Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

(Above) Check out this killer holeshot by Ronnie Correy (fer lane) in one of the heats. (Below) Shane McDonald and Buddy Robinson peer to the inside of the track before a start. IAbove) Lance King ovel'Cllme the pain of a broken collarbone to notch the Ascot Long Track Championship. (Below) Third-piece John Cook demonstrates his straightaway form. u.s. Long Track Speedway Championship King reigns at Ascot By Bill Locey Photos by Scott Daloisio GARDENA, CA, NOV. 4 After suffering a dead motor in his initial heat race, Lance King came back to win his three remaining rides ineluding the sixman, three-lap main event as he became the 1983 U.S. Long Track Champ over a less-than-stellar lineup on the awesome Ascot half mile. "I guess my bike just loaded 10 up," said Kin~ aher his first-race fizzle. "And my Collarbone is bothering me a lot, too. I'm wearing this collarbone brace that's so tight, it's hard to even move; and it's pretty scary on a track like this." King's path lO glory nearly became a dead end again at the line in his second ride. He had streaked about 10 feet when his bike stalled again but then just as quickly fired, but not before the other four riders were nearly to tum one. With power to spare, King passed all of them between turn one-and-a-hal£ and the mid-poim of the back straight in a hair-raising display of nerve and masterful mechanical work. It also ~enerated the closest thing to a cheer that was heard all night. King beat his closest competitor, Jim Turner, by about 40 lengths. King, who used to £Iy o££ the SO here back in 1980 when Ascot was the regular Thursday night venue, won his semi with a good stan and equal ease over Rob Pfetzing (in his Ascot speedway debut) and four others. to qualify for the rrtain. Meanwhile, defending champ Bobby Schwartz looked more than up to repeating as he won his heats by miles, then came right back to do the same in his semi, and entered the main unbeaten and really unchallenged. Young Ed Castro, unbeaten in his heats, su££ered a broken chain in the semi just before he got lO tum one while chasing Schwanz, and was finished for the night as the first two made the main while the next pair rrtade the consolalion. The other pre-race favorile, John Cook, passed Buddy Robinson around lurn two lO win his semi convincingly. Such a big lead gave Cook the chance lO praclice his repenoire of nully nighl moves such as laying on his bike down the slraighls wilh his left leg Slicking up in the air, or lhe basic 80-mph wheelie. Cook, new beard and all, almosl didn'l gellhe chance lO show 0((. In his firsl ride, he almosl made il lO lurn one when he blew a molOr. Cook and his pil crew were quick enough, however, lO SwilCh motors in lime for his neXl heal, which he won. In the main, Schwartz got the besl gale and gOl lO lurn one firsl, bUl King blew by on the oUlside around tum two. Schwartz came charging back and nearly caught up,on (Urn I ,~ f" .. *' •• ~ lour, but King held his ground and then began lO pull away, eventually winning by aboul 10 lengths. Cook was third followed by Robinson, Pfetzing and Dave DeTemple. Ron Blanton won a trophy for taking the consolation race. King's victory snapped a streak of "almosls." In 1980. he was lhird, in 1981 he almosl won - after leading lhe main until a red £lag, where his bike croaked on the restan; last year he was second lO Schwartz. NOl to lake anything away from King, who is probably a fUlure world champion, bUl his long track compelilion was weak, at best. This race has been going downhill for the lasl few years due lo a lack of competilOrs who can ride a long track. There hasn'l been a regular long track show since 1980, and now Ventura, alonefifth mile, is the longesltrack, and it's j USl nOl the same. Also, many of lhose who coufd ride, chose noc lO. For example, Shawn Moran.lhe WOTldLongTrackchamp, and the besl Ascol rider ever, sal walching in lum one with brothq Kelly. Shawn, who won lhis race twice and was second lwice, couldn't come lo lerms with the promolers over show-up money. Reponedly lhey ended up $300 apan. Too bad, lhe fans would've chipped in $300 jusllo walcb Shawn do his SLU£( on the haH mile. Olher nOlables who declined ro ride included Mike Faria, Sleve Lucero, Dennis Sigalos, Rick Miller, Bob McLain, Sam Ermolenko, Brad Oxley and Mike Bast. Shawn McConnell, slill nursing his knee, also walched. • Results MAIN EVENT: 1. lJInce King; 2.1lobby Schw8rtz; 3. John Cook; 4. Buddy Rolli"",,"; 6. Rob Pfetting; 6. D... DoTe""'. CONSOLAnON MAIN: 1. Ron Blemon; 2. Tommy W.hon; 3. Rocky 4. Bob Ott; 6. Gnog Ayers; 6. Tom Ferns. . ~.. .. _noon; . .. .

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