2010 California State Speedway Championship

Yesterday I started out in San Pedro with my speedway bike sitting in my daughter's garage in South Pasadena so 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

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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 Opening Night June 2, 2010

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

Industry Speedway July 15

My motor quit Saturday night at the Perris Long Track so Monday was a healing day and another spending day to replace broken parts. The more you ride the more you are broke.

To ride the bigger track I had to change the primary and behind the clutch sprocket so I left the clutch where it was so tonight I was running higher that I have been and a little faster, but not fast enough to be the winner.

I did beat Ron Mongenel (158) in the earlier race but both of us are starting back as this is a handicap race. So we have to pass those who start in front of us and while I was passing the riders in front of me he was running away with the race. I enjoy taking the pictures you see here and some riders may show up more than others. It is not that they are my favorites, they just happen to be where my camera is.

But screw all the speedway talk and get to the girls that knew how to dress for warmer weather.

Looki at all the money they save by not buying leathers.