Indoor Short Track
INDOOR SHORT TRACK
A NEW ANGLE
PRESENTED WITH ALL THE pomp and ceremony associated with the bygone "golden days" of racing, AMA-sanctioned professional indoor short track made an auspicious debut in Southern California.
The first of two initial programs at the plush Long Beach Arena, imaginatively promoted by Trojan Enterprises' Don Brymer and Bob Dowis, was enthusiastically received by close to 4000 spectators and. a full field of 250-class competitors.
Adding to the color and excitement of the races themselves was the appearance of the 190-piece Long Beach Junior Concert Band, spectacular in their red, blue and gold uniforms, and augmented by prancing baton twirlers and flag wavers. Intermission activities included exhibition races by three-quarter midget racing cars and "pro-karts," introduction of TV and movie personalities, and presentation of a Yamaha 80 to a lucky ticket holder. The winner, coincidentally enough, had just sold his Yamaha 80 to purchase a Yamaha 305, and announced he'd give the new machine to his girlfriend (hysterical scream from the balcony at this point).
The progressive program of events pitted experts, amateurs and novices against one another in furious combat over the roundish, mirror-slick 1/10-mile concrete circuit, for a total of 19 races. Spills were plentiful as riders sought the quickest way around (most had never competed indoors before), but lumps were few. Even Paul Conserriere, run over in a semi-main, could quip wryly, "He was just using me to get traction."
Three main events climaxed the show, and three experts emerged victorious — Eddie Mulder, Jack Simmons and Ohio's Doug Showier, fresh from eastern indoor racing wins at Cincinnati Gardens. A good-sized purse gave added incentive to all (Mulder took home $365 for his share) and enthusiasm often climbed to fever pitch.
On one occasion, Jack Simmons became so piqued when Eddie Hammond rammed him, taking them both down, that he decked Hammond in retaliation (is that what you call a "pique" performance?) — and received both cheers and boos from the assemblage for his efforts.
Only gales of laughter, however, greeted the somewhat embarrassed band drummer, who, after energetically pounding away all evening, managed to pound right through the head of his drum.
Well, that's show biz . . . and a show biz approach is surely needed these days to spice up interest among other than diehard race fans. Let's have more of the same!
