REM GLEN HELEN RACE REPORT: HOT TEMPERS, COOL WEATHER, CREATIVE LINES

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dandowell927Phil Dowell (23) and Jon Ortner (10) played the two-stroke versus four-stroke game in the first Over-50 Elite moto. It eventually resulted in the two colliding and going down when their lines intersected. Both blamed the other. Photo: Dan Alamangos

We don’t know what winter weather is like where you live or how often your local track holds races, but for SoCal’s REM motocross racers there are no seasons, Summer just blends into winter and back again—and there very few breaks from racing. In fact, REM races 40 times a year and the season starts the first weekend of January and doesn’t end until the week before Christmas. That’s a lot of racing.

danjosh827Thanks to cooler than normal weather and marine layer in the morning, even guys in the last race of the day, like Josh Fout (36), still had good dirt to work with. Photo: Dan Alamangos

But not enough for most REM guys. When REM took the last two weekends off, the regulars got Glen Helen to especially prep the REM track so that they could ride on race day, even though there wasn’t a race. They called it the “Un-Race.” After two weeks of not racing, although still riding on their favorite motocross track, everyone was glad that REM Motocross was back this weekend.

danholme827Tom Holmes (510) won the Over-65 Expert class with a 2-1 score over Lyle Sweeter (1-2) and Tom White (3-3). Here Ken Ehlers (103) stalks Holmes from behind. Photo: Dan Alamangos

However, after next Saturday’s race (September 3), they will have to take two more weeks off for the USGP and the WORCS races. And the worst of it is that they won’t be able to hold an “Un-Race” on either of those weekends. However, happy times are just around the corner.

danziegler1Thomas Dunn (72) cleaned out Dillon Ziegler (121) in the 250 Novice class. It looked like clear sailing for Dunn, but karma is about to bite him. Photo: Dan Alamangos

danziegler2Dillon Ziegler’s handlebar got wedged in the Suzuki’s rear wheel—bringing both bikes to immediate stop. Photo: Dan Alamangos

danziegler3Thomas Dunn either signals a touchdown or is pleading for dad to come help him. That’s life in the Nervous Novices. Photo: Dan Alamangos

After the WORCS series leaves Glen Helen, REM will race 10 out of the next 13 weekends — and two of the breaks are for the World Vet Championship and Day In The Dirt—which many of them will be racing anyway.

danmarion827Mike Marion (35) took his YZ250 two-stroke to third in the Over-60 Expert class with a 4-3 score. Photo: Dan Alamangos

This week’s race was met by a cool marine layer, which has been missing most of the summer and by mid-day the temps were only in the mid-90s. The little bit of coolness left the dirt in good condition and it held up most of the day—thanks to the fire hose-equipped track crew. There were a few incidents, crashes and questionable actions, but for the most part it was a fun day.

DANredi827450 Novice Brandon Reid (271) chases Tyler Nichols down a Glen Helen hill. Photo: Dan Alamangos

danPAULkrause827Offroad, Baja and ISDE racer Paul Krause went 1-1 in the Over-50 Expert class. Photo: Dan Alamangos

It was also the day of the 2-1 or 1-2 score. Bob Morales won the Over-50 Novice class with a 2-1 over Lance Sloane’s 2-1. Westly Peterson’s 2-1 bested Jody Weisel 1-2 in the Over-60 Intermediates. Paul Krause used a 2-1 to win the Open Expert class over Bob Weber, while Zach Randolph had a 1-2 victory over Josh Fout in the 450 Novices. Tom Holmes’ 2-1 took the Over-65 Expert victory away from Lyle Sweeter’s 1-2 and Jim Hanson won the Over-60 Expert class with a 1-2.

dangroom1Nobody likes a cheater. At REM if a rider cuts the course he gets the dubious honor of winning the “Greg Groom Creative Line Award.” Why is it named after Greg Groom? Because this is Greg Groom (596) in the Over-50 Intermediate class turning 50 feet before the course marker (left). Photo: Dan Alamangos

dangroom3Groom turns down the bank and makes a beeline for the next section of track. Photo: Dan Alamangos

dangroom4He then rejoined the race line and, in the process, he passed Wesley Turner (272) and Jeff Jetton (124). Photo: Dan Alamangos

Amazingly, only one rider managed to win his class without winning a moto. Blake Paschal’s 2-2 was one place better than Tyler Nichols’ 1-4 in the 250 Novices.

dancaro827Kordel Caro left the air filter cage for his bike on his work bench at home and had to borrow MXA’s stock 2017 Yamaha YZ250F. He used it to win the 250 Pro class. Photo: Dan Alamangos

REM returns next Saturday and for the moment the weatherman says that the temperatures should be cool again. It has been a hot summer, with most weekends above 100-degrees, and any time the mercury drops into the 90s it is a welcome relief. See you there.

danward827Shelby Ward blows up a berm on his way up a short, steep and rough uphill. Photo: Dan Alamangos

JON ORTNER’S ROVING CAMERA OUTTAKES

ort827debbiDebbi Tamietti and Dan Alamangos shoot the photos at the REM races—when Debbi isn’t cleaning Val Tamietti’s goggles (ha!) or Dan isn’t racing. Debbi will be shooting the MXDN at Maggiora, Italy, next month.

ortjettonDave Eropkin (left) and Jeff Jetton (right) discuss the old days.

ortvetrano827Pete Vetrano’s collarbones show the wear and tear of three decades of racing. Pete has been the U.S. importer for VOR, TM, Vertematti, LEM and Falcon over the years. He is now the SWM importer. Pete went 12-8 in the Over-50 Intermediates and and 2-2 in the Over-40 Novices.

ortralf827You gotta love TM importer Ralf Schmidt. First, because he races every weekend (this week winning the Over-40 Intermediate class). Second, because he knows how to load his bike backwards into his van by himself. And, third, because he was a sweet vintage van that harks back to the good old days.

ortJOHNhinz827It’s cool to see men who make important decisions in the motorcycle business out testing their products. KTM’s John Hinz went 4-4 in the Vet Novices. And no, we didn’t see any secret 2018 parts on his 250SXF.

ortwhite1827Tom White offers Kordel Caro’s girlfriend Anna a popsicle between motos and…

ortwhite2927…gets a kiss. All is well, until his wife sees this photo. Or…

orttom3827…Until Kordel arrives on the scene. We don’t see any Oscars for this acting.

orttires827The MXA wrecking crew brought 8 bikes to REM to do race comparisons with. That resulted in a lot of tire changing and, at times, we were changing two tires at a time. Randel Fout (left) spends his spare time changing tires while waiting for his broken ankle to heal.

ortjosh827Josh Fout brought his girlfriend Gabby down from Big Bear so she could watch him race. After seeing Josh race, Gabby says she’ll come back and race also.

ortoconnor827Does this guy look like an Irishman? Does the Pope wear red patent leather shoes? David O’Connor came to America on a race vacation and ended up as a mechanic at both Kawasaki and KTM. David went 2-2 in the Vet Novice class.

ortjeffs827These are “The Jeffs.” If you look under Two-Stroke in the encyclopedia, Jeff Mason’s and Jeff Scott’s photo will appear. The Jeffs love to race and they are loyal to smokers.

THE REM SCHEDULE FOR THE REST OF 2016
Sept. 3…Glen Helen, CA
Sept. 10…No race (United States Grand Prix)
Sept. 17…No Race (WORCS)
Sept. 24…Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 1…Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 8…Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 15…No race (24 Hours of GH)
Oct. 22…Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 29…Glen Helen, CA (USGP track)
Nov. 5…No race (World Vet Championship)
Nov 12…Glen Helen, CA
Nov. 19…Glen Helen, CA
Nov. 26…No race (Day in the Dirt)
Dec. 3….Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 10…Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 17…Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 25…No race (Christmas Day)
Dec. 31…No race (New Year’s Eve)

REM RACES AGAIN NEXT SATURDAY AT GLEN HELEN

REMSEPT3

For more info about racing at REM go to www.remsatmx.com

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