“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE REPORT: FORMATION FLYING, THE TEMMERMAN INVASION & RAIN!

Winning the Over-60 Expert class at Glen Helen means that you have to fight your way through this battle between Jon Ortner (10), Dave Eropkin (811), Doug Frankos (710) and Bob Weber (6). And if you do that successfully, you still have to catch Over-60 World Vet Champion Pete Murray. Ortner was 5th in the Over-50 Experts and 2nd in the Over-60 Experts

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI & JON ORTNER

It was just a normal “Saturday at the Glen,” all the regulars were tucked into their personal spots in the pits. The loudspeaker was crackling and there was a vintage race on the National track for entertainment. There may have been other races on Glen Helen’s other tracks, but they were down the hill from the Saturday track. Everything was hunky-dory, but all eyes searched the mountains where Big Bear was ensconced looking for signs of thunderstorms, which the TV weather forecasters had guaranteed. For those riders who don’t have any faith, and were scared away from Glen Helen because of the predictions of rain—not only did it not rain, but the sun even came out for an hour  and made the temperature zoom up into the 80s. Actually, that is a lie. It did rain, right after every “Saturday at the Glen” racer had loaded up and driven away.

The Blue Angels had better watch out! Dave Eropkin (811), Doug Frankos (71) and Bob Weber (6) can fly in close formation also.

Even the top three in the Over-65 Experts formed into an echelon as they rocketed down the track. Bob Rutten (83), Will Harper (7) and Val Tamietti (31) just need smoke to complete the effect.

“Saturday at the Glen” only started holding races this year. That’s also a lie, because for over 30 years there were races on the same track with the same racers and the same scorers—only the promoter changed as the previous REM management wanted to retire after three decades of dealing with racer complaints. So, they announced that they were leaving and left for a well deserved break.

Enzo Temmerman (21) was the fastest rider on the track, but did end up losing a moto when he crashed in the first 250 Intermediate moto and couldn’t get all the way back to the front in 20 minutes. He rectifIed his flub, by winning the second moto for a 2-1 win.

Glen Helen decided to pick up the baton and start holding the Saturday races, while keeping as close to the previous promoter’s schedules, classes and program. And most of all “Saturday at the Glen” kept REM’s reputation for getting the race program over before 2:00 p.m. Why was that so important to the racers to get done early? Because they wanted to race the next day and needed time to get home to work on their bikes. This was very important three decades ago, when SoCal racers had lot of tracks to choose from and could race five days a week. REM had kept to that fast paced schedule and “Saturday at the Glen” has also.

The Over-65 Intermediates don’t run as close to each other as the Experts. Tim Hoole (40) would finish second behind the 1-1 of Steve Donovan (68). Phil Cruz (95) went 5-4 for fourth.

So, when the doomsayers predicted thunderstorms and lightning all day Saturday, the old hands knew that it wouldn’t rain until the clouds, spinning counter-clockwise because of a low pressure zone off the coast, rammed into the San Bernardino mountains just below Big Bear. Only then would the clouds get compressed forcing the moisture to rise up the westward facing slope and get compressed into liquid. The rising moisture would turn into thunderstorms. The unofficial motocross weather forecasters said, “that will happen at 2:00 p.m. ”

Preston Tilford (491) looked like a sure thing to win the 450 Pro class, but he blew his engine in the second moto and Matias Pavez (110) inherited the win. Pavez raced for Team Chile at the 2022 Motocross des Nations at Red Bud. Photo: Jon Ortner

So with the rain jitters soothed, everyone went back to getting ready to race. “Saturday at the Glen” has classes for everything from Yamaha PW50s to 450 Pros, but the big classes and thus the most important classes are the Over-50 Experts and the Over-60 Experts. Because SoCal is where the motorcycle industry is located, there are more racers from the 1970s and 1980s still racing per square-mile than any place on the planet. It is hard to walk through the Glen Helen pits without seeing names and faces that you grew up watching as a kid at Indian Dunes, Saddleback, Ascot, Carlsbad or in the magazines.

Bob Rutten (83) swept both motos of the Over-65 Experts. Photo: Jon Ortner

No, they don’t look the same as they did when they were 17-year-old local hotshots, but to even be remotely eligible to race in the Over-50 class you had to be born before 1972. That means that the Over-60 racers were born in 1962. And, there are 70-year-old riders at the Glen, but they are tucked away in the Over-65 classes.

Former Saddleback champion and Maico rider Val Tamietti (31) chased Bob Rutten in both motos, but could never seal the deal. Photo: Jon Ortner

OVER-50 EXPERTS: This week’s Over-50 Expert class had multi-time World Vet Champion Pete Murray on the line along with Jon Ortner, Luther French, Robert Reisinger, Rick Ellis, South African Alan Jullien, Australian Dan Alamangos and more. French, Murray and Ellis dueled for the win, with everyone believing that there was no way anyone could beat Pete Murray, who has won the Over-40, Over-50 and Over-60 classes at the World Vet many times. But Luther French stopped Murray’s win streak in the Over-50 class.

Ace moto-photog Debbi Tamietti shoots a photo of Val Tamietti, well at least she aimed the camera at him, but we don’t have proof that she actually pressed the button. The photo of Val above was shot by Jon Ortner (as was this one). Photo: Jon Ortner

OVER-60 EXPERTS: The Over-60 Expert class was populated by high-powered Saddleback and Indian Dunes Pros from the good old days. They include Pete Murray, who always races both the Over-50 and Over-60 Expert classes. Former CMC Number one rider Val Tamietti, NESC Pro Bob Weber, 125 hot-shot Dave Eropkin, Kawasaki test rider Robert Reisinger, Zaca Station founder Ed Guajardo, plus Ron Lawson, Dan Adkins, Doug Frankos. Luc De Ley an other oldies but goodies. Pete Murray may have lost the Over-50 Expert class, but he had no intention of losing the Over-60 Experts. He rocketed away leaving Jon Ortner to hold off the chassers. In a unique twist, Murray and Ortner had finished one-two in the 2021 World Vet Championship’s Over-60 Pro class.

Will Harper (7) blasts by the sun flowers on his way to third in the Over-65 Experts. Photo: Jon Ortner

What follow are the photos shot by Debbi Tamietti and Jon Ortner for your pleasure. If you wanted to be in one of the photos you’d have to come to “Saturday at the Glen” and race.

This looks identical to the line at the Social Security Administration. From Left to right: Robot Rodgers, Dirt Bike editor Ron Lawson, Bob Rutten and Val Tamietti wait for their number to be called.

South African Alan Jullien (70) gives it all he’s got to hold off Pete Murray (7) in this downhill left in the Over-50 Experts.

Marc Crosby and Dan Alamangos thinks it’s funny that Pete Murray roosted them. We expect that kind of reaction from Dan, after all he’s an Australian, but Marc is a grown up. 

Adam Morrow flew the Canadian flag on his way to a 2-1 day in the Over-40 Intermddiates in front of Adrian Spiker (1-2) and Robert Kuhry (3-3).

Jody Weisel (71) still wears all-leather Super Victory boots from the 1970s. Why? They are almost three pounds lighter than modern plastic-clad boots and don’t hurt his knees when they bounce off the ground.  

Dennis Stapleton (184) won the Vet Pro class on his new GasGas MC450F. Photo: Jon Ortner

Brian Medeiros (934) won the 250 Pro class on his Suzuki RM-Z250, but had his hands full with the Chilean riders and Enzo Temmerman. 

Shawn Bushnell (804) took the Over-40 Expert class with two holeshots and two wins.

Rick Ellis (34) is going to win the Over-50 Experts one of these weekend. He has been knocking on the door. 

If the big hills aren’t tough enough at Glen Helen, “Saturday at the Glen” threw in some roller coaster-like ups and downs to keep the riders busy. Photo: Jon Ortner

Mark Moore (103) has the biggest gas tank decal we’ve ever seen, made worse by the nine letters in Husqvarna. Photo: Jon Ortner

Chuck Cook (27) and Jesse Sorenson (L) split motos wins in the Over-60 Novice class, but Cook’s 2-1 beat Sorenson’s 1-3. Photo: Jon Ortner

Randy Skinner (72) took MXA’s GasGas MC350F to first in both motos of the Over-60 Intermediates. Robot Rodger went 2-2 and said, “I could have passed Randy, but every time I got close, I was blasted with roost from his Dunlop scoop tire.”

At the last race Randel Fout (43) was on a 2023 KX250, but this race he was on MXA’s 2023 KX450. Given his druthers, he prefers the KX450.

Connor Wolfe (68) backs it into this corner on his way to third in the 85cc class.

Liam Arsell (83) doesn’t let someone else’s broken fender stop him of powering down this drop-off in the 85 Beginner class. Liam went 4-2 for second overall.

Maddox Temmerman (5) closes in his brother Sebastien (84) as they head towards the sand section. Maddox won the 85cc class and Sebastien was second overall, while big brother Enzo took the 250 Intermediates.

River Benavidez (P77) went 3-3 in the 4-t0-6 year old Pee-Wee class.  He was an innocent victim of the rut he is straddling.

THIS WEEK’S SELECTED WINNERS

OVER-50 EXPERT CLASS
1. Luther French (Yam)…1-1
2. Pete Murray (Yam)…2-2
3. Rick Ellis (Yam)…3-3

OVER-60 EXPERT CLASS
1. Pete Murray (Yam)…1-1
2. Jon Ortner (Yam)…2-2
3. Bob Weber (Hon)…4-3

OVER-65 EXPERT CLASS
1. Bob Rutten (KTM)…1-1
2. Val Tamietti (Yam)…2-2
2. Will Harper (Hus)…3-3

125 EXPERT CLASS
1. Oscar Valdez (Yam)…1-1
2. Robert Kuhry (Yam)…2-2
3. Pasha Afshar (KTM)…3-3

OVER-65 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Steve Donovan (KTM)…1-1
2. Tim Hoole (Gas)…2-3
3. Marc Crosby (Gas)…3-5

250 INTERMEDIATE
1. Enzo Temmerman (Kaw) …2-1
2. Nico Israel (KTM)…1-2
3. Cody Brownfield (KTM)… 3-3

OVER-40 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Adam Morrow (Gas)…2-1
2. Adrian Spiker Hus)…1-2
3. Robert Kuhrys (Yam)…3-3

OVER-50 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Eric Gaston (Hon)…1-1
2. Lonnie Paschal (Yam)…2-2
3. Geoff Patterson (KTM)…3-3

OVER-60 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Randy Skinner (Gas)…1-1
2. Robot Rodgers (Hus)…2-2
3. Todd Wiseman (Yam)…3-3

OVER-60 NOVICE CLASS
1. Chuck Cook (Hus)…2-1
2. Jesse Sorenson (Hon)…1-3
3. Chuck Peterson Hon)…3-2

OVER-30 NOVICE CLASS
1. Christopher Angell (Yam)…1-1
2. Zac Carriere (Yam)…3-2
3. Mark Taylor (Yam)…4-3

125 NOVICE CLASS
1. Slade Pearson (KTM)…-1
2. Rodolfo Romero (Hus)…2-2
3. George Barrows (Hon)…3-4

250 NOVICE CLASS
1. Gavin Sorenson (Hon)…2-1
2. Justin Giordano (Yam)…1-2
3. Zico Gonzalez (KTM)…3-4

450 BEGINNER CLASS
1. Salomon Taurel (Yam)…1-2
2. Ron Smith (Yam)…2-2
3. Chris Hand (Suz)…3-3

85 CLASS
1. Maddox Temmerman (Hus)…1-1
2. Sebastien Temmerman (KTM)…2-2
3. Konner Wolfe (Hus)…3-3

85 BEGINNER CLASS
1. Tanner Morris (Yam)…1-1
2. Liam Arsell (Yam)…4-2
3. Adrian Canela (Yam)…2-4

65 BEGINNER CLASS
1. Josh Tamayo (Yam)…1-1
2. Carson Stevenson (Hus)…2-2
3. Tate Shue (Yam)…3-3

50 BEGINNER 4-TO-6 CLASS
1. Carson Stevenson (Hus)…1-1
2. Cannon Bogh (Cob)…2-2
3. River Benavidez (Cob)…3-3

50 PW50 CLASS
1. Benjamin Bojorquez (Yam)…1-1
2. Parker Trunnell (Yam)…2-2
3. Nixon Galloway Yam)…3-3

Val and Debbi. Photo: Jon Ortner

“Saturday at the Glen” motocross will race again next Saturday, October 22 and on October 29 (on Oct.29 “Saturday at the Glen” will run the exact track that will be used for the World Vet Championship a week later). 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

“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” ON OCTOBER 22

“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” WORLD VET WARM-UP RACE ON OCTOBER 29