Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Mike Faria (left) and Alan Christian (right) took the victories in Handicap and Scratch mains, respectively, at Costa Mesa. One of the key races of the meeting w.as event 10. Faria was off the pole with Schwartz out of two. For good measure Ermolenko and Sisemore were also in the four lapper. Faria gated the pack but he went wide in the first bend. That left the pole open to Schwartz. The defending National Champion seized the opportunity and tried to get by, but Faria had enough power to maintain his advantage.. Ermolenko then challenged Schwartz for second at the end of the first lap, but Schwartz cut off the outside line and that was all she wrote. Faria took the win with Schwartz second and they were tied for first but not for long. Cook came out and won event II and he had a one point bulge over both Faria and Schwartz after three rounds. Faria and Cook met to start the fourth round and Faria gated the field from position two. Cook was third until the end of the first circuit. There he moved into second and riding the ·extreme outside line, he gave Faria a war that lasted until the final lap when Faria moved away to win by four lengths. That put Faria and Cook level at II points and after Schwartz won event 15 aJl three were tied headinR into the final round. Faria won his last ride with ease and all he could do was watch Cook and Schwartz battle in the final event. If either of them won he would meet them in a runoff for the crown. If, by some chance, neither of them won, the victory would go to Faria. He wasn't so lucky as Schwartz led it all the way to set up a run off. Faria won the coin toss for the runoff and chose gate two forang Schwartz to start in gate four. That gave Faria the advantage, but Schwartz got a beautiful gate and by tum one he had come down the track and was in front of Faria. The outside was pretty much gone so that left Faria with only the inside to get by, but Schwartz was suarding the pole. Schwartz parked It going into turn three on the second lap and Faria rammed him smashing his front tire into Schwartz' left hand. They both continued on and Schwartz led the remainder of the way to win by a bike length. ~ Results POINT STANDINGS: 1. Bobby Schwenz (14); 2. Mike Ferie (14~ 3. John Cook (13); 4. Bred OJdey (10~ 5. mE) Sem Ermolenko/Steve Lucero/Phil Collin./~ Ott/Dubb Ferrell (7). SUP: 1. Tnnon Cirello (Wei); 2. Bernie Tusco (PPT); 3. Don Ambrose (Jaw). Christian waltzes to Orange County Speedway win By Scott Daloisio COSTA MESA, CA, MAY 22 Alan "Crazy" Christian finally received some good fortune and he waltzed to the victory in the Scratch main event on KROQ Fox Night at the Orange County Fairgrounds. The win by the former National Speedway Champion was his first of the 1987 season. Christian had looked tough on the STP/PAX Racing/Quaker State/ Cal Fab/Cirello Racing Weslake all evening long. Early on he had beaten the likes of Bobby Ott, Phil Collins, Brad Oxley and Mike Faria, but he had to prove himself one more time in the main event. In the main Ott was out of two with Faria in three and Bobby Schwartz, who has been winning everything in sight, on the outside. Using the pole to his advantage, Christian was the first rider into turn one with Schwartz and Ott tucked right behind. Faria went to the outside of Ott and took third at the end of the first circuit. The slender Colton, California resident then tried to shoot under Schwartz for second as they came off turn two on lap two, but Schwartz shut the door. Schwartz was never far behind Christian in the event, but the leader was not about to be denied. When the Jerry King checkered flag brought an end to the affair it was Christian by a length over Schwartz with Faria and Ott rounding out the field. In the Scratch main Faria didn't have a very good outing, but he had been sizzling in the Handicap races aJl night long. It was only appropriate that he took the Shoel/Cody Products/Kal-Gard/STP/MJB Plating Jawa from the 50 all the way to the win in the crash-plagued eight lapper. It took four tries to get the event in and-on the fourth start Faria was on the front row with Andy Northrup. The race still had five laps to go and Faria immediately raced into the lead. The only question, barring mechanical failure, was how far he would win by. The race for first was over unless there was another red. The fans turned their attention to second where Oxley, Dubb Ferrell and John Cook were clawing at Bobby Schwartz leads Mike Faria in the runoff at the Pruce PenhaJl Classic at IMS. Schwartz edged Faria by a bike length for the win. Northrup. Ferrell was the first past Northrup when he moved him off the pole in turn one on lap four. Oxley and Cook then passed Northrup on lap six for third and fourth, but they had no chance of catching Faria. Faria began waving to the crowd by lap seven and when the race ended he had a half straight lead. Ferrell, whose bike was belching smoke off the final comer, took second with Oxley onJy a half of a wheel back in thud. Faria was more than happy since he won his heat after being sent back to the 60 (penalty line) for an intentionaJ lay down. STP/Champion/Talon/Cirello Racing/TT Weslake-sponsored Sean Diiullo took the win in the four-lap Support class main event over Trinon Cirello and Mike Law. Results SCRATCH: 1. Alen Christien (Wes~ 2. Bobby Schwenz (Weo); 3. Mike Forie (Jew). HOCP: 1. Mike ForieIJew); 2. Dubb Ferrell (Wee); 3. Bred Oxley (Weo). SUP: 1. Seen Diiullo (Wes); 2. Trinon Cirello (Wes); 3. Mike Lew (Jew). ,t's Schwartz again at Speedway USA By Scott Daloisio VICTORVILLE, CA, MAY 23. Thus far in the 1987 season, Bobby Schwartz has been dominating the Scratch mains in southern California. He has been winning most of those mains h:.om the gate, but Saturday evening at Speedway USA, the story was different. Schwartz had to fight his way from behind. When the four lapper ended Schwartz was, as usual, the first rider to cross under the checkered flag. Unlike other nights this season, the defending Nauonal Champion was not aboard his trusty Weslake. Instead he broke his Italian made GM out of moth balls and it performed to perfection. Silkolene/Justice Brothers/Malcolm Smith/C. T.r. Brace/Bellsponsored Schwartz had to do it the hard way in the main. He was out of gate four and when the tapes flew up he found himself chasing Rob Pfetzing, who was making a rare Speedway USA appearance, into the first bend. Schwartz kept to the outside in an effort to find traction and he made his first try at the lead at the end of the first revolution. It wasn't enough and Pfetzing kept his Weslake in the point position. Schwartz stayed wide and as they came off the second turn on lap two he powered by Pfetzing and into the lead. Seeing that the outside had worked for his opposition, Pfetzing tried it out on lap three. At first it didn't work, but as they came off turn four and headed for the white flag, . Pfetzing got the drive and began to gain on Schwartz. It wasn't enough. Pfetzing stayed wide going down the back straight on the last circuit, but Schwartz moved to the cen.ter of the track to hold him off. The move worked and Schwartz had his 19th win of the young season.. Pfetzing was a close second with Keith Larsen, who passed Alan Chrislian in their semi to make the main, third. RS Aviation/Red Baron Pizza! Ken Maely/Castrol Jawa-sponsored Tuff McBride hasn't been having a great year, but he won all three of his Handicap rides including the eight-lap tnain. McBnde was off the short yardage on the start and he took the initial lead over Scotty Brown, Andy Northrup and Scott Brant. Brown ran into trouble almost immediately as his rear tire began 'to go flat and by lap five he was a spectator on the infield. Brant made the first move at McBride on the second lap when he moved into second. Brant applied extreme pressure to McBride, but the former Golden Gloves boxer faiJed to fold. Brant tried everything he knew, but McBride was hanging tough and then Brad Oxley began to close in on the leaders at the halfway point. At the white flag Oxley was breathing down Brant's neck. Oxley got inside Brant as they came off the second tum for the final time. Oxley put his Weslake right on McBride's rear tire as they went into tum three and McBride was feeling the pressure. He drifted off the pole coming off turn four and left the inside to Oxley. It wasn't enough. Oxley couldn't find the drive and he feU short by about half a length. Bran~ ended up third. Highland Framers/Speedway 8c Happening Magazines Weslakesponsored Jessee Finch made it three wins in a row in the Support class while .vision Street Wear/FishinR Boats Unlimited Weslake-sponsored Josh Larsen won the Junior main event. Results SCRATCH: 1. Bobby Schwenz (Wee); 2. Rob PlelZing (Wes); 3. Keith L.eroen (Jew). HOCP: 1. Tuff McBride (Jew~ 2. Bred Oxley (W••~ 3. Scott Brent (Wes). SUP: 1. Jessee Finch (Wei); 2. Jeff Frenzenburg (Wei); 3. Devid Smith (Jew).. JR: 1. Josh L.eroen (Wes).

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