Sargent Sizzles

January 22, 1966. For those who can remember and for those would never witnessed this man’s greatness. I have reproduced a report from the Australian & Overseas Speedway News from January 22, 1966

Sargent front page new January 22 , 1966

Bill Warner in the  absence of Dick Briton with his Corvette not yet completed) was expected to be the “Wilde Wheel s “ main challenger, but Billy Sportsman just wasn’t handling—or going well—undoubtedly due to his working day and night late in the week to carry out alterations. On top of this wasn’t driving well and his overall efforts was a spin before his record attempt, another at the start of the match race with Sargent and another one at the top corner on the second lap after the restart and a fourth in the feature

Marshall Sargent

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Garry Rush moved to a handy lead early and looked a possibility when Tatnell half spun at the pit on lap 5 and Nev Wills spun to miss. The race was “wrecked “when a red flag was shown.Rush and Bob Tunks were restarted 1-2 all right, but Tatnell was put in fourth spot after being approximately 9th at the of lap 4.This cost Don Parker, looking the best of the back boys and Clive Sevenoaks all chances as, not only did they lose good margin over George and see him in front of them, but Sargent was positioned on their heels.
By lap 7, Sargent had made “mincemeat” of the opposition and shot under Rush to lead .Rush dropped out after striking trouble in the bullpens on lap 9, with Tatnell and Sevenoaks dicing for second spot.
Parker was holding off Warner, until Bill rode over his front wheel, bending Parker’s axle-be spun entering the next corner. By then, however, the interest was over, with Sargent easily wheeling his wide-tyred, ugly monster with the same on-off throttle control a half lap clear. Tatnell, Sevenoakes, Warner and Stan Phillips trailed the Yank in.” End of story, author Dave Booth
Special notes. This story was reproduced “word for word “from the orginal Speedway New date January 22nd , 1066. Tatnell is George Tatnell, father of current World Series Sprintcar Champion Brooke. Dick Briton and Bob Tunks have only recently been honored during the March Month of Money at Valvoline Raceway.

This Saturday night another legand Jim Winterbottom will be honoured at Valvoline Raceway . .