Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ .... ro ::s ..a iU ~ (Above left) Winner Bubba Shobert (67) files in behind Mark Key (92) and Chris Carr (4). (Above right) Things didn't go all Shobert's way, however. (Below left) Carr and Bill Scott (81) get the jump on a heat. (Below right) Shobert sprays the champagne while flanked by Dana Perri and Regina Smith. Great American Shootout Series: Round 3 Shobert shoots 'em up at CO\N Palace By W.H. Spencer Photos by E.W. Dominie AN FRANCISCO, CA, JAN. 28 Team Honda's Don "Bubba" Shobert warmed up for the beginning of the Camel Pro Series by winning the crash-infested 20lap main event in round three of the Great American Shootou t series, sponsored by Dick Brandt's Concord Yamaha after promoter Mike Kidd found himself 16 - without a sponsor juSt twO days before the show. Can-Am mounted Chris Carr was the crowd favorite after smoking through his qualifying heat, heat -race and semi with the fastest time, then winning the trophy dash and leading the two starts of the main. However Carr fell once again in the main and finished last. Shobert's win moved him into second place in the series as neither Dallas and Fort Worth winner Terry Poovey nor Ronnie Jones, Scou Adams or Billy Herndon were in anendance. Amateur activities took place all morning and into the afternoon with the regular motorcycle show surrounding the indoor amphitheatre. Practice and qualifying also took place before the assigned starling time of 8 p.m., with eight scratch heaLS the first events of the long night. Fast qualifier Keith Day exerted himself with a win on his watercooled Suzuki but it was to be his ~- --- undoing later in the program. Shobert copped the second qualifier, with Craig Scroggins winning the third event. Otherqualifying heat winners were Chad Felicio; Jeff Harsha, Mark Key, Randy Green and Carr. Carr led the first heat from start to finish with a good holeshot. Fellow Junior rider Felicioalso made a good start for the nearly 6000 fans on hand and placed second. Bill Scou rounded out the first three tran fers to the bigbuck main. The concrete one-tenth-mile surface didn't lend itself well to pa sing but a lot of bumping was evident, with Craig Scroggins receiving and delivering both in his second-heat win over Harsha and Rod ullivan. Third-heat winner Shobert survived an early baule with new Novice Aaron Hill after some heavy passing on old man John Taylor. Pat McCaul returned to the racing scene and held on for a third place in heat (our behind Kelly Larking and Dana Perri. Keith Day rode the Henningsen Construction Suzuki to the fifth-heat win over Sal Hoffman, who was sporting his newly earned National number. Mark Key took the ixth heaLOn the Olympic Tune-Up Vama- ha over DaMart-sponsored Mike Arthur and former Mini whiz Larry Staggs. The first of the money races came with the four semi's where only three to transfer to the main. Carr and the pole appeared to be married for the night and he copped the first win but only after a flurry of anion with Scroggins, Hoffman, Scou and Sullivan. After the bashing was done and Jerry Kennedy's checkered flew, Carr was the winner and would enjoy the pole in the main with the fastest of the four semis. Scou and Sullivan joined him, with the others relegated to the sidelines. Shobert led wire to wire in semi two with Larking holdingon for second over Arthur and Pat McCaul trying but missing the cut. Day's pole-position semi start was the hot prop but while leading, his radiator thought otherwise and puked its guts and left him on the floor. Felicio took the hot win over Harsha and Bill McDonnell. Key led the final semi all the way with Hill becoming the only Novice in the main after a fine second on the NO Honda. Perri was third over Staggs and Danny McDonnell. The halftime entertainment was quite long and the riders were wisely given a lap to see what the three wheelers had left and a slippery spot was found and worked on in the turn 3-4 area. After a few more laps the green appeared with Carr the leader. It was to be a restart wi th riders down in the first turn blocking most of it, but once again Carr persevered and allpeared well on his way to an easy wm. "When we first went around both Bub and I slipped through the slick spOt and even after they worked on it, it was still slippery but we started and I felt pretty good, but it was still bad and I just lost it in that same spot," said an obviously unhappy Carr. Shobert took over near the halfway point and held a good margin in the middle laps with good passes through traffic but most eyes were soon rivited on Felicio, the Junior, who was working extra hard and moving closer as . ... the laps went on. The last five saw him c10 e to a bikelength with lots of traffic indicating that JUSt the right timing might make it possible for a pass, and the time came with jusllwO laps to go. Felicio brought the alinas Cycle Salvage KX out on a wide-angled line, knowing that Shobert would have trouble going for the white flag with three riders in the way. As Felicio exited the corner close in, Shobert burst through two riders and appeared to have made the right move while Felicio would have to settle for second. However, as they came off the second corner for the la ttime Shobert slipped the wheel just a bit too much in the inside line and FeLicio found himself right on the right line as they went into turn three. Chad gassed it extra hard as they exited towards the checkered and caught his (ront end with the rear of the Honda and hooked as they crossed. It caused quite a wreck in the first turn with Shobert the winner and Felico a close second, with hay strewn everywhere and a very excited crowd just loving the action. al though because of the late hour a lot of people had departed. Shobert later related, "I knew he was there but felt that I could pass at will and keephim off. I never expected that sort of a maneuver at the end." Felicio said, "I JUSt had to try and go for it. It was close but no go; I'm OK and it was fun." Arrivinglongafter I a.m. the posted results saw Shobert over Felicio with Harsha third JUSt in front of Perri. Scou took fifth over Sullivan and Hill. • Results 20 MAIN LAP NT: 1. Bubba Shobert IHon!; 2. Chad Felicio IKaw!; 3. Jeff Harsha (Hon); 4. Dana Perri (Yam); 5. Bill Scon (Yam); 6. Rod Sullivan (Yam); 7. Aaron HiIiIHon); B. Mike Arthur IHon); 9. Kelly lJIrkin (Hon); 10. Mark Key (Yam); 11. Chris Corr IC-A). TROPHY DASH 36:451: 1. Chris Carr IC·A); 2. Keith Day ISuz); 3. Bubba Shobert IHon); 4. Craig Scroggins (!

• Cover