Gary Scott (64) leads the way early on the crowded Astrodome floor in the Houston TT final in February of 1975. Scott leads eventual winner Kenny Roberts (1), Mert Lawwill (behind Scott in the black helmet), John Hateley (98), Ron Powell (31E), Mark Williams (70) and a rookie named Jay Springsteen (65X).
Incidentally Norton factory rider Mark Williams, of Eugene, Oregon, finished third in the TT (behind Roberts and Scott) and fourth in the next night’s Houston Short Track National and left as the AMA Grand National points leader. I’m guessing that was the last time a Norton rider led the national standings.
This photo was in a 1976 AMA Press Kit. I’m just about certain this shot was taken by Rusty Rae, who was the AMA’s Photo Editor at the time. Rusty has gone on to publish auto racing books.
Gary Scott (64) leads eventual winner Kenny Roberts (1), Mert Lawwill (behind Scott in the black helmet), John Hateley (98), Ron Powell (31E), Mark Williams (70) and a rookie named Jay Springsteen (65X) in the 1975 Houston TT National. (AMA Press Kit Photo)
Rider Files 
I caught up with Rusty today and sure enough this photo was his from the Astrodome. I asked him how he shot color indoors in the mid-1970s when the fastest film was probably 400 ISO. He said if he remembered right he used Kodak Ektachrome 400 speed film (the highest color generally available at the time) and pushed it to 1600. He said the labs were really good at push processing in those days and could keep the grain down amazingly well.
Today Rusty and his son are major LeMans 24 Hour enthusiasts and they do a cool sports car blog:
http://www.tertrerougetimes.com
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