Costa Mesa Speedway

[foxfam312]

First round of Costa Mesa Speedway is tonight, races are at Orange County fairgrounds, races start at 7:00.

 

[lenmann]

Holy Shit, it's pretty incredible that they are still racing there. How long has it been and has it been continuous?

I remember going in the 70's, driving from Glendora with a bunch of buddies, seeing a great show, drinking too much beer, and somehow getting home.

Is "Fox Night" still a thing?

 

[Mr. C]

Holy Shit, it's pretty incredible that they are still racing there. How long has it been and has it been continuous?

I remember going in the 70's, driving from Glendora with a bunch of buddies, seeing a great show, drinking too much beer, and somehow getting home.

Is "Fox Night" still a thing?

Was thinking the same. Late late 70’s /early 80’s for me Always a blast. Luckily only from Downey for me. lol.
And yes I think it has been steady for those 50 years.

 

[boatnam2]

Old River Neighbor owns lifestyle cycles, they have been sponsoring some of the Races, Harley night for sure. I see Mcconnel in a few of his videos.

 

[lenmann]

Was thinking the same. Late late 70’s /early 80’s for me Always a blast. Luckily only from Downey for me. lol.
And yes I think it has been steady for those 50 years.

God damn, going back might just have to a be a bucket list deal for me before I, er, kick the bucket...

 

[Joker]

Mean Jean the dancing machine

 

[cofooter]

Love the smell of methanol on a warm summer night, nothing like it......

 

[Desert Whaler]

My buddy just called & asked if I wanted to join He & his Boys at speedway tonight.
I guess they're at some high dollar stuffy chefs event trying to cut out of there early w/o pissing off Momma too much !
So I'm on standby !

 

[HBCraig]

A kid I used to coach is a solid racer there. Slater Lightcap. He's a stud.

 

[SoCalDave]

Since 1969. Used to go frequently in the late 70's early 80's and just started taking the family the last couple of years. Grandkids fin love it.

 

[Havasujaws]

Dukie Ermolenko.

 

[Hardly Satisfied]

I remember watching speedway bikes race at the Orange Show in San Bernardino back in the day

 

[Wayn-o]

Mean Jean the dancing machine

More Beer!!! Gene was famous.

 

[Keymyster]

Was there in turn 3 late 70’s. Throw beer over the wall into the stands. Never with out beer.

 

[Clank123]

More Beer!!! Gene was famous.

Huffman and Flanders were pretty entertaining as well!

 

[rivermobster]

I remember watching speedway at the Real Irwindale raceway. So fun.

Although I haven't been in a few years, it's still happening at City of Industry.

Industry Hills Speedway

Official site for Industry Racing. The world's first Extreme Motor Sport! Professional Speedway Motorcycle Racing for ALL divisions.

industryhillsspeedway.com

 

[Badold65]

I was there in the early to mid 70's remember routing for Danny "Bezerko" Becker, if my old memory serves me.

 

[DoughBallin14]

Speedway is awesome! Definitely taking my kiddos soon to enjoy it! I recall when my uncle Mark Dwyer and Randy Skinner got back into it around 2009 2010 ish.
Got to pit for them when we did oc fair and industry hills on wednesdays, i got to be around all the stories from back in the day. Bobby Ott, boogaloo schwarts, mad dog, flyin mike, all the guys and old mechanics, It was a blast, they made me wear the classic mechanic white pants like the old days also

Here are some 80s pics i have of Mark and his dad Mike racing Ims, oc fair, etc.

 

[LuauLounge]

Speedway is a young man’s sport, at least you don’t fall very far.

 

[FreeBird236]

Started watching in Irwindale, then Berdoo and Glen Helen.

 

[rivermobster]

Started watching in Irwindale, then Berdoo and Glen Helen. View attachment 1373142

1972. Yep! I was in HS when we started going to that!

Seemed like Irwindale had something different, every night of the week, and then Real 1/4 mile drags on the weekends.

Loved waking through the pits and gawking at all the cool shit.

If I had been born rich, instead of good looking, I woulda had me a Pro Stock car.

Sucks my looks were never that impressive either.

 

[PlumLoco]

First round of Costa Mesa Speedway is tonight, races are at Orange County fairgrounds, races start at 7:00.

This thread got me all excited but looking at the schedule for both CM and Industry I am only seeing half a dozen races. Are they not running every week any more? I see CM is skipping an entire month between races. Has attendance really fallen off that badly? Very sad if so as speedway racing can be incredibly fast and close. My kids loved it when they were going frequently.

 

[92562]

Blast from the past. My cousin Scott St. John rode speedway back in the day and I rode several races on his 125 in Costa Mesa in the late 70's. Thanks for the memories!

 

[NicPaus]

A kid I used to coach is a solid racer there. Slater Lightcap. He's a stud.

He is killing it! His Dad Keith is a friend that regularly camps at Echo. Been watching Slater grow up over the years and now racing.

 

[RiverRunr]

This thread got me all excited but looking at the schedule for both CM and Industry I am only seeing half a dozen races. Are they not running every week any more? I see CM is skipping an entire month between races. Has attendance really fallen off that badly? Very sad if so as speedway racing can be incredibly fast and close. My kids loved it when they were going frequently.

CM takes a break for the OC Fair.

 

[PlumLoco]

Schedule shows 2 races in May. 1 in June.
Then 2 in Sept. and one last one in October. Soooo only one race all summer long??? This doesn't good for the continuation of the event.

 

[sintax]

super excited, always checked out 2 or so races a year, we usually go opening weekend which lines up w/ my birthday weekend, but we went camping this weekend.

 

[She's Mine]

Great night of racing. Had a blast.

 

[LHC Kirby]

Absolutely a blast…. World Finals at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was outstanding. Bruce Penhall was the king back in the day.

 

[boatnam2]

Absolutely a blast…. World Finals at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was outstanding. Bruce Penhall was the king back in the day.

Yep, my first experience! Different beast on the half mile. My Dad use to work with Doug nicol, he would always come by house, solid racer. My Ex's nephew is Flyan ryan fisher, also pretty good throwing a leg over one. Always good racing at pretty much every event i have been to.

 

[FreeBird236]

Absolutely a blast…. World Finals at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was outstanding. Bruce Penhall was the king back in the day.

Down to the final race final lap. A little controversial but the lead bike determines the line.

If anyone's interested, Final race of the night, Penhall and Kenny Carter are perfect and tied on the night. Both get good starts and are 1st and 2nd all race. Penhall would have the lead all lap, but Carter would pass him just before the finish line on the first three laps. On the last lap with Penhall back in the lead at turn four he took Carter wide toward the wall and broke his momentum, actually a little more like put him in the wall. That was Penhall's second title.