“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE REPORT: BIG TURNOUT FOR THE WEEKLY WARS BETWEEN FRIENDLY FOES

R.J. Warda (972) took the 450 Expert class victory with a 1-1 day.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI

The “Saturday at the Glen” Motocross series got off to the slow start leading into the 2024 series. First, they had to lend their Arroyo race track on consecutive weekends for the 24-Hours of Glen Helen, World Vet Championship, Red Bull Day in the Dirt and Yamaha Blu Cru Invitational and when you throw in Christmas and New Years, the last official “Saturday at the Glen” race was back on December 16, 2023. So, this week was the official opening round of the  2024 “Saturday at the Glen” race season. It will be 25 races long and started this past Saturday, January 13, and will come to an end four days before Christmas. It was good to be back, although the opening round was held on the Glen Helen National track, most “Saturday” racers feel more at home on the Arroyo track, whichi is where it will be this Saturday, January 20.

Souya Nakajima is spending time in the USA to get more riding and racing time in. He won the 250 Expert class.

“Saturday at the Glen” is best known for its  down-home feel that is very much like the sport was back in the “good old days.” There are very few rules, a casual atmosphere in the pits, an amazing number of racers who have history going back 20, 30,r 40 or more years and a racetrack that is challenging without being a clone of a Supercross track. Glen Helen has two full-size motocross tracks (it also has a factory Supercross track, a Lucas Oil Offroad Truck track, a Stadiumcross track for minis and Pee-Wees , a Stacyc track and hundreds of acres of trails ands fire roads for cross-country races).

Glen Helen is also a very historic place—and not just for its AMA Nationals, FIM Grand Prixs and  incredible number of races held every weekend, but, the Arroyo Cycle Park track was the site of the first-ever 125 National Motocross Championship event. in 1973 . The AMA did not recognizes 125s back then , so in 1973 Arroyo held one. It was won by Ray Lopez on a Penton with Marty Smith second on a Monark.

6D Helmet’s Robert Reisinger took the Over-60 Expert class with a 1-1 over Joe Sutter’s 4-3 and Val Tamietti’s 2-6.

Only the old hands can point out the 1973 Arroyo track layout, but it’s cool to race on a track that has history dating back over 50 years. This week’s turnout was over 200 riders, with the biggest classes being the 85cc minicycles, Over-40 Novices and the combined Over-60/Over-65/Over-70 ranks which numbered 40 riders.

Jimmy Fishback (25) is the son of former Baja 500, Baja 1000, Mint 400 and ISDT Gold Medallist Jim Fishback. Jimmy has followed in his dad’s footsteps by racing Speedway, motocross, off-road and off-roads trucks. Jimmy won the Over-40 Intermediate class with a 2-1 beating out Justin McCoy’s 1-2.

Shawn Bushnell (804) was flyin’ high on his way to the Over-40 Expert win.

Justin Herrmann took the Over-30 Expert victory.

Eddie Davis (155) won both motos of the very tough Over-50 Expert class in front of a top five of Polish rider Arek Kruk (2-2), Luther French (3-3), Ron Shuler (5-4) and Chris Heinrich (7-5).

Marc Crosby(86) battled all the way to the finish line with Jim Hanson, Mark Theis, Bruce Ashmore and Mic Rodger. Marc went 2-3 for second overall behind Hanson’s 1-2, but ahead of Theis’ 5-1.

These three riders are all over 65 years old and are all super fast. How good are they? Randel Fout (14) won the Over-65 Expert World Championship at the 2023 World Vet Motocross Championship, Val Tamietti (31) was third overall at the World Vet Championship and and Bob Rutten (83) was fourth. It doesn’t hurt their speed that they race against each other every week. 

Val Tamietti (31) also races the Over-60 Expert class. Here, Val chases MXA test rider Luc De Ley (48) a couple laps before Luc crashed and Val ‘s bike got caught on top of it. Val would go 2-6 for third, while Luc would go 3-7 for seventh.

Here is Val Tamietti (31) again, racing with Joe Sutter (111) in the Over-60 Expert class. Joe would get second place behind Robert Reisinger with a 4-3 score

Stephan Thorpe (56) uses his Husky FC450’s power to try to keep Josh Fout, on an Husky FC250 behind him. Although they were on the track together they weren’t in the same class. Thorpe went 7-8 for 7th in the Over-40 Novice class, while Fout went 3-2 in the Open Expert class.

Jamison Nash had a 2-1 day in the 450 Intermediate class, which was good enough to edge out Jason McCoy’s 1-2.

Alison Bushnell (14) raced her Husqvarna in the first moto of the Women’s class and switched to Randel Fout’s 2024 Kawasaki KX450 for the second moto. She went 2-2 behind Adrienne Spiker’s 1-1.

Karl Sellenthin (13) edged out Scott Hyde for the overall in the Over-60 Novice class with a 2-1 to Hyde’s 1-2,

Ryder Friday (42) went 3-5 in the 125 Two-Stroke Novice class behind Patrick Miranda, Grant Ordelman and Ryan Pekarek.

Cole Forbes (550) powers his way up Shoei Hill on his way to second overall in the 250 Expert class.

85 Beginner Jason Dunbar (117) tucks in on his way up the start straight headed for the steeply banked Talladega first turn.  

Todd Heagstedt (58) leads Tommy Leone (310) and John Cash (43) in the battle for 4th in the Over-50 Novice class.  Cash’s 4-5 would defeated Heagstedt’s 6-4 and Leone’s 5-6

In  a four-stroke versus two-stroke battle, Jason Bulaich (710) tries to hold off the YZ125 of Ryan Pekarek (59). With its big hills and fast straights, you would think that Glen Helen would offer a big advantage to the four-strokes, but actually Glem Helen favors talent over horsepower.

Connor Theis (594) was third overall in the Open Novice class with a 4-3 score.

Randel Fout (14) dominates the Over-65 Expert class, but he doesn’t normally want to be scored. The exception was at the  2023 World Vet Championship.

John Caper (44) of O’Neal, AXO, Renthal, Sinisalo and Mechanixwears fame is loyal to his Honda CRF450.

Madison Yarnell’s Pee-Wee is dwarfed by the size of Glen Helen’s Talladega first turn.

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 hosts a 25-race season—which started on January 13, 2024. Pre-entry is only $30 ($25 for minis). Post entry on the day of the race is $40 ($30 for minis). The Gate fee is only $10 (per person). You can sign up on the internet for the next “Saturday at the Glen” motocross as late as the Friday before the race and save money (or just show up in person on race day and pay an extra $10). The next three races are on January 20 (Arroyo track), February 3 (Arroyo track) and February 24 (Arroyo track).  For more info go to www.glenhelen.com.