Chilly Night at Industry: Dec 5, 2009

Last night was the second Saturday at Industry in the Winter Series. It is not quite yet winter but the gloves and winter hats made it look like everybody was getting ready to go snowboarding. I spent Saturday morning changing my oil and checking the carb as last week it took quite an effort to fire the bike off. After one extended push with a hardy teenager helping it ran and after it was warm I bumped it off without any problem. Later in the evening at the Grand it refused to start again and I wore out a few pusher in the process.

I am not getting old (I am old) but every morning when I get up and put my feet on the floor my right foot reminds me want a crash wall feels like. Then at the start when my handlebar hits another riders handlebar my central nervous system aborts as my shoulder knows how much Beach Ball actually weighs. Saturday night was not the first time a rider has led the National Anthem by performing. Earlier in the year when it was much warmer Jonni Jade #266 played his guitar and last night probably the only female fiddle playing speedway rider in the world (that I know of) Hayley Perrault played the Star Spangled Banner on her violin.

In the main we have Gary Hicks, Buck Blair, Shawn McConnell, Mike Faria and Ricky Wells. Buck was the first to go down with Mike taking over the lead then while I was trying to focus my camera he dissappeared, then bye-bye Shawn and Ricky goes to the lead and continued for the win and the checkered flag with Gary coming in second.

Eloy Medelin won the Second Division Main and I didn't win the Third Division Main. There were lots of PeeWees, a Powder Puff Race and of course the infamous SideCars. Afterwards in the pits a few hardy beer drinkers who were not wearing gloves had their hands freeze to their beer cans. Having vast past experience I refrain from drinking out of a can in any weather.

Saturday Night at Industry Speedway

Well the last blog here was on October 2 at IMS and my speedway bike in the interval made one trip out to San Berdoo to clear out the cobwebs but lately my time has been riding my push bikes. I was not sure on what to expect as this was my first time driving to Industry on a Saturday and it was late November, no longer summer time though on Turkey Day it was 84 degrees here.

The traffic was light and where I would normal slowly move in a sea of bumper to bumper cars and trucks I was able to go the speed limit. After exiting the freeway
the last mile on the surface streets seem so strange being almost empty.

On Wednesdays there are not too many large weddings but Saturday the whole damn town must has been getting married as the normal pit parking lot was not available and a band of roving flat trackers were also in attendance for a demo so I am not sure where I parked or in what city.

It rained around here last night and earlier in the day but the track was dry and not had been watered. Having a roof overhead sure does makes a difference.

Friday I moved my kill switch bracket from the left to the right side and of course Saturday night the bike would not fire. I disconnected the kill wire at the ignition but it would not suck any fuel and the plug remained dry. After wearing out several pushers it final started to run but it was hard to bump off all night and the way I rode I should have left the bike on the trailer.

The starting position in the main was determined by a coin toss between Nasty Nate Perkins and Buck Blair. Nate got the gate a led the entire distance. In turn four things got pretty tight and Ricky Wells went down.

Maybe the temperature dropped to 50 degrees by the end of the night at ten. I did bring a ski jacket but never used it. The parka still had a Mammoth Mountain lift ticket attached to it. It doesn't snow here but you never know. Speedway fans are a hearty crew as the temperature dropped beer consumption remain steady. Next week I might bring a barbecue that was removed off by boat and just sits in the corner of the garage. Not to cook burgers but to keep my ass warm.

Season End at IMS October 3

The last night of the season at IMS was a Saturday night instead of the usual Friday.










Without the Friday night traffic mess I actually got there early and quicker driving my high speed express VW van. Since I was not pulling a trailer I could go over 55 mph and get in the fast lanes but going over 55 and getting in the fast lanes is more dangerous in the VeeDub that trying to get around Beach Ball.












Saturday is not my normal speedway day and I really should have been somewhere else as my riding just sucked and trying to get around everybody when I start from the twenty yard line was not working. In the first race I was trying to pass someone who could not make up his mind where he was going to fall or when. I screamed for him to "Get the F!!K Out of the Way" so loud he actually turned around. I didn't have to race against him again but if I had to do it again I would use the Buck Blair's Nudge with my boot on him. I didn't get another chance to boot him. But, well there is always next time.


Trick Video missed Joey Holt's Second Division Main but got Buck Blair's airborne adventure with the crash wall. Buck and I went surfing Thursday and I had him try two of my long boards out. Buck is from Colorado and surfing is new to him. He did really well the other day and probably will not be back in the water soon if his wrist is broken.







Saturday night had a Harvest Moon and the weekly fire in the local mountains. Southern California is home to forest fires, flooding and earthquakes. Someone at Cal Tech in Pasadena should look into the possibility that these seismic misadventures are actually caused by Rick and Beach Ball.













The aerial tankers kept flying over the track after taking off at the old airbase in town and heading towards the fire in the mountains nearby. Since I kept looking up I was able to spot three flying saucers hovering over our IMS SUPPORT TEAM pop up. That IMS makes desert gas tank for extended racing and other trick things. Maybe I have an alien sponsor but just don't know it.












There was a rider's parade as the track was dry enough that you could actually walk across it without getting stuck. Speedway has several National Events but IMS last race of the season was billed as the Western States Championship with a three ton (my estimate) cowboy boot as the trophy. Jason's hopes that he can turn the track into a hockey rink in the off season was clearly shown by the new decal in the window of the track prep truck.

Buck hit the wall following his bike leading the way. The bike went over the same fence that was replaced just last week. Buck's wheel will need to be replaced also.






Again there were riders that were new to me and I always enjoy it when someone comes up to me and after introducing themselves tells me they enjoy reading my blog.

Josh Larsen showed up ready to win again just like he did on opening night here but Gary Hicks also showed up a little late but ready to go fast.

The Golden Microphone of Bruce Flanders was missing tonight as he was off doing a gig at a car track. Luckily with the instructions of Steve the ref and others the rookie announcer was able to make it through the night without too many problems. If he does this more often and becomes familiar with speedway he may have a future in the sport but I would suggest he dress up a little and wear a tux.

With the AMA Nationals Friday night at Auburn and several riders off to England with the Dream Team several second division riders did double duty riding in both second and first.

Here is Joey Holt leading the charge from the back line in his handicap main.

The D1 main had only four riders at the final tape.

And everyone was within the camera frame for all four laps.