Lake Elsinore MX Closing

[BingerFang]

What a bummer.

RIP little girl.

 

[SJP]

Tough deal

 

[DRYHEAT]

Really sucks the world is so litigation happy.

 

[riverroyal]

I wonder if the same out come would happen at pala since it's native Indian land
Sad deal. Tracks come and go. Children do not

 

[attitude]

I remember that story, just terrible.

What a fucking clown the 125 rider is.

 

[wzuber]

I remember that story, just terrible.

What a fucking clown the 125 rider is.

Clown?

How about murderer.

There's a good fukin reason he was removed from that track and this is exactly it. I hope that shit head and his parents get everything the law has thrown at him. The little shit head clearly doesn't respect rules, laws, safety protocols etc. His parents probably never told him no. Now all people involved lives have been forever changed because this little fuck head did whatever the fuck he wanted.
Now look at all the other innocent people effected by that self centered punk ass's choice.

 

[BTR]

Lost a good friend there. Minor crash into some soft stuff. Chest hit the bars breaking off a sliver of his breast bone that went right into his heart. Freak accident.

 

[attitude]

Clown?

How about murderer.

There's a good fukin reason he was removed from that track and this is exactly it. I hope that shit head and his parents get everything the law has thrown at him. The little shit head clearly doesn't respect rules, laws, safety protocols etc. His parents probably never told him no. Now all people involved lives have been forever changed because this little fuck head did whatever the fuck he wanted.
Now look at all the other innocent people effected by that self centered punk ass's choice.

Is clown a compliment in your world? If so I apologize, it’s a derogatory term in mine.

No punishment of the law will be enough for his actions.

 

[wzuber]

Is clown a compliment in your world? If so I apologize, it’s a derogatory term in mine.

No punishment of the law will be enough for his actions.

No sir, derogatory here too. I just felt it was a bit light considering he murdered an innocent little girl just starting her life out and out having a fun with her family.
I guess it hit me a bit harder as I've watched 2 friends/families lose children in the recent past and it's a real, horrible thing to experience and I'm just on the outside looking in. I can't begin to actually fathom their day by day, moment by moment pain and anguish. Brutal by observation.
Truely sorry if my response offended you in some manner.

 

[wzuber]

Lost a good friend there. Minor crash into some soft stuff. Chest hit the bars breaking off a sliver of his breast bone that went right into his heart. Freak accident.

Gary Zinda?

 

[yz450mm]

I worked (and rode) at VMC (Victorville Motocross Complex) for a few years in the early 2000s, being the track EMT and sometimes helping out on the equipment and other stuff.

We had some pretty big hits, including a ridiculous 115-ft triple immediately followed by a 95 ft double. This was on the front section of the track right next to the spectators, and it was no area to miss a gear or fuck up.

If I remember right, there were two accidents that happened when I wasn't there that shut the place down. I don't remember what the first one was, but for the second one I think a kid went off the double (or triple) and landed in the crowd, killing somebody that was spectating. After that it was lights out for the place almost immediately.

Lee ran a pretty tight ship, and didn't put up with any nonsense or bullshit from knuckleheads. It was sad to see a couple of freak accidents end his dream, and I'm sorry to hear about the little girl that lost her life due to some POS ignoring the rules.

 

[outboard_256]

I am too out of shape to ride a MX track but 20+ years ago lake elsinore was my go-to track. It had the vet track to warm up on and a couple of good bigger tracks to really go at it. I feel sorry for the next generation, everything is slowly closing and nothing new opening up. Been also seeing it with stuff like bowling alleys and such too.

 

[BTR]

Gary Zinda?

Yep

 

[Factory571]

We will be spinning some laps tomorrow. I think rdp needs to sponsor supercross rider..aka my son.

 

[boatnam2]

isn't mcgrath putting a race on there pre-Grand prix next weekend on friday night.

 

[CLdrinker]

Really sucks the world is so litigation happy.

Some truth to this. But the track is responsible for keeping skill levels somewhat separated. In this case some adult sized bike was on a kids track and ran over and killed a kid. I think a lawsuit is fitting.

 

[rivrrts429]

Some truth to this. But the track is responsible for keeping skill levels somewhat separated. In this case some adult sized bike was on a kids track and ran over and killed a kid. I think a lawsuit is fitting.

Supposedly the kid was already told to stay off the track before the incident but snuck back on. The core of the lawsuit should fall in the lap of the kid if that is true. Of course if there’s no money there the attorneys are going to involve whomever has the duckets.

 

[CLdrinker]

Supposedly the kid was already told to stay off the track before the incident but snuck back on. The core of the lawsuit should fall in the lap of the kid if that is true. Of course if there’s no money there the attorneys are going to involve whomever has the duckets.

I would be going after both. The track should have a zero tolerance policy for shit like that.
Sucks for track owner, but unfortunately they were negligent.
The kids parents should have their life ruined just like the little girls parents lives have been ruined.

 

[rivrrts429]

I would be going after both. The track should have a zero tolerance policy for shit like that.
Sucks for track owner, but unfortunately they were negligent.
The kids parents should have their life ruined just like the little girls parents lives have been ruined.

I don’t totally disagree but it’s another case of the .0001% of society ruining it for the other 99.99999%

It’s a double-edged sword…

 

[timstoy]

Another So Cal racing facility closing. This makes two this week with Irwindale Raceway closing at the end of the year! Unfortunately I’m old enough to remember and participate in many of the closed racing venues in So Cal. And unfortunately once there gone they don’t come back. I’m glad for the memories and make friends with some very high manufactures, racer’s and the support crews and families. Unfortunately deaths at racing facilities are responsible for many of the closures.

 

[CLdrinker]

I don’t totally disagree but it’s another case of the .0001% of society ruining it for the other 99.99999%

It’s a double-edged sword…

Yes that .0001% shit head riding where he shouldn’t have been ruined it all.

 

[DRYHEAT]

Some truth to this. But the track is responsible for keeping skill levels somewhat separated. In this case some adult sized bike was on a kids track and ran over and killed a kid. I think a lawsuit is fitting.

I would be going after both. The track should have a zero tolerance policy for shit like that.
Sucks for track owner, but unfortunately they were negligent.
The kids parents should have their life ruined just like the little girls parents lives have been ruined.

I agree the track has some responsibility, reading the article. It looks like this happened on multiple occasions. The kid should have been banned from ever entering the property again.

I agree the parents are responsible.The part I disagree with is that the property owner is also being sued. I don’t know all the details, but if the property owner doesn’t have anything to do with running the track operation, they shouldn’t be sued. Just my opinion.

Depending on how old the kid riding the 125 was maybe he needs a little time in jail.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Some truth to this. But the track is responsible for keeping skill levels somewhat separated. In this case some adult sized bike was on a kids track and ran over and killed a kid. I think a lawsuit is fitting.

Keep in mind the story is that the track had caught the125 rider, and did the right thing and made him get off the track. Maybe they should have had a zero tolerance policy and ejected him from the facility, but at the end of the day seems like they tried to do the right thing and that rider made a real bad decision causing a horrible event.

Sucks the facility has to close down because of this, between all the drag race tracks closing and MX tracks / BMX tracks constantly closing, it's becoming a total wasteland for sactioned motorsports in So Cal.

Can't be mad at the parents for litigation, although it wont bring their daughter back if they win - I would struggle with what the right thing to do is in that situation. I'd want the 125 rider (and parents, if that is the situation...) to be punished, but I wouldn't want the track shut down.

Then you look at the 125 rider - I have no idea what the situation is with him, but imagine if he was a teen with parents - he snuck on the track to do a hotlap (maybe after getting kicked off) and ends up killing a kid. His life is fucked also due to a real bad decision that at the time probably seemed like no big deal. Nobody plans for an accident of that magnitute to happen. He does need to be punished and held accountable though, he caused the death of a child. But he himself is somebody's child.

The whole things sucks.

 

[Bigbore500r]

I agree the track has some responsibility, reading the article. It looks like this happened on multiple occasions. The kid should have been banned from ever entering the property again.

I agree the parents are responsible.The part I disagree with is that the property owner is also being sued. I don’t know all the details, but if the property owner doesn’t have anything to do with running the track operation, they shouldn’t be sued. Just my opinion.

Depending on how old the kid riding the 125 was maybe he needs a little time in jail.

The lawyer is gonna tell the parents that in order to sue the track, you need to sue the property - that's where the financial resources are to settle the lawsuit. Even if the property owner was not being sued, he may have elected to shut the track (his tenant) down to limit liability to himself moving forward.

Once Lawyers get involved, the money gets followed to the pot of gold.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I believe that track sold to Amazon about a year ago or so...at least that was the story in the motocross scene.

The rule for lawyers is to sue everybody you can. They want to create financing strain on everyone and see who settles.

I remember hearing about that story when it happened....so sad! I couldn't imagine losing a child. I will say, it was pretty common for parents to also jump on that track and follow their kids around. We would also see some shit heads jump on and roost the little kids. When my son first started, us parent would band together and make the big bikes get off. I was probably one of the biggest jerks about that, but it was very scary watching an 8 year that can barely ride get roosted by an adult trying to act like a bad ass because he couldn't ride a big boy track.

This isn't the first death there and a lot of kids had some names for this track. A buddy first laid the track up and when he did, he put a ton of mulch in the dirt to make it crazy rutty. However, once he was released from the contract, it is my opinion that they didn't know how to maintain it. That track is an ice skating rink after they water it. The main is pretty sick and those that like to jump, love it. The vet tracks are really well laid out and great for those middle of the road ridders.

My son litterally said, one more track closure and he wants to move to Texas. I think it will get to where it's just the Indian tracks only.

 

[JFMFG]

What tracks are left now? Pala and Glen Helen?

 

[Done-it-again]

Really sucks the world is so litigation happy.

That's all you see now on TV. Sweet James, Call Jacob and the Barns Firm.... It makes anyone think they are going to make millions if they sue.

 

[CLCookie]

Lake Elsinore Grand Prix this weekend will be the last race, come out and support.

The group of people that run the track are not the owners of the property. They lease the land from the property owner and operate the track. Not sure who is chose to shut it down. Sad either way, our society is generally at fault for this, drive down the freeway and count how many injury lawyer billboard there are, they are the only ones getting rich. People sue for everything. Our Hoa is getting sued because someone got bit by a bee, they only want $400K, my point, people are looking for a payday. This is only the beginning; insurance carries can't continue to defend these lawsuits.

 

[rivrrts429]

What tracks are left now? Pala and Glen Helen?

Cahuilla as well

 

[attitude]

Cahuilla as well

+ Perris and LACR.

It’s sad even the high desert tracks closed, I figured those would be the last to go.

 

[JFMFG]

I miss star west.

 

[rivrrts429]

I miss star west.

I miss Comp Park in Hemet. If we go back further in time I also miss DeAnza in MoVal and Ascot.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

What tracks are left now? Pala and Glen Helen?

Pala, Barona, Glen Helen, Cahuilla, Perris, and LACR. Up in Bakersfield there is DT1 and more in the Central Valley.

 

[rmarion]

is SUX all around...

I raced OG Saddleback in the 70/80.
and OTHG (98-2008)

Litigation closed that track..


what we don't know is age of 125 rider. Maybe young inexperienced rider who should of been riding/learning in the desert.

This falls on the parents who most likely are inexperienced with off-road riding.


SAD DEAL..

RIP Little on

 

[DRYHEAT]

is SUX all around...

I raced OG Saddleback in the 70/80.
and OTHG (98-2008)

Litigation closed that track..


what we don't know is age of 125 rider. Maybe young inexperienced rider who should of been riding/learning in the desert.

This falls on the parents who most likely are inexperienced with off-road riding.


SAD DEAL..

RIP Little on

Or maybe the parents were inconsiderate assholes who told their kid to do whatever the hell he wanted. These are questions we all don’t know. The tragic part is a little girl died as a result of his selfish actions.

Seems like the clock is ticking on any kind of outdoor motorsport activity, as well as other activities with risk period.

 

[yz450mm]

I believe that track sold to Amazon about a year ago or so...at least that was the story in the motocross scene.

The rule for lawyers is to sue everybody you can. They want to create financing strain on everyone and see who settles.

I remember hearing about that story when it happened....so sad! I couldn't imagine losing a child. I will say, it was pretty common for parents to also jump on that track and follow their kids around. We would also see some shit heads jump on and roost the little kids. When my son first started, us parent would band together and make the big bikes get off. I was probably one of the biggest jerks about that, but it was very scary watching an 8 year that can barely ride get roosted by an adult trying to act like a bad ass because he couldn't ride a big boy track.

This isn't the first death there and a lot of kids had some names for this track. A buddy first laid the track up and when he did, he put a ton of mulch in the dirt to make it crazy rutty. However, once he was released from the contract, it is my opinion that they didn't know how to maintain it. That track is an ice skating rink after they water it. The main is pretty sick and those that like to jump, love it. The vet tracks are really well laid out and great for those middle of the road ridders.

My son litterally said, one more track closure and he wants to move to Texas. I think it will get to where it's just the Indian tracks only.

When I was working at Competitive Edge in Hesperia, we gave colored wrist bands to every rider at the front gate and they could only ride their designated track at specific times. There was only one way in/out of each track, and a gate worker stood guard to make sure nobody snuck in and tried to ride with another group.

Some people hated it, but it kept the beginners from being road blocks/speed bumps to the intermediate/expert riders on the main and vet tracks. I tried to keep a close eye on the kids track, and kicked out quite a few douchebags that shouldn't have been on a bike in the first place. I remember Jeff (track manager) happily ejecting anyone that wanted to act like an idiot during practice or races.

 

[BHC Vic]

I believe that track sold to Amazon about a year ago or so...at least that was the story in the motocross scene.

The rule for lawyers is to sue everybody you can. They want to create financing strain on everyone and see who settles.

I remember hearing about that story when it happened....so sad! I couldn't imagine losing a child. I will say, it was pretty common for parents to also jump on that track and follow their kids around. We would also see some shit heads jump on and roost the little kids. When my son first started, us parent would band together and make the big bikes get off. I was probably one of the biggest jerks about that, but it was very scary watching an 8 year that can barely ride get roosted by an adult trying to act like a bad ass because he couldn't ride a big boy track.

This isn't the first death there and a lot of kids had some names for this track. A buddy first laid the track up and when he did, he put a ton of mulch in the dirt to make it crazy rutty. However, once he was released from the contract, it is my opinion that they didn't know how to maintain it. That track is an ice skating rink after they water it. The main is pretty sick and those that like to jump, love it. The vet tracks are really well laid out and great for those middle of the road ridders.

My son litterally said, one more track closure and he wants to move to Texas. I think it will get to where it's just the Indian tracks only.

I remember in highschool the ruts were gnarly. That’s the main thing I remember about that track

 

[Badchoices03]

I believe that track sold to Amazon about a year ago or so...at least that was the story in the motocross scene.

The rule for lawyers is to sue everybody you can. They want to create financing strain on everyone and see who settles.

I remember hearing about that story when it happened....so sad! I couldn't imagine losing a child. I will say, it was pretty common for parents to also jump on that track and follow their kids around. We would also see some shit heads jump on and roost the little kids. When my son first started, us parent would band together and make the big bikes get off. I was probably one of the biggest jerks about that, but it was very scary watching an 8 year that can barely ride get roosted by an adult trying to act like a bad ass because he couldn't ride a big boy track.

This isn't the first death there and a lot of kids had some names for this track. A buddy first laid the track up and when he did, he put a ton of mulch in the dirt to make it crazy rutty. However, once he was released from the contract, it is my opinion that they didn't know how to maintain it. That track is an ice skating rink after they water it. The main is pretty sick and those that like to jump, love it. The vet tracks are really well laid out and great for those middle of the road ridders.

My son litterally said, one more track closure and he wants to move to Texas. I think it will get to where it's just the Indian tracks only.

The major of Lake Elsinore went on the FB and said this:

Very unfortunate chain of events... absolutely terrible news.
I have to make a few corrections to the comments on here that are incorrect, rumors, or flat out lies.
1. The City doesn't own the land that the motocross sits on.
2. The application for a warehouse on that site is dead.
3. When the recent owner approached the City about a development (the logistic space), in addition to expressing serious concerns about traffic mitigation, the City had made it clear that the motocross track was important to the community and that any development should include a plan to relocate the track.
4. This closure announcement was a surprise to the City. We didn't see it coming.
5. The City is not a party to the lawsuit.
6. The City is not a party to the motocross track's business operations outside of being a regulatory agency.
7. I personally have no personal business connection to the land owner or business operator. Never have. This can be tracked through 700 filings.
8. The motocross track operator leased their space from the land owner... the owner could've shut them down a long time ago. My understanding is that this is an unexpected loss of operating revenue for the land owner.
9. There's nothing approved to replace the motocross track any time soon. Any project would take at least two years to go through planning. Site might sit for a decade.
10. Motocross is part of the DNA of the City of Lake Elsinore. It's part of the reason we adopted the Dream Extreme motto. Not a good day.
This is a loss for the operator, land owner, City residents, and... most of all... the family for the little girl that lost her life. Just a tragedy all around. We'll discuss internally, but this is a private operation... I'm not sure what the city can do to help.

 

[BHC Vic]

When I was working at Competitive Edge in Hesperia, we gave colored wrist bands to every rider at the front gate and they could only ride their designated track at specific times. There was only one way in/out of each track, and a gate worker stood guard to make sure nobody snuck in and tried to ride with another group.

Some people hated it, but it kept the beginners from being road blocks/speed bumps to the intermediate/expert riders on the main and vet tracks. I tried to keep a close eye on the kids track, and kicked out quite a few douchebags that shouldn't have been on a bike in the first place. I remember Jeff (track manager) happily ejecting anyone that wanted to act like an idiot during practice or races.

I hated it but understood. Comp edge and 395 were my favorite tracks. The one in adelanto the Alesia’s were always at was cool too

 

[77charger]

Sucks with todays litigation. It’s sue everyone they can and wonder why places get shut down.

 

[Bajastu]

Bummer. I grew up riding that track since it opened. I remember when a man that sky was diving fell out of the sky and bounced on the vet track.

At the end of the day, if closing the track would bring back the little girl, I'm sure that all would be in favor of it. But due to the lawsuit, a small business is closing, loss revenue for the surrounding businesses, and a place of enjoyment for all who ride MX will be closing. It's unfortunate how lawsuits work and those whom it affects. In the end, they sue everyone that they can, and hope for at least one or multiple parties to pay or settle out of court. I truly feel for the family and the loss of their little girl.

I’d be interested if there was a criminal charge against the rider and how the outcome ended, and this is the civil court case.

 

[yz450mm]

I hated it but understood. Comp edge and 395 were my favorite tracks. The one in adelanto the Alesia’s were always at was cool too

Racetown was super fun, but it was a free for all so you had to watch your back. One minute you're working up the courage to do the back step up, then all the sudden a kid on an 85 flys by at full tilt and hucks it while looking back at you and laughing.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Wouldn't a track have some sort of indemnity clause that riding is at your own risk?

Ski mountains have all that language on the back of the lift ticket.

They can try to go after the track but if they protected themselves with whatever release the riders were agreeing to to be there, then maybe that will be a dry well.

 

[Bajastu]

Wouldn't a track have some sort of indemnity clause that riding is at your own risk?

Ski mountains have all that language on the back of the lift ticket.

They can try to go after the track but if they protected themselves with whatever release the riders were agreeing to to be there, then maybe that will be a dry well.

Yes, when you sign in at the gate, that is what the form says but a lawyer will still name all parties that have an interest in the track.

 

[BHC Vic]

Racetown was super fun, but it was a free for all so you had to watch your back. One minute you're working up the courage to do the back step up, then all the sudden a kid on an 85 flys by at full tilt and hucks it while looking back at you and laughing.

lol this comment hits home I have pictures and videos of me finally hitting that step up. My cousin broke his ribs trying that same day. When I first started dating my wife I took her out there. I was trying so hard to pass one of those damn kids. I washed out in a wide sweeper and when I got back to the truck my wife said did you really fall trying to pass that little kid I wasn’t trying to pass him he was just in my way

 

[Factory571]

It was fun day yesterday watching my kid ride..

 

[RVRKID]

Lost a good friend there. Minor crash into some soft stuff. Chest hit the bars breaking off a sliver of his breast bone that went right into his heart. Freak accident.

I was friends with Gary also, super sad!

 

[BTR]

Since some of you appear to be friends with Gary Zinda, this is what kind of guy he was. He always wore a powder blue tuxedo and Afro wig in Glamis. Helped some people with a broken boat once. He hops in with them as we tow drinking their beer. Next thing you know, the occupants are passed out drunk, Gary gets the boat fired up and is driving it. Left it tied to a dock with them still in it. During the MTV spring break deals, he dove head first into a pool during a bikini volleyball games that was going on not realizing it was waist deep. Comes up a bloody mess and they canceled the event much to the dismay of the crowd. He gets out of the pool, sees a lizard, picks it up and eats it. Yeah, dude knew how to party.

 

[Kylemenz1]

Supposedly the kid was already told to stay off the track before the incident but snuck back on. The core of the lawsuit should fall in the lap of the kid if that is true. Of course if there’s no money there the attorneys are going to involve whomever has the duckets.

3 different times he was told by parents NOT track workers to get off the track prior to turning a bowl turn berm into a jump into oncoming traffic.

 

[rivergames]

This is a sad deal all around. 1st for the little girl that lost her life. 2nd, to the closing of such an bitchen MX track that I've had so many great days of riding at. Screw that cocksucking kid that killed and destroyed so much in such little time