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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126921
Top individual point scorer Phil Collins led the World team's comeback, winning his last four rides of the evening. American Cup- ~eclway Challenge - USA defeats the World at Ascot By Scott Daloisio Photos by Dennis Greene GARDENA, CA, JULY 31 A standing room only crowd of over 6200 fans jammed every inch of Chris Agajanian's Ascot South Bay Stadium and they watched as the USA defeated a team of World Class performers, 57-50, in the inaugural Budweiser American Cup Challenge. Unfortunately two-time 20 World Speedway Champion Erik Gundersen of Denmark and Kai Niemi were unable to make the event as they were delayed at customs and missed the flight to the USA. They were replaced in the action by England's Kelvin Tatum and Phil Collins. The non-appearance of the two riders failed to deter the enthusiasm of the packed house as they began to roar at the pre-race riders parade. They continued to roar as Mike Faria and Steve Lucero soundly thrashed Ales Dryml of Czechoslovakia in event one. Dryml's partner Tatum fell in turn one. Event two saw Mark Dwyer, who ended up top scoring the "Yanks" with II points, winning over Alan Christian and the USA had a 10-1 lead. The World team failed to have a rider finish as Karl Maier of West Germany broke the tapes and Sweden's Jan Andersson fell. Rob Pfetzing and Brad Oxley put the finishing touches on round one by scoring another 5-1 over Phil Collins and 1976 World Champion Peter Collins. The meeting was turning into a runaway and as one of American chargers, Oxley. said in the pits after the first round" This isn'teven fun." Dwyer and Christian then went out in event four and piCked up a 5-1 and that left the score at 20-3 after only four races. Fortunes for the World team then began to turn around as they tied the Americans' at 3-3 in event six when Jan Andersson scored the win over Oxley and Pfetzing and he got a huge cheer from the crowd. Round two ended and the score was still one-sided with the USA leading 27-8. The World team finally won their first race in event nine when Tatum and Dryml teamed for a 4-2 over Oxley and reserve rider Shawn McConnell. The next race was 3-3 and in event II the World team again posted a 4-2 as Phil Collins led Alan Christian and Peter Collins across the line. Suddenly the World- team was creeping up and the score was 34-19 after three rounds. After Bruce Pei:lhall defeated Ivan Mauger in a best of three match race, round four began. The best race of the night took place in event 13. Faria and Tatum traded the lead back and forth over four furious laps and when the checkered flag carne down it was Faria by inches much to the delight of the crowd. Dwyer won the next event over Andersson and Maier but it was Phil Collins scoring his second consecutive win in event 15. Brad Oxley was second but Pfetzing broke and the World team crept a bitdoser. Round five started out with a pair of even heats with each team scoring three points. The score was 51-38 in favor of the USA and the World team breathed one last gasp as j>hil Collins and his spectacular style made it three wins in a row by winning from ·Lucero and his brother Peter. After that race the spectacular thrill merchant who rides for Cradley Heath in the British League remarked "This track is smashing. Literally brilliant. I'm having a great time." Event 21 ended up 3-3 as Tatum won over Pfetzing and Oxley but that was all she wrote for the World team. They were down 54-41' and even if they scored maximums in the last two events ·they would have lost by the count of 54-51. Event 22 saw the World team post their onl y 5-1 o£the meeting as Maier led all the way over the brilliant Andersson who blocked Faria and Lucero all the way. Phil Collins scored his fourth consecutive win when he won from Christian Peter Collins and Dwyer in the last race. The meeting was over and the crowd roared their approval as the USA won 57-50. The meeting was a success and plans are already underway for next year's event. Results USA: 1. Mork Dwyer (11): 2. Miko Forio (10): 3. Steve Lucero (9); 4. Alan Christian (9); 5. Brad Oxtey (9): 6. Rob P1elZing (8): 7. Shown McConnell PI. WORLD: 1. Phil Collins (15): 2. Jon Andersson (131: 3. Kelvin Totum (12): 4. Peter Collins (4): 5. (TIE) Ales Dryml/Korl Moier (3). SPDWY MATCH RACE: 1. Bruco Penholl; 2. Ivon Mauger. SUZ QUAD RACER MATCH RACE: 1. Pernelli Jones; 2. Bruce Pennoll.