2000 North American Archive of International Speedway

Message Section
August 20, 2000

From: apovey@netcomuk.co.uk
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List" 
Subject: Reading vs Swindon (LIVE updates)
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 11:37:17 -0000

A reminder that LIVE updates from Monday nights Premier league match =
between Reading vs Swindon will be on the Reading website.

Updates will be posted throughout the meeting

Follow the link from the homepage or results page.

Andy
--
Reading Speedway On-Line
www.readingspeedway.com

From: Sideways31@aol.com
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List" 
Subject: Costa Mesa Results - August 19, 2000
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 23:56:18 EDT

Gary Hicks showed that he has regained his early season form by winning the 
Scratch Main in front of a near-capacity crowd on a controversial night at 
Costa Mesa.
Shawn McConnell, Bobby Schwartz, and Hicks were lined up in gates one through 
three.  Schwartz was first from the tapes but McConnell made contact with him 
sending him wide into turn one.  McConnell led exiting turn two with Hicks 
giving chase.  Hicks put a wheel under McConnell entering turn three and 
gently nudged him aside and assumed the lead.  McConnell quickly fell off the 
pace as Dukie Ermolenko assumed second and Schwartz was third.  Ermolenko 
tried to catch Hicks but it was to no avail as Hicks took his third Scratch 
Main of the year and his first since injuring himself in May. 
Hicks missed several weeks of competition due to broken ribs and a broken 
collarbone suffered in a crash in May.  His road to recovery was lengthened 
during a freak incident in which he injured his foot at Ventura.  He has 
steadily gotten himself back into racing condition and he proved it by 
winning the Handicap Main last week and the Scratch Main this week.  
In the Handicap Main "Dazzling" Danny Perkins led from the 20 yard line but 
was quickly put in the crosshairs of 16 year old Ryan Fisher.  The former 
three-time Junior National Champion quickly closed the gap between himself 
and Perkins.  At the close of lap two the young star took control and quickly 
made it a race for second place.  Hicks was able to get into second on the 
third lap but Fisher's lead was insurmountable.  Fisher cruised to his first 
Southern California main event win of the year followed by Hicks.  Eddie 
Castro finished third, Dukie Ermolenko was fourth, and Andy Northrup was 
fifth.
Former Southern California rider John DeFries returned from Utah to claim his 
second Support Main of the year.  Pat Dwyer took the lead from the tapes as 
DeFries and Bentley Barrett quickly gave chase.  DeFries relieved Dwyer of 
the lead on lap two and was pursued by Barrett.  DeFries made his trip worth 
it by holding off Barrett for the victory, Shaun Harmatiuk was third, and 
Dwyer finished fourth.
In the Support B Main, Randy Kreps led from start to finish to earn his first 
main event win of his career.  John Stunkard finished second, Philip Williams 
was third, and Northern California rider Kevin Fereira was fourth.
The most memorable moment of the evening was an incident involving former 
National Champion Chris Manchester.  In his Scratch Heat, he and Gary Hicks 
came together in turn one and forced a restart.  Hicks was penalized 20 yards 
as the cause and after an extended period of time, Manchester took his place 
at the tapes.  He was then informed that he was being penalized 20 yards for 
exceeding the two-minute limit.  Manchester pleaded his case and, upon 
realizing he wasn't going to persuade the referee to change his mind, rode 
through the tapes and circled the track before taking his position at the 20 
yard line.  He was then informed that he was excluded for his method of 
protest.  This prompted Manchester to ride through the tapes again on his way 
to the pits.  
Just when all seemed to be calm, Manchester emerged from the pits and ran 
across the track to plead his case.  He was then blindsided by a member of 
the infield crew prompting a wild scene in which several more infield crew 
members, track officials, and even Manchester's father and his girlfriend 
became involved.  
When all had calmed down, Manchester, his father, and his girlfriend were 
escorted from the track.  Needless to say, Manchester took no part in the 
Handicap Main, for which he had already qualified for.  
It was an unfortunate incident for any rider, especially one of Manchester's 
caliber, to be involved in.  Hopefully, it will not leave a black eye on the 
sport, although judging by the crowd reaction it may very well sell more 
tickets as the crowd seemed thoroughly entertained by the whole matter.  
We'll have to see what kind of penalty or fine will be levied against 
Manchester.
Next week is the annual Dan Nay Night.  Dan Nay is a very dedicated fan who 
pays tribute to the riders one evening each year by paying every heat winner 
$100 out of his own pocket in addition to the purse provided by the promoter.

RESULTS
Support B Consolation
211 - Doug Lupo         20
148 - Chris Metoyer         20
174 - Tomasz Hampel     10
168 - Howard Larson     20  (fell)
178 - Eloy Medellin         20  (penalty line)
269 - Ed Martinez           20  (penalty line) (fell, excluded)

Support B Main
165 - Randy Kreps           10
249 - John Stunkard         10
239 - Philip Williams       10
143n - Kevin Fereira            10
132 - David Moore           10  (fell)
125 - Johnny Lupo           10  (fell)

Support Main
316 - John DeFries
300 - Bentley Barrett
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk
231 - Pat Dwyer

Handicap Main
 36 - Ryan Fisher           40
  3 - Gary Hicks                50
 14 - Eddie Castro          40
 15 - Dukie Ermolenko       50
166 - Andy Northrup         40
  6 - Shawn McConnell       50
189 - Danny Perkins     20
130 - Chris Manchester      50

Scratch Main
  3 - Gary Hicks
 15 - Dukie Ermolenko
 11 - Bobby Schwartz
166 - Andy Northrup
  6 - Shawn McConnell

Ryan Evans
sideways31@aol.com