Ascot Opener

ASCOT OPENER

THE NEW YEAR for most people comes on January 1. At Southern California’s Ascot Park, however, which is the stronghold of half-mile racing in the USA, it comes with the beginning of the summer racing season in an evening of fireworks known as “The Opener.”

The Opener tends to set many a heart a-quiver for many a reason — mostly centering around cold, hard cash. The outcome of the Expert 500/750 bash, for example, portends the path of the coming season of AMA national championship points races, as well as the lucrative (for the winners) Ascot season itself. In the Amateur class, the “nerve war” is not rider vs. rider, but riders vs. officials, the latter of which fret about what’s going to happen to those boys who are beginning their first year on the heavier and ofttimes more squirrely machines.

The Amateurs, among themselves, are very friendly in a leery sort of way, and leave lots of space between riders in the turns. Even when things get competitive, the opening night exhibition can hardly be called “dicing.” But the final lineup, all rookies except one were in a group all the way. The race finally went to H-D rider Jim Ashmore.

There is little concern for the Novices, surprisingly, and they are left to sort out their 250s with very little worry. The quality of racing in this class was very good, although there was hardly anyone to contest the monotonously smooth wins-in heat, main and trophy dash by second-year novice Rick Woods. Part of the reason for Woods’ success was the power he had on tap from his Miscroseal-treated Suzuki X-6.

Last year’s most successful flat, track expert, Sammy Tanner, riding the C. R. Axtell-tuned BSA Gold Star, was the oddson favorite as usual, but succeeded in jangling his tuner with the sporadic biannual request he makes for a change of handlebar type and/or position.

“One thing at a time,” Axtell moaned, fending off another’s comment about a bump in the southeast turn with, “I didn’t feel it.”

C. R.’s blood pressure rose even higher, we're sure, when Triumph rider Dick Hammer hairily nosed ahead of Sammy’s No. 7 in the first heat, threatening to rob Tanner of an easy transfer to the main. Fortunately (for Tanner and tuner, that is) Hammer’s machine burbled momentarily and Sammy repassed.

Hammer was thus required to run the semi, which he won, in order to make the main. It didn’t do him much good, because he fell off, as did the only other threat from Triumph, Pat Gosch.

Mel Lacher, H-D, a heat winner, challenged Tanner briefly in the main before allowing trophy dash winner Dan Haaby, BSA, and Ralph White, BSA, to slip by for second and third at the checkered flag. It was a smooth race, rather strung out after the first few laps, and clearly shows that the shoes are going to have to work hard if they want to beat Tanner this year.

ASCOT OPENER RESULTS