PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY COMBINING SPRINT CARS AND SPEEDWAY MOTORCYCLES!
(Perris, CA, April 1, 2016) Perris Auto Speedway has announced that the popular Riverside County half-mile clay oval will be combining two of Southern California’s longest and most popular motorsports events. Speedway motorcycles will be joining the sprint car show beginning in May.
Sprint cars have been a regular fare on the So Cal racing calendar since the days of the AAA Big Cars in the 1930’s. The same can be said of speedway motorcycles as they have raced throughout the southland and sent many early riders across the Atlantic to race in leagues in England. Over the decades both have raced in front of huge crowds and Southern California has been a hot bed for both sports leading Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian to put them on the same card.
“It is really a no brainer if you want to pack the stands,” the longtime race organizer. “Both have long rich histories and have been crowd favorites for years. Getting them to compete against each other is sure to draw massive crowds to come check out the action. I cannot think of anywhere else where motorcycles and cars have actually competed against each other in the same race. I cannot wait to see the first main event with 22 sprint cars competing against eight speedway motorcycles over 30 laps. It is going to be insane.”
Getting the two to compete against one another has taken some careful thought. As similar as the two sports are, they have some major differences including such simplicities like starting procedures and track surfaces.
Sprint cars have a rolling start and are usually moving at 70-miles-per-hour minimum when they come off turn four to take the green flag and a green light to start a race. Speedway motorcycles have a stationary start and do not move until a set of tapes flies up with a green flag coming on simultaneously. The track surface for sprint cars is a heavy clay track while speedway bikes race on a hard pack surface covered with decomposed granite.
“Look, they both start when a green light comes on,” Kazarian said. “We have green lights and we will use a green flag for the sprint car guys and tapes for the speedway guys. We will use them all so nobody can complain that one or the other has an advantage. Some people have asked me if I am worried about the starts. Heck no! For years I have heard that from a standing start, a speedway motorcycle can go from 0-60 in three seconds. Guess we are going to find out how true that is! I figure with a 900-horsepower sprint car baring down on them from behind, the speedway guys will probably cut that down to about 2 ¼” seconds and be going about 80-MPH. If they can’t, it is going to be interesting watching the sprint cars weave their way in and around the motorcycle riders heading into that first corner.”
In addition to the starts, Kazarian is addressing the different track surfaces. The half of the track from the start/finish line to the middle of the back straight will be hard pack with D.G. for the speedway guys. From the middle of the back straight back to the finish line will be a traditional sprint car clay track. That should ensure that neither has a distinct advantage.
One person excited about this new, revolutionary concept is 2007 USAC/CRA Champion Tony Jones of Orange. The veteran racer has been looking to get back into sprint car racing and this is the ideal opportunity.
“I have been wanting to back into sprint car racing and this is just perfect,” Jones beamed. “I have always been a bit bigger than most sprint car drivers and was always a bit cramped in the cockpit. So, this sprint cars vs speedway deal is perfect for me and I can finally get back into sprint car racing on a speedway bike. I am taking delivery on a new bike next week. I fit on them really good. I was hoping to be able to wear one of my old firesuits, but they told me I would have to wear leathers or Kevlar’s on the motorcycle. I went to one of the guys who makes leathers last week and he said something about taking two cows to do it. Not sure what he meant by that.”
When asked if he had ever ridden a speedway motorcycle before, Jones responded, “No, but I used to ride a bicycle.”
Another person who is excited by the idea is Kelly Inman. A former speedway and sprint car racer, he is now the promoter of Industry Speedway.
“That is genius,” Inman responded when told of Kazarian’s idea. “I wish I would have thought of that myself. You know, sprint cars may be too big for our track, but I think we will give it a try with midgets or a handful of stock cars. I don’t think it will bother the riders too much. Just like the fans at The PAS, our fans will love it.”
As he wrapped up talking about his new, exciting idea that is going to revolutionize racing, Kazarian said with a wink and a smile, “Tell everyone to have a Happy April Fool’s Day.”
The complete 2016 Perris Auto Speedway schedule is at the end of this release.
Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank its corporate sponsors. All Coast Construction, All Seasons Tree Repair, Amsoil, Archibald’s Restaurants, Ayers Hotel and Spa, BlueLine Rentals, Budweiser, Champion Towing, City of Perris, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Edelbrock, Engine Pro, Green Sheet, Harry’s Café, HD Industries, Hoosier Tires, Horizon Solar, Imola Restaurant & Bar, K&N Engineering, Luke’s Transmission, 1ne 6ixty 6ix Bar and Grill, Paul Oil Company, Pepsi-Cola, Pick-A-Part Auto Salvage, Pizza Factory, Pole Position, Scott Sales, Square H, Swedish Speed, Original Tommy’s Burgers, Trench Shoring, US Foods and Valley News.
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Video and DVD productions of all racing events at Perris Auto Speedway are available from Loudpedal Productions. For more information on these productions you can contact them by calling (805) 844-3854, E-mailing mailto:[email protected] or you can visit the web site LoudPedal Productions
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of October’s Southern California Fair), approximately one-hour east of Los Angeles and one-hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway and go three miles east to the fairgrounds.
[email protected] is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment.
April 2nd NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION I - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing and Spectator Racing "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society
April 9th PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds
April 16th "SO CAL SHOWDOWN” WORLD OF OUTLAWS, USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society
April 30th NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION I I - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing and Spectator Racing
May 14th PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds, CDCRA Dwarf Cars
May 21st NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION III - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing and Spectator Racing
May 28th "SALUTE TO INDY " USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints & PAS Young Guns, California Lightning Sprint Cars "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society
June 4th PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds
June 11th USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns
June 25th NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION NOD IV - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing and Spectator Racing
July 2nd "BUDWEISER FIRECRACKER 30 & SKY CONCERT" USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints & PAS Young Guns, California Lightning Sprint Cars “Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society.
July 16th PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds
July 23rd NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION NOD V - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing and Spectator Racing
July 30th USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints, PAS Young Guns
August 20th PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds, CDCRA Dwarf Cars
August 27th "CALIFORNIA RACERS HALL OF FAME NIGHT" USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns
September 3rd NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION NOD VI - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing and Spectator Racing
September 10th PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds, CDCRA Dwarf Cars
September 24th "GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC" USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns
October 1st - 9th Southern California Fair
October 15th USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns
October 29th PASSCAR "Champions Night” - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds, CDCRA Dwarf Cars
November 9th Oval Nationals Practice
November 10th Budweiser Oval Nationals "Presented by All Coast Construction"
November 11th Budweiser Oval Nationals "Presented by All Coast Construction"
November 12th Budweiser Oval Nationals “Presented by All Coast Construction"
NOTE; THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
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