Fairgrounds Raceway
Santa Maria, California

May 10, 1997 - Fairgrounds Raceway
From: Gary Roberts

This was the fifth evening of speedway in Santa Maria this season, but the first in the points championship. A colder than normal evening of good close racing.

Results:
Kenny Hansen       15
Brian Thompson     14
Marvin Sonnier     12
Charlie Powell     10
Tim Appel          10
Terry McCurdy       9
Mark Hitchcock      9
John VanderMuellen  8
Jimmy Collins       7
Billy Lyons         5
Paul Baldwin        4
Paul Hitchcock      3
Mark Maynard        3
Gerry Dutweiler     3
Jason Chabot        2

A final:
Hansen, Powell, Sonnier, McCurdy, Thompson
B final:
McCurdy, M. Hitchcock, Appel, VanderMuellen, Collins
C final:
Collins, Lyons, Duttweiler, P. Hitchcock
D final:
Duttweiler, Maynard, Chabot

A new main event winner this week, Kenny Hansen, making his Santa Maria debut this year, Kenny rode in the points championship here last year. A pretty much flawless performance. It was a shame that Brad and Robbie Sauer, who have shared the victories for the past 4 weeks, were not present. Maybe next week.

Marvin Sonnier, who, at the age of 37 began speedway racing late last season made his first appearance in the first 3 of the A main. He has progressively improved each week, and is now embarrasing several riders who have been at it for years.

17 year old Charlie Powell, taking part in his fourth speedway meeting rode brilliantly all evening. In the A final he worked his way up from a less than perfect start and got around Marvin Sonnier, quite an achievement. It should be said that Charlie has had prior experience in Motorcross, flat track, desert racing, enduros, cross and country before.

At the other end of the achievement scale was Billy Lyons, who a couple of weeks ago made the A final. Billy rode most of the evening without a clutch, which understandably impaired his starts.

Next week the points series continues.

Gary Roberts - gary_rob@ix.netcom.com