Manchester Must Start From Scratch After His Streak Ends

Speedway rider Chris Manchester’s season-opening winning streak finally came to an end last weekend at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Manchester was trying to win his fourth consecutive scratch main event. His first victory, in the season opener, was in a handicap main event.

The winner of both events last weekend was Manchester’s boss, Mike Faria. Like Manchester, Faria lives in Reno, where they work as electricians. “I’d rather have him beat me than anyone else,” Manchester said. “He’s an idol of mine.”

Manchester, 27, has been a good pupil this season.

“I’ve won more scratch mains than I did last season,” he said. “I came in way more determined than the last few years. I had a renewed vision this year. I want to win in Auburn [on Friday nights] and I want to win here. I want to win everything.”

His mind may be telling him he wants to win everything, but his body said something else. Alan Christian won 13 consecutive scratch mains in 1981, a figure that left Manchester queasy.

“I was trying to mentally prepare myself for winning 13 in a row,” Manchester said. “I won three in a row, and I was already starting to get stomach cramps and stress a little.”

According to promoter Brad Oxley, Christian’s streak came when many of the top riders were competing in Europe.

“I don’t remember many people winning three scratch mains in a row,” Oxley said.

Manchester had a good idea his streak was doomed when he lined up on the outside against Faria, Bobby Schwartz, Josh Larsen and Gary Hicks. “Either I had to make one heck of a start,” Manchester said, “or I wasn’t going to make it.”

Manchester finished fourth, ahead of Larsen, in front of 5,772.