“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP WARM-UP RACE

“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP WARM-UP RACE

The next time you get in an elevator, press the button for the 22nd floor. It will take a little time to get way up there, but when you press the down button there is always a chance it could be a thrill ride. For this year’s World Vet racetrack the racers will go up to the top of Mt. Saint Helen and, when they are ready, they  can press the down button (better known as the throttle). They will quickly descend 22 stories in a few seconds. One word of caution, once you come off the lip at the top there is no slowing down until you get to the basement. This photo is just of the top half of the hill—double it for the full image.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI

You may have seen a couple videos shot at Glen Helen  last week claiming that they offered a first look at the 2024 Dubya USA World Vet track. Not true! Last Thursday Glen Helen only allowed people to ride on 60% of the actual World Vet track. The Thursday layout was just a test of the first five corners. They were reworked on Friday, when the track was closed, and used at the “Saturday at the Glen” warm-up race. In truth, no one will be able to ride the full World Vet Championship layout until Friday, November 1, when Glen Helen has it’s Vet-only practice for riders who are already signed-up or want to come to Glen Helen to sign-up. That is the first time anybody will get to ride on the complete 2024 World Vet track. For more info go to www.glenhelen.com

Sean Lipanovich (505) won both motos of the 450 Expert class on Saturday. 

But even though the “Saturday at the Glen”warm-up race didn’t have all the features that will be on the real track, it was a good chance for riders from Australia, Canada, England, Brazil, Guam, Israel, Ireland, Kuwait, Bulgaria, New Zealand and Poland to get their feet wet in Glen Helen’s mystery soil. What follows are Debbi Tamietti’s photos of the “Saturday at the Glen” World Vet Warm-up race.”

Sean Lipanovich (505) hails from Guam and went 1-1 in the 450 Expert class. He won the Over-30 Expert World Vet Championship back in 2022.

Dennis Stapleton (184) is another former AMA Pro who makes his living testing bikes and teaching young riders. He has done thousands of laps at Glen Helen for MXA, KTM and Honda. 

Now that Max Lee is no longer the GasGas factory team manager, he is free to go riding on the weekends. Max won the 250 Expert class.

Deegan Von Lossberg (427) went 5-5 in the 450 Expert class.

Justin McDonald (201) took his Honda CRF450 to a 2-2 day in the 450 Expert class.

MXA test rider Brian Mederios (934) hasn’t given up on Suzuki just yet. He has built up a RM-Z450 with a Vortex ignition, revalved Suzuki RM-Z250 suspension components and tons of mid-range power for the World Vet. Brian went 4-3 for third overall in the 450 Pro class on Saturday.

There is a new section after the Talladega first turn. Instead of going down the straight and turning left to go up Shoei Hill, the track turns right into a banked corner that connects to the sand section before making two left-hand turns to go up Shoei Hill. It’s designed to slow the pack down. This photo was shot in the first right-hand turn.

Dennis Stapleton (184) and Dominic Desimone (190) find out how sandy Glen Helen can be after this past winter’s rain storms wash dirt down from the hillsides.

Christain Kapoukranidis (157) came from Vermont to go 1-2 for second overall in the 450 Novice class.

Sean Stafford (461) came over from Nevada to spend some fun time on the Glen Helen World Vet test track on Saturday. Sean was third in the 250 Novice class.

Angel Vargas finished fourth in the 125 Two-Stroke class with a 4-5. He is wearing a Robert Reisinger Memorial jersey in memory of the 6D helmet designer who passed away recently.

Brazilian Rafael Knoll (192) runs a number that is synonymous with one specific Glen Helen racer. Rafael went 4-16 in the Over-50 Novice class. The second motos at Glen Helen are tougher than the first moto.

Devon Hauser (37) put together a 1-2 score to take the win the Over-30 Novice class on his GasGas.

Daryl Slate (6A) from Hawaii won the Over-60 Novice class with a 2-2. What happened to the guys who won both motos? First moto winner Bill Reimer went 1-3 and second moto winner Russel Brown went 4-1. Next to Daryl is Bulgarian Vladimir Kolev (151), who is back to try his luck in the Over-70 class for the fourth time. His best World Vet finish was 4th in 2021 (when he was a much younger man).

These are the Over-40 Experts/Intermediates. Jimmy Gibbs (76) has the lead with Jason Jeffrey (376) on his right and Janio Rezende (711) filling in the gap over to Danny Hart (64).

Kim Sunol (95) flew in from Barcelona, Spain, a week early so that he could race the World Vet Warm-up race, formerly known as the “REM Octobercross,” to get in some extra practice before the November 2-3 World Vet Championship races.

Canadian Pete DeGraaf (16) won the Over-60 Expert class and the Over-65 Expert class on Saturday. Pete is a four-time Over-50 World Vet Champion and a three-time Over-60 World Vet Champion.

Gordon Ward (444) is a legend among California off-road and motocross racers. Gordon went 1-1 in the Over-50 Expert class. When Glen Helen built the Talladega first turn years ago, they ask Gordon Ward totest the corner to see if he could hit the steeply banked 180-degree turn wide open at 70 mph and never shut off. Gordon said, “Piece of Cake!”Luther French (21) has been winning the Over-60 Expert class at Glen Helen since he turned the Big Six-Oh, but he met his match when Pete DeGraaf showed up. At least Luther got the holeshot.

Speaking about showing up, former New Zealand National Champion and Team New Zealand MXDN manager Tony Cooksey (6) flew in for the World Vet. Tony was second to DeGraaf in the Over-65 Expert class and 8th in the Over-60 Experts.

Ed Guajardo (27) went 3-3 in the Over-60 Experts behind Pete DeGraaf and Luther French.

(From left to right) 250 Pro Max Lees, (50), 125 Expert winner Rob Holyoake (L7), Tanner Morris (155), 250 Intermediate winner Connor Holyak (154) and 450 Intermediate winner Nathan Ralph (141). The Glen Helen sign on the hill in the background is on the Arroyo Cycle Park track. 

Richard Ellis (34) experiments with a strange line on his way up one of Glen Helen’s hills. Richard went 4-2 for third in the Over-50 Experts.

Val Tamietti (31) scored a third overall in the Over-65 Experts with a 3-3 day and also finished third overall in the Over-60 Experts with a 3-3 day.

Bruce Ashmore. (111) is a “Saturday at the Glen” regular in the Over-65 Intermediate class. That explains the “Robert Reisinger” jersey.

The Talladega first turn is banked at 45-degrees and has an elliptical shape so that centrifugal force will keep the bikes pinned to the wall. 

Brazilian Amilton Antonio De Amorim (929) went 7-7 in the Over-50 Experts.

The little boy is Nolan Zalamea. He is 4 years old and his dad took every chance to tell his son,”You are doing so well! Great turn, son! Good Job!” It’s the way all mini dads should be.

Ryder Leath (19) took the 65cc class victory with a 1-1.

Karlii Garay (376) was third in the 85cc Beginner class with a 5-1 score.

Not everyone is recognizable, especially when their front number plate is red with black numbers and there are no numbers on the side panels. Of course, it doesn’t help when they ride into a blizzard of roost.

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 November 16 on the Arroyo track, November 23 and finish out the 2024 race season on December 7 and December 21. 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

UPDATED 2024 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” SCHEDULE
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…Arroyo track
June 1…Arroyo track
June 15…National track
July 6…Arroyo track
July 27…Arroyo track
Aug. 3…National track
Aug. 24…Arroyo track
Aug. 31…National track
Sept.14…National track
Oct. 5…Arroyo track
Oct. 19…Arroyo track
Oct. 26…National track (World Vet Warm-up race)
Nov. 16…Arroyo track
Nov. 23…Arroyo track
Dec. 7…Arroyo track
Dec. 21…National track