Cycle News

Cycle News 1976 Issue 24 Jun 22

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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eener crosses t e HARRINGTON, DEL.,JUNE 12 By Jack Mangus Corky "Mr. Dirt" Keener scored his' first big WIn of the year in Saturday night's Full House Cycle Classic half mile, the tenth'round of the AMA Grand National Championship/Camel Pro Series. In doing so, Keener became the tenth different winner of the series thus far. When informed of that fact, Mr. Dirt said, "That's why 1 love Grand National racing. It's the most competitive racing in the world." Finishing second in the event was another member of the "We don't care how the hell they do it in California" club, Jay Springsteen. Joining the two Michigan racers in the winner's circle was third place Gary Scott. Grand National Champion Scott had 8 learned before the race that his appeal of the posted results of the Oklahoma City National had gone in his favor . Having picked up the protest-delayed fourth place points from the Oklahoma event and third place here Saturday night, Scott now holds a four point lead (79 to 75) over Jay Springsteen. The Delaware race and the AMA decision on the Oklahoma race tumbled Kenny Roberts, who finished seventh at Harrington, from the lead down to third as his total is now 67 . Only 44 riders posted for the rac e, a fact that brought a moment of comic relief to the riders' meeting. Refe ree Charlie Watson informed those assembled that the program would consist of four- I 1 man heats and that no one would be eliminated in time trials. Two time Grand National Champion Kenny Roberts asked, "You mean nobody gets eliminated?" Watson shook his head up and down and quietly said, "Yes, that's what I said. t, Roberts looked skyward ' and with a grin exclaimed, "Thank God. I mad e the program!" Heats The first heat race (first three finishers to National; fourth through ninth to semis) was scheduled to start at eight p.m. but it was 8:30 before the starting lights flashed due to a setting sun that blinded the riders as they went down the backstraight. With the click of the green light it was Billy Kennedy Jr., aboard another of his dad's Triumphs, who pulled off the holeshot and led the initial two laps. His quick move had his father asking as he scanned the fast moving pack, "Where's Billy?" Ken nedy's lead became a fourth on the third lap as Billy Schaeffer (Yam), Hank Sco tt (Shell Thuett Yam) and the privateer Harley of Gary Scott moved by. Hank got by Schaeffer on the fifth lap and Gary got by on the eighth lap to make it Hank and Gary 1-2. Fourth was.. Steve Freeman, making his de but ride on the John Apple tuned XR. Kennedy finished fifth. Pole sitter Gene Romero ended up seventh and Steve Eklund eliminated himself with a first lap-first tum get-off. Heat two, BSA-mounted Dave Singleton led the first three laps before giving way to Mike Kidd, who was riding Mert Lawwill's spare XR. Ted Boody and Dave Sehl made Kidd work for his win with Boody actually taking the lead on laps eight and ten . But when it counted it was Texan Mike' Kidd, followed by Boody, Sehl, semi-bound Corky Keener and fellow H·D factory rider Greg Sassaman. The th ird heat was won in record time (4 :34.61) by XR750-privateer Scott Drake. Behind Drake a position swapping fight for second went on between Doug Sehl and Billy Eves. Eves came out on top. Following the top three were Jay Ridgeway, Mert Lawwill, who skipped the Pontiac Nationals to doctor an ear infection, Eddie Wirth and David Aldana. Following a holeshot and a first lap lead by Steve Dros te the fourth and fmal heat belonged to defendirlg Harrington winner Jay Sprin gsteen. The Harley factory team rider opened up an eight second lead over runnerup Kenny Roberts by . the checkered flag: Cummings finished third and Droste fourth. Steve Morehead, who has the longest sponsor list in the business, finished fifth aboard his F&S, KK Supply, KK Insurance and Bel-Ray sponsored Harley, just ahead of Dan Gurney-sponsored Chu'ck Palmgren. Semis Keener occupied the pole for the firs of the two semi fmals and was admittedly a bit apprehensive. "The engine was a little sick in my heat, but AI Stangler has raised her up one tooth . We'll just have to wait and see." Keener and tuner Stangler only had to wait four minutes and 33.761 seconds as Mr. Dirt II

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