Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

1999 Week 14
Fast Fridays Speedway, Auburn, CA
Friday August 6, 1999
From Gary Roberts

The big heat wave in Northern California has cooled down the last few days. This resulted in an even better than normal track at Fast Fridays. Even at the end of the races, the track was even, flat and moist. Perfect. This week marked the return of Billy Hamill after a four year absence. Billy had bike problems all evening, with clutch spring tensioner that were undoing themselves. The purpose of his trip was to re-familiarise himself with the Auburn track in preparation for the AMA National in 4 weeks time.

Unofficial results:

Scratch Main
1. Charlie Venegas
2. Bobby Hedden
3. Mike Faria
4. Bart Bast
Charlie got one of his "how did he manage that?" gates. He was 3 yards ahead of everyone before the tapes were still and stayed there for 4 laps. Behind him a great battle was going on for second place. Mike Faria held it for a while and tried to ride round the outside of Charlie, only for Bobby Hedden to move in on the inside.

Scratch Consi
1. Jim Sisemore
2. Chris Manchester
3. Robert Curry
4. Ryan Fisher

Handicap Main
1. Ian Ferris
2. Tommy Hedden
3. Billy Hamill
4. Bobby Hedden
5. Chris Manchester
6. Matt King
Billy Hamill started on the 40 yard line in his handicap heat and the semi, but for the main, the referee moved him back to the 50 yard line. For the first couple of laps Billy started ploughing his way through the field, then his clutch started slipping and his priority became protecting his third place.

Handicap Consi
1. Ryan Fisher
2. Bart Bast
3. Chad Felicio
4. Bob Hicks
5. Mike Faria
Charlie Venegas qualified, but did not start

Division 2 Main
1. Richard Powell
2. Mark Thomas
3. Harlan Bast Snr.
4. Rachalle Kerr
5. Matt Browne
6. Scott Olney

Division 2 Consi
1. Tom Odekirk
2. Ivan Sevart
3. Craig Boone
4. Mike Browne
5. Gary Moranville
6. Bill Thomas

Division 3 Main
1. Ron Woodsford
2. Greg Hooten
3. Brian Leventon
4. Brian Ballard
5. Mike Douglas
6. Jamie Hughes
7. Kevin Fereira
8. Chris Hall

Division 3 Consi
1. John Knapp
2. Mark Blasey
3. Harry Bradwell
4. Bill Warnock
5. Les Veale
6. Mike Achilles
7. Robert Mellor
8. Bill Dixon

Junior Division 1
1. Eric Carrillo
2. Bryan Yarrow
3. JJ Martynse
4. Jon Curry

Junior Division 2
1. Alex Marcucci
2. Greg Hooten Jnr.
3. JT Mabry
4. Brenton Bast

Junior Division 3
1. Chris Olney
2. Danny Easley
3. Mark Carrillo
4. Paul Johnson
5. Jeff Butler
6. Amanda English

Missing this week was Division 1 Junior rider Chris Kerr. Chris had a bicycle accident on Thursday where he suffered a fractured skull. He is now out of danger, but will be out for a while. Get well soon Chris. Division 2 rider Tom Adams suffered a dislocated shoulder at Cal Expo last Saturday and had surgery on Wednesday. Tom wont be back this season. Get well soon Tom. Billy Janniro, who broke his leg 2 weeks ago at Cal Expo and spectated last week from a wheel chair had a cast fitted this week and has now moved up to crutches. The cast is coming off at the end of this month to enable Billy to ride in the September 3 AMA National.

I was fortunate to run into Pat Linn in the pits after the races. Pat confirmed that he has retired from Speedway. Pat's career started in 1978 and stopped in 1986 only to start again in 1994. Pat told me he was riding Speedway so long ago, it was in the days when it was possible to make a living from it! He rode 5 nights a week in both Northern and Southern California. He took credit for being the first Northern California based rider to win a main event in Southern California, when he won the Handicap Main at San Bernardino in 1985, collecting over $750 in prize money. Pat's many fans will miss his long hair trailing in the breeze behind him. A great rider and a really nice guy.

Just 2 more weeks of regular Speedway now before the August 27, the marathon 50 something races event, the combined Auburn Track Championship plus the Junior National Championship, held on the same evening. The week after that, on September 3, the AMA National Championship will take place.

Gary Roberts - gary_rob@ix.netcom.com