“SATURDAY THE GLEN” RACE REPORT: THE HOLESHOT MONEY WILL GO TO GOOD USE

Dominic DeSimone (565) and Hawaiian Brian Medeiros (934) took off  at the drop of the gate in the Pro race and pulled away. Desimone would take the overall win.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI & JON ORTNER  

“Saturday at the Glen” saw a big turnout for this week’s  race, probably helped by the large number of racers who came to Glen Helen to practice on the National track for Sunday’s “Road to Mammoth Qualifier.” What is never surprising is the large numbers of riders over the age of 60 years old that show up every week to race at “Saturday at the Glen”. This week’s Over-60 and Over-65 classes added up to 43 riders—all born before 1963. And there were a  few Over-70 riders mixed in without any fanfare.

Brian Medeiros (934) is nursing a very sore knee, so he is trying to ride without putting to foot down.

The biggest group of racers, although made up of more classes,  were in the minicycle classes (Supermini, 85, 65 and Pee-Wee). There were 49  of them. The very young and very old racers made up 92 of the entries. What was surprising was that Glen Helen paid holeshot money to the first moto of the the 85cc class, 65cc class, seven-to-eight Pee-Wees and the PW50/XR class. The  payout didn’t actually contribute to the large minicycle turnout, because it wasn’t widely advertised, but it was very unique.

Josh Kaller (15) was third in the 450 Pro class. Photo: Jon Ortner

In a big change, this week’s track did not cross the road and run through the Bud’s Creek sand section. Instead it went up, down, up and down in steep sequences to get to the back canyon section. The added loops kept the lap times in the two minute range and also kept the riders in front of the spectators in the pits longer before they disappeared behind the ridge, only to reappear at the top of Mt. Whitney.

This is the back canyon section of the Arroyo track. As you can tell by the “Y” in the track, sometimes it goes right and sometimes it goes left. Either way and you will be going up a hill.

On Saturday, March 18, the normal “Saturday at the Glen” race program will hold a World Two-Stroke Warm-Up race on the National track for the Pasha 125 Open series—with classes for 125 Pros, Over-30 125 Pros and and Over-50 125 Pros. The Pasha 125 Open rules are the same as the  2023 Wiseco/Fasthouse World Two-Stroke rules— in that the upper displacement limit is 150cc. There are no Pasha 125 Open classes for two-stroke bigger than 150cc.

Randel Fout was testing new WP Cone Valve forks and a Trax shock on MXA’s GasGas MC350F. This was the only section of the track that was suited to the Dunlop MX14 scoop tire, but it was on the bike so Randel and Jody, who also raced the MC350 to tested the suspension, left it on.

The Stadium section and the hills on the Arroyo track were too hard for the scoop tire to work very well. Proven by the Jody’s lack of roost off the aggressive looking MX14 rear tire.  

Josh Fout (31) won the Vet Expert class on MXA’s fuel-injected, electric start Husqvarna TC250 two-stroke. 

Andrew Jennings (X171) was one of several riders racing their NGPC off-road bikes at “Saturday at the Glen.” Andrew won the 250 Expert class.

Bill Sauro (311) used his KTM cross-country two-stroke to sweep both motos of the Over-50 Expert class. He didn’t even bother to turn his headlight off.  

Jon Ortner (N1R ) is the reigning 2022 Over-50 and Over-60 Expert National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) Champion and he too raced his off-road-prepped Yamaha YZ250X. Jon was second in the Over-50 Experts, but came back to win the Over-60 Expert class.

Phil Dowell (23) went 5-4 for fourth in the Over-50 Experts  behind Bill Sauro, Jon Ortner and Arek Kruk. 

This is the view of the Stadium Section of the Arroyo track. It got it’s name when the Red Bull X-Fighters built grandstands around three sides of the motocross track and held a big freestyle event in 2015.

The two 45s were at it again this week in the Over-40 Intermediate class, after a hard fought battle last week that Stephen Moore (45) won when Rick Richards (45) stalled on the last lap. This Saturday, Rick Richards won, but not without incident. Over a fast jump that had a 90-degree right-hand turn after the landing, Moore slowed to make the bend just as Richards was trying to jump past him on his right. They collided with Moore going down.

Alison Bushnell (13), seen here next of Over-40 Expert Jason Klements, was thrown over the bars when she misjudged a deep rut on a fast downhill. She hit hard, but got to her feet, remounted and finished the moto. Her perseverance eventually earned her second overall behind Rick Richards.

Jon Ortner won the packed Over-60 Expert class with a 1-1 over Robert Reisingers’s 2-2, Ed Guajardo’s 3-3, Luc DeLey’s 4-4, Chris Heinrich’s 6-6, Dave Eropkin’s 5-7 and Ron Lawson’s 7-8.

Jon Ortner (N1R), Chris Heinrich (121) and Randel Fout (72) sweep through this corner in tight formation. 

Former Saddleback Pro Luc De Ley switched from his customary 250 four-stroke to MXA’s 2023 KTM 300SX. He may now be a two-stroke guy.

Dirt Bike’s Ron Lawson went 7-8 in the Over-60 Experts on a 2023 Husqvarna TC125. 

Ray Poltack (223) was 8th overall in the Over-60 Expert class.

Arnie Davis (119) easily swept both motos of the Over-60 Intermediate class. 

Paul Henagan not only raced his KTM Dual-Sport bike with turn signals, tail light and license plate still on it, but he also wore is face shield on his street helmet. How did he do? He finished second in the Over-50 Novice class. 

Val Tamietti (31) has been dominating the Over-65 Expert class in 2023, but this week Will Harper (7) put up a spirited battle to try to stay in the lead. 

Val Tamietti (31) would eventually pull away to win both motos by big margins. Photo: Jon Ortner

Steve Chandler (305) went 4-3 in the Over-65 Expert class. Photo: Jon Ortner

Why do riders with the same number always seem to find each other. It could be because transponder scoring makes it possible for two riders to have the same number without the promoter yelling at one of them to put an “X” on their front plate. Marc Crosby (75) went 2-2 and Frank Emerson (75) went 4-6 in the Over-65 Intermediates.

Jim Hanson (63) won both motos of the Over-65 Intermediate class for the second week in a row.

Pete Vetrano (37)is the Scalvini exhaust importer, but was previously the TM importer (twice), LEM importer and Vertemati /VOR importer. Pete went 5-3 for fourth in the Over-65 Intermediates. Photo: Jon Ortner

After practice Kent Reed (491) decided to drastically change the clickers on his KTM 300SX shock and forks. Then, after getting last in the first moto of the Over-65 Novice class, he put the clickers back where they were in practice and won the second moto.

John Schlickenmeyer (48) won both motos of the Vet Novice class.

Owin Wright (473) had a tough day in the Over-60 Novice class, but managed a top ten finish. Photo: Jon Ortner

THE BIG MONEY WAS RIDING ON THE PEE-WEES

In a very cool moment, Alexander Ventura  takes a moment to thank flagger Robbie Carpenter for helping him when he fell.  Alexander went 4-4 for fourth in the 4-to-7 year old Pee-Wee class on a Cobra.

In an effort to make the minis, 65 and Pee-Wee classes more fun for the kids, Glen Helen starter David Cincotta raised money to pay holeshot money to the 85cc class, 65 Beginners,  7-to-8 year old Pee-Wees and the Yamaha PW50 class—based on the first moto starts. The winners were Jacob Tilley (85), Alex Herron (65 Beginner), Weston Wondodolleck (7-to-8 year old Pee-Wees) and Madison Yarnell (PW50). The holeshot winners got $50.

Jacob Tilley (5) won the 85c class and also got the holeshot award..

Weston Wondolleck  (125) won the holeshot money and went 1-2 to finish second behind Austin Tilley in the 7-to-8 Pee-Wees..

Madison Yarnell (26) took the holeshot money and went 3-4 for fourth in the Yamaha PW50/XR class.

Champ Longley’s 2-1 was good enough for the overall win in the 4-to-6 year-old Pee-Wee class, edging out Benjamin Bojorquez’s 1-2.

Henry Gardiner (94) took the victory in the PW/XR class on his Honda XR50.

Austin Tilley (25) won the 7-to-8- year-old Pee-Wee class with a 2-1.

Bode Bushnell (699) was third overall in the 85cc class..

“Saturday at the Glen” motocross will race again February 25, March 18 and March 25. On the March 25 race date, their will Pasha 125 Open Two-Stroke classes for young riders, Over-30 riders and Over-50 riders. 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

In honor of the long departed Arroyo Cycle Park, which sat on this exact plot of land back in the 1970s, Glen Helen renamed the previous REM track as the Arroyo Vet Track.

2023 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” SCHEDULE

Jan. 14…Winter Series #1 (Arroyo Vet track)
Jan. 21…Winter Series #2 (Arroyo Vet track)
Feb. 4…Winter Series #3 (Arroyo Vet track)
Feb. 11…Winter Series #4 (Arroyo Vet track)
Feb. 25…Winter Series #5 (National track)
Mar. 18…Spring Series #1 & Pasha 125 Open (National track)
Mar. 25…Spring Series #2 (Arroyo Vet track)
Apr. 15…Spring Series #3 (Arroyo Vet track)
Apr. 22…Spring Series #4 (Arroyo Vet track)
May 13…Spring Series #5 (National track)
June 3…Summer Series #1 (Arroyo Vet track)
June 17…Summer Series #2 (Arroyo Vet track)
June 24…Summer Series #3 (Arroyo Vet track)
July 15…Summer Series #4 (Arroyo Vet track)
July 29….Summer Series #5 (National track)
Aug. 19…Fall Series #1 (Arroyo Vet track)
Aug. 26…Fall Series #2 (Arroyo Vet track)
Sept. 16…Fall Series #3 (Arroyo Vet track)
Sept. 23…Fall Series #4 (Arroyo Vet track)
Sept. 30…Fall Series #5 (National track)
Oct. 21…Winter Series #1 (Arroyo Vet track)
Oct. 28…Winter Series #2 (National track)
Nov.3-5…World Vet Championship (National track)
Nov. 18..Winter Series #3 (Arroyo Vet track)
Dec. 9…Winter Series #4 (Arroyo Vet track)
Dec. 16..Winter Series #5 (National track)

Pasha Afshar poses with his newest two-stroke creation and is obviously auditioning for another “bad guy” role in his next movie project. Photo: Jon Ortner

PASHA 125 OPEN “WORLD TWO-STROKE WARM-UP RACE” ON MAR. 18

For more info go to www.glenhelen.com