THE PENULTIMATE “2024 SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” MOTOCROSS RACE REPORT

“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE REPORT

Australian Dan Alamangos (46) rails MXA’s 2025 Honda CRF250 out of what looks like a boulder field in the Over-50 Expert class.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI

Tracy Hrach went 1-3 in the Over-65 Expert class, when a bad start in the second moto saw him battle from the back to third, but his 1-3 only earned him second overall.

Val Tamietti was third overall in the Over-60 Experts (despite getting a flat rear tire in the second moto) and won the Over-65 Expert class with a 2-1 score.

The “Saturday at the Glen” racers have two different race tracks at their disposal. While the majority of the locals prefer to race on the Arroyo track, because it was the track that REM raced on for 20 years before Frank and Myra retired, they often move down the hill to the Glen Helen National track.

Colin Yates (16) flew the YZ125 flag in the Over-40 Intermediate class.

The National track has been in play since 1985, while while the Arroyo track was popular in the early 1970s (it closed in the early 1980s,  but made a comeback when the REM races moved from Carlsbad Raceway to Glen Helen). Once REM closed down their race program, Glen Helen took over the Saturday program and brought the Arroyo Cycle Park name back to life.

Bill Sauro (311) won the Over-50 Expert class with a 1-1 score.

“Saturday at the Glen” events aren’t the only races held on the refurbished Arroyo track. It is often used for VetMX races, Vintage races and when other racing organizations need a place to race. When that happens the “Saturday” group moves to the National track because it can handle a much large crowd, as evidence by both “Day in the Dirt” and the Dubya World Vet Championship, which both attract over 1000 riders.

Scott Hyde (521) took the Over-60 Novice victory with a 1-1 in front of Nate Rauba (2-2) and Karl Sellenthin (3-3). 

This Saturday, the American Retrocross vintage races were held on the Arroyo track, while the “Saturday at the Glen” gang came down to the “National Track.” This system works because Glen Helen often holds four or five racing event over a weekend. To do this they use the National track, the Arroyo track, the Stadiumcross track, the Truck track or the offroad trails/fireroads and pavement sections.

Jordan Lever (711) took his Kawasaki KX450 to a two moto sweep of the 450 Novice class.

Debbi Tamietti is the hardest working photographer in the sport. She gets out of the truck at 7:00 a.m. in the morning and doesn’t come back to it until the races are over. According to her pedometer, on race day she walks over 25,000 steps. Enjoy her hard work!

Ron Shuler (33) went 1-1 to take the Over-60 Expert victory.

Fred Nichol (54) took his GasGas to fourth overall in the Over-60 Experts. Behind Fred is Robert Pocius (153) who went 4-2 for second.

Mike Monaghan (34) took his Tony DiStefano-sponsored Yamaha YZ125 to a 5-5 finish in the Over-65 Experts.

The leaves are finally falling off the trees and that enabled Debbi Tamietti to shoot this photo of the Mt. Saint Helen downhill. Shawn Bushnell (25) is already near the bottom, while some of the other riders are just cresting the top. 

Once you make it to the bottom of the downill, you make a left-hand sweeper and go up and over the first roller coaster section that leads to the hip jump.

For the big races, the riders don’t turn right to go to the hip jump, instead they go straight ahead and jump over the big hump jump in front of them. This leads to the Canyon section of the track and adds another 30 seconds to the lap times.

Arek Kruk (79) finds some extra drive in the outside berm on his way to a 3-3 day in the Over-50 Expert class.

Brian Peterson (47) took the Over-40 Novice win.

Mark Crosby (95) chases Steve Chandler (306) in the Over-65 class. Amazingly enough, Steve Chandler drives down from New Harmony, Utah, to race at Glen Helen. It takes six hours, while Marc Crosby (95) only comes from Laguna Niguel, California.

Will Harper (7) has started to race his Stark Varg more often than he did when he first got it (after a two year wait to get it). The biggest benefit of racing a Stark at Glen Helen is that it is almost a guaranteed holeshot on the long 70 mph charge to the Talladega first turn. However, being first to the first turn didn’t help Will take a win. He went 4-7 in the Over-65 Experts.

Caleb Tentangco (124) won the 85cc class with a 1-1 and came back a few races later to get second in the SuperMini class with a 1-2.

Shawn Bushnell (25) swept all four motos in the Over-40 Expert and the Open Expert classes. That is Shawn’s wife Alison (35) running fifth in the background. Interestingly enough, this class was almost 100% Husqvarnas.

Ricky Richards (45) went 1-2 in the Over-40 Intermediate class. One look at Ricky’s gear will give you a clue of what brand he raced before he switched to Husky.

Alison Bushnell (35) won the Over-30 Women’s World Vet Championship a month ago, but at local races she prefers to race against the men in the Over-40 Intermediate class, where she went  7-5 for fifth overall.

Jett Bushnell took the 125 Novice class on his Husqvarna TC125. With dad winning the Over-40 Experts and Open Expert classes and mom holding her own in the Over-40 Intermediates (not to mention her World Vet crown), Jett, can hold his head high at the family dinner table.

Dillan Alcantara (251) took the  450 Intermediate victory with a 1-2 over Tyler Nichols’ 3-1. That is 250 Expert winner Caleb Tate (912) zeroing in on him.

Scott Hyde (521) swept both motos of the Over-60 Novice class. 

The Over-65 Expert/Intermediate class sweeps into the Talladega first turn. If you think this looks like a bad start for this group of late arrivers, number 31 took the overall victory.

Ron Lawson forgot his chest protector and decided to make one out of cardboard that he salvaged from a box. Unfortunately, while slipping it under his jersey it popped up and poked him in his left eye giving him a black eye. He raced anyway.

Ron Lawson (left) goes clam-digging in this sandy Glen Helen corner. Ron was fourth overall in the Over-65 Experts and even got to lead a moto for a lap—despite injuring his eye with his makeshift chest protector.

Alana Martin (521) won the Women’s class on a Yamaha YZ125 that is really a KTM 125SX with blue plastic on it. 

Noah Rodriquez (391) took the Pee-Wee Beginner class with a 1-1.

Ethan Dahon (33) put up a 2-2 score to finish second overall in the 7-to-8 year old Pee-Wee class.

Emmett Earnhart (415) was the class of the field in the 65cc class.

Jaxyn Elias (111) raced the only Suzuki in any of the minicycle classes. He took his RM85 to a 4-4 score for fourth overall in the 85 Beginner class

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 hosts their final 2024 event on December 21, 2024, before taking a break for Christmas and New Year’s. 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 race (or just show up in person on race day). For more info go to www.glenhelen.com

FINAL 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. 3-5… National track (World Vet Championship)
Nov. 16…Arroyo track
Nov. 23…Arroyo track
Dec. 7…Arroyo track
Dec. 21…National track