lapidary and Mesa Muffler. Third division racing's first heat was a disaster wi th crashs. Mike Dwyer and Ed Copp were heat winners. Bryce Eikelbur~er, sponsored by Windlord, Cromwell Tools and Alloy Graphics. took the main event, starting from a reserve position. Cl(") 00 0') - an Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Kelly Moran; 2. Mike Baat; 3. Alan Christian; 4. John Cook. HANDICAP MAIN: 1. John Cook; 2. Mark Dwyer; 3. Dennis Briggs; 4. Danny Sc"""lIite; 5. John San· dona; 5. 51... Columbo. SEC DIV: 1. Pal Hawley: 2. Greg Ayers; 3. Andy Northrup; 4. Ron Williams: 5. Robert Buouo: 6. Guy Waterson. . THIRD DIV: 1. Bryce Eikelburger; 2. Mike Dwyer; 3. Jimmv O'dell; 4. Frank Steiner; 5. Russell8acerella; 6. Ed Capp. MATCH RACE: Kelly Moran del. John Cook. (Below) As usual. the starts _re the determining factor at Costa Me... the Christian gathers the points at IMS By Scott Daloisio SAN BERNARDINO, CA, AUG. 24 Heading into last Friday's qualifier at Costa Mesa, a lot of people were writing off Alan Christian after his performan- Moran, Cook the main men at Costa Mesa By Jim Brown COSTA MESA, CA, AUG. 26 Kelly Moran made history as Jl~ _ 'p',!s_s~ .¥j!

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