Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ SPEEDWAY WEEK ~ Andy Northrup leads Dennis Briggs Ipartially hidden) and another rider at IMS. Schwartz sweeps Costa Mesa' Winners vary at Visalia By Scott Daloisio By Bill Locey COSTA MESA, CA, JULY 27 VISALIA, CA, JULY 14 There is people in who are "Captain a certain group of southern California glad to see Bobby America" Schwartz So you want a little variety with your speedway? "Rocket Rodney" Sullivan took the Scratch main event on his home heading back to England. They are the other First Division riders on the circuit as Schwartz won both the Handicap and Scratch mains at Costa Mesa. Schwartz, who also won the Scratch main at San Bernardino, started in gate two in the main and led from the outset but it was a hard-earned win. Mike Faria was second out of the gate followed by Kelly Moran and John Sandona. Sandona made a smart move to go from fourth to second and actually pulled next to .schwaru as they came off turn four. Schwartz fought off his challenger there but he was then challenged by both Sandona and Moran in turn twoon the second go-'round. Amazingly all three bobbled at the same instant and from there on it was Schwaru at the head of the pack. Moran moved into second with Sandona challenging. At the checkered it was Schwaru by seven lengths over Moran who was closely trailed by Sandona and Faria. On the Handicap side, Schwartz (SilkolenelBell/Oakley/Malcolm Smith/Justice Brothers/Champion/ Sinisalo/Grin/CireJlo/Cody/KBcN Wes) had to come all the way from the 40. After a red nag that resulted in the exclusion of Brad Oxley, Andy Northrup jumped into the lead over Craig Schaefer. Schwartz charged through the pack and got Schaefer at the end of the first revolution and then went to work on a very stubborn Northrup. The work paid off as Schwartz shot by on the inside in turn two on lap three and moved it out. track, making him the eighth different winner after 10 weeks of racing. Randy Blevins enjoyed the drive back to Garden Grove as he left clutching the Handicap main trophy. Blevins is the ninth different rider to take Handicap honors at Visalia's Plaza Park Arena. Sullivan gOI the gate in the Scratch main and headed for victory but Robert "Kid" Curry wouldn't let him get away easily and made it a tight, fast race. Curry caught Sullivan once, but "The Riverdale Flash" pulled away. Then Blevins dove underneath Curry, but Curry took second back a lap later. Randy Griffith was a distant fourth on his first night back after suffering a broken hand in an industrial accident. The Handicap main was a promoter's dream: (our back yardage riders made it. Low yardage rider Jim Gravance kept the hot guys chomping at the bit, wheel-to-wheel behind him . for the first three laps, then Blevins and Griffith got by and it was a twoman race to the line. Blevins won the nailbiter by a few lengths over Griffith. Gravance held on for third. Fresno rider Brian Ash took the Challengers' Main Event. Results SCRATCH MAIN: ,. Bobby Schwertz (Wes): 2. Kelly Moren (Gdn); 3. John Sandone (Wes); 4. Mike Faria (Wes), HANDICAP MAIN: ,. Bobby Schwertz (Wes); 2. Andy Northrup (Wesl; 3. Keith Chrisco (Wesl; 4. Craig Schaefer (Kewl; 5. John Sendona (Was); 6. Bred Oxley (Wes). SEC DIV: 1. Deve Hencock IGdn); 2. Doug Benjamin (Wes);' 3. Rich Sweeney (Jew); 4. Victor Roblado(Wes); 5. Pet Hewley(Gdn); 6. Mike Golightly(Gdn). THIRD DIV: 1. Jeff Jones (Wes); 2. Bob Tocco (Wes); 3. Randy Roscamp (We.); 4. Randy_ (Was); 5. Jeff Collard (Jaw); 6. Todd Verner (Jaw). JR MAIN: 1. Jessee Finch; 2. Dave Busby; 3. Gr6gg Hancock: 4. lilly Felts; 5. Tim G_e; 6. Bil~,!m;u ~'#". _" • • _. __ .", •• __ Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Rodney Sullivan; 2. R_rt Curry; 3. Randy Blevins; 4. Randy Griffith. HANDICAP MAIN: '1. Randy Blevins; 2. Randy Grjff~h; 3. Jim Gravance; 4. Rodney Sullivan; 5. Ron Hardin; 6. Stu McDaniel. SEC DIV: 1. Brian Ash; 2. Donnie Turner; 3. R_rt Fairchild; 4. Oscar Salinas. MATCH RACE: Blevins del. Sullivan. Larsen, 'famous old guy' win at Ventura By Bill Locey VENTURA, CA, JULY 17 Keith "Snakeman" Larsen slithered through traffic and took the Handicap main for ~his first Commotion by the Ocean victory since the good 01' days of , 9.. ~. j;j' '. . ., ___ •• _tL.l~.ill.Yxr.\ . - .. .. ~;;P.'hl:l~ warp performance, tha't famous old guy, Bill Gray, won the best race of the night - the Second Division main - his first win since, let's see, '76. And, ho-hum, Mike Faria won #11 when he took the Scratch main. Randy BLevins, too good for the 10-yard-line, led the Handicap main for three laps or until the fast company started breathing down his neck. While Blevins was trying to decide whether to block Greg Ayers up high or Larsen down low, the "Snake· man" slithered by and that was that. Ayers later got by and took the wrapup spot. Unlike '79, Larsen didn't bring his snake out for the trophy presentation which, back then, sent the trophy girl screaming into the night. We still haven't seen her since... In Second Division action, the always-smiling Bobby Tocco passed Gray but the old timer managed to hold off a speedy Cory Lussier for an "E" tic.ketto the main, which was the best race in awhile. It took Gray a few laps to get by Paul Lane, but then Donny Faulkner showed up to take the lead, and after two laps of wheelto-wheel speedway action, Gray got around him. But on the last lap, Steve Murray dove underneath Gray and held the lead until the final bend when Gray's wild drive got him to the line about a wheel sooner. The crowd went nuts. Hey Billy - next time take a victory lap. Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Mike Faria; 2. Dava DeTemple; 3. Greg Avers; 4. Craig Schaefer. HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Ka~h Larsen; 2. Greg Avers; 3. MIke Mazzacane; 4. Randy Blevins; 5. Dave DeTemple; 6. Andy Norlhrup. SEC D1V: 1. Bill Gray; 2. Steve Murray; 3. Donny Faulkner; 4. Randy 5. Paul Lane; 8. Bobby Tocco. THIRD DIV: 1. Rick HugMs; 2. Joe lliahop; 3. Tom Ziegler; 4. Mike Dwyer; 5. Jnon Chism; 6. Rex . a-: Sm~h. MATCH RACE: Mart< Dwyer del. Lanny BengtUOn. Yarrow storms to Napa win By Jann Houston NAPA, CA, JULY 14 Duane Yarrow, riding from the pole position, did what seems to come naturally, as he held off Pat Linn, last week's winner Mike Delacy and Bart Bast to win his third Napa Scratch main of the season. Yarrow, well on his way to being the northern California number one, held the lead all the way, although the entire field - Linn in particular - made it as difficult as possible. At the finish it was Yarrow, Linn, Delacy and Bast in a close one! Sixteen·year-old John Houston Jr. took Mark Zeissler on the inside on the second lap of the Handicap main, the left the rest behind to claim main event number twoatNapa. Bob Holmes was second, Steve Martin third. If you go way back in history of NorCaI speEway; to Cal Expo about 1977 or 1978, there will be fans who remember a little Junior named Jimmy Sisemore who shared the bill with Lance King, Steve Lucero and the Bast Brothers (Harlan and Bart). J immy disappeared from speedway for about six years, however he was back tonight, quite a bit taller, and he won the Division Two main in a close, hard ride with another former Junior, Darrell Anderson. Dirck Sauer was third. Rob Damron took home his second 1984 NapaDivision Three main. Scott McNeil was second over Kenny Weddinafeld. " , &bft' 'Rra'n't ana 'Boflb)l1 H~ £ thrilled the crowd with some exceptional Junior main action. Brant took the win by less than a tire, Hedden was second and Dustin Schroeder was third. Results HANDICAP MAIN: 1. John Houston .1<.; 2. Bob Holmes; 3. Stave Martin; 4. Mike Delacy; 5. Mark Zeissler; 6. Stave Elstin•. SEC DIV: 1. Jim Sisemore; 2. Darrell Anderson; 3. Dirck Sauer; 4. Ron Arlt; 5. Rory Rundle; 6. Charlie Heines. THIRD DIV 3: 1. Rob Damron; 2. Scon McNail; 3. Kanny Weddingfeld; 4. Jeff Holmes; 5. Brad Silva; 6. Sri.n Davil. JR MAIN: 1. Scon Brant; 2. Bobby H _ ; 3. Dustin Schroader; 4. Coors Wright: 5. Tommy Hadden; 6. Mike Knopf. Delacy, Davis dish up Auburn wins By Jann Houston AUBURN, CA, JULY 13 It was a lucky Friday the 13th for Mike Delacy as he won the Scratch main, his third this week in northern California and his first at Auburn. It was a threeman heat after Rocky Robinson, who had been hot, broke the starting tape. Delacy was in the lead from the gate, riding'in a style reminiscent of John Cook. Pat Linn was never out of second, but never had a chance to get close, while at the same time, Bart Bast made it plenty uncomfortable for Linn. Dennis Davis came back from a broken collarbone, suffered at BaylandsonMay 10, and from the way he rode tonight, it looks like he made a fully recovery. Working his way to the Handicap main, after winning his semi event, he took the lead and greatJy frustrated Robinson, who was right on his back tire for the full five laps, never able to get past him. Robinson settled for second, Steve Martin was third. John Hegarty, Darrell Anderson, and Bryan Henrikson were the three who survived in the Division Two main, finishing in that order. Perry Sherman did an audience-pleasing 360 in turn one, Mike Solis and Rich Simpson dueled and fell in tum three:"' coming for the white nag, putting a premature finish to their ride. Keith Kavanaugh looked like anything but Division Three, as he took the lead from the start and extended it on every lap, earning him his first main event win of the season. Scott Brant won yet another Junio main. Next year Brant, who willt . 16 in December, will move out of the Junior Division, and somebody e will get to win. Coors Wright w second and Dustin Schroeder was third. Results _.-n. SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Mika Delacy; 2. Pat Linn; 3. Bart BaR; 4. Rocky HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Dennis Davis; 2. Rocky' Robinaon; 3. Stave Martin; 4. John VoIk; 5. Pat Linn; 6. Bob Holme•. SEC DIV: 1. John Hegarty; 2. Darrell A~; 3. Bryan Henrikson; 4. Perry Sharman; 5. Rich Simpson; 8. Mike Solis. THIRD D1V: 1. Ke~h Kavanaugh; 2. Ron Arlt; 3. KannyW~eld; 4. Jeff Santos; 5. Brad Silva; Jeff Holmes. JR MAIN: 1. Scott Brant; 2. Coors Wright; 3. Dustin Schroader; 4. Bobby H_n; 5. Tommy HedcIiti>; 8. Mike Knopf. Schwartz sharp at IMS By Scott Daloisio SAN BERNARDINO, CA, JULY 25 Bobby Schwartz returned from England and showed the same styl~ that won the Am~r:iCfin 'Fi~l~~~ j Ni>'yg;~fb'li~j:1K j,n:ll i

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