REM RACE REPORT: SONS OF THE BIG GUNS

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Photos by Debbi Tamietti & Kenny Maddux

Trevor Stewart (75) swept both moto of the 450 Pro class for the second REM race in a row. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

The weekly REM motocross races at Glen Helen only had to miss one weekend for the AMA 250/450 National and then they were back in action this past weekend. With Scott Burnworth’s SoCal Vintage Classic on the AMA National track (albeit it toned down and shortened for the vintage bikes), REM returned to their home track high on the hill (formerly the Arroyo Cycle Park track of the early 1970s). Most REM regulars prefer to race on the REM track more than the National track. It is more intimate, equally rough and easier to watch the action from.

R. J. Wageman (691), son of former AMA National Pro Russ Wageman, had his moments, but had to settle for second in the 450 Pro class, Photo: Debbi Tamietti

The turnout was surprising, as it was assumed that after the big AMA National weekend that many racers would kick back and relax after the big weekend. But, they wanted to race. The biggest classes of the weekend were: (1) 250 Novice, (2) Over-50 Intermediate and (3) Over-50 Expert. This was the first race in recent memory where a young class not only made the top three in turnout, but was actually the largest class. Normally, the Over-50 and Over 60 classes dominate.

Justin Jones, son of four-time 250 National Champion Gary Jones, suffered from bad starts, but managed to come from the back to third overall with a 4-3 day. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Benny Breck (824) went 5-5 for fourth in the 450 Pro class. Here, he is chased by offroad ace Jacob Argubright. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Sean Lipanovich had the old fire going in moto one of the 450 Pro class as he chased after Stewart and Wageman for a third. However, his second moto 8th left him fifth overall. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jacob Argubright went 6-9 for eighth overall in the 450 Pro class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Brian Muscutt two-stroked his way to the 250 Pro win on his 11-year-old Suzuki RM250. Don’t cry for Brian, his RM smoker has works Showa forks and an Edge Sports engine. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Max Lee, son of former AMA Pro and gear maven Troy Lee, rode with fervor to win the 250 Intermediate class. It wasn’t an easy victory and even involved getting up off the deck to salvage a second for his 2-1 score. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Aryton Ward, son of former AMA 125, 250, Supercross, MXDN, Supermoto and Indycar winner Jeff Ward took the first moto of the 250 Intermediates and battled friend Max Lee in the second moto, but had to settle for second place. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Tyler Nichols was fifth in the 450 Intermediate class behind Cole Tompkins, Scott Boston, Bradley Denton and Maxx Murphy. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

It has been a long way back for Robbie Carpenter since his injury, but it all paid off this weekend with a 1-1 sweep of the Over-50 Novice class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Dutch racer Ralf Schmidt raced the TM 300MX project bike that is on the cover of the new issue of MXA. Ralf said it was a lot faster than he expected…or he was ready for. Ralf finished third in the Over-40 Expert class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

The custom-built TM 300MX project bike that Ralf raced at this week’s REM was built for the World Two-Stroke Championships. It was raced to fifth place by MXA test rider Johnny Jelderda back in April.

Todd Gravitt (4) won the Over-40 Experts in front of South African Alan Jullien, Ralf Schmidt, Terry Cook and Mike Diorio. Photo: Kenny Maddux

Tyler O’Hara (399) and Maxx Murphy (256) engage in a YZ250F versus YZ450F showdown. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Randall Fout (63) flies MXA’s electric start, WP Cone Valve forked, 2017 Honda CRF450 below the Glen Helen sign. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Former New Zealand National Champion Tony Cooksey (left) and Former CMC Number 1 rider Val Tamietti (right) dueled in the Over-60 Expert class. Cooksey took the overall win. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Last week Bill Seifert won his first race in decades. This week Bill crashed and separated his shoulder. Well, at least he got that one win. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Eddie Davis went 1-1 to win the Over-50 Elite class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Kevin Barda (852) ran a half-marathon on Saturday morning and then called Eddie Davis at the track to see what race the Over-50 Elite class was in at REM. When Davis told him they were the last race, Kevin drove straight to Glen Helen and finished 2-2 in the Elite class. Here, Barda and Over-50 Expert winner Ron Shuler share some air space. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Robert Reisinger (96) raced the Over-40 Experts (7th place) and the Over-50 Experts (6th place). Photo: Debbi Tamietti

MXA’s Jody Weisel suffered issues with his front tire, that led to issues with his wheel spacers, which led to troubles with the front wheel bearings, which led to him borrowing a front wheel. He went 3-5 in the Over-60 Intermediates. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Brian Muscutt wasn’t the only rider at REM on an ancient Suzuki RM250 two-stroke. Nicolas Ziegler (114) was third in the 250 Novice class on his father’s trusty RM. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

It may look like they are planning to hose David Cincotta down over the next jump, but it is just an optical illusion. That is Terry Varner manning the fire hose. David was sixth in the Over-40 Experts. Photo: Kenny Maddux

This is what you call a holeshot—courtesy of Josh Fout (192). Photo: Kenny Maddux

REM does not race for the next two weeks because of some big offroad races that will take up the whole park. The next REM race is on June 24. For more info about REM motocross, go to www.remsatmx.com