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North vs. South Speedway Classic Gold Country Fairgrounds Speedway (Above) John Cook is sandwiched between leader Gary Hicks and Mike Faria, who is checking up to avoid hitting his teammate Cook, in the eighth heat. (Left) Northern riders Tommy and Bobby Hedden trail B main-event winner Josh Larsen and heat winner Chris Manchester at the Gold Country Fairgrounds Speedway. Larsen fell on lap four, leaving second and third to the Hedden brothers. STORY BY M. SOBER PHOTOS BY GEN MOORE AUBURN, CA, JULY 27 ormer Junior rider Billy Janniro's return to the United States to compete in the North vs. South event proved to be just the elixir the Northern California squad needed to propel itself to an impressive 74-to-61-point victory in the 11th annual North vs. South Speedway Classic. With only the final points-rich main event yet to play out, the Southern California squad trailed by a mere seven points; a sweep of the main's two top spots would have left them a seven-point margin of victory. The Northern boys had to have at least a second-place finish to prevent their second loss in two years. Janniro saved his best ride for last, and his rocket-fast launch from starting gate four left Hicks and Manchester in his wake. Hicks maintained second place, but when Bast got around Manchester for third, the North had an inspiring 13-point win. "This is exactiy what I had in mind when I decided to come back home and race in the North-South," said Janniro, who is in his first year riding in the British Elite League. "I found a perfect spot in lane four, scuffed it up a bit with my boot and got good traction out of it. " Although Janniro won the main event and led the team with 18 points, it was a combined team effort that allowed the Northern squad to avenge last year's loss. Bart Bast was nearly flawless in the opening-round heats and contributed 15 points, "Flyin'" Mike Faria and European racing veteran John Cook tallied 10 F 56 SEPTEMBER 5.2001 • cue (Above) In full spew mode, the winners - (from left to right) Chad Felicio, Bobby Hedden, Tommy Hedden, Eric Carrillo, Billy Janniro (Who slipped behind Carrillo), Bart Bast, Mike Faria, reserve rider Bryan Yarrow (behind Faria), and John Cook - celebrate on the podium with the trophy girls and (center) co-promoter Mark Joiner. points apiece, and Tommy Hedden chipped in a much-needed seven. The Southern contingent was once again led by Gary Hicks, a three-time winner of the event; Hicks led all scorers with 19 total points. Chris Manchester served the Southern cause well with 12 points, and American Final champion Josh Larsen registered 10. In the first round of four heats, Manchester, Ryan Fisher and Hicks scored victories, with Bast taking the only non-Southern win in the second heat. Meanwhile, the Northern riders swept all the second-place points, I e n e _ s including a nice effort by Chad Felicio that kept Dukie Ermolenko and Hicks from dominating the fourth heat, and after one round the score stood tied at 12 points apiece. In the second round, Hicks won again and Manchester pulled off a briJliant last-turn past to gain his second win in two tries. However, the North once again swept all the second-place spots, and with Hedden and Bast both pulling off three-point wins, the North took a 28-to-20-point lead. In round three, the North closed the gap to 38-34 with three more wins, courtesy of Larsen, Ermolenko and Hicks, whp was a tactical replacement for Ed Castro. The North was able to maintain its lead through the efforts of the entire team: Although Faria garnered the only win in the round, Bast, Cook and Eric Carrillo puJled off gritty second-place performances that kept the South at bay. After intermission, Manchester opene.d up the fourth round with his third win, but the heat became a wash in points when Tommy and Bobby Hedden picked up second and third place, ahead of Larsen, who mysteriously fell while trying to protect his front-running teammate. Schwartz pulled the South as close as they were going to get in the next ride, winning after a flawless gate ahead of Carrillo, who was putting in the performance of his young career. With 14 heats, the North's slim lead stood at 43-41, with two regular heats to go. The last two heats went completely to the North when Cook and Faria dominated Fisher and Castro; after which Bast and Janniro did the same to Ermolenko and a clearly frustrated Hicks. At the end of regulation competition, the North's lead had grown to 53-43. In the B main, the points double, and Larsen took six when he rode off with the win, ahead of Cook and Ermolenko. The South's three-point advantage in the B main created an opportunity for them to still win the ~vent despite their late deficit. Janniro and Bast drove the stake through the heart of any hopes of comeback heroics that Hicks and Manchester might have harbored, and the North had their fifth win in the past six years before a deliriously happy partisan crowd at the standing-roomonly Gold Country Fairgrounds Speedway stadium. All in all, the South won 11 heats to the North's seven; however, the North's 16-2 advantage in second-place finishes eventuaJly spelled doom for the traveling team' that, and a local kid named Janniro. eN Gold Country Fairgrounds Speedway Auburn, California Results: July 27, 2001 O/A: 1. North IBilly Janniro (Jaw) 18 points; Bart Bast (Jaw) 15; Mike Faria (Jaw) 10; John Cook (Jaw) 10; Tommy Hedden (Jaw) 7; Eric Carrillo (Jaw) 6; Bobby Hedden (Jaw) 5; Chad Felicio (Jaw) 3); 2. South {Gary Hicks (Jaw) 19; Chris Manchester (Jaw) 12; Josh Larsen (Jaw) 10; Dukie Ermolenko (Jaw) 7; Bobby Schwartz (Jaw) 6; Ryan Fisher (Jaw) 6; Shaw~ McConnell (GM) 1; Eddie Castro, OJ. 0-1 JR: 1. Danny Easley (Jaw); 2. T.J. Fowler (Jaw); 3. Mark Carrillo (Jaw); 4. J.T. Mabry (Jaw); 5. Justin Boyle (Wes); 6. Greg Hooton (Jaw).