Industry Speedway July 8

The freeway is just a stinking freeway and the way back home another off ramp was closed but I am getting use to this crap and every new detour goes by an In and Out. My carburetor on my bike is almost as old as I am and on my last bike I had a high dollar carburetor that was smooth as silk.

Before the races I asked Buck if I could borrow one of his slick carburetor and since he is in recovery mode the sweet boy said yes. But my problem is not the carburetor it is my right wrist and tonight I felt a lot better and though the program said we were in third division we went faster than some in second division , no apology to Joey Holt who had to get around a bunch of slow pokes to win.

If Buck loans me some stuff, like primary sprockets for PAS, I might be able to buy one of those trick carbon fiber fenders I saw tonight. My number plate is off my down hill mountain race bike and it has that carbon fiber look. Carbon fiber usually doesn't make you faster it just makes you think you are cooler and poorer.

Butch Waymire (363) was moved up to second div but tonight he was in third again. Butch is taking lesson from Fast Eddy which is not helping me any. Then to confuse Waymire I gave him some of my personal riding tips in hopes of beating him. My riding tips got him another win, so much for helping others.

It is hard to understand what makes speedway such a great sport: But fathers helping their sons or daughters is one strong point and there are several mothers out there on both sides of the crash wall in full support of their kids.

The crowd in the grandstand (not the folks in Ricky pits) were the most I have seen this year and lets us hope they come back again with more friends. The program in second division was changed from three races to one and the First division actually saw Gary Hicks on the track and I heard over the loud speaker he had to quit a job to resume riding again. That is the way to go Gary, join the rest of us poor speedway riders. The fellow in the zebra shirt seems to be doing a very good job every night here but that youngster at San Berdoo, well, he might need some more schooling.

The side car crew is getting smaller each week but tonight there was a new monkey and she looks better than all of other recent riders.

Wednesday Night At The Grand

The Grand is located in the City of Industry and I measured the trip back last night on the VW's odometer with a distance of 43 miles on the return leg. The drive back is never a problem but getting there is a giant pain as I must go west, then north, then west and every freeway change is another jammed interchange and the trip can take up to 90 minutes in the afternoon.

The race program starts at 7 PM and the schedule runs through September 30th with 19 race nights. The RACING HOTLINE IS (949) 640-0455 and the web site is http://www.industryspeedway.com/

My neighbor asked if I leave early to get some practice time on the track but I leave early so I can get there. Speedway racing does not have practice before the races and the track changes with the weather and the watering but the Grand is under a roof which is very nice for everybody, racer and fans.

For those not familiar with Southern California The Grand is on a hill in The City of Industry and you could probably see downtown Los Angeles if there wasn't any smog blocking the view. The seating does not completely surround the race track and although the Grand is covered the area between turns two and three is open to the outside. There is also a huge TV screen that can replay the races, close finishes, and the crashes that happen. Last night one rider went down in turn 4 and the following rider was unable to avoid him. He hit the prone bike and launched him self and bike into the top of the crash fence.

Although I am old and quite rusty I avoided the ground and the wall and all my fenders are still intact and there isn't any rips in my jersey. My bike ran fine and the fuel petcocks always got turned on before the start of each race. I had a couple of second place finishes which moved me to the main event in my division but as I wear glasses and goggles too my brain forgot to function and I was unable to get my goggles on without upsetting my glasses and since I can't reset them with one wrist on a short kill switch leash and the other constantly revving the throttle to keep it running my seeing sucked.

It was a fun night and a full one considering I left the house at 3:30 and got back at 11:30 which is past my bed time and if all goes well I will be back next week.