REM GLEN HELEN: YOU CAN’T MAKE AN OMELETTE WITHOUT BREAKING EGGS

On Sep 3, 2018 Last updated Nov 24, 2019

Gary Sutherlin may be Suzuki’s official offroad racer, but he knows his way around a motocross track — even on an ultra-heavy RM-Z450X. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Photos by Dan Alamangos, Debbi Tamietti & Jon Ortner

REM is headed for a three-week break in their race schedule—to make room for the WORCS offroad series weekend and the Lucas Oil Offroad Truck Championship weekend. With the next REM race on September 29, this week’s race would offering bragging rights for longer than the normal 7 days.

Carson Mumford is in the middle of his long-term contract with Geico Honda and is finally on big bikes. He’s fast. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

In the combined Pro class at REM, offroad racer Gary Sutherlin (324) led from the start on his RM-Z450X and looked absolutely unbeatable as he quickly gapped the rest of the Pros. But out of the Intermediate ranks, who started on the same gate, Carson Mumford (122) began charging through the pack on his Honda CRF250. Sure enough, the Geico Honda-sponsored Mumford chased down Sutherlin and after a few laps Carson made his move to win the 250 Intermediate class, while Sutherlin got the 450 Pro win.

2019 MXA 450 Shootout testing continues — Randel Fout on MXA’s 2019 Kawasaki KX450. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

One of six MXA bikes on the track — Dan Alamangos on the 2019 Honda CRF450. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Shaun Hillion rails a dark, moist berm. Everything looks great. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Unfortunately Shaun’s front tire bites in and his bike swaps to the right.Photo: Debbi Tamietti

As he hits the side of the track Shaun struggles to stay on board as his CRF450 makes a sharp left. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Eventually Shaun realizes that he’s never going to tame this beast and lays it down. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

450 PRO CLASS
1. Gary Sutherlin…1-2
2. Grant Wall…4-1
3. Shaun Hillion…2-3

250 INTERMEDIATE
1. Carson Mumford…1-1
2. Bjorn Viney…2-3
3. Carter Dubach…2-3

The son. Bradley Cole swept both motos of the 450 Intermediate class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

The father. Chris Cole went 8-6 for sixth in the Over-50 Expert class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

450 INTERMEDIATE
1. Bradley Cole…1-1
2. Zach Randolph…2-2
3. Jeff Fitzgerald…3-3

Luther French (2) led the second moto of the Over-50 Elite class to the wire with overall winner Jon Ortner (10) in his shadow. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

In the Over-50 Elite class, Luther French rode his hot-rod KTM 450SXF, while six-time World Vet Champion Pete de Graaf was on a borrowed KTM 350SXF and Jon Ortner was on his Terry Varner-tuned YZ450F. All three of the Elite riders started outside of the top five. Ortner was the first Elite rider to clear all of the Over-50 Experts, but he chose a bad line on the uphill and hit a silty spot and was pass immediately by Luther French. Luther led with Ortner and 63-year-old DeGraaf in close pursuit. Luther fell at the top of a steep climb and Ortner and De Graaf began a close battle to the finish line of moto one. Ortner won moto one in front of Pete De Graaf and Luther recovered to finish third. Six-time World Vet Champion Pete De De Graaf (left) stopped by to talk to Jody Weisel, who was making his first visit to Glen Helen since undergoing surgery on both eyes (hence the Ray Charles sunglasses). Jody left early to make it to Bones Bacon’s wedding. Photo: Jon Ortner

In the second Over-50 Elite moto, French and Ortner opened a small gap on Pete. Ortner didn’t need to pass French for the overall victory, but the two riders, already aware that they were just racing for pride (since the overall was already in the cards), laid it all on the line in an epic battle. Luther took the moto win, Ortner was second, but first overall with a 1-2. The Canadian went 2-3 for third.

Billy Joe Mercier (501) leads the Over-50 Elite/Expert starts. Mercier was riding with the old guys because he didn’t have any competition in the Over-40 class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Pete De Graff wasn’t in SoCal getting an early start on his 2018 World Vet title defense in the Over-60 Expert class on November 4, he was just visiting. Pete was floored by the intensity of the pace at REM. He said that in Canada he has no competition in his age groups and at most races he rides alone. Pete won the World Vet Championship in the Over-50 Pro class in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Then moved to the Over-60 class and won in 2016 and 2017.

OVER-50 ELITE
1. Jon Ortner…1-2
2. Luther French…3-1
3. Pete De Graaf…2-3

Ron Shuler bested Robert Reisinger and Chris Radzinski in the Over-50 Experts by going 2-2. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-50 EXPERT
1. Ron Shuler…2-2
2. Robert Reisinger…1-4
3. Chris Radzinski…5-1

Jack Phinn (315) vowed that if he won the Over-50 Novices one more time, that he would move to the Intermediate class. Last week he won and this week he’s was an Intermediate—and a pretty good one. Jack went 7-6 for 5th. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-50 INTERMEDIATE
1. Bill Clontz…3-1
2. Jim Naegle…2-5
3. Todd Wiseman…6-2

Mike Phillips (433), Jim Naegle (549), Paul Fitz-gibbon (38), Todd Wiseman (918) and Jack Phinn (315) demonstrate how tight the racing is in the Over-50 Intermediate class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-40 EXPERT
1. Andy Anaya…1-1
2. Ralf Schmidt…3-2
3. John Haskell…2-3

Dave Eropkin (811) extended his Over-60 Expert win streak to three in a row. Val Tamietti (31) ran out of gas in the first moto. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Dave Eropkin is on a hot streak. After playing second fiddle to Val Tamietti for the last couple years, Dave has reeled off three straight wins in the Over-60 Expert class. Although, this week’s race was made a lot easier when Val Tamietti’s YZ250 two-stroke ran out of gas in the first moto (finishing dead last). Val came back to finish second behind Dave Eropkin in moto two, but that was hardly enough. Bob Rutten’s 3-3 was good for second with Will Harper third (2-4), Eric Coffin fourth (5-4) and Ken Ehler’s fifth (5-6).

Randy Lewis raced his vintage Ossa Phantom to second in the Over-65 Intermediate class behind Chief Charlie Beck. Photo: Dan Alamangos

OVER-60 EXPERTS
1. Dave Eropkin…1-1
2. Bob Rutten…3-3
3. Will Harper…2-4

Steven Chandler raced his TM two-stroke to second in the Over-60 Intermediates. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-60 INTERMEDIATES
1. Steve Donovan…1-1
2. Steven Chandler…2-3
3. Mitch Evans…7-2

T.V. Holmes (510) and Charlie Beck (545) try to share some real estate. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-65 INTERMEDIATE
1. Charlie Beck…1-1
2. Randy Lewis…2-2
3. Tony Parsons…3-3

Lamont Dusseau used brains instead of brawn to win the Over-40 Novice class. The faster guys crashed and burned — Lamont was steady as she goes. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

The Over-40 Novices were a battle royale that nobody seemed to want to win. The overall win went to the consistent Lamont Dusseau with a 2-2, while the motos were won by Terry Miller (4-1) and David McCarthy (1-7). In the end, Dusseau got a solid win with Miller second overall and Joe Pena’s 3-4 good enough for third. Two of the top five were over 60-years-old — Joe Pena (third) and Pete Vetrano (fourth).

OVER-40 NOVICE
1. Lamont Dusseau…2-2
2. Terry Miller…4-1
3. Joe Pena…3-4

OVER-50 NOVICE
1. Eric Swanson…2-1
2. Ron Rich…1-3
3. Darren Berg…3-2

Bob Rutten (83) and Eric Coffin (3) were close until Rutten pulled away to get second overall in the Over-60 Expert class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

VET NOVICE
1. Luke Woodman…2-2
2. Jesse Heninger…4-1
3. Justin White…1-4

250 NOVICE
1. Connor Styers…1-1
2. Erik Danoski…2-2
3. Nicholas Ziegler…3-3

Will Harper (7) was third in the Over-60 Experts. That’s Randel Fout behind him, but this time on MXA’s 2019 Honda CRF450. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Billy Joe Mercier makes sure that no one follows him too closely. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Carson Mumford flying solo. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Gary Sutherlin nose wheelying down a drop-off. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Lots of racers think that climbing the hilis at Glen Helen is the hardest part — and it is, if you are walking up to get back on your bike. John Haskell (318) demonstrates. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Bryce Stewart went 6-5 in the 450 Pro class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

We surmise that Canadian Bjorn Viney is doing this corner wrong, but this might be how they do it up north. Photo: Dan Alamangos

REM is exactly what you’d expect at Glen Helen. Located on the hill above the National track, the REM track offers lots of elevation change. Louie Romo (54) isn’t at the bottom yet, but he’s a lot closer than the guys behind him. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Dick Lyons runs number 83 on his Husqvarna. Can you guess why? Here’s a clue. Next year he will run 84. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Mitch Evans (4) went 7-2 in the Over-60 Intermediate class and tied for third overall with two other riders, but his second moto second gave him the spot. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Joe Sutter tries to extend the life of his front tire. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

REMAINING 2018 REM MOTOCROSS RACES
Sept. 29…Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 6…Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 20…Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 27…Octobercross (World Vet Warm-up on World Vet National track)
Nov.3-4…Dubya World Vet Championship (National track)
Nov. 17…Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 15…Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 22…Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 29…Glen Helen, CA

Kennedy and Todd Gravitt both raced at REM. Kennedy spun laps on the REM KId’s track, while Todd won the Vet Pro class. Photo: Jon Ortner

Todd Gravitt on his way to a 1-1 day. Photo: Jon Ortner

John Caper is back in action after being used by the USC Medical School to illustrate every injury known to man. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

You can buy these REM motocross hats by clicking here. Why not be the only guy in your state who looks like he knows what’s up? Photo: Debbie Tamietti

REM races again at Glen Helen on Sept 29, 2018. For more info on REM Motocross go to their facebook page or web page at www.remsatmx.com