Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126928
e e ....J 'w :I: ....J i: a. > CD a ... a :I: a. c.o 00 O"l ~ ~ l-< V ..0 0 ... U 0 Jeff Lengle (83) and Barry Overly battle in Leighton. Pennsylvania. during the Carbon County Dirt Drags. Diem takes U.S. Open Speedway By Todd Kroh GREENE, NY, AUG. 29-30 Warren Diem returned to Action Park East Speedway for the first time in 1986 and took home the golden cup symbolic of the $10,000 Anheuser-Busch U.S. Open Speedway Championship. The event moved to Action Park this year .from its traditional home in Owego, New York. Diem, a native of Pennsylvania, has been campaigning the J.986 speedway season in southern California. With his win, Diem became only the third rider east of the Mississippi to win the title in the more than 10 years the event has been held. Thirty-two riders from across the U.S. and Canada competed against each other during the first night's qualifying program. The top 16 point men after Friday's action were placed in the championship program during the second evening of the two-day affair. After the 16 riders raced against each other the top four moved to the main event series. a four-race format where each rider starts from each of the 4'gate positions. Scoring is based on the 3-2-1-0 point system and the top point miln after the four events would take the championship. The first entrant was George Lazor, who had won four of his five heai races during the evening. SeCond was Diem, who was gaining momentum with each ride. Ohio's John Racin was the surprise entrant, and there was a tie for the final position between three-time champ Gene Woods and Scott Brown. Brown won a run-off, sending him to the finals. The first main saw Lazor blast off the pole and into turn one the leader. ·But Diem came outof nowhere down the back straight and into turn three, taking over the lead. Diem then walked away from the field. All eyes turned . to Brown, who was dosing the distance between himself and Lazor. Lazor held of Brown to finish second; Racin was fourth. Main two was forced to restart as Brown and Racin got together on lap one and went down. On the restart, Diem took the lead when Brown went wide in turn one. Lazor scooted under Brown for second and held it until a controversial bump from Brown dropped him to third. The referee later disqualified Brown for the incident, moving Lazor to second and Racin to third. Diem started the third main right where he left off - in the lead. Brown was charged up from the referee's decision and pressed Diem hard,' finally making the pass in the s-econd corner of lap two. Racing and Lazor were left in their wake as Brown scored the win. At this point Diem had compiled eight points with one race remaining, and his nearest competitors were Lazor and Brown, both with four. Diem would not even have to start the final race to be the new champion, but he gave it his best shot. Brown was determined not to let Diem win and led the last main event wire-towire with Diem and Racin in tow. On the podium, Diem credited his' win to Racetech and Hank Bassett, who worked 24 hours a day to rebuild Diem's motor that was flown in from California. Results MAIN 1: 1. Warren Diem (Gdn); 2. George Lazor (Jaw); 3. Scott Brown (Jaw). MAIN 2: 1. Diem; 2. Lazor; 3. John Raein (Jawl. MAIN 3: 1. Brown; 2. Diem; 3. Raein. MAIN 4: 1. Brown; 2. Diem; 3. Raein. OVERALL: 1. Diem (1 0); 2. Brown (7); 3. Lazor (4). Carbon County Dirt Drags to Shupp By Phil Heil LEIGHTON, PA. AUG. 23 Yamaha-mounted Brian Shupp took home Top Eliminator honors from the Zinc City M.C.organized dirt drag event at Carbon County Fairgrounds. The club had been hosting dirt drags at their dub grounds. In a departure from the normal format, engine displacement was limited to 500cc because of the limited shut-down area at the end of the 400foot strip. Blocker Enterprises, a local HarleyDavidson and Yamaha dealer, provided trophies for all 14 classes and prize money for seven classes, including Top Eliminator. Shupp earned $100. The 67 entrants. ran in a roundrobin format until there were only two riders left to run for first and second in each class. Top finishers in with this newest fine art print in the series "Famous Motorcycle Racing Memories" by artist Jeff Gundlach. Selected, hand perfected, signed and numbered by the artist, only 213 of this edition are offered. The archive quality paper, made in France, is painted in seven permanent inks to last forever. Flat-out r~cing on the high banks - "Daytona" recalls the thrill of it all from a viewpoint no camera could contrive. Jeff Gundlach really catches this speedy moment, and you can own it for only $70 ea. incl. shipping. Ready to frame. (I--.e.a- ••', 24") JI[ r----------• • d • pleasesend I Name • COUPON - - - - - - - - - - - - , ufO a JeffG ad! I art Address • • prints(s) at$70.00 each to: (N.I'.O.••• _ I • • • I. I • • • .C~ I ~. I Zip Phone •• 0 Payment enclosed (check or money order, payable to Cycle News). (CA res. add 6%. LA County res. add 6'h%1 •• 0 Charge my Visa 0 _.~ Charg~ my Mastercard J~'11IiiirrII • I. Charge .Customers: We must have complete account number and card expiration date. • • I • • Expiration Date • • • Card No. Sign~ure • I • • • • • MaiL this order to Daytona Print c/o Cycle News. Inc. P.O. Box 498. Long Beach. CA 90801-0498 I I I ~----------------------------~ 49