“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” MOTOCROSS RACE REPORT: SOCAL REUNION AT SPEED

One unlucky rider sprawls out in the first turn during the start of the Over-65 Expert/Intermediate race. He was uninjured, but slow enough getting up that the moto was Red Flag because the second gate couldn’t go.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI

“Saturday at the Glen” is as close as you can get to the way motocross was back in the 1970s. How so? During a trip through the pits you can see lots of Indian Dunes, Carlsbad and Saddleback die-hard racers. They all migrated to Glen Helen because it offered them long motos on a real MX tracks with a sensible design. “Saturday at the Glen” has a ton of riders over the age of 50, and even more over 60. The entry fee is only $30, if you pre-enter, and the gate fee is only $10 per person. Because the races are held on Saturday, the program is designed to run long motos, but get them done before 2:00 p.m. (that way the riders have time to clean and work on their bikes so they can go riding on Sunday). They do not have 30 different classes and normally combine the classes, divided by multiple gate drops, so that there are no more than 8 motos (times two) in the race schedule.

The races rotate between the Arroyo track one week and the National track the next week. Glen Helen holds 25 “Saturday at the Glen” races a year—and the series won’t hit the halfway point until the July 6 round.

POTPOURRI OF WINNERS

Ford Heit (144) went 1-1 in the 450 Expert class.

Justin Muscutt (816) took his KTM 250SX two-stroke to the 250 Pro win.

Backyard Designs owner Jared Hicks (17) was the Over-30 Expert winner.

Ricky Richards (45) was the Over-40 Intermediate winner.

Kurt Nicoll (2) swept a talented Over-50 Expert class.

Gary Jones (88) won the Over-70 class, but also managed to lead the Over-65 Expert class for a couple laps before moving over to let the 65-year-old guys battle it out. Behind Gary is Ron Lawson (24), Val Tamietti (31) and Bob Rutten (83).

Former Maico rider and CMC number one Val Tamietti (31) was winning the Over-60 Expert class, when Pete Murray (36) caught and passed him with a couple corners to go.

Val Tamietti (31) may have lost the Over-60 Expert class in a squeaker, but he came back to win the Over-65 Expert class with a 1-1.

Former O’Neal AXO, Sinisalo and Mechanixwear executive John Caper (44) used good starts to win both motos of the Over-65 Novice class.

Indian National Champion Shlok Ghorpade (33) won the 250 Intermediate class. Shlok is visiting America to hone his skills at Kurt Nicoll’s Champion MX motocross school.Jacob Tilley (5), son of Dirt Bike Magazine’s Mark Tilley, won the 125 Novice class.

THE REST OF THE GANG

At the bottom of the Mt. Whitney downhill, Randy Skinner (orange helmet) and Jim Hanson (red helmet) took two different lines to the site of their collision. They crossed handlebars and tumbled down a steep bank. Skinner’s right leg was trapped between the rear tire and his muffler, while Hanson’s left leg was trapped under Skinner’s GasGas. It took a while to get them untangled.

Drew Gosselaar (955) went 2-2 in the Over-30 Expert class.

Australian Dan Alamangos (192) raced Jody’s Husqvarna FC350 in the Over-50 Intermediates.

Steve Chandler (306) went 5-4 for fifth in the Over-65 Expert class. Steve lives in New Harmony, Utah, but races at Glen Helen at most “Saturday at the Glen” races.

Frank Thomason (551) promoted races at Glen Helen for over 30 years—now he races them

Brooke Whipple (19) could have easily won the Women’s class, but she prefers to race in the 250 Intermediate class and was second overall.

Irish rider David O’Connor works at KTM in the Factory Service’s race engine department. Yes, he does have a very fast KTM.

Max Cooper (89) and Liam Arsell (behind #77) split motos wins with a 1-2 and 2-1 day (in favor of Arsell). Christian Granados (147) was third, Cohen Spana (125) was fifth, Ian Passno (77) was seventh and Kasey Shelton (34) was eighth.

Mavis Alessi (6) took the victory in the PW50 Pee-Wee class.

Aria Alessi (9) went 3-2 for second overall on her aluminum-framed, electric KTM SX-E2.

Reed Conner (922) won the 5-to-7 year old Pee-Wee class on his Cobra.

Brooke Miranda is one of Saturday at the Glen’s” most alert flaggers. This is the most important job at any racetrack.

Thanks to transponders it is possible to have a complete class of riders with number 36 on their bikes. Luckily, at “Saturday at the Glen” it was just these two. Cody Brownfield (36) and Pete Murray (36).

2024 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE SCHEDULE

If you are looking for a racing organization that offers long motos, low cost and very consistent race schedule—this is it. “Saturday at the Glen” motocross will race again on June 15, July 6 and July 20. 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 (or just show up in person on race day). For more info go to www.glenhelen.com

2024 SATURDAY AT THE GLEN RACE SCHEDULE (UPDATED)
Jan. 13…National track
Jan. 20…Arroyo track
Feb. 3…Arroyo track
Feb. 24…Arroyo track
Mar. 16…National track
Mar. 23…Arroyo track
Apr. 13…Arroyo track
May 4…National track
May 11…National track
June 1…Arroyo track
June 15…Arroyo track
Jul. 6…National track
Jul. 20…National track
Aug. 3…Arroyo track
Aug. 24…National track
Sept.14…Arroyo track
Oct. 5…National track
Oct. 19…Arroyo track
Oct. 26…Arroyo track
Nov. 16…National track
Nov. 23…National track
Dec. 7…Arroyo track
Dec. 21…National track