The Astrodome Nationals
the astrodome nationals
Mann Wails On As Odom Fails; Odom Prevails As Lawwill Bales.
1&2 Jimmy Odom (18), professional privateer and movie stuntman, had to pull out all stops in his duel with H-D factory team racer Mark Brelsford (7) in the AMA National Short Track event at the Astrodome. More than 35,000 fans were on their feet to see "Earthquake" Odom win the close race on a fast, bumpy track that allowed plenty of passing.
Harley—Davidson's Mert Lawwill (6) was in line for the victory, having won the fastest qualifying heat race. He led the main event for 10 laps, then understeered himself into a haybale. "The front wheel caught on a ridge and started skidding," said Mert. "I figured that it would pick itself up-it had been sliding all night—but it didn't. Nobody was more surprised than me."
Some great in-fighting in the Junior preliminaries led to a win by Kenny Roberts (80y), the AMA's top Novice last year. Here, as Joe Henry (42y) holds a tight line at the apex, Roberts goes wide in an attempt to "square off" and cut underneath at the exit.
As happenstance may have benefited Odom, so did it Dick "Bugsy" Mann (4) the night before at the Astrodome TT National. He won the race for BSA, after leader Odom's rear hub assembly failed.
Ó Junior heavy, witness class TT the action leaping was antics also of Gary Scott in his heat race. Scott, riding a Bultaco against bikes of up to twice the displacement, went on to win the main event. The crowd was just short of 25,000 on TT night. Combined attendance for the two nights, 60,000, makes the Astrodome TT and Short Track weekend the biggest drawing motorcycle event in America. The purse was $10,000 a night. Better than before, and could be better still. [Ö]
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