VENEGAS WINS INDUSTRY SPEEDWAY CYCLE NORTH - SOUTH “WAR” JUNE 2011
By noderel:
Industry, CA., June 22, 2011 – A speedway motorcycle civil war battle between northern California star Billy Janniro, of San Pablo, and southern California star Charlie “the Edge” Venegas, of San Bernardino, took place Wednesday at Industry Speedway in front of 650 spectators. Janniro, winner of four of five 500cc Division 1 main events this year at Fast Fridays Speedway in Auburn, came south to challenge local riders on their home turf for the first time this year. Venegas, the most prolific winner in eight seasons of racing at Industry Speedway answered Janniro's raid by winning the 4-lap feature over Janniro. Venegas, with a perfect 12 points in his heat races, launched from lane one; Janniro,with 11-points, occupied lane two of five. They waged an intense battle for the lead after the starting tapes lifted and were even in the first two corners. Then Venegas opened a small lead that he extended to ten yards at the checkered flag as Janniro challenged each lap from the outside.
Jimmy Fishback, the D-1 feature winner at Industry last week, ran third all the way after starting from the fourth lane. Shawn McConnell started in lane three and placed fourth. Eddie Castro, the last chance race winner, ran fifth all the way. The second through fifth place riders finished in close proximity. Venegas became the first D-1 repeat winner at The Grand Arena of the Industry Hills Expo Center after four events. He also won week two on June 8. Venegas won all three of his heat races and his semi-final race. Janniro won two of his three heats and his semi-final race before losing to Venegas for the second time in the main event.
The 500cc Support Division A-main went to Rocco Scopellite, 15, of Huntington Beach. He took charge on lap 2 of 4 from early leader Jake Myers, of Victorville. The Support Division B-main was dominated by Chris Sprecher, a 51-year old first-time Industry Speedway rider. He has raced only at Costa Mesa Speedway during his rookie season. Youth 200cc and under main events went to Nick Varner, 11, and Shea Bandykowski, 11, from Temecula. The second round of D-1 heat races had an amazing save by race leader McConnell. As he exited turn four, the front wheel of his cycle rose to a 45-degree angle. He slid off the back, dragged his left leg on the ground for stability and pulled himself back on the seat. He continued to victory without ever losing the lead. McConnell received a standing ovation from spectators for his remarkable save.
It was Harley-Davidson Night at Industry and eight street-legal Harleys competed in a pair of four rider heats and a six-lap main event with all eight riders starting from two rows of four. Sprecher, the Support B main winner, drove his 1,200cc 2003 Harley to a convincing victory over Joe“the horny guy” Pape on a 1974 1,000cc Harley. Pape, the Viking-helmeted rider and past Harley race winner, led the first lap before Sprecher raced past him on the outside. Runner-up Pape edged Rick Haren as seven of eight riders completed every lap. Sprecher, from Inglewood, took home two first place plaques on his first visit to Industry Speedway and plans to return.
With the pee-wee and sidecar divisions not scheduled Wednesday, a special attraction was the opportunity for willing spectators to come out of the grandstand and be the sidecar rider for champion sidecar driver Joe Jones as he took hot laps on his 1,000cc sidecar. A male and female volunteered to do so and, after signing the necessary liability waiver, suited up in leathers to be the sidecar “swinger”. They had to provide the necessary counter-balance weight by leaning far out over the track from the sidecar. They provided the necessary balance and allowed Jones to drive at speed through the four turns without flipping. The male volunteer went first and after a first lap spin-out in a turn, he got the hang of it and performed admirably. He received applause from spectators. Then Laurie, one of the owners of Haddick's Towing in Industry, received instruction from Jones on her role. They made about five perfect laps at normal race speed. Laurie performed flawlessly and could be a sidecar rookie of the year candidate. She received an enthusiastic standing ovation from appreciative spectators for her sterling performance. Her sidecar ride in now available for viewing on You Tube under “Sidecar Ride at Industry Speedway”.