HAMILL BEATS VENEGAS IN THRILLING INDUSTRY SPEEDWAY CYCLE MAIN AUG. 15, 2012
By noderel:
Industry, CA., Aug. 15 -- “What a race.” That was the immediate comment over the PA microphone by announcer Bruce Flanders Wednesday night at the Industry Hills Expo Center Grand Arena. More than 1,000 spectators agreed heartily and buzzed with excitement while applauding both riders for their amazing 4-lap race and thrilling finish. Two-time Speedway Cycle World Champion Hamill proved his talent again on his No. 104 500cc JAWA motorcycle. The Carlsbad resident picked lane two, but lost the hole shot dash to the first turn to Industry Speedway all-time feature winner Charlie Venegas, the lane one starter. Hamill charged after Venegas and his persistence paid off with his eighth victory at Industry this season in 13 main events (including nights with both scratch and handicap features).
On the final lap Hamill was half a length in back of Venegas. He went to the outside in turn two to build speed and shot past Venegas on the inside at the end of the backstretch and through the third turn. Their cycles did not make contact. Venegas said their leathers rubbed during Hamill's quick move that was reminiscent of a sprint car “slide job” pass. Hamill held his inside line to the checkered flag and won by a length in the most exciting last lap this year. The feature was race 36 on a busy racing program known as Laidlaw's Harley-Davidson Night. Aaron Fox and Tyson Burmeister, both in their 20s, finished third and fourth respectively. Hamill and Venegas won the two semi-final races to earn feature berths. Buck Blair won the Division 1 consolation race.
Danny Baker, of Covina, led all four laps of the 500cc Division 2 main for intermediate-level riders. Steve Howard, a 53-year old Castro Valley resident, made his second Industry Speedway appearance and first in 12 months. He led all four laps and won the Division 3 (entry level) feature on his 500cc JAWA for his first career main event victory anywhere. Max Ruml, 15, won the five rider Youth Division 250cc main over Broc Nicol. Braydan Galvin, 14, started 70-yards from the starting gate via an experience level handicap for the Youth 200cc feature. Female rider Courtney Crone, 11, led the initial two laps before Galvin passed her and won the 5-lap race.
Four pee-wee division (ages 4-10) riders rode 50cc mini cycles and also excited fans during their four lap feature. Whittier resident Jake Issac, 10, returned from a month vacation in Michigan and led the final two laps for his first winner's trophy this season. “Lightning” Luke Whitcomb, 6, cemented his popularity with fans by charging to a closing second place on the final lap. In his haste to pass Issac before the finish line, Whitcomb fell in the fourth turn. He rose quickly and pushed his cycle across the finish line (as auto racers Norm Batten and Dan Gurney did many decades ago). Whitcomb almost beat the third place rider, but he settled for fourth as fans stood and erupted in applause for the colorful, competitive youngster. He fell but wouldn't quit until he and his cycle crossed the finish line.
The annual Harley Night at Industry had a pre-racing parade of all street-legal Harley-Davidson motorcycles present. Seven of the riders actually raced in a four lap heat race. A rider known as “Blue Haired Dude” barely won the heat over Joe “the Horny Guy” Pape, of Culver City. He wears a helmet with Viking-like horns protruding from each side. All seven riders finished on the lead lap. The same seven Harley riders started their main event (race 34). Two riders collided and fell together as they approached the third turn. They were uninjured, but their Harleys were sidelined. “Horny Guy” Pape led all four laps and beat “Blue Haired Dude” by a mere length.
However, crashing wasn't finished yet. Pape slowed and reached for the waiting checkered flag from starter Mike Reed to begin his victory lap. At the same time, runner-up “Blue Haired Dude' did a celebratory wheelie on his back wheel right behind Pape near the finish line. Their cycles collided and both riders fell to the ground amid their downed cycles. They were stunned but uninjured. Pape's winning Harley had to be trucked home. “It's my fifth trophy victory here,” Pape said. A special event was a Laidlaw Harley-Davidson of Baldwin Park employees challenge race. Five helmeted riders participated and all finished on the lead lap without incident.
Two USAC Ford Focus-powered midgets made special demo runs on the small dirt track inside the modern 4,000+ seat Grand Arena. Wally Pankratz drove his blue No. 37 midget and Billy Hamill went from two to four wheels for his first time. Hamill drove Wally's orange No. 32 midget and quickly became proficient after seven solo hot laps before the first of three track preparation intermissions. Hamill and Pankratz later ran seven laps at speed in an “Australian pursuit race” with Hamill taking the green flag a straightaway in front of Pankratz. Hamill led the first six laps as Pankratz closed ground on him. Then Hamill drifted high in the second corner and Pankratz passed him on the inside and won the exhibition on the final lap.
Pankratz, the 2000 USAC Western States Midget Series champion, now operates a race car driving school at various speedways of students' choice. He offers introductory instruction with his FF midgets and 16 laps at speed for a fee of $400. For $1,600 he provides a full-day of instruction and unlimited laps for serious students who might be interested in racing in an organized series. Sprint car and midget drivers present this week included CRA veteran Steve Howard, Dwight Cheney and past USAC Western Midget Champion Jerome Rodela, with his 2-year old daughter Kendall, a motorcycle racing fan.
Next week, round 12 of the 13 Wednesday nights Industry Speedway season, will feature all divisions, including the extreme sidecars racers. The August 29 season finale will be the annual California State Speedway Cycle Championship with 20 D-1 heat races for championship determining points. The ninth Industry Speedway cycle racing season since 2004 has averaged 1,200+, with a high of 1,900 spectators opening night, for 7:30 to 10:00 pm action-packed racing.