Visiting Drivers Put On Show at Saugus

The Western States Challenge, a four-race, four-track, year-end series for Sportsman cars, brought the best of the West Coast’s local drivers to Saugus Speedway on Saturday night.

But after 70 laps in the $26,000, 100-lap first leg of the series, Saugus partisans had to settle for an out-of-town driver, Ed Hale of El Cajon, in the lead. Will Harper of Tarzana, though, was holding strong in second place at press time.

The final night of racing at Saugus brought out a crowd of 4,635. The series moves to San Bernardino next week.

But the Sportsman cars were not the only show at Saugus on Saturday. Gary Sigman of Carson proved opportunistic in the 25-lap Grand American Modified main event.

Sigman, season points champion Dave Phipps of Simi Valley and Dave Pera of Canyon Country raced tightly for the first nine laps.

But on Turn 1 of Lap 10, Phipps and Pera spun. Sigman raced on to victory, with Jack Parker of Simi Valley second. Phipps battled back to take third.

In the 20-lap Mini Stock oval main event, season points champion Rock Ake, Jr. of Moorpark posted a runaway victory.

Ake, who started fifth in the 14-car field, made a pass on the outside of the back straightaway on Lap 3 before cruising to victory by nearly half a lap. Ray Maxon of Castaic took second, while Ed Fuller Sr. of Carson took third. Rudy Sandoval of North Hollywood actually finished third, but was bumped back by a black flag from race officials.

Earlier, Harper won the six-lap trophy dash for Sportsman cars. Jim Peacock of Granada Hills won the Mini Stock trophy dash.

Rusty Parr of Newhall, normally a Sportsman competitor, traded rides with Grand American racer Chris Hamilton of Hanford and won the Grand American Modified dash in his inaugural race in that division.

On a night when Sportsman cars were allowed to use 10-inch tires as opposed to the usual eight-inch tires, 24 cars broke the track fast-lap record held by Pat Mintey, Jr. of Quartz Hill at 16.64 seconds.

But the fastest of the fast were John Borneman of Ramona and Dick Cobb of Las Vegas each clocked a blazing 16.17 seconds.

Other fast times were turned in by points champion Dave Phipps of Simi Valley in the Grand American Modified division (17.41 seconds) and points champion Rock Ake, Jr. of Moorpark for Mini Stock cars (19.19 seconds).