VIP Sponsors

Sponsors

Gone Racin' to The Grand AMA Speedway Races - 2006

Gone Racin' to The Grand AMA Speedway Races - 2006
By

profilepic: 

Gone Racin' to The Grand AMA Speedway Races
 
We met Ronnie Hancock at Irwindale Speedway and he invited us to visit The Grand Arena at the Industry Hills Expo Center, in the City of Industry, to see the AMA sanctioned Speedway Motorcycle races. Rex McAfee volunteered to bring his digital camera and his experience and we drove over to the arena for the Wednesday night races. Rex is the son of Jack McAfee, the well known Road Racer during the 50's and 60's, who challenged Ken Miles and Johnny Von Neumann for dominance in that sport. The Grand Arena is not hard to find, and is right off the 60 freeway, between the 605 and 57 freeways, in the City of Industry, California. It is situated on a hillside with a fantastic view of the valley below. They charged $3 for parking, $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children, and those under 5 years of age were free. It is quite reasonable for a night of racing. Many people were there early to get some very delicious food to eat at Daysi's Caf'. A complete burrito mean was $6, and fajitas only $7. There were three lines for beer sales, and an 8-ounce cup cost only $2. Restroom facilities were large and modern. The Arena is domed and very spacious, and the sides were open for ventilation. A slight breeze is an advantage for it clears away the dust and improves visibility. The building has aluminum solid seating for as many as 5000 people, and we estimated that about 3500 were on hand for the races.
                 
I spoke to Raul Landino, the Marketing Director for the Industry Hills Expo Center. He said that the facility had once been the Equestrian Center, but was expanded four years ago with the building of the brand new Arena. They host rodeos, Roller Derby, concerts, festivals, dog shows, Tae Kwon Do Tournaments, equestrian events, circuses and in the last two years, the AMA Speedway Motorcycle races every Wednesday night. Raul said that the City of Industry has only 1000 residents, but over 85,000 people work in the city. It is a first class venue with convenient parking and the action within the arena is close to every seat in the building. Thomas Keyworth, President of AMA's District 37, told us that AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) has a membership of over 260,000 members, many of whom are motorcycle racers. They are the sanctioning body for the Speedway Motorcycle Racing at the Grand Arena. He explained the various kinds of motorcycling activities that the AMA sponsors, from Speedway, Hill Climb Racing, Cross-Country, Ice Racing, Road Course Racing, Motocross and recreational usage.
 
We met Ronnie Hancock who was selling his own brand of White Nuckl Speedway Racing apparel, and who introduced us to the Grand. Ronnie introduced us to Jack Ballogg, who gave us a tour. Ballogg told us that they have only been racing at this site for two years and the course is an 1/8th mile oval track. There are four racers to a heat and they take 4 laps in each heat. It is quick and fast paced as the cyclists weave and dodge and look for position on the course. Ballogg said that the peewees start as young as 5 or 6 years of age but that prize money isn't normally earned until the riders reach about 16 years old or are sponsored. The junior's race bikes with 250-CC engines, while the big bikes are 500 CC in size. He told us that many of the American riders are in Europe where the prize money is substantial. Jack introduced us to Freddie Orosco, who is the promoter of the Speedway Racing at the Grand.
 
Orosco said that he has his hands full with his Wednesday schedule at the Grand, but that he wouldn't mind expanding Speedway Racing to other venue sites. He said that this is the only sanctioned Speedway Racing in all of District 37. Freddie's friend and fellow promoter, Dave Joiner, added that he promotes AMA sanctioned Speedway Racing on Friday nights at his facility in Auburn, California. Dave has been promoting motorcycle races since 1995 in District 36, which includes Northern California and Nevada. There will be three National events, September 2, at his track in Auburn, September 3 at the Grand, and the final one on October 8, back at the Auburn facility. Joiner and Orosco said that there are only about 10 Speedway tracks in all of North America, with about 150 to 200 professional racers. They said that it is definitely a niche sport with the AMA, but an exciting one to race in or watch. Joiner mentioned that the tie with AMA is good for Speedway racing. "They are a more structured organization with a rule book that keeps pace with the racing." He mentioned that there are cost advantages in belonging to the AMA and that they fight for the motorcyclist's rights. He told us that Speedway racing, though small, is producing a contingent of American riders who are doing very well in Europe, including Greg Hancock who is vying for the World Championship. Speedway racing is different than Motocross Racing and takes different skills and bikes. It is the 2nd largest sport in Europe behind soccer. Dirt is preferred because it is more unpredictable. They like smaller tracks, like the 1/8th mile oval at the Grand because it promotes excitement and more entertainment for the spectators. The European tracks are larger than the ones in America.

Orosco and Joiner said that Speedway racing was originally called Board Track Racing before WWI, and that the banks were steeply pitched and the speeds and danger caused many accidents and deaths. Often raced on bicycle Hippodromes, riders toured the country bringing in huge crowds. World War II caused all racing to be suspended and after the war Speedway Racing lost much of its appeal to car racing. Speedway Racing made a comeback in England after WWII and gradually re-exported the sport back to North America in the 1960's. Both Orosco and Joiner have seen a rise in the number of riders and spectators who enjoy the sport.
 
Ballogg said that the bikes have no brakes or gears, just a clutch. Riders stop by putting their foot down or using twists, turns or sliding maneuvers. The top two riders go to the next bracket, while the bottom two fall into a loser's bracket, and the constant heats produce a shakeout until only the top four riders are left for the main events. Each rider draws for position closest to the inside lane. A net is raised and the riders are off. The rider who has the quickest reflexes usually reaches the first turn ahead of the other riders and has the advantage, but falls are common and strategy and skill will often allow one rider to pass another. The riders go into a slide in the corners then straighten up and accelerate in the short straight-aways. If the rider does not slow enough to take a sharp turn in the corners, he leaves himself open to being lapped on the inside.
 
Bruce Flanders, the voice of Irwindale Speedway, is the announcer and he has an easy style punctuated by excitement and a real knowledge of the riders. Steve Lucero is the starter. Lucero is a former National Champion and also gives lessons to beginning Speedway racers. Ryan Evans is the Pit Steward. Ballogg says that it's easy to get started and Lucero's Speedway Bike School is tops in training new riders. He introduced us to George Rich, longtime AMA Speedway Board Member, and his friend Dan Nay. Dukie Ermolenko keeps the lines of riders organized and waters down the track.
 
Though we were right on top of the riders, no more than 10 feet away from them, but protected by a 4-foot concrete wall, it looked like the riders were all young kids, until we met Bertus. That's his name, just Bertus, and he just turned 69. Bertus is from the Netherlands and he has been racing Speedway Bikes since 1956. He owns a motorcycle shop and helps out anyone wishing to take up Speedway racing. Tonight, he and his partner, Glenn McClellan, were entered in the Sidecar racing. These are not the sidecars you see in WWII movies, big and bulky. These are svelte little bikes and the driver has all the advantages here. The rider sits, kneels, hangs on and prays he won't fall off and is run over by another sidecar. They weave, bend and place their weight much like the yachtsman do in sailboat racing, trying to get every tenth of a second that they can and reduce drag as much as possible. Crashes and spills were the order of the day in sidecar racing and I asked Bertus why he started in the second row at each event. He told me that it's safer back there. He can see what's happening and avoid the crashes. His team took second place and weaved masterly in and out of traffic effortlessly, but it looked like he was more intent on helping others do well than on absolute victory. For thrills and spills and the kind of racing that just keeps on coming and never stops, Speedway Bike racing may just be what you might enjoy. It's inexpensive, fun and exciting.
 
Gone racin' can be found at www.oilstick.com