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 September 2

Another hot day and the usual car fire on the freeway going to the track plus the terrible fires in the local mountains. Then on the way back home the two on-ramps to the 60 freeway were closed and later down the road in Irvine 5 lanes were closed on the 5 freeway.

Monday afternoon was spent replacing the ignition and coil after it quit last Friday at IMS. The bike and been started in Cody's parking lot and in front of the house but this was the first time out with the new setup. The difference in response was quite remarkable but in the first race turn two was slicker than an ice skating rink.

The program had me starting back on the ten yard line but then West our starter placed two of us up on the tapes I got the gate then the red flag came out as those behind me hit the slick crap. That is the only gate I got all night as my brain or my clutch were in slow motion.

Through out the night there were Harley races and a parade plus the appearance of Jet Black to play the National Anthem .

During the night Mr. Microphone Flanders always issues the warning that speedway is a dangerous motor sport and to stay away from the crash wall. Last night an additional warning to stay away from Jet Black's speakers may have been in order.














At the rider's meeting before the races start there was a discussion about backing away from the tapes at the starts and penalizing those that do. Apparently Costa Mesa had become a count to two and drop the clutch roller derby and this behavior is frowned upon here.










































Sidecars have two functions: They drive the fans crazy and they are very effective at removing slime from the track surface and they were called in for an early practice session to dry out the track surface.

For some school is back in session and next week will be the last of the summer series at Industry. IMS is dark this Friday for the Labor Day Holiday but Victorville is running this Saturday night.

Industry Speedway August 12

Usually there is a freeway report about how bad the freeways suck but this afternoon upon advice of our flagman and checker flag waver I ventured over on the toll road in search of stress free travelling. Going east to the races the toll road takes my change (actually more than change) so I try to stay off of the money taker.

It is hard to understand why I would be in a hurry to get to the track but I wanted to prove a point. I am not sure what that was but after spending Monday trying to make the forks and handlebar (a new one) point the same way as the new fender I was determined to ride after my encounter with Beach Ball and the dirt at IMS. My front tire had been flattened and the bead was filled with dirt but the wheel was still straight and all the spokes were still there.

My determination is offset by my lack of good judgement but good judgement and speedway racing doesn't sometime go hand in hand. There is a great movie called Bar Fly and in one scene this drunk is trying to drink a shot of whiskey off the bar top but keeps spilling the glass, after several tries then he takes a neck tie and places his right hand on the shot glass and laces the necktie around the back of his neck and takes his one unshaken hand and pulls the tie which allows the shot glass to reach his mouth without spilling a drop.

Somehow I relate to the poor fellow who can not get the glass to his mouth cause my right arm refuses to raise it self above my handlebars but since I don't wave much while riding it is not a big concern.

As the season progresses the rider shortage continues with only two names besides myself on the program for my division as Brad Moreau was moved up after winning last week.

Well the two other names on the program didn't show but another rider signed up leaving a giant total of two. So the decision was made to place us in second division. I don't have a problem with that as I used to ride second division. In the first race Chris Thomas was on the line with me and I was involved with him in my high side last week at IMS and I did not want to try and out gate him again I would just wait till he fell then go by him.
After he fell there was a red flag and a restart which was a big mistake because I altered my original plan of completing the evening without hurting myself. I didn't crash but in my effort to try and go fast (I did pass someone) my shoulder gave way. After that I tried one more race but the nerves that transmit information to my unused brain where pain in interpreted just plain overloaded.

After sitting on a bench and letting my shoulder calm down I looked forward to Buck Blair winning the main. Buck hasn't been riding and has been waiting for his leg to get better but I convinced him to ride tonight. (see the early mention of good judgement and speedway) Having a fat pay envelope full of my previous winnings I gave it to Buck for his entry in hopes we could share in his main win. But our hopes of drinking with the likes of Bill Gates were dashed when the starting gate refused to function and my nephew got sent back on the green flag start.

Well Friday looms in the much too near future and unless a miracle flies through the window and heals my shoulder I guess I will be spending more time getting freezer burn on my left hand trying to ice my shoulder and missing IMS. Aside from missing Friday there still could be a way to get some track time while I am a gimp. I have noticed that the sidecars at Industry are right next to the track entrance which is very convenient. If you are hanging off the back someone else takes care of the handlebars. They have starters (no pushing) and training wheels. I could just duct tape my bad arm to the back and use my good hand for waving at the girls. No one ever questions your sanity if you are involved with sidecars.