“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE REPORT: JUMP ONBOARD THE GLEN HELEN ROLLER COASTER

Preston Tilford (17) swept both 450 Pro motos and set the fast time of the day on the new “Saturday” layout.  Photo: Debbi Tamietti

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI & JON ORTNER

Glen Helen has a lot of race tracks on its massive property—and even more remnants of old tracks that have been forgotten about. Well, this week Glen Helen’s John Allen revived a previous section of the “Saturday at the Glen” track that dates back a few years to an MXA photo shoot where they linked a series of steep ridges together far up the canyon section of the track to make track go up, down, up and down in a sequence of steep short hills all rolled together. This week’s racers entered the new section by jumping over the top of the left side of Mt. Whitney. Once on the other side of big hill they navigated the series of little hills—only to come back into sight by coming down the right side of Mt. Whitney.

This small valley at the end of the canyon section rarely gets used and the hill in the foreground is normally an uphill, but this week it was a downhill and led to a series of ups and downs before re-entering the stadium section of the “Saturday” track. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

To offset the dizzying series of ups and downs in the canyon, the sand section in Bud’s Creek was shortened because lap times ballooned with the addition of the new rolling hills section. The fastest lap time was recorded by 450 Pro Preston Tilford at 2:04 (with 450 Intermediate Connor Styers clocking a 2:05), but, on average, the Expert classes (125, Over-50, Over-60 and Over-65) were in the 2:15 to 2:20 range.

450 Intermediate Conner Steyers (62) had lap times within one second of the 450 Pro winner. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

SoCal was under constant rain threat, at least from the TV newscasters, from Wednesday through the weekend, and while in did rain on the coast and from Los Angeles north, it did not rain much at Glen Helen—only o.13 inches. The rain in L.A. scared some riders away, thinking that Glen Helen would be muddy, but with less than two-tenths of an inch of rain the soil was in perfect condition. There were no puddles and any low spots were quickly cleaned up by the Glen Helen track crew. In fact, by the time the second round of motos were started the fire hoses had to be broken out to keep the track prime.

Gavin Valdez (126) was second overall in the 450 Pro class on a YZ250 two-stroke. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jack Carrigg (53) took the 250 Intermediate win and stayed in close contact with the Pros. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Richard Taylor came out to get used to the Kawasakis that he will be racing in the 2023 season. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Randel Fout (44) raced four motos on MXA’s 2023 Yamaha YZ450F. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Pasha Afshar (L7) won the 125 Pro class on his Twisted Development KTM 150SX. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

The leaves are starting to fall off the trees as Mike Monaghan (32) blitzes by on his way to fourth in the 125 Pros. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

THE OVER-50 EXPERTS

Luther French took the Over-50 Expert win in a squeaker with Jon Ortner. Luther passed Jon in the final turn of the first moto and Luther just barely missed getting passed on the last lap of the second moto by Jon, but Luther’s score tallied up to a 1-1 to Ortner’s 2-2. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jon Ortner (44) ate a lot of roost from Luther French’s scoop tire in the Over-50 Expert second moto. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Richard Ellis (34) went 3-3 in the Over-50 Experts. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

THE OVER-60 EXPERTS

Jon Ortner (44) may have lost the Over-50 Experts by inches, but he easily won the Over-60 Expert class as the second test rider assigned to race MXA’s 2023 Yamaha YZ450F. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Dave Eropkin (811) may look like he’s leading the Over-60 Expert class in front of Shy Moshe (19), Trey Jorski (49) and Ray Poltack (223), but the roost in front of Eropkin is a clue that Jon Ortner and Ed Guajardo are long gone. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Trey Jorski’s hopes of good finish in the Over-60 Expert class were ruined when he took a trip through the giggle weeds on the third lap of the first moto.  Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Trey made it back onto the racing surface, but not without trouble. Once on the track, he fought his way back to 7th, but his 7-4 was only good enough for 5th overall. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Dirt Bike’s Ron Lawson (42) went 8-6 in the Over-60 Experts. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Robert Pocius (153) was flying in the first moto of the Over-60 Experts and finished 4th, but, unfortunately, he DNF’ed the second moto. (72) . Photo: Debbi Tamietti

THE OVER-65 EXPERTS

Given that Trey Jorski (49) won the Over-65 Expert class at the 2022 World Vet and Bob Rutten and Val Tamietti were third and fourth, this class at “Saturday at the Glen” was destined to be a tight race.  Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Bob Rutten (83) chased Jorski to the finish line in moto one, while Val Tamietti (31) chased Jorski to the finish line in moto two. In the end it was Jorski 1-1, Rutten 2-3 and Tametti 4-2. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Val Tamietti (31) powers through the sand section. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Will Harper’s 3-4 was good enough for fourth overall in the Over-65 Experts. Photo: Jon Ortner

This pack of Over-60 Intermediates is made up of Bill Reimer (71), Russell Brown (61) and Pete Anagnos (29). Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Randy Skinner won the second moto of the Over-60 Intermediates, but his first moto third left him in second place to Pete Anagnos’ 1-2. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Frank Emerson (75) finished 3rd in the Over-65 Intermediates behind Jim Hanson and Marc Crosby. Phil Cruz (950) went 6-3 for fourth. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

John Caper is back. He has finally run out of bones to break. He rode well in his debut with a 7-5 in the Over-65 Intermediates. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jody Weisel (71) suffered engine problems in moto one and by the end of the moto his white boots were soaked in oil. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Kent Reed (491), John Caper (44) and Mic Rodgers (115) battle over fifth in the first Over-65 Intermediate moto. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Lamont Dusseau (217) used this holeshot to take the victory in the Over-40 Novice class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jimmy Corbin (14) banks off some tree roots on his way to the Over-30 Novice win. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Joshua Inda (42) went 3-DNF in the 250 Novice class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Kaiden Nazario (25) went 2-2 in the 85 Beginner class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Maddison Yarnell (26) went 2-2 in Saturday’s Yamaha PW50 class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Mark Moore (103) has recover from his knee surgery and is back on the track. Photo: Jon Ortner

Owen Wright (473) went 3-2 for second in the Over-60 Novice class. Photo: Jon Ortner

“Saturday at the Glen” motocross will race again next weekend on December 10. Pre-entry is only $30 ($25 for minis). Post entry is $40 ($30 for minis) on the day of the race. The Gate fee is $10 (per person). You can sign up for the next “Saturday at the Glen” motocross as late as the Friday before the next race. For more info go to www.glenhelen.com

WINNERS OF SELECTED CLASSES FOR DEC. 3

450 EXPERT CLASS
1. Preston Tilford (Gas)…1-1
OVER-50 EXPERT CLASS
1. Luther French (Yam)…1-1
OVER-60 EXPERT CLASS
1. Jon Ortner (Yam)…1-1
OVER-65 EXPERT CLASS
1. Trey Jorski (KTM)…1-1
125 EXPERT CLASS
1. Pasha Afshar (KTM)…1-1

450 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Sterling Cogar (Yam)…2-1
250 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Jack Carrigg (Kaw)…1-1
OVER-30 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Tom Sullivan (KTM)…1-1
OVER-40 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Stephen Moore (KTM)…1-1
OVER-50 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Brad Toms (Hus)…1-1
OVER-60 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Pete Anagnos (Hus)…1-2
OVER-65 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Jim Hanson (Hon)…1-1

250 NOVICE CLASS
1. Justin Giordana (Yam)…1-1
125 NOVICE CLASS
1. Ryan McGee (Yam)…1-1
OVER-30 NOVICE CLASS
1. Jimmy Corbin (Yam)…1-1
OVER-40 NOVICE CLASS
1. Lamont Dusseau (Yam)…1-1
OVER-50 NOVICE CLASS
1. Joe Wilson (KTM)…1-1
OVER-60 NOVICE CLASS
1. Scott Hyde (Hon)…1-1
OVER-65 NOVICE CLASS
1. Malcolm Goldsby (Hus)…1-1

450 BEGINNER CLASS
1. Jonathan Sullivan (KTM)…1-2
250 BEGINNER CLASS
1. Justin Augustin (Hus)…1-1
125 BEGINNER CLASS
1. Dylan Hyde (Hon)…1-1

85cc CLASS
1. Patrick Miranda (KTM)…1-1
85 BEGINNER CLASS
Tanner Morris (Kaw)…1-1
65cc BEGINNER CLASS
1. Jaiven Martin (KTM)…1-1
4-TO-6 YEAR OLD PEE-WEE CLASS
1. Dillon Chipman (KTM)…1-1
7-TO-8 YEAR OLD PEE-WEE CLASS
1. Maverick Shaw (KTM)…2-1
PW50 PEE-WEE CLASS
1. Nixon Galloway (Yam)…1-1
MODIFIED MINI CLASS
1. Terell Mosby (Yam)…1-1

Mike Monaghan (34) rails a berm as he builds up speed for the Mt. Whitney up-and-over jump. Photo: Jon Ortner

2023 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” SCHEDULE

Jan. 14…Winter Series #1 (Saturday track)
Jan.. 28…Winter Series #2 (National track)
Feb. 3…Winter Series #3 (Saturday track)
Feb. 11…Winter Series #4 (Saturday track)
Feb. 25…Winter Series #5 (National track)
Mar. 11…Spring Series #1 (Saturday track)
Mar. 25…Spring Series #2 (Saturday track)
Apr. 15…Spring Series #3 (Saturday track)
Apr. 22…Spring Series #4 (Saturday track)
May 13…Spring Series #5 (National track)
June 1…Summer Series #1 (Saturday track)
June 17…Summer Series #2 (Saturday track)
June 24…Summer Series #3 (Saturday track)
July 15…Summer Series #4 (Saturday track)
July 29…Summer Series #5 (National track)
Aug.19…Fall Series #1 (Saturday track)
Aug. 26…Fall Series #2 (Saturday track)
Sept. 16…Fall Series #3 (Saturday track)
Sept. 23…Fall Series #4 (Saturday track)
Sept. 30…Fall Series #5 (National track)
Oct. 24…Winter Series #1 (Saturday track)
Oct. 28…Winter Series #2 (National track)
Nov.3-5…World Vet Championship (National track)
Nov. 19…Winter Series #3 (Saturday track)
Dec. 2…Winter Series #4 (Saturday track)
Dec. 9…Winter Series #5 (National track)

 

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