Sacramento 20-Mile Nat'l.
SACRAMENTO 20-MILE NAT'L.
Eight Winners In Eight Years
CAROL SIMS
ALTHOUGH THREE former winners were among the 20 top-ranked AMA Experts competing at the Sacramento Fairgrounds’ one-mile dirt oval, Oklahoma’s Fred Nix became the eighth rider to take the 20-mile California classic in its eightyear history.
Nix’s first National Championship victory was hardly a foregone conclusion, however. Not until the final drive down the straightaway on the last lap did the flashy Harley-Davidson ace forge past leader Sammy Tanner for keeps.
Race day preparations had begun early Sunday morning with shakedown practice runs. Tire pressure, gearing and jetting were balanced for the job ahead.
A slender groove developed close to the inside fence and, for the second round of hot laps, officials had to place tires in the turns to force a wider path. Still, the groove ended up narrower — and slicker — than expected. On the front straightaway a wet spot settled, forming a hole that caused many an off-the-seat gyration, but no real problems.
Qualifications found Fred Nix’s 41.37 timing the quickest by nearly a quarter of a second, but Mert Lawwill nosed him out for the win in their heat race. Bart Markel came on strong to defeat Sammy Tanner in the next heat; then Gene Romero turned back John Tibben; the final eight-lapper was taken by Chris Draayer over Blackie Bruce. Only five riders from each 12-man preliminary transferred to the star-studded season finale.
First into and out of the turn was Nix, closely tailed by Lawwill, Gary Nixon and Markel — all former 20-mile champions. By the fifth lap Fred held a 10-length lead over Markel, with Nixon, Lawwill, Tanner and Romero constantly swapping positions behind them.
Soon Markel made his move. Narrowing Nix’s lead to three lengths in two laps, the defending Grand National Champion powered by his fellow H-D rider on lap eight, holding the lead for one lap before slipping back to third behind Lawwill. Now BSA-mounted Tanner flew to the fore, passing Mert on lap 12 and overtaking Nix three laps later.
Farther back in the field, other interesting struggles were taking place. Chris Draayer, running sixth, was involved in heated controversy with Dick Mann, Babe DeMay and Ralph White. Roger Reiman held John Tibben at bay, and Tibben in turn repelled the thrusts of Bob Bailey and Dick Hammer. Not until the final lap were the top 10 positions finally resolved.
Although Tanner held a 10-length advantage on the 18th time around, Nix had sliced it to five lengths by the following circuit. Into the last high-pressure lap they charged, Tanner ahead of Nix, Lawwill, Nixon and Markel.
Down the back straightaway and entering the turn it was still Tanner, increasingly aware of Nix’s powerful presence. Sliding a trifle wide, Sam found Fred pulling even as they started down the front chute for the checker.
The grandstands resounded with shouts and cheers as. side by side, the pair tucked in close and turned it on. Could Nix do it? He could indeed — and did, by half a bike length, while the crowd went berserk with excitement.
Tanner, mightily disheartened, finished well ahead of Lawwill. Nixon, Markel and Draayer. Mann, DeMay, White and Reiman rounded out the first 10.
In placing fourth, Markel successfully defended his right to wear the big Number One plate for 1967. Now a three-time Grand National Champion. Bart scored 67 points'more than his nearest rival for National honors, Gary Nixon. Nix’s Sacramento victory shot him from 17th place to 10th in the final standings while Tanner, winner of three Nationals this year. wound up third overall.
AMATEUR AGENDA
Action in the amateur ranks was fast and spectacular. Bettering most of the Experts' times with a rapid 41.62 clocking, Gerry Seguin looked like a good prospect to repeat his Carlsbad amateur win. He beat out Tim Harris by a wide margin in the seven-mile preliminary heat, then grabbed the lead on lap three of the 10mile final.
But he didn't count on John Carter. Steadily closing on Seguin’s Harley with two laps to go, John “grabbed a tow” down the straights by riding draft on the rear wheel of Gerry’s machine.
Finally, in the first turn of the last lap, Carter dove in low and began to slide sideways. Seguin, reluctant to fall in behind and hope for the best drive off the corner, slid wider. As Carter recovered control of his BSA and continued, Seguin unloaded — dashing his hopes of another amateur win before moving up to the Expert ranks. Second place was inherited by Tim Harris ahead of Lennie Waldo and Ron Kruseman.
The crowd, sympathetic toward the fallen Seguin, expressed mixed emotions when Carter pulled in to receive his victory trophy. Only after the two men had shaken hands to signify that no hard feelings existed did John receive the ovation he deserved for a race well won — the first big one as an amateur. ■
