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/127994
Cow Palace WEST COAST INDOOR SHORT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS By Bill Spencer Photos by Mitch Fri"edman DALY OTY, CA, MAY 1 ay Abrams of A&A Racing celebrated his 60th birthday with a few special friends at the Cow Palace. About 600 friends. The celebration also included an indoor short track on the concrete floor, something that hadn't ha ppened in quite a few years. The event was the brainchild of Ray's daughter, Rochelle, who was assisted by Rod Lake and his Rod Lake Racing crew. The day included an ama"teur competition that took place during the afternoon, a party for the assembled 600 and a night show in front of some 3500 fans that included a reunion race for some of dirt track racing's most notable rider~ of the 1960s and 1970s. Former A&A Racing-backed stars included Keith Mashburn, Mike Yarn, Jim Odom, Rick Hocking, John Gennai, Joe He~ and some guy named Kenny Roberts, who ju t happened to win the 10-lap feature over Gennai and Hocking. Roberts may have aged a bit since his first appearance here in January of 1970, where he finished third in his first-ever pro race, but the style was the same. He gated from the second position in the front row after winning his heat and was lapping riders by checkers time. Jimbo Filice got a good start and was running second, but IT specialist Gennai and his A&A Racing/Hi Point Bultaco got a wheel underneath Filice in the first turn, dumping the two-time AMA ational 250cc Road Racing Champion unceremoniously. Roberts was loaded for bear from the early afternoon, riding practic"e and heat events with the same enthusiasm that won him two AMA Grand National titles and three 500cc World Road Racing Championships. This, combined with youngest son Kurtis' win in the Formula Extreme event 3R • §l ci~ ~ :::E 38 for Erion Racing earlier in the day at Laguna Seca and the presence of oldest boy K.R. Jr., the winner of the first two Grand Prix events of the year, made for a memorable time. Obviously, Kenny Roberts Sr. had not lost any of his aggressiveness, as he easily cruised through traffic and had little problem in negotiating the heat and the main. Likewise for both Gennai and Hocking, both having the same aggressive style that made them fab names in their day. "I never rode against them," Filice said of the two. "Ahd I'm glad. They're brutal." Eddie Mulder was his usual smiling self," finishing fifth over Joe Henry and Nick Theroux, who earlier won the Classic 250cc Vintage on the same Honda he rode in the '60s. Theroux's bike only lasted a lap in the Legends heat before blowing ilie crank all over the concrete floor. Dave Bostrom had a great ride on a "King Kenny" Roberts made a return to the Cow Palace, the site of his !irst-ever Pro race, and won the 1Q-Iap Legends race at the West Coast Indoor Short Track Championships. The age has changed, but that unmistakable style remains.