Moore offered $US1000 a week to stay in America

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33625, 29 August 1974, Page 9

Moore offered $US1000 a week to stay in America

(By

R.O. DEW)

An offer of SUSIOOO a week to stay, in America has been rejected by the former double world speedway champion, Ronnie Moore, who returned to Christchurch this week after a whirlwind racing tour to Great Britain and the United States.

“Any money I won would have been extra,” said Moore, indicating that a top rider could earn up. to $40,000 a season there. “The sponsorship, prize money and spectator enthusiasm is fantastic.”

If a rider went right through the programme at one meeting, he could wa'k away with SUSIOOO in prize money. “You can earn big money in a short time if you are good enough.” He admitted that the offer was “very appealing” but said that he had no intention of giving up his business interests in Christchurch for what could be no more than a relatively short term return to serious racing. However, he has already made tentative arrangements to return to America for a few weeks next season — again delaying the threatened retirement from all racing. Moore flew to America

direct from Britain after representing New Zealand in its unsuccessful World Team Cup bid but was very nearly refused admission because his visa was incorrect. “They wanted to put me straight back on a plane but I managed to talk immigration officials into allowing me to stay a' week while I sorted the matter out. In the end, I

had to fly up to Canada to the American consulate there to get a visa."

The tracks in America are tiny compared with those in New Zealand and Moore, who had not previously raced there, id.mtted that he was astounded when he first saw the Ventura Stadium, north of Los Angeles, where he made his debut. “It looked like a cycle speedway. It was just 180yds round — and I am sure that measurement was taken at the fence and not at the poleline. I just couldn't believe it.”

He was provided with a brand new bike, which had not been sorted out, and this provided a few problems in the first meeting. “The suspension on the .front forks stuck down and T didn’t realise it. I was bouncing off the fence and had a terrible time trying to control the bike. The motor was mis-firing, too, because the carburettor was intended for a nitro mixture. All the Americans use this.”

After the meeting, Moore spent an hour and a half practising and soon adapted to the tiny track. Then he went back to Los Angeles and worked on the bike. His second meeting

was at Irwindale, which is I regarded as the big track j in the area. It is just ; 200vds in circumference. > There, the experienced ■- New Zealander came into < his own, defeating the top i American riders and win- , ning one of the main ; events. He then moved on to i Costa Mesa, another tiny circuit of 180yds, reaching the semi-finals of a main event before being eliminated. He was off the back handicap in this event which virtually eliminated his chances of winning

Up to this stage, Moore did not have the correct gearing on his Jawa. He finally realised he was pulling too high a gear and used the correct ratio for the first time at a meeting at Bakersfield. He was amazed by the difference in his performance. "I couldn’t keep the front wheel on the ground,” he said.

He competed in seven meetings while tn Ai lerica and was very impressed with everything he saw. "On these small tracks you have, really got to learn to ride all over again. You have to put the bike sideways in the straight to get round the next comer and the only way you can pass another rider is to hit him out of the way. The speeds achieved are not great but the racing is extremely exciting. The last man in the race might be only syds behind the winner.”

Spectator support is also very the sport in America. "More than 10,000 fans attend the racing at Costa Mesa every Friday night and they get very involved with the racing. They can be heard chanting for their favourite rider four miles or more away,” Moore said.

The picture shows Moore competing on the tiny Costa Mesa track. Behind him in order are the prominent American riders, Larry Moon and Sonny Nutter.