The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 27

Cofl AnfleUfl 3Thnes Mar. 25, 1980 Pari III 3 JOHN HALL Riding Again rniiE rrr rur uiauec a Bin VVME 4ii lilt IIHItJ Mill SURFING AT ITS BEST! There's a New Team in Town Thunderbolts Arrive With Hopes and a John Doe Image 1 u. 1 1 nBUrtf ZM mi FISH MARKET TONY'S ON THE PIER 3k TWO TO CHOOSC FROM 8EA8IDE DININO COCKTAILS LUNCH DINNER FISHERMAN'S WHARF. REDONDO RFACH "We're so organized now it's jrightening. Everything has been going so smoothly.

I guess we're bloody fresh out of doubters Well, for today at least. Maybe tomorrow." -CHRIS POOK, th sparkplug Suave Dashing Debonair That's the Formula One driver on the Grand Prix jet set circuit from Buenos Aires and Kyalami to Monaco, Jarama, Hockenheim, Zandvoort, Anderstorp and Long Beach. Sure it is. The guy in the cowboy clothes in the parking lot hitched up his jeans, pulled up a chair, sat down and crossed his boots. He had an infant with a balloon slung over his shoulder.

He was complete. Besides his Levis and long leather boots, he wore a 10-gallon hat with gaudy band and feather, a plaid shirt, buckskin jacket and large silver belt buckle saying "KLAC." Willie Nelson had to be singing somewhere. Buck Jones rides again. "It's not love, but it's not bad" "Every time you BECOME AN MEDICAL TECHNICIAN-1 in 8 weeks. For men and women CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF MEDICAL STUDIES 6832 Van Nttys Van Nuyi "J82 8833 CONTACT J0NI BLAZER Bruce Allen 'You Must Be Satisfied' The Genera Tire Service Pledge GENERAL S3? throw some dirt, you lose a little ground" and "There's nothing cold as ashes after the fire is gone" are the words that go with the music.

"I was afraid everybody would think I was a bloody fool coming here like this," Alan Jones grinned, "but, then, when in Rome Still, I thought everybody would be looking at me. It's just the other way around. Nobody even notices." Sure, that's Alan Jones, the racer, not Buck, the cowpoke, and he was just having some fun, along with his wife Beverly and young son Christian, serv 1 (that's $500 each, for you smart-alecks). Training camp opens May 24 at St. Francis High School, up the road from the Rose Bowl; next is the 15-game season, June 21 through Sept.

27, against teams representing San Diego, Orange County, Long Beach and Ventura from the Southern Division, and Sacramento, San Jose, Napa, Twin Cities and Stockton (the other new entry) from the north. The Thunderbolts, showing commendable austerity by moving their headquarters from Century City to Burbank, held an open tryout earlier this month at the Rose Bowl. Several dozen of the 342 hopefuls had been through NFL camps, including quarterbacks David Mays of Texas Southern and Keith Myers of Utah State. None of the 342 were college stars; only a small percentage were starters. Gypsy Boots, 68, fitness buff and cheerleader at sports events, tried out at quarterback.

So did a 14-year-old hoping to land a job as a ballboy. But, mostly, the prospects were serious. "I expected more nuts out there," Allen said. "I was pretty shocked. There were some darn good athletes." Allen had another visitor that day.

"My father was there," he said. "I can use the advice he's given me the last 10 years and apply it to this. Yes, I will still go to him." Marlis, whose staff has grown to 12 in public relations, sales, marketing and advertising, said the franchise cost that he expects to spend a minimum of $500,000 the first season, and he doesn't foresee losing much money, if any. "I hope that's right," he said, "or I'm out of a job." Marlis said the Thunderbolts wouldn't be in business if the World Football League (with the Southern California Sun) was still operative. He said if the Raiders relocate in Los Angeles, it figures to cut into his gate by 10-12.

The Thunderbolts, he said, would like to average 20,000 fans for their 10 Rose Bowl dates but will settle for Skeptics might note that the Orange County Rhinos of the CFL can't possibly average more than a few hundred fans a game, and few of the league's other teams do a whole lot better. Attendance figures often depend on how many friends the players have. But Marlis insists the Thunderbolts are thoroughly professional: from the salaries, to travel (first class, he said), to the stadium, to the rules (identical to the NFL). As pro football teams go, it may not be much. But with the Rams in Anaheim and the Raiders in court, the Thunderbolts, ladies and gentlemen, may be all Los Angeles has.

By TED GREEN Tlmai Stiff WrlUr There's a new pro football team in town, and it's not the Oakland Raiders. It's the Los Angeles Thunderbolts of the California Football League, which is beginning its seventh year of operation as an outpost for former college players who don't make the big time but still long to play football as a second job. Even though the players are the John Does of football, and even though sub-major league teams have a history of flopping in L. where competition is intense for the entertainment dollar, the Thunderbolts think their product will sell. One reason for the optimism is that while the players' names, for the most part, will not be immediately recognizable, the coaches' names will be.

Two ex-Rams are working in their specialties: Jack Snow (receivers) and Charlie Cowan (offensive line). Another reason is the Thunderbolts' plan to stock perhaps half the 45-man team with players from USC, UCLA and Long Beach State. This, they hope, will further strengthen local identity. Thunderbolt people tick off three more reasons why they think they're starting on the right foot: (1) Their home field is the Rose Bowl, (2) Ticket prices, starting at $3.50 with a $7 top for a seat on the 50-yard line, are affordable, and (3) The team has solid financial backing from the Century City investment firm that owns it. Still, with the Raiders maybe even money to play here for the 1980 season, with the failure in 1975 of the World Football League and with an inevitable, built-in image problem the image being bush league you may wonder why a successful firm, in this case Founders Equitable Co.

of America, would bother getting involved. "In the last four months, since we announced formation of the team, stock in the company has gone from 25 cents a share to something like $3.50," says Steve Marlis, the Thunderbolts' general manager. "I'd say 90 of that increase is due to the announcement. For our shareholders (3,600 in all) it's very glamorous to own a piece of a pro football team." What about the potential financial loss? "We don't start with that premise, that you automatically lose money," Marlis said. "We don't have high player salaries and our travel expenses are limited.

"We plan to give fans here first-class pro football at affordable prices, with all the trimmings mascots, "All work is quoted at a fair price when car is checked with no add-ons unless necessary for safe operation, then you are the judge. All worn, replaced parts are bagged for your inspection. We do the job fast right first time. If not, we want to know about it. Immediately.

That's our pledge." Alan Jones Polyester Cord Whitewalls cheerleaders, a band. Sure, we'll always be fighting the image problem. But by playing where we are, and by getting these professional people involved, I think we're starting on a very credible note." Californian Marlis, 27, did some place kicking at the University of Arizona and was an executive with the Thunderbolts' parent company before becoming general manager. The team (and company) president is Silvan Perry, 46, of Beverly Hills. Marlis said Perry keeps a low profile.

Marlis hired his head coach off the campus of Occidental, where Bruce Allen, 23, son of former Rams coach George Allen, was the youngest head man in collegiate football. Occidental of the Southern California Inter collegiate Athletic Conference finished 2-6-1 in Allen's one season there. Allen, who looks a lot like his father, yet seems to take life (and football) just a little less seriously, said he learned one lesson at Oxy. "I hate losing," he said. Talking about his team, which has just started signing players after the first of three tryouts, Allen speculated that there may be 20 guys on his roster capable of making an NFL team as 42nd or 43rd man.

In other words, the Thunderbolts' best players might catch on with special teams in the NFL, if they chose to try that route. "I saw a film of last season's championship game between San Jose and Twin Cities," Allen said. "If San Jose (CFL champion the last three years) played in the NFL, they would have won a couple of games. I also feel USC would've won a few, too." Allen said USC and UCLA fans will be familiar with some Thunderbolt players, though he wouldn't divulge names. "Another hand-me-down from my father," he said.

"I don't want to jinx anything before we sign them." The players, Marlis said will average about $500 a week in salary Value Priced! 28 ing as one of the judges in the chili cookoff that helps launch Long Beach Grand Prix Week. "The Concours d' Elegance and the cookoff will do about $50,000 for Long Beach charities," said Chris Pook, the travel agent from London turned promoter and president of the Long Beach Grand Prix Assn. It seems like only a few minutes ago the Pook was only two steps ahead of the tar-and-feather mob and one step out of bankruptcy court. His first two events put his LBGP company $1.7 million in the hole. But time goes by, wounds heal and that was actually five years ago.

"These days, we're even starting to take a little pay," Pook said. 95 size A 78-13 tubeiess whitewall plus $1.55 Fed. Ex. Tax The General Poly Sprint II features a smooth riding polyester cord body and a wide, flat, multi-rib tread. Larger sizes comparable priced! 4-Wheel BRAKE OVERHAUL CUBS DEFEAT PADRES, 6-5, ON TWO -RUN RALLY IN 7TH mm 5VON0) Redondo Surprises DuPont at Carlsbad Spatial to Th Timtt CARLSBAD-Local favorite Mari-ta Redondo surprised second-seeded Laura DuPont Monday night, 6-1, 6-4, in first-round action of a $50,000 women's tennis tournament at Rancho La Costa.

Fifth-seeded Pam Shriver won a 10-8 tiebreaker to edge Barbara Hall-quist, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, while top-seeded Regina Marsikova of Czechoslovakia stopped Nancy Yeargin, 6-3, 6-4. Seventh-seeded Yvonne Vermaak of South Africa was the only seeded player to lose in the first round, dropping a 6-4, 6-2 decision to Pam Tee-guarden. Second-round action continues today at noon and 6 p.m. Front Disc Rear Drum or 4-Wheel Drum YUMA, Ariz. CP)-Mike Vail's run-scoring single in the top of the seventh inning capped a two-run rally as the Chicago Cubs scored a 6-5 exhibition baseball victory over the San Diego Padres Monday.

The score was tied 4-4 when Mike Gordon led off the seventh for the Cubs with a double and scored the tie-breaking run on a throwing error by San Diego pitcher Bob Shirley. Vail later singled home what proved to be the winning run. The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a pair of unearned runs and Dave Kingman's two-run homer, his third round-tripper of the spring, made it 4-0 in the third. The Padres scored a run in the fifth inning on a triple by Paul Dade and an error and tied the game in the sixth on a three-run homer by Von Joshua. San Diego got its final run in the bottom of the seventh on a run-scoring double by Gene Tenace, but Dick Tidrow pitched out of further trouble and Doug Capilla came on to blank the Padres in the final two innings.

Tidrow, who worked two innings, was the winning pitcher. Shirley was the loser. The Cubs now have a 6-8 spring training record while the Padres are 5-5. We install new Disc Brake PadsDrum Brake Linings, new wheel cylinders, new springs, new brake hardware, new front wheel grease seals, resurface drums rotors, repack front wheel bearings and road test your car. We also flush, bleed refill entire hydraulic system and inspect master cylinder, brake hoses rear brakes.

Most U.S. cars, light trucks some imports. Additional parts and service cost extra if needed. Phone for a timesaving appointment We were in the midst of our annual preview tour of the Prix doing the course with the promoter, checking for holes in the fences and leaks in the grandstand and making sure the streets of downtown Long Beach are once again ready for next Sunday's climax 80 laps, about 162 miles at 12 turns and 2.02 per, up Ocean, down Linden, zig to Shoreline, jump in here, jump in there, zag to Pine, ha1' to Ocean and on to Jupiter and Mars. They'll jam about 200,000 people into the course area for the three final days of the event Friday through Sunday.

It's Pook's sixth orgy, his fifth annual grand prix. There's some confusion as to the official number because it all began in September of 1975 with a Formula 5,000 "trial case" before the first Formula One was allowed in the spring of 1976. To prove the event a success, Pook first had to prove he could lose a lot of money, and he was up to it on both counts. Once they got their debts settled and the creditors paid along about No. 4, it's been "solid go" for the LBGP and "doing it in the streets" is bigger than ever.

The early growing pains in the matter of organization and last-minute rushing around to complete the course have given way to a calm, professional face-changing each March. In short, they are ready already and have been for several days the machines arriving from England last Saturday and the last of the drivers and teams checking in Sunday and Monday. "Frankly, I miss some of the old headaches," Pook laughed. "It kept us on our toes." Bumping into Jones at the chili cookout in the Queen Mary parking lot was a bonus on the preview ride. The place was a happy beer -guzzling, chili tasting, fried chicken-eating madhouse of a picnic traffic jam in the Sunday sunshine.

"How old is young Chris now?" old Chris asked about the bundle on Alan's shoulder. Jones glanced at his watch. "He's 18 months," he answered. I thought he was going to say, "He's 17 months, 30 days, 14 hours and 12 minutes." He explained he first looked at his watch to double-check the month. He's a driver, all right.

It could have been July. It might have been Monte Carlo. Australian born and raised, Jones, at 33, has become one of the very best of the most daring young men on the Formula One trapeze. He won four races in 1979 in his Williams "ground -effects" Ford and is one of the favorites at Long Beach and for the overall 1980 world championship. He won the 1980 opener on the 16-race grand prix schedule, finishing first in Argentina, and is second to France's Rene Arnoux, who won the next two in Brazil and South Africa, in the point standings after three events.

With a grand slam name that can be both pronounced and spelled, Jones also comes about as close as Southern California can muster in the "hometown hero" department in the heavily foreign -flavored Long Beach cast. He bought a home and settled his family in Palos Verdes over a year ago. "Just as well," he said in his buckskin coat. "In this outfit, they'd never let me walk alone loose in Australia. They'd have me in a pawn shop in three seconds.

Pook yawned. He (Vdded it isn't the headaches as much as the headlines about the headaches he misses so much from the past. "Some people might not even know we're back," he said. "What I'm most proud about this year is that we've got our best-balanced show so far. It's more than just a Formula One race.

It's three days of incredible activity on and over the course historic cars, bicycles, foot races, the Toyota celebrity race, an aerial circus, parades, the Clydesdales, everything. Total variety, solid go. "My one great ambition now is to get it all started on the split second Friday at 10 a.m. when the first engine fires up for practice and the next biggest thrill will be when the checkered flag falls Sunday about 4 with no mishaps. Another year, another winner." And, well, this is where we came in.

Go get 'em, Buck. MOLD MECHANICS os PRECISION TOOL GRINDERS IDOD TOOLMAKERS Oil Change Chassis Lube Our Lubrication Special Includes: Chassis lubrication to manufacturer's specs Up to 5 quarts Quaker State Super Blend Motor Oil Most U.S. carssome imports light trucks to 12 ton. Additional partsservice extra. This week only! $f77 Now is the time to pair up your skills with Paper Mote's outstanding career Phone for an appointment Charge it at General opportunities it's a winning combination.

MOLD MECHANICS to S9.32 TOOL MAKERS PRECISION TOOL GRINDERS to $10.91 Not only do we offer competitive wages, but an outstanding benefit package as well. Our package inc ludes: We also honor Master Charge VISA Diner's Club American Express We want you on good terms EZI 6ENERAL BAIN CHECK Should ou' supply ol some sres or lines run Shorl during Ift.s event we will nonor any orders placed now lot lulute delivery at trio advertised price General Tire Slore prices and credit terms Product availability and prices may vary at Independent Dealers displaymq the General sign Paid vacation 10 paid holidays Major medical plan Dental Plan Overtime Savings plan Paid life insurance Paid retirement plan All llns and sirvlcis Include compliti sifily Inspection fnel Check Your Nearest General Tire Store Let us show you what a winning combination is all about. Apply in person om 1 1 :00 am ANAHEIM 1008 N. Anaheim Blvd. (714) 776-2110 BAKERSFIELD 2520 Brundage Lana (805) 322-2011 GLENDALE 1201 S.

Central 242-6838 SAN GABRIEL 425 W. Valley Blvd. 289-4313 TORRANCE 22910 Hawthorne Blvd. 378-8506 VAN NUYS 14412 Victory Blvd. 786-3510 VENTURA 1050 Thompson Blvd.

(805 643-2147 INGLEW00D 4911 W. Century 673-5662 LA MESA 8867 Grossmont Blvd. (714 460-6060 LOS ANGELES 1820 S. Grand at Washington 749-6491 SAN BERNARDINO 609 North St. (714) 882-2571 (J GILLETTE PAPER fTlATE 1681 26fh Street (Corner of Olympic Blvd.) Sonto Monica.

CA or call personnel for an appointment1 bun on natural shoulder suns and jackets are appreciated by gentlemen of conservative taste. SOUTHWIC remains loyal to this timeless, unpretentious and comfortable clothing. GENERA (213) 829-2633 (213)670-5541 ra Hesi seen at An Equal Opportunity Employer MF SAN DIEGO WEST COVINA 4595 Convoy St 321 Citrus nu un.ltui m.floT. bAN MftMirgu (213) 186-5377 Sooner or later, you'll own Generals.