The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 6

mqpafpHPjpf The Courier-Journal, Monday morning, July 9, 1979 Racing Deaths Classified Comics Sports results, 582-4871 Waving as the Van moves out mmmmm j- It Heading up the backstretch on the first lap of the final Gold Cup heat yesterday, Circus Circus driver Steve Reynolds, right, experienced momentary difficulties and lost his lead to Bill Muncey, left. Reynolds waved to his crew when he regained control of his unlimited hydroplane. Photo by Stan Donny uncey trims Reynolds to capture Gold Cup lently in the water and flames shot out of her engine exhaust stacks as the boat momentarily lost power. That was all the time Muncey needed to zoom past in the outside lane and go in front to stay as he finished the 15-mile race at an average of 107.892 mph. "I fell into a gigantic hole," Reynolds said.

"It bounced me up in the air, my foot came off the throttle and I had to restart the engine. It's so frustrating to be ahead and then in imiiiiiM ii itt i iii mm waiwniwiMWitifr18--" Atlas Van Lines Iff WW' iiiaiiiiimmw nun jJ!" WWWWIwi! isj (ffl.rwiw By GARY SCHULTZ Courior-Journol A Timo Staff Writor MADISON, Ind. "I had the race in my back pocket," Steve Reynolds said. Bill Muncey agreed. So why was Muncey smiling and Reynolds frowning when the Gold Cup unlimited hydroplane ended yesterday? Simple.

Reynolds' possession or rather his hopes of walking off with the sport's most coveted prize lasted only momentarily, while Muncey survived a battle with the rugged Ohio River and captured the Gold Cup for the third consecutive year. The 50-year-old driver admitted he ran scared all day before the estimated 125,000 spectators who wound up soggy from intermittent rain. "I was petrified," Muncey said after steering the Atlas Van Lines to shore and accepting his eighth Gold Cup in 29 years of racing. The veteran's uneasiness was the result of what he saw the river do to Reynolds' boat, Miss Circus Circus, shortly after the start of the championship heat. Muncey was fourthas the giant "thunderboats" crossed the starting buoy and still trailed Reynolds by about 50 yards as they entered the backstretch.

Then Miss Circus Circus rocked vio- Reynolds finished second, 28.4 seconds behind Muncey, after averaging 102.156 mph. Third place in the five-boat final went to The Squire Shop, driven by Chip Hanauer at a 94.142 clip. Muncey said he "was surprised" that he (Reynolds) even finished the heat because he was really getting banged around a lot." His eyes twinkling, Muncey added that he was "delighted" that Miss Circus Circus was unable to avoid the "Because if they hadn't," he said, "I think he would have whupped me." Although Miss Circus Circus dropped far behind the Atlas Van Lines, Muncey was apprehensive as he bounced around the final laps. Twice the Atlas momentarily lost power, and the riverfront erupted with cheers as the crowd anticipated a Comeback by Miss Circus Circus. Each time, however, Muncey righted the Atlas and pulled away again.

"We were really getting out of shape, and I had to cut my engine speed to get out of it," Muncey said. "The water was getting rough, and you have to be able to measure the limits of See MUNCEY Page 6, Col. 1, this section Cold Cup hydroplane results Hoat 1-A: 1. Mist Circus Circus, driven by Steve Reynolds, average speed of 92.560, 1 The Squire Shop, Chip Hanauer, 85700; 3. Dr.

Toyota, Bob AAaschmedt, 72 356. Did not finish Miss Budweiser, Dean Chenoweth. Heat I 1. Atlas Van Lines, Bill Muncey, 101.771; J. Tri-City Tile and Masonry (also known as the Myrna Kay), Jack Shafer 99.082; 3.

Miss Madison, Milner Irvin, 84.972; 4. Miss Kentuckiana Paving, Jon Peddie, 67298. Heat 3-A: 1. The Squire Shop, 102.040; I. Tri-City Tile and Masonry, 101.925; 3.

Dr. Toyota, 92.497; 4. Miss Kentuckiana Paving, 92.071. Heat 2-B: 1. Miss Circus Circus, 113.636, I Atlas Van Lines, 111.940; 3.

Miss Budweiser, 103.886; 4. Miss Madison, 87.790. Heat 3-A: 1. Atlas Van Lines, 109.689. Did not finish -Miss Budweiser.

Did not start Miss Kentuckiana Paving, Miss Madison. Heat 3-B: 1. Miss Circus Circus, 100.465; I Tri-City Tile and Masonry, 100.278; Or. Toyota, 77.753. Did not start The Squire Shop.

Championship hoat: 1. Atlas Van Lines, 107.892; I Miss Circus Circus, 102.156; 3. The Squire Shop, 94.142; 4. Dr. Toyota, 71.646.

Did not finish Tri-City Tile and Masonry. Photo by Stan Donny the Gold Cup on the Ohio River at Madison, Ind. Muncey won the event for the third straight time. Atlas Van Lines' Bill Muncey applauded his crew yesterday just after he crossed the finish line in 1 Circus Circus A boat's name describes regatta activities Reed Courier-Journal sports editor through the Circus Circus casinos in any given year. The guiding idea behind Circus Circus is to provide something for kids to do while their parents play blackjack, roulette, craps, and slot machines.

Especially the slots. Of 1,500 slot machines in Vegas, the majority may be found in Circus Circus. "We don't cater to the big players," said board chairman Bill Bennett. "We don't like to see anybody lose a lot of money." He kept a straight face when he said that yesterday while sitting in the Casino's pink-and-white motor home parked near the pit area. Bennett and Bill Pennington, president of the corporation, are the guys who turned Circus Circus from a failing casino into a winner.

In 1974, when they decided to take over Circus Circus, Bennett was in charge of all Las Vegas casinos for Del Webb while Pennington was making tons of money in the electronic gaming-device business. It was a gamble, like everything else in Nevada, but one they I Buy any Kitchen or trash compactor at our I 1 reeular low Drice before July 31, Buy any KitchenAid dishwasher or trash compactor at our regular low price before July 31, and get a $30 rebate direct i from our distributor. BILL MUNCEY Wins 8th time at Madison MADISON, Ind. Circus Circus is the name of a boat, but it's also as good a way as any to describe what goes on here every July when the Madison Regatta is held on the banks of the Ohio River. The Regatta, which this year had the added privilege of being designated as the Gold Cup, is, ostensibly, a race for hydroplanes, those big boats that are capable of going 150 miles an hour or so in the straightaways.

What it really is, though, is a party with 100,000 or so guests. Outside the pit area, nobody really cares that much if Hill Muncey wins (yawn) again. All that matters is that the rain doesn't fall and the beer doesn't run out. By that standard, yesterday's race wasn't exactly an unqualified success. It rained some, but nobody was seen to be dying from lack of beer.

Of the eight thunderboats that contested yesterday's race, the most interesting was the Circus Circus, which is sponsored by a rather unusual Nevada hotel-casino chain. For those who think All KitchenAid Built-in Dishwashers Ask for FREE Competitive Comparison Folder! felt was worth taking. And they won. A few months ago, casting about for a way to publicize their casino, Bennett and Pennington decided to sponsor a hydroplane. The tone had been set earlier by casino operator Bill Harrah, who used to run a boat named Tahoe Miss.

The chairman of Atlas Van Lines, spon- See BOATS Page 4, Col. 1 this section that casinos cater only to high rollers. Circus Circus offers a choice. It's a family casino if you can believe that built around a two-story, pink-and-white circus tent with clown-and-animal acts on the top floor, games of chance on the bottom. There is a Circus Circus in Las Vegas, another in Reno.

The one in Vegas has 800 rooms, the one in Reno 906. All told, about nine million people will pass Knight has run-in with policeman before Macy leads U.S. team to win all 12 players scored at least six points. The Canadians, sinking to a 2-3 record, were led by Jay Triano's 17 points. Leo Rautins, who played his college ball at Minnesota with McHale before transfer ll Kitchen ring to Marshall this year, and Steve At kins each accounted for 10 points for the Canadians, victims of the U.S.

in the 1976 Olympic semifinals. The Americans put the decision away early, hitting their first five field-goal Associatod Pross SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico The United States basketball team won again yesterday in the Pan American Games, but problems mounted for its controversial coach, Bob Knight, who had a brush with the law. Before the Americans whipped Canada 97-76, the fiery Indiana University coach was hauled off to a police station after an incident in a morning practice session. No charges were filed. Knight was released and was a model of decorum on the bench later in the day when his charges rode over the Canadians.

An American team spokesman, while declining to give details of the incident, confirmed a Puerto Rican policeman was involved and that Knight was taken to a police station. The spokesman called the incident "a minor misunderstanding," and said it was resolved amicably. "There are at least three sides to the story," he said. Knight declined to give his side of the story. "I have no comment," he said.

While Knight's confrontation with police may have been less than conclusive, the dominating American athletes continued their authoritative displays of talent Kyle Macy supplied the outside shooting and Kevin McHale the inside firepower to lead the undefeated U.S. team past Canada. Macy, the smooth 6-foot-3 guard from the University of Kentucky, scored 17 points, while McHale, a 6-10 center from Minnesota, added 12. The Americans are 5-0 in these hemispheric Olympics. The U.S.

men's depth was evident, as attempts for a 12-6 lead. They ran that margin to 31-16 by outscoring the Cana dians 13-2 in a four-minute stretch. The U.S. basketball team has won 14 straight in the last two Pan Am Games, and is an astoundine 47-2 overall. The To Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of KitchenAid Dishwashers.

Offer Ends July 31st. See Your Local Participating Kitchen Aid Dealer Today Mor.arch Equipment Co. Distributor Americans held a 42-24 halftime lead over the Canadians, and sported their See KNIGHT Page 4, CoL 1, this section.