1964 Sammy Tanner Ascot Park Race Gardena CA - 2-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1964 Sammy Tanner Ascot Park Race Gardena CA - 2-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, Vintage Magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
FLEA FLIES
TO SECOND 8-MILE WIN
SAMMY TANNER WAS FIRST MAN On the
track for practice the night before the
8-Mile National. Not only that, he fol-
lowed up with fastest qualifying time,
fastest heat race time, and a wire-to-wire
win in the 6th Annual Ascot Park Classic
at Gardena, California.
Leaping off the line and into the turn
ahead of eleven eager adversaries, the
BSA-mounted “Flying Flea” set a breath-
taking pace as he flew to his second 8-
mile title. But the action astern was
enough for anybody.
Equally favored Elliott Schultz got a
bad start and was last into the corner,
accompanied by the disappointed groans
of his fans. Groans changed to cheers,
however, as he clawed his way through
traffic, moving in inspired manner from
the rear to an impressive fourth at the
finish.
Bart Markel, only easterner ever to
win an Ascot main event, ran fourth
behind Tanner, Blackie Bruce and George
Roeder for half the race. Then, changing
tactics and developing his own spectacular
groove, he sailed by Roeder on the 11th
lap and Bruce on the 14th to nail down
second spot and take over the national
point lead as well. Bruce held on for
third ahead of Schultz, Roeder and first
year expert Mel Lacher.
The amateur portion of the program
was a walkaway for Dan Haaby. He led
the 7-miler from start to finish, after
posting fastest amateur time trial and win-
ning his heat race. Much-improved Frankie
Silva grabbed runnerup honors in front of
Larry Stockham and Swede Savage.
A complete novice program was held
the previous night, along with qualifying
runs for the National, and Jim Nicholson
was the star of the evening. Riding his
Sprint with style and verve, he whacked
a full seven seconds off the 10-lap track
record set in 1962 by Dick Guglielmana,
and held a straightaway lead over Randy
Say and Steve Scott at the finish. •
8-MILE NATIONAL
1.
SAMMY TANNER, Long Beach, Calif_________ BSA
2.
BART MARKEL, Flint, Mich. ______________ H-D
3.
BLACKIE BRUCE, Norwalk, Calif. ___________ BSA
4.
ELLIOTT SCHULTZ. South Gate, Calif. Royal Enfield
5.
GEORGE ROEDER, Monroeville, Ohio ________ H-D
6.
MEL LACHER, San Diego, Calif. ___________ H-D
7.
BOB BAILEY, Torrance, Calif. ......... Triumph
8.
GUY LOUIS, Long Beach, Calif. ... Royal Enfield
9.
DON HAWLEY, Los Angeles, Calif. _______ Triumph
10.
BOB EMDE, National City, Calif. ___________ H-D
11.
RON NELSON, Palmdale, Calif. ._ Triumph (DNF)
12.
NEIL KEEN, Pasadena, Calif._______ BSA (DNF)
Time: 8:05.21
7-MILE AMATEUR FINAL
1.
DAN HAABY, Redwood City, Calif___________ H-D
2.
FRANKIE SILVA, Orange, Calif.___.........—
BSA
3.
LARRY STOCKHAM, Vallejo, Calif. _________ BSA
4.
SWEDE SAVAGE, San Bernardino, Calif. .... H-D
5.
JIM JONES. Huntington Beach, Calif........ BSA
6.
BILLY BENGSTON, Venice, Calif. __________ BSA
7.
FRED EADIE, Norwalk, Calif. .... Royal Enfield
8.
BOB BLEDSOE, Paramount, Calif................. H-D
9.
SKIP KREPS, Santa Monica, Calif. _________ H-D
10.
CLIFF LAMB, El Monte, Calif. ............. H-D
11.
GARY BRAY, West Hollywood, Calif_______... BSA
12.
DON BUTLER, San Dimas, Calif____Triumph (DNF)
Time: 6:12.83
Accompanied by a charming friend, Sam-
my Tanner spends first 8-mile winnings
at the M.R.I. party held after the races.
Sammy Tanner led off the line at the start of his heat race, won handily. Others in
the talent-loaded front row, from left, are Dick Hammer, Neil Keen and Mel Lacher.
Primed for the task at hand, Tanner's
expression matches his all-go attitude.
Novice winner Jim Nicholson (Sprint)
sliced seven full seconds off 10-lap
record which had stood since 1962.
Action in the south turn — 94 George Roeder, 27r Mel Lacher, 21x Bob Bailey, 25x Guy Louis, 4 Bart Markel, 6 Don Hawley.
Dan Haaby scored a clean sweep in the
amateur class on his very rapid Harley.
This is how hard you had to go to miss the show. Neither
Dick Mann nor Dick Hammer transferred to the 8-mile final.
11600-6410-08