Kaya Mawa Sailor

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2011-10-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

Blue Heron

USS Abraham Lincoln

2011-08-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

Watched the giant carrier pass by the light house at the end of the breakwater and turn toward the pier at the end of West Channel where she docked July 25, 2011.

Ship commisioned 11 November 1989.

Cost $4.5 billion

Class: Nimitz Aircraft Carrier

Overall Length 1,092'

Beam overall 252'
waterline 134'

Speed 30 plus Knots

Aircraft carried: 90 fixed wind and heliocopters

On January 13, 2010, the carrier completed upgrades and repair that cost $250 million at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The carrier was to be assigned to Carrier Strike Group Nine.

On February 03, 2011, The ship was awarded the Battle Effectiveness Award for its high standards of excellence and combat readiness

Los Angeles Navy Week July 25-31

My Pelican Pictures

2011-05-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

These first pictures were taken close to White's Point from the path that leads down to the water by Royal Palms. The pelicans are actually below me in several shots.

That is Point Fermin in the background

These were taken in March of this year.

They soar in small groups or in large ones. They start flying along the breakwater in Cabrillo Beach then ride the uplift along the cliff edge to Royal Palms then turn around and fly back close to the wave tops.

California Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis californicus

Now the pictures shift to two pelicans following in a returning fishing boat.

They know there will be something to eat.

The beggars are very good at panhandling

A flock of gulls also followed the boat into the dock but they stay in the air above the pelicans hoping to get some left overs.

It is not uncommon for gulls to steal from a pelican when they try to swallow their catch. The pelican stays in one spot above the water then dives and when it resurfaces the gull is ready to steal.

The fisherman cleans out the dead bait from his bait tank and gives the pelican an early supper.

These pictures were taken on Friday the 13th at Holiday Harbor Marina in San Pedro, California at Berth 34, E Gangway.

Continuing the sail on the Brigatine

2011-05-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the pictures taken on April 23, 2011.

Sometimes the twin ships sail together and go in the same general directions but not always.

Notice that the Course (Foresail) was not set.

The crew takes the lunch break in various places.

Every line has a function and is stowed ready to be lowered or raised at the command from the Captain.

Flemished lines

Manning the braces at one turn on

The sun is out but jackets and sweaters are on.

At the end of the trip the work continues as everything must be lowered and return to its proper place.

Crew Training April 23, 2011

2011-04-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

This training trip was on April 23, 2011 which was last Saturday. I plan on splitting the blog for that date into two edits as the time to load files from my laptop on my sailboat to the WiFi at the marina office and load on to Google can give you a fit of cabin fever.

It is simple amazing that first timers can climb the rigging and work the yards. I was asked to go aloft but since my body does not have the bending capabilities of a yoga follower or a young woman. I am determine to get back in bending shape and go up.

It is a way up there.

And when you get there there is work to be done.

Another new green crew member gets a chance to climb.

She climbs like a pro.

up and up

Reaching the point where you have to lean out and clip in.

Clipped in and over the landing.

More pictures of this trip in my next blog...

Water Balloons at Sea

2011-04-27T16:15:00.000-07:00

These pictures were shot during a volunteer training sail on March 26, 2011 with the LAMI youth training program.

Each trip I have been on (this is my third) has a mixed crew. Some are new faces, some are familiar but the ship and safety drills remain the same.

This morning, we start at 10:00 A.M., both ships sailed south towards the Port of Long Beach inside the break water. There wasn't much wind.

The two different ship crews are competitive and often engage in mock battles but only one brigantine has a gun. They may have a loud black powder gun but we are armed with a water balloon launcher and plenty of water balloons. We are close enough to each other for several balloons to get someone wet.

Ready to launch

Balloon launched

Balloon hits target

Exy's chief pitcher winds up ready to heave a water balloon

The battle is over and each side claims the victory.

She changes course and sail away from us.

The course was not set but you can see the mainsail and main stay sail

Notice the smooth water and the drooping pennant and ensign.

She head to sea searching for whales and we stay inside dodging barges and container ships.

Every line has a function and a place to be stowed when not in use.

San Pedro's Tall Ships

2011-04-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken on March 26 during a LAMI crew training trip.

Both of the brigantines went out and we proceeded east towards Long Beach.

The two ships are named Exy Johnson and Irving Johnson and are close to being twins but there are some differences.

Inside or outside the breakwater it is not uncommon to find freighters and oil transport ships at anchor.

A brigantine is rigged with two masts.

The GPS display and compass are located forward of the helm

The mainsail is on the left and the square sails (top to bottom) are Fore Top gallant, Fore Upper Top Sail, Fore Lower Topsail and the Course.

Same sail from a port view

Lunch break

Captain at the helm

Going below to the berths.

From 20-34 berths depending on route or program.

Sailing on the Brigantines

2011-04-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the year I attended a orientation meeting at the Los Angeles Marine Institute and signed up for crew training. This set of pictures were taken with my IPhone during a sail training trip on February 12, 2011.

Loading the ship's gun.

Black powder

Reentering the Los Angeles Harbor

I have not been blogging much lately but I will continue to add pictures of the sailing on the tall ships.

Whale Fiesta

2011-01-31T12:35:00.000-08:00

Almost every morning we leave the marina and I take my dog Dede for her morning walk. She likes to head for Cabrillo Beach to look for the squirrels that run around the park. A couple of weeks ago I noticed a hanging sign announcing the Whale Fiesta.

So I entered the date in the back of my forgetful storage device under my hat. Then this Friday morning I saw a tractor moving sand and dumping it under the direction of two fellows that were measuring the placement of each load of sand.

They also had two large books opened to pictures of whales.

Friday the form was just a lump of sand. Then Saturday the shape started to form.

Then you add a fire hose and water.

And whales need lots of water,

And then it started to rain.

When I fist came over early Sunday morning the whale was a work in progress. Later after ten I rode by bicycle back over to take more pictures which wasn't a great idea as my bicycle doesn't have a roof and the sky opened up.

The following pictures were taken Monday morning.

I guess somebody had fun whale walking.

The Pride of San Pedro

2010-11-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

Last night the rain started about 1:30 in the early morning.

and the day started out damp as I had left my New Balance running shoes in the cockpit of my boat and they were wet. I and my son's dog Dede live on a sailboat in Holiday Harbor Marina in San Pedro, Califorina. Actually the little bitch dog (been reading Henry Miller) is my dog too as I got her out of a cardboard box in front of large market in the desert a week before the Christmast Holidays many moons ago

Some morning I ride with fellow sailboaters on our bicycles around our waterfront. Being the senior member of the crew I sometimes wait till the sun is higher in the sky and the air warmer before riding.

Today I waited and on my ride around the harbor I encountered a funeral procession and the motorcycle cop in his brown uniform stopped the traffic to allow all the car with funeral stickers on their car window.

There was a long snake of cars winding through Ports of Call from the fish docks at 22nd Street to the Fire Boat dock on Harbor Blvd.

I waited for several minutes as cars and pickup trucks drove by then I bye passed the stoppage and rode towards 22nd Street. When I got to the fish docks the procession of cars had stopped and the rear motorcyclist proceeded forward to escort.

After I finished my ride and was back at my sailboat I asked around about the large funeral procession and since the path of vehicles went right by the fishing fleet it was suggested that maybe a fisherman had passed away.

So I changed from my cycling kit into my street clothing, got the dog and we walked back over to the fishing boats off the main channel.

We stopped for a minute to look at the empty spot that had been Canetti's for many years (Est. 1949) and continued on for clues on who had recently died here.

Several large trucks were loading pallets of fish and the air above was filled with seagulls. Not to be a target of the hungry gulls we moved on until we reached the fishing boat San Pedro Pride. In the Captain side window was a new decal honoring Ciro Ferrigno who had died on October 31, 2010.

Now that I had an answer to my question we continued on to marvel at the boats and all the nets and traps used to harvest the sea.

I am not sure how many boats are berthed here now and I forgot to bring along a notebook to take a count but I will try to take an inventory for a later blog.

Point Fermin Park

2010-10-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

About two weeks ago on Wednesday October 6th at about three in the morning it started raining very hard and continued off and on till after sunrise. Captain Methane dropped me a note on FaceBook and suggested I go and look for water spouts so I did.

So the dog and I hiked over to Point Fermin to view the Pacific in hopes of getting some pictures of the storm. Point Fermin Park is located at the end Gaffey Street which runs through San Pedro and the parking at the park is free. The lighthouse has tours but I will leave that for a later blog.

I actually parked west of the main park along West Paseo Del Mar between Roxbury Street and Almeria.

There are loads of squirrels in the area and this makes for great sport for the dog but here she isn't allowed off her lead but she headed down the path in search of bushy tails. We have never used this path before and didn't realize it went all the way to the beach. This path is located between Point Fermin and White Point.

To finish the trip to the rocky beach below you must descend down this scary stairway. Some of the steps are wobbly and I must admit I gripped both hand rails going down.

Beside the rocks there are are former pieces of structures whose history remains a mystery. Sunken City is east of Point Fermin but maybe there were slides here or just a dumping off place.

I really need to spend some time learning more about the different kinds of birds we have here maybe a reader can identify these.

It was low tide while we went exploring the rocks.

The storm that passes through made Catalina in the distance clearly seen. The island can be hidden by fog or haze but not this day. I ride my bicycle on Western Ave. which ends at Paseo Del Mar. One foggy day you could see the peaks of Catalina standing above the fog laying across the channel from the top of 25th Street.

Not clear which ship is approaching the harbor but I would surmise it is one of the twin Brigantines Johnson's.

San Pedro Sun Rise

2010-10-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

For the last two speedway season I have written a blog about the speedway scene in Southern California. For those unfamiliar with speedway a few clicks back here will show pictures of this motor sport. Though the season is over there are still races that will continue through the fall and winter periods but I have parked mine in the back of the garage until next year.

A few months back I gave up living under a roof and moved on to my boat and with some exceptions when I do some house and grandson sitting I am happily living in San Pedro, California in a great marina.

Living on a boat puts you in touch with nature, you feel it and hear it in a different way. When the wind blows or the tide changes you become aware of this. The light of the sun, stars and moon illuminate the inside of the boat.

If the sky is clear the morning rise of the sun gives enough light to start doing things very early. Many are out early walking or running around the sidewalks that border the marina and Cabrillo Beach.

The views do not stay static during the day as the skies color change as the sun rises and lights go off and later the afternoon winds come up. The water goes from a silver stillness to a slight ripple to the small white caps in the gulch.

Small fishing boats start to go out and cargo ships come in.

And each day the sun moves to a new position in the sky shadowing the Eastern mountain.

The above three shots are from the lifeguards rowing their surf dory very early.

Our neighbors include many sea birds, squirrels, tons of feral cats, harbor seals, and many various types of fish. The harbor is not sterile and the amount of fish one see in the marina makes one feel as if you were in an aquarium.

These pictures were taken on September 29, 2010 around the marinas adjoining Cabrillo Beach which is located in San Pedro, California with a Nikon D80.

2010 California State Speedway Championship

2010-09-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I started out in San Pedro with my speedway bike sitting in my daughter's garage in South Pasadena so me had me and my furry mechanic started headed north on the 110 Freeway from one end to the other.

Then I got a message that the turbo nitrous fire breathing VW camper that I needed to haul the JAWA in was not cruising Colorado Boulevard but serving as a rickshaw in Chinatown.

Eventually we got everything loaded up and took the 10 Freeway crawl from South Pasadena to Industry.

Ivan Mauger signing his book

I need a giant lens too.

The night was billed as the California State Championship but could have been called the Billy Janniro Show.

Sonny Nutter State Champion 1968

I finished second twice in the first two races which placed me in the main for my division. The main included the rider with an X on his back. I finally figured out the X stands for "EXCLUDED". There has been some discussion on the Yahoo User Group about him crashing or falling 80 percent of the time. I personally don't care to be on the same track with him but I don't get to pick who I race against. I had gate choice and elected to load in four so I could see where the hell he was. I knew he would crash sometime during the race and he did running into Mike Salyer. The race was restarted and X was placed back on the ten and he did it again on the final lap by running into Mike again taking both of them out and I crossed the finish line first but Mike was awarded the win. Slayer was also awarded "Kick of the Night".

Industry Speedway August 25, 2010

2010-08-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Not sure how freaking hot it was yesterday here but it was warm. I started the day on my boat where it is nice and cool in San Pedro then headed towards Los Angeles to switch cars so I could get the JAWA to the track.

Each mile I drove away from the ocean the temperature went up. And just before reaching the parking lot where the van was parked the empty light on my Nissan came on. So I made a detour to the nearest gas station and started to put in ten gallons.

If I only put in ten gallons every time I can pretty well gauge my mpg and how long before I need a refill. So while the pump is running I check my e-mail with my phone and forget about stopping the pump. That fill up was $54.00. So I now go and get the van that find it is reading on empty or swinging the needle back and forth so there goes another thirty towards a middle east oil man.

The nearby mountain were capped with giant white thunderheads that were maybe giving me a false illusion that it wasn't as hot as the 104 predicted. Most new cars have all sort of fancy instruments that tell you what the climate is like outside and how to make the inside pleasant for the driver and passengers. An 84 VW camper only has lots of windows and my furry pit crew uses one.

There were several no-show on the program and second division went from three heats to two heats each round with scratch racing with the highest five point riders getting into the main event. My starts were certainly not brilliant but I scored three third places in a row which got me into the main where I got another third place.

The above picture has Fast Eddie showing a broken hub.

View of the local mountains from the race track at the Grand

That picture is taking looking west towards downtown Los Angeles. Lots of people bitch about the pollution control devices placed on automobiles and trucks. That picture of the mountains was not obtainable a few years back because of all the smog. I have a good sailing buddy that got his master degree at Cal Tech in Pasadena and he came to the school by driving in over the local mountains at night and it was four days before he realized there were these large mountains so close to the school cause most days you couldn't see them.

Last night was billed has Harley night but there were several different types of bikes on parade laps and trying their hands at racing.

There are always kids racing and they race on different types of bikes. Most are fifties, either two or four stroke and a couple of different speedway classes running anywhere from 160 cc to 250 cc. The 250cc are on full size bikes just like the 500s.

Now that is the start of the sidecar main.

And that is what it looks like from the rear. Now I don't have two cameras but the first shot almost got me creamed as two of the crazy sidecars wound up in the infield where I had been standing. I have learned that you take the shot then run for cover. The second shot from the rear is much safer and is a restart and thanks to all they don't have a reverse.

Hedden was down from Auburn, California to check out the track for next week State Championship that will be held here.

While there is a shortage of speedway riders the sidecars are increasing and last night they had two heats of three each with the point leader moving into the main.

If you look close at the first division main lineup you will see that Buck Blair failed to make the main. Bruce Flanders announced that Bucky had made every main this year here until tonight.

Castro doesn't live very close to the track, in fact he lives quite a distance away. When I arrive at the track I have to cross a large dirt parking lot to get where I am going to unload. Every week his truck is sitting there and his pit is setup and he is working on his bike getting it ready for the night. It is hard to see him not smiling and last night he really was.

Industry Speedway Legends Night August 18, 2010

2010-08-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

Well yesterday was rather warm and the temperature was about 94 degree at four in the afternoon as I set out towards Industry a mere 19 miles away.

For those who are interested in trivia the path to the 10 freeway is about 4 miles and the signals and the traffic is not that bad. The metered on-ramp at Garfield has so much traffic going on and off as they merge and cross each other it reminds me of the intersection at a figure eight race.

Then the first mile on the 10 freeway is at freeway speeds then it halts. Then we poke along while the Metro Link Train flys down the middle of the freeway. My dog Dede didn't go yesterday as the race van has been stripped of modern delights like air conditioning to enable it to accelerate at a rapid pace. I once timed the 0 to Sixty with a sun dial and depending on cloud cover the elapsed time was close to fifty minutes.

The season at Industry is almost over and after tonight there is only two meeting left. Aug 25th and Sept 1st. The official program list the August 18th date as "Bruce Penhall's Night of Legends." Last year Penhall suited up and rode.

There were two beautiful JAP speedway bikes on display and JAP has nothing to do with Tokyo and WW2. It is the initials of J.A. Prestwich of J.A. Prestwich and Co. LTD.

Gino Manzares was in attendance after returning from a six month stay in the UK. Charlie Venegas was also back in winning form. Charlie promotes the races at Golden Gate Motor Speedway at the Solano County Fair Grounds in Vallejo, California.

Billy the Bullet and son.

Nephew Buck copies Tyson Burmeister recent hair cut but didn't take it all off like Tyson did.

Legends on the track

Mark Williams at work making those great videos

Sidecars entering the track

Third division has been combined with Support to make a handicap race. There were twelve riders listed on the program but two more were added making a total of seven in each heat. There had been some complaining about this and the problem passing the slower riders from the back chalk marks. There is a user's group on Yahoo and that was where the seed started for the race between Kevin Johnson #122 and Fishback Senior. The Animal made several very well thought out words of advice and this turned into a

challenge. The race was only two laps and Fishback won at the wire in a last second pass.

John Pavia does have a number but wears the red X on his back. Maybe he could be considered a moving target on the track as he goes down hard and recovers here with the help of the crash wall.

It might be worth the time to take a look at theYahoo speedway group there. Fishback recently commented on a video where Pavia leg placement was discussed and the proper technique to be used was offered by the Animal.

Not sure who got the big trophy.

The challenge

Side car main

Industry Speedway August 11, 2010

2010-08-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is one definition of insanity. So yesterday I tried another route of getting to Industry in the Wednesday afternoon traffic. Last week I tried the MAPS search for directions using my IPhone and hit a detour and bumper to bumper.

So I went to Google Earth and got directions there. The directions given there were a different route and I missed the detours I found last week and the traffic was a little lighter. The distance needed to travel from the driveway to the track is only nineteen miles and the time driving was 51 minutes. Tuesday I took a train from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Irvine and that trip took 51 minutes.

There is a freight train line running along the route I drove yesterday to the track but I not sure how to get the Jawa in an empty boxcar. You can take a bicycle on the Metro Gold trains when they are not too full but they might frown on a speedway bike and their trains do not go east of El Monte.

There were two very interesting old race cars set up for display and during beaks in the speedway racing they did some hot laps on the small track.

Again the drought of riders continue and even the crazy sidecars were less with only three showing when there were five last week. But those three put on another great show with lead changing and 5150 getting the main win.

The printed program listed 12 riders in the support races but that was of course changed and the first division was down to three heats instead of the usually four each round with five riders in each gate.My furry mechanic was useless as always and only
shows up to be petted.

In my first heat I thought I had won but was awarded second. Then I came in third, followed by a win, which put be in the main where I finished third.

Austin Novratil was in the main after having won all of his heats. Bobby Schwartz made the main by winning the last chance.

When the tapes go up on a short track like Industry a few inches can turn in too a big win.

After the races and the van was loaded up without any help from my mechanic and I headed west without the afternoon traffic to battle. Only one short stop was required and that wasn't for a refill or late night dinner but a visit to the police station. The city here doesn't allow for parking on the street late at night without a permit so I stuck my money in the pay slot and got my parking voucher for displaying in the window. They actually do have someone driving around in the dark writing tickets and the violation is $45.00:

CITY CODE VIOLATIONS 19.58 City of South Pasadena.

August 4, 2010 Industry Speedway

2010-08-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

Well I missed last week races at Industry after having a work load of moving stuff and packing that couldn't be ignored.

So my trip to the track was from a different compass heading on a different set of freeways full of stuck traffic.

I left an hour and a half later to get there and had a much smaller distance to drive but still had to deal with on-ramp closing and street work.

It isn't hard to explain the riders shortage with the state of the economy here, four or five tracks running off and on in Southern California and the time to repair broken machines and bodies.

Third and second division have been combined into a single group racing in a handicap form. In one race I was on the ten yard line and the other two on the twenty.

Last night I had a new mechanic in the pits to help me but all she did was get in the way, refused to push the bike and wanted to be petted. She managed to attend the rider's parade and enjoyed hanging out with old friends after the races. Someone suggested that she wear some racing attire or a number but that will have to be considered.

There were five sidecars in attendance and I took some pictures from inside the track at the start. After the tape goes up sidecars don't always go in the direction they want to. This makes for a click the shutter and run for cover approach.

And the younger riders put on a good show and are showing great improvement.

After the start of the above sidecar race there was a slight intermission in the racing as some sheet metal needed to be removed from the side tire after someone went left and another went right.

But after some pushing and shoving things are ready to roll again.

Four hacks are ready at the tape and was is hidden in the back.

The tape is up and the winners are:

In the First Division Main the senior veterans were loaded at the start. Several younger riders did well earlier specially Austin Novratil winning several races but just didn't quite make the main against the salty vets.

At the start we have Bobby, Buck, Eddie, Mike and Shawn. Now if you don't know their last names you need to get your ass out to the races on Wednesday night. My grandson can name them. He wasn't there last night as he was on an airplane returning from the east coast but I showed him these pictures this morning and he knows their names.

Flying Mike gets the gate by several inches and wins the main by a far greater distance.

Industry Speedway July 21, 2010

2010-07-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here we have ten days left in July and the temperatures are up for a while then it cools off. The traffic was a typical suck of a drive with out any accidents, fire trucks, just too many cars and loads of people driving and texting and not looking where the hell they are going.

As I pulled into the pits the parking lot looked rather bare and the rider count was down. Charlie (always a threat) Venegras and Russel Green were absent in first division. Second and Third had six riders each on the program and then to smooth out the program four second division riders were put in with the first division and five riders started at the tapes instead of four as listed on the program.

An additional change was made for second and third divisions where as each race was scored: 3,2,1,0 and the four highest scores went to the main. This made ever race count and didn't give anybody a free ride to the main when in the past seven rider were placed in the main without any eliminations or real heat competitions.

It is extremely difficult to put on a race program when you have a shortage of riders. Motors break, bodies take time to heals after crashing and wallets take even longer with so many out of work or working only parts time.

Please understand I am not shaking my finger at the decision to put some second division rider in with the much faster ones as the slower ones will be back at the rear very quickly but it now become a motor version of dodge ball.

The track surface at Industry varies every week depending on what other events take place there during the week. Cleaning my tires after the first race I noticed some hay material stuck to the tires so I am guessing from the steel calf chutes lying outside they must have had a rodeo there. A combination of cooler temperatures, too much watering, created a sluice like slip and slide. I watched the juniors before me and when two young lads on two-fifties repeatedly fell in the same bend I knew it was slick.

Knowing that the track was going to be slick in the corner is good to know but you have to try and beat everybody to the first turn and I got the jump at the tapes and slid through the corners without going down and stayed in front for all of the remaining laps winning going away as out brilliant announcer said. As long as he says nice things about Sugar Daddy he remains brilliant in my eyes.

Tyson Talkington showed up with a new number on the back of his leathers.

Kevin Johnson blew up his motor before the races started when he chucked half a bearing while warming his bike up. That can be costly as I did something similar a few weeks back.

Brandi McElroy, who rides the rear of the number 2 sidecar went down hard last week in a crash where the wall remained standing. Her and Brian Motis were back again for more punishment and won the crazy sidecar main event.

One reason there was a shortage of second division riders was the Tim McGrath was hurt Saturday night at Victorville and required an operation on his knee. After the races I offered to sell him my knee but he politely declined saying he didn't want an old worn out one.

Last Saturday night there were two separate track running on the same night here in Southern California. Now one could wonder about the reasoning of this happening with an acute shortage of riders here but I will not dwell on it.

Last Saturday my lap top quit and now is getting well in a repair shop in San Pedro. So I started to use my son's super duper Dell that he abandoned when he switched to an Apple for editing his bmx videos and it when down in flames with the dreaded blue screen after getting hit with a virus. So the pictures included in this blog were not adjusted for exposure.

Buck Blair left his cell phone charger in my Nissan last week and the charger has wound up missing. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of it please let us know. Bucky has won three main events in the last six days: Friday at Costa Mesa at the Fair Derby, Saturday at Victorville and last night at Industry but his lovely wife still would like her phone charger back

Industry Speedway July 14, 2010

2010-07-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Well I missed last week's speedway racing at Industry. My bike quit in the main and I thought the problem was with my carburetor. Some where in the past it had been modified and another fuel line was added to the air/fuel mixture and at various times the throttle will not shut off. So after screwing with it on the Friday after the last race I let it sit during the Fourth of July weekend. When it came to load up and go to the races after the long weekend I restarted it before loading up and the motor had lost compression. The needles in the bearing on exhaust valve rocker arm assembly fell on the garage floor when I took off the valve cover.

I may have had time to load up and go chase parts before heading out to Industry but my bank account said nothing doing.

So that gave me another few days to soak by swollen leg in my ice chest in hopes I could get the swelling down enough to wear some much needed shin protectors. So this Monday after relaxing over the weekend on my boat I set off to Cody's shop to get the square bearing replace with a more efficient round one.

So the small bearing was pressed out after grinding off the swagged pin and I figured that I would get off easily and have enough money left over for lunch from my lonely twenty hidden in my wallet.

Well that wasn't the case as after the pin was removed a new bearing could not be reinstalled as the hole for the pin was damaged from the pounding and a new rocker arm assembly was needed.

One who is not familiar with cost of speedway racing and the burdens of a limited production motor such as the Jawa need not know what a rocker arm assembly costs. But you could buy a rebuilt small block Chevy for a pair of these small rocker arm assembles.

So after depleting my food budget for the next few months I went home and put the motor back together. Not knowing the valve lash setting isn't a problem if you know where Buck Blair's garage is and I do. So yesterday I left early before the races and headed over there to finish the motor. It didn't take long for Bucky to dial it in and we were off to the races.

I had the honor to haul Buck along to the races and leaving from his house was a new route with maybe less traffic and a shorter drive time if you did not include the time it takes to get from my place to his.

Again the curse of a lack of riders to fill second and third divisions to make the racing really scratch racing continues. With more riders you have to earn your place in the main event by winning or at least finishing second in the final heats. When six or seven riders are automatically placed in the main it becomes a handicap race and a form of demolition derby trying to get from the back line through the traffic.

In handicap racing here in California riders are placed at different ten yard line chalk marks starting at the tapes and going back to the forty yard line at ten yard line intervals. The fastest riders set farther back. Also the lap count is increased beyond the normal four laps. Back many moons ago at Costa Mesa this made for great racing as Rick Woods or Steve Bast tried to overtake those who started 40 yards in front.

So in my main event I got to start at the tapes, not in the back and stand on the podium with Eloy Medellin and Bobby Schwartz. The smiling Bruce Penhall shown in the midget was part of a demo using four wheels instead of two or three as the crazy side cars do.

Charlie Venegas missed the action after missing a flight back down south and this put Aaron Fox into his first first division ride. It also saw Austin Novratil in the main event too. And Buck Blair made the main event again the hard way my wining the last chance again.

Give Schwartz the pole

Then give him the checkered flag.

June 30 Industry Speedway

2010-07-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Last day in June. Last night was the fifth Wednesday running speedway this month at Industry.

I leave at three in the afternoon and when I arrive an hour plus maybe 15 minutes later several riders are already setup. Kevin Johnson drives from a different direction and has farther distance to travel but gets there first as he is coming into town and doesn't hit the traffic.

The pits are on one side of the Grand and the food and refreshments are located at the other end. There is a full service bar available for those who prefer firewater over beer. My cooler has Gatorade, a Starbucks iced coffee and bananas. My riding is shaky and can you imagine what it would be like after a few olives chilled with gin.

Each week there are various displays set up in the patio area for the fans to see. Tonight's treat was a blown Rambler from Prolong.

Besides the bar there are several other options for eating and a nice patio.

The staff at the Grand keeps the place spic and span.

And of course the roof keeps the hot sun off of you but when the sun starts to set bend three can be really blinding and as you head west.

If you arrive early you can unload your bike and kit without a lot of unnecessary carrying. Since I pull a trailer and there is room to turn around in the pits I really like this. You also have a choice of dirt or payment to setup on. Recently my choice has been under a nice shade tree that has benches under it.

The racing program is split with PEE WEE and Youth Heats followed by a couple of Division two and three races before the National Anthem. There are always no shows and last minute sign ups so the pre-printed program usually bears no resemblance with the final working program. Before the Anthem is played the riders have a parade.

AAron Fox was placed in second division and he was set back in a handicap version of racing yet managed to win.

My first race was in event 3A and in the back straightaway I was in second place when I was whacked from the side. In third division that happens a lot as this is third division. My handlebars got turned and the peg dug in then and I left the bike and it decided to punish me by hitting me for leaving. And I do know that my kill switch does work.

The line in the track picture shows my peg digging in, then a sharp turn to the right for the bike while I flew left. Now you don't want to lay in the track as there are riders behind you and a still target is easier to hit. So I got up went back to my bike picked it up and slowly rolled it to the wall forcing a restart with the red flag. At the restart and I am put back on the ten yard line and of course I complain, even Bucky who jumped over the wall when I first when down, complained to the starter.

After I parked my bike back in the pits I noticed that in falling I had ripped my right glove apart and most of the skin on one finger was gone. So a quick trip to the EMT on the track infield for a couple of band aids to stop the dam thing from bleeding. Good service and no cover charge.

No damage to the bike and after the rider's parade I was ready for event 7. Someone bumped me off and when I was riding up to the tapes I noticed that my left leg refused to lift high enough to rest my steel shoe on the peg. This is great, so after the race I went back and discovered my sock was soaked with blood half way up my shin and my calf looked a lot larger that it did earlier in the day. So another trip to the ER station for a sharp scissor to cut open the pant leg so I could apply ice directly to the injury. Again great service and no charge.

Applying ice to the injury wasn't any fun but it did help and in the next race I finished in second place which put me in the main. Not sure what happen in my main but after one and a half laps my trusty JAWA quit. Well I did make the main. Now Buck Blair did it the hard way and made the main by winning the LAST CHANCE.

In the first running of the Division Main two riders crashed between turns three and four which brought out the red flag and a complete restart. At the first start Charlie Venegas was leading when the red flag stopped the action. In the restart Bucky from the wall got the tapes up and lead for a well fought finish.

FRIDAY NIGHT ROCKS OUT AT IMS June 25, 2010

2010-06-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

This watering method is unusual but works. Fred Facchini built the water trailer several years ago when we were running the track at Winchester. Last night we were discussing the entrepreneur enterprise of painting the golf ball size rocks that pop up from the track surface red and selling them as souvenirs similar to the pet rock craze of years past.

The 91 freeway through the Santa Ana Canyon has been a broken bottleneck for many years. There is some widening going on east of where the toll road dumps into it and if you leave early enough you can get through it without too many delays.

Last night on the return trip back at the junction with the 15 night construction closed the trap down to one lane around Main Street making the journey through Corona a sea of red tail lights.

I got awarded a plaque for being Division 3 Track Champion for 2009. I can sit that on the shelf next to my trophy for being the track champion at Industry last year.

Billy Hamill brought two junior bikes out and had two First Division riders put on a demonstration. Not sure what the displacement is but the bike look very slick.

I am sure we will hear more about Billy Hamill Speedway Academy. Check out the video Andy made of Billy at IMS the other night by clicking on the underlined link.

There was a Last of the Mohican's race in which Buck Blair hit the wall in the first bend rather hard. I didn't see the actual crash but I was standing right by the wall where Buck was laying. He didn't look well and his lovely wife Venus was in the grandstand next to the corner but couldn't see Buck laying there as the wall was blocking her view. Well, after Bucky finished his evening nap in the shade of the crash wall he got up and proceeded to win the contest.

The reason I didn't see Buck crash is: I was fascinated by Wonder Woman Brandi McElroy wrenching on their sidecar inside the track gate and was going to get my camera when Buck hit the wall.

Fast Eddie Castro always gives his best and that was good enough to win the Scratch Main. It was his kinda of track. There were lots of crashed last night which makes the frame straightening a growth industry and I am sure Dale Facchini, Tyson Talkington, and Buck Blair are sore this morning. Jimmy Fishback also sent his bike flying but he is a lot tougher that his bike.

There was both Handicap and Scratch Mains plus the crazy sidecars. I am not sure where it is safe to watch the sidecars. During an earlier heat a golf ball size rock flew over the crash wall and hit the rider standing next to we as we were watching. So for the sidecar main I went to the center of the track as the flying rocks were out ward bound but sidecars don't always stay on the track and for some unknown reason they keep taking shortcuts through the middle of the track trying to get back in front.

Tim McGrath did a repeat of Wednesday's second division win at Industry and I had him stand next to the posted program clock to prove that we really can stay up that late. Best Bud T-Rod insisted that I shouldn't be out of my nursing home that late and I am probably AWOL.

No one has ever successfully explained to me why sidecars race in the opposite direction and for the record, no one have ever successfully explained the crazy phenomenon to me.

The handicap main had several restarts, several crashes, and was a battle between Fast Eddy and Tyson Burmeister with Tyson taking the checkered flag.

When there is a restart in handicap races the riders are restarted according to their position at the finish of the last lap. Tyson was flying with every restart with Fast Eddie in hot pursuit.

Industry Speedway June 23, 2010

2010-06-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

Got to the track early as you can see by my first picture. The drive out was better than the traffic snarl of last week.

The track didn't look too hot but it was early and the ground crew was just starting to work on it.

Slowly the pit started to fill and I was able to have a nice tree near by for shade. As it is officially summer here you would think it would be warmer or plain hot but our June gloom is keeping the temperature down.

Some of the regulars I pit with were absent last night which gave me a break from the "old folks home jokes" I get from T-Rod. Not sure why he wasn't there.

Also missing was my daughter and grandson from the grandstands. I did get a text message from her and she was boarding a plane to go to Aspen. She was not going there to ski but set up an art show. Then I got another text message from my son with a picture of the bridge at Auburn where they were swimming in the river.

Funny it is a Wednesday night and my son is in Auburn. He doesn't race speedway anymore but he loves Auburn and he convinced his fellow riders (bicycles) to make a detour from their road trip to check out the trails, skate park and river there.

Last Saturday I spent the afternoon working on my Jawa and trying to get the clutch setup after changing the gearing on the primary and behind the clutch basket. The chain alignment was straight but the clutch play wasn't happening. So when I started in the first race the clutch was slipping badly. Then I increased the spring pressure for the second race and it still would not function.

The rest of the night was spent taking it apart and not getting it back together.

In my first race it wasn't a contest not because of my slipping clutch but the winner of the race should have been in another division. He easily won ever race going away and would have won the second division main if he was in it. My purpose it not to fault anyone as it is extremely difficult to put a program together with out enough riders. There are riders in each division that really belong in another but they are moved around to make the program work.

Three first division riders were missing from the printed program, one from second and one from third. So moving riders around in pretty normal but seven rider in a handicap race kinda sucks for those starting in the back. Geoff Herker took a toll on his bike last night and will probably have a hard time getting ready for Friday night at IMS and this can explain the missing riders on a program.

The track was changed last night with an exit gate added for leaving the track which made the entrance much nicer. For the side car main I ventured out to the center of the track to take pictures. It is really difficult to figure out where there is a safe place to stand and the crazy side cars some time take unplanned detours through the infield.

The winners of the night were:

Division 3 146 Aaron Fox

Division 2 186 Tim McGrath

Division 1 43 Charlie Venegas

and Side Cars were Jones and Olsen

Inland Motorsport Speedway... June 18, 2010

2010-06-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

Friday night starts at IMS early in the afternoon as the track has to be setup, watered and groomed. I start out at three in the afternoon and head to the canyons going by Cook's Corner on the way to the infamous toll road.

Cook's is a local watering hole that was once a bikers bar located on a narrow two lane road that went between the City of Orange and El Toro. Now it is surrounded with Orange County hillside housing and on the weekend the parking lot look likes the mega church parking down the street full of shiny bikes. It takes a little longer to go that way but I skip one of the toll road pay stations. The toll road subtracts twice from my flat wallet as I am towing a trailer.

The road goes by Irvine Lake which is full of water and where parts of the Second Saddleback Motocross track are now under water. The lake is a storage reservoir and in 2002 when the water was low they built a motocross track there. It didn't last very long as neighbors in the nearby community started complaining (some people just hate to see people having fun) and it was closed.

Then after you pass the lake you climb a hill and go by the original site of Saddleback where motocross took off and became a sport here. We drove from Huntington Beach many moons ago to see the first big race and the visiting European riders fly up and down the course.

There is smooth sailing for a while then I reach the parking lot that is called that a freeway by Caltran in the Santa Ana Canyon. Well it is Friday afternoon and for many it is escape day.

Finally I arrive at the track to see the changes made since last year. The previous two weeks I was not in attendance as we started sailing from San Pedro to San Francisco and got stalled in Santa Barbara because of gale warnings and missed opening night.

The track now has a slight bank to it and sits lower in relationship to the stands. The track gate entrance was also moved.

I got on the program after a last minute decision to ride and my gearing selection wasn't made because of the track size but a worn out primary chain that would not allow anymore adjustments without putting a larger primary sprocket on it. So between now and next Wednesday a new chain is required.

There was a shortage of second division riders and not enough third division riders for two separate heats so I wound up on the ten yard line. Having not ridden with some of these guys I am not sure which way they plan on going in the first bend. Some go wide in the first turn and some go for the inside. It is just like figure eight racing.

The younger of Team Fishback aboard a mighty PW50 took on a challenge from a senior team member giving everybody in the stands their monies worth. The little guys is so smooth. I pitted next to Rohn Zellner. Rohn and we met here years ago when Charlie had the show here. Rohn forgot to turn on his fuel in one race but did win the second division main later when his memory was working.

At this point in the blog I am required to make a plug for the track officials and the awesome track conditions.

The red shirts do an outstanding job and the head button pusher said if I said that here I would be allowed to touch the tapes without a penalty which is hard to do when you sit on the ten yard line.

The first division main event had three starts. In the first start Burmeister, Gomez and Fishback came together and all went down. Then Tim and Tyson had to go and recruit different bikes to continue riding. In the second start Mike Faria touched the tapes and was excluded. Then in the final go Fishback took the checkered flag.

Industry Speedway June 16, 2009

2010-06-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday was the third night of racing at the Grand this season and the third time I tried leaving early to beat the afternoon traffic. I guess everybody else had the same idea and as soon as I got to the 5 freeway it halted. Well the freeway didn't actually halt but traveling on it did. Trying surface streets would only make sense if you were riding a bicycle and I wasn't on one plus I was towing a trailer with my lay-down on it. Taking the bike off the trailer and riding it in the car pool lane wouldn't get me very far with the small fuel tank and I don't think laying it down to avoid a stopped car would work either.

The bad traffic Wednesday afternoon wasn't a local mishap but seemed to be everywhere. The Butterfly Effect whereas small items can change the outcome at a great distance could be the problem but I like to think of it as the Snail Effect where one fender bender at Green River in the Santa Ana canyon backs up northbound travel on the other side of the mountain.

Well, when I got to the track the place was still quite empty as the majority of riders were still on their way. The races are held in The Grand Arena which is in the Industry Hills Expo Center which is located in the City of Industry, California, a large commercial suburb in Los Angeles County. The city has very few residents and the last census listed only 777 living there but over 80,000 work there in the over 2,000 businesses.

Every week the track surface is new and different. The Expo Center has it own staff to prepare the surface and do not lack in the equipment department as there are several other horse arenas outdoors that surround the large stables there. They also have plenty of water and use it before the races start which makes the early races more of a mud slip and slide testing the riders in each corners. The program usually has a half-dozen races with the lower division riders racing before the riders introduction and the national anthem.

The program is printed in advance based on the previous week's sign up sheet and call ins and was set to have two races each in Division 2 and 3. But of course that was scrapped and seven riders were placed in a single race in each division putting two riders back on the ten yard line at the start. In my first race I was set on the ten yard line which has an advantage and a disadvantage. In the back I can watch everybody fall down in the slick muddy corner but I get coated by the mud flying off there tires but I have to still get around those who have managed to stay up.

I am not sure of the reasoning for putting be back. I often dwell on that, am I faster than the rest or do they just want be out of the way. The water seemed to be doing a good job of keeping the dust down and several riders too. After several races and the rider's parade was over the first division riders hit the slick track and I am there to testify that Flying Mike Faria was two wheeling in the snot in the corners. Then the ground crew came out worked on the track.

My second race was before the slime was removed and I was placed at the tapes instead of the rear. To every one's surprise I got the hole shot and led the race until the last foot where Kevin Johnson passed be at the finish. Someone said I had a half a lap lead at one time but I blew it. Each time I went into the turn between bends three and four I would go a little wider trying to stay up and kept losing ground to Kevin behind me.

In the main Johnson and I were placed back on the ten to play catch up and in my last two races it was no longer slick and the track was fast. Both Buck Blair and Charlie Venegas were dueling through out the night with Charlie getting the first turn in the main ahead of everyone else and staying there.

In reviewing the pictures on this blog most are easy to understand. The picture of Jeff and Hicks shows a new product Jeff is currently developing that is to be used as a personal flotation device for those riders that who can not swim.

Industry Speedway June 9, 2010

2010-06-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

Well if you leave early you get there early. Confucius didn't say that, I did. Does take a lot of the stress of driving out of the trip leaving early but it does find me napping on the starting line when the tapes go up.

The place is pretty empty at 4:00 O'clock then slowly riders start to show up.

Last week I had problems with my throttle cable in the main and did some readjusting and added a rubber band at the carb to put tension on the cable. It worked a lot better but I didn't.

The drought of riders hit second division and two riders from third moved up. The second division main was a runaway with Tyson Talkington taking charge. When Costa Mesa, IMS and Industry all race the same week something has to give. Last week there were two riders down from Northern California to race here but this week nada. When you add entry, tires, gas money, plus time off your job, if you have one, the expenses really add up.

You will not find any eighteen wheelers in the parking lot here like you see at Super Cross. Sponsorship is hard to obtain and the majority of sponsors support riders because they love the sport. Motorcycles shops don't seem to be interested in speedway as they don't sell any products at their stores. When my son raced speedway he did get help from a parts manager with free clothing and some parts but when the store owner was asked for help with the Honda two stroke we were running it was not available.

Years past you could read the results from Costa Mesa in the newspaper the next day. The Auburn, California newspaper still puts a story about the races there but that is a popular local event and Auburn is still a small town. Even Cycle News does very little to promote the sport and would rather run the results on-line that take up print space.

I have heard riders grouse about having to try an explain to a sponsor why his name didn't appear in Cycle News or why was his name was even mentioned 4 or 5 weeks later.

Wednesday night the crazy sidecars were hard at it. In one race they added a new trick to their bag of getting the fans to scream, "THE FLYING SIDECAR". Then later a demolition derby. We need more sidecars but you just cannot go to your local motorcycle dealer and buy one.

You also can not go to your local dealer and pickup a speedway bike. There is basically only one way to buy a new bike here and that is at Cody's.

Joey Holt destroyed his frame at IMS recently and he wasn't there last night. Beside being a sport that is hard on the frames it is also hard on bodies. Yogi Isgro failed to avoid a down rider and clipped the front wheel and then hit the dirt. He did get good care and attention from the medical team but I am not sure he will be back for a few weeks.

Industry Speedway Opening Night June 2, 2010

2010-06-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

Well after a six month intermission Industry fired up last night. Speedway here in Southern California has been going on for a month with Costa Mesa, Perris, and Victorville. Last Friday night IMS in San Bernardino restarted after a track rebuilding and some delays. I missed the last Perris race and IMS opening night as I was helping a fellow sailor get his sailboat to San Francisco for the solo Transpac.

Last year I tried leaving a little later to avoid the traffic which seems to never end in Los Angeles so for a change Wednesday I left at three in the afternoon in hopes of missing the stop and go. That earlier departure cut a half hour off the drive time.

Getting there early allows you to set up in a good spot in the pits and the pits have been rearranged for a high roller section with lots of sponsors banners. The promoter is in hopes that wearing old school white pants in the pits and dressing as professional will increase the gate. It is a good idea but I have my doubts about speedway mechanics using bleach and a washing machine unless it was to clean bike parts.

The weather at the Grand can fool you. The previous day at my house it was warm but Industry wasn't hot and when the breeze comes over the hill covered with trees it can be very nice. And of course the track is covered.

This picture is the entrance the fans see and I always enter from the other side to get into the pits. Yesterday I was meeting someone who was buying bicycle parts from me and parked on the other side for a change.

Several new riders were in attendance. Well, they were new to me and the program looked like a full crew in all divisions but after the riders meeting the revised program was posted several races were cut in second and third division.

A good turn out for the youngsters and the crazy sidecars. One thing the track needs in more cheering fans in the stands. The racing last night beats anything you can watch on a stupid TV set or in a sports bar. Billy Janniro and Buck Blair put on a show in one race that was worth the price of admission alone. Janniro later won the main and then put on a half hour wheelie and donut demo.

After the National Athem there was a trophy presentation to the winners of last years point championship. First Division went to Gary Hicks, Second division went to Joey Holt and there would be a nice picture of me with the trophy girl here if Buck Blair got me in focus with my camera.

The crazy sidecar main became a battle ground of crashing metal.

And Brandi walked away from the mess.

My first race had me starting on the 10 yard line and my plan was to go around the three riders in front of me in a flash of speed. That plan changed when the tapes when up and my front wheel started point at the roof. Too much clutch and a sticky track made for a surprise but I didn't loop the dam thing and got it down but pointing in the wrong direction. My next race I again started on the ten yard line but had backed off the clutch screw a bit so I was able to almost pass the front line riders by the first turn but went wide of them and stay outside and got pass them on the second lap and stayed in front. That put me into the main event. In the main there was some delays at the tapes and a restart after one rider went down. Then my throttle cable came out of the adjusting screws at the carb and got jammed.

Main Event finishing order:

Billy Janniro, Charlie Venegas, Buck Blair, Tommy Hedden, Mike Faria

NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT

THE PLACE TO BE IS INDUSTRY SPEEDWAY

Perris Raceway March 27, 2010

2010-03-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

Well this was the first race put on by Carrie Hancock after a debut practice session two weeks ago. The afternoon was warm with a little wind and plenty of blue sky.

The rider turnout was; 9 in D1,11 in D2, 11 in D3, 4 sidecars, 2 pee wee and 8 Juniors.

What you usually never see at a speedway track in California is practice before the races start. Everyone got to use the track before the racing started. Everyone mean everyone: Juniors through sidecars. It was really a fun day as kids rode bicycles around the pits. Sammy got to show off his new dog and a good time was had. The gates open at four in the afternoon and the races started at seven. The track lighting worked great. The announcer did a great job on the mike, Abbott ran the pit gate and young Brant did an excellent job of keeping the races moving and assigning starting gates. There was some grousing about the frequent watering but that was mostly from those who had to race after the truck had just finished. I always complain about the crappy traffic and today was no exception as I left the house at two and hit the 91 Riverside Freeway weekend traffic. It was better than some of the crap you see on Friday going to IMS until you swing south on the 15 then a parking lot as you slowly drive by Ken Maley's old place.

There was some problems with the green light and the tapes going up when they were supposed to go up and in one of my races the green flag had to be used. My thottle cable started acting up after the first race. It was my own fault for not replacing it after my son Dylan broke it two weeks ago and I thought my repair would work. I made the last chance but after the first bend the cable refused to function.

Best race of the night was between Doug Nicol and Greg Hancock in an early heat. The Second Division main was a close battle between Tyson Talkington, Dylan Black and Rudy Lauer with Talkington winning it. There isn't a ten o'clock curfew and the races went past that time but not by much. There are actually houses within spitting distance.

Additional Pictures From Perris Speedway January 31, 2010

2010-02-08T12:14:00.000-08:00

Didn't have enought room last week to post all the pictures.

Read this morning that there soon will be more racing at Perris, California starting on Febuary 27, 2010. Carrie Hancock Speedway Promotions http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=293364864659&ref=mf will have their first event that afternoon and under the lights. It is not surprising that someone would start promoting there after the great turnout last Sunday.

Perris, California January 31, 2010

2010-02-01T13:52:00.000-08:00

Perris Speedway billed as the New Years Classic this last day of the month was blessed with sunshine and blue skies. I have not been there in a few years and in the past the track was attached to the motocross park.http://www.perrisraceway.com/

Now the track is ran by the Southern California Flat Track Association http://www.southerncaliforniaflattrack.com/index.htm

and is sublet for speedway racing. The main change since the last time I was here was the entrance location and access road was changed and the parking was regraded.

The track has a nice grader and water truck which is much needed at other fixtures,

My daughter and grandson made the trip out to watch and brought along a vistor from London to watch. Her visit will include sights not seen in the normal travel brochure. Winter in Southern California is where it sometimes rain and the hills turn green for a short time. Now I may describe Perris as verdant but if I were to pastoralize the setting hoping you envision Romans ruins among the ancient stone walls as you pass a quaint pub I would be misleading you. Ruins there are here and fences fashioned from old tires and discarded camper shells I guess for want of a better name "909 outback".

To get to the track from my house I have two choices of which both require going around a mountain using a Toll Road or over one using the infamous Ortega Highway. Ortega Highway leaves the coast by San Juan Capistrano and passes through the Cleveland National Forest to reach Riverside County. It is a fun ride on a street bike if there isn't any traffic which is never. I once did the trip from Huntington Beach over Ortega and back on a Easter Sunday on a Kawasaki leaving at sunrise and it was fun.

Well I chose the toll route as my race lorry is a VW camper that has a allergic reaction to going up hills but it provides a nice tool bench and shade and the mileage isn't bad and on the level or going down a grade I can almost keep up.

After traveling on a toll road then a freeway though the Santa Ana Canyon and switching I head south on the 15 Freeway and sadly pass Ken Maelyhttp://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/hofbiopage.asp?id=219 old track headed towards Lake Elsniore. Hamlet's Elsinore is not to be confused with Lake Elsinore here and for fear of harm from those to live there I wll remain silent as I pass by the giant retail outlet along the freeway which must be the longest 99 cent store in existence.

When I reach the exit for Highway 74 on the 15 I am greeted by a couple of dozen building, stores, warehouse sales that were not there last trip here and the highway has been widen which is a great improvement but some the old crap and junk still line the side of the road. Weeds are flowers that some folks just don't know the names of and a rusted car body without wheels or old V8 engines is just someones forgotten idea.

Well I get to the track , pay my $35.00 to race and unload. There is a good turn out of riders and later on fans. There are three divisions of speedway, four side car racers, youngsters on minis, powder puff and junior speedway bikes.

The event is billed at a trophy contest so if any payout happen it will be a suprise. I would surmise that many are here to enjoy the sunshine and be able to ride or watch without an umbrella.

I am not sure what happened in this picture (above) as my daughter, Tinker Bean (famous track photographer) took this one and several others. She took some really good shots including one of myself at the tapes and leading a couple of races. With her help and the bright sunlight I wound up with almost three hundred shots that needed editing. So I will make this Sunday at Perris a two parts blog so I will not waste some of the good pictures. TO BE CONTINUED.............

Industry Speedway Programs 2009

2010-01-17T16:02:00.000-08:00

State Championship at Industry Speedway

2009-12-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday rolled around with another day of much needed rain here in the desert called Southern California. Los Angeles has a river that flows through it but it is mostly concrete and is suitable for drag racng as seen in the movie Grease. We don't own an umbrella so Saturday morning I went to Target to search for one.

After not finding any while walking around the store filled with Christmas shoppers I asked a clerk in a red shirt and was directed to the negligee section where all I found were panties and bras, no umbrellas. The thought of using a mega super size bra for an umbrella briefly enter my rain soaked brain then left.

With the rain my options to get to Industry were: load the bike on the trailer and get both of us soaked, put the bike in the VW camper where only I would get soaked or stay home and finish reading my book (HOTEL on the CORNER of BITTER and SWEET) and stay dry.

Jeff Immediato doesn't like it when I complain about the traffic getting to his track so yesterday I brought along the book to read while driving out there but it was so dark from the rain I could not see the print. Most of the drivers on the freeway are texting so why not read a book.

Before I could load the bike in the VW I had to take my kayak out of the van. My sit-in kayak is 12 feet long and fits inside the van without any problem but there isn't any room for the JAWA too. The van will hold a couple of surfboards, a bicycle, a kayak and a dog and still have room to sleep in the upsatirs berth. The reason I mention "too" is the rain water was running over the curb here while I was loading up and maybe the kayak would be the proper selection for the day.

After everything was loaded I left early not knowing how the pits would be arranged to keep the riders and equipment out of the foul weather. After a few blocks of driving I passed the high school and a girls football game was going on in the pouring rain so racing under the Grand's roof would be easy and a lot drier. After I got to the track the pit layout was to say it nice: was cozy. Lots of pits had pop-ups and space heaters and I pitted next to Beach Ball right next to the crashwall away from the wind blown rain but not away from the flying dirt. My camera bag, tool box and kit box are now full of dirt.

Last week the track was dry, slick and blue grooved. Last night the track was (to be polite again) let us say sticky. Early on there was more two wheeling than sliding.

Through the middle of the pits there was a chalk lined path to get to the start gate. An additional gate was added for the riders to exit the track. The past two weeks my bike refused to start easily so during the week I found the source of the problem and was able to start the dam thing by hand on the stand last night as there wasn't much room other than the track to bump off on. If one ventured away from the covering of the roof one could get really stuck in the mud.

The race was billed as the State Championship and followed a different format that the previous two winter nights. There wasn't any first division main event and the winner was determined by point totals for the night. All other classes had a main event. Butch Waymire #363 claims that I am writing a book and one chapter will be just my excuses. So here is my latest. While trying to repair my starting problem I discovered a broken throttle cable and that would take a trip to Cody's shop 22 miles a way so I got out the black electrical tape and made a half ass repair on the cable end. Having zero short term memory I forgot about the cable after the carb start to work correctly.

Then Thursday afternnoon Bill Cody called me to come over and fix his computer printer again. Years ago I sold the printer to him and when it breaks he calls me. So Friday I am at his shop surrounded by throttle cables and leave without getting a new one. During the first race the slide on the carb keeps sticking open because the cable is screwed. Well that bit of information will be included in the chapter on excuses if I can remember.

Since there wasn't any first division main event I didn't take a picture of the start. Ricky Wells had a perfect score for the night by getting every gate.

The races are over at ten and maybe that is when the rain stopped. Not sure when the next speedway race will be but Nate Perkins will be promoting one in February in Nevada. That should give me plenty of time to clean the mud off my bike and get a new throttle cable. Why only three pictures of Santa's Helper ? I guess some speedway shots were necessary.