Forum: SCRAFAN.COM Forum (go)
Moderators: ljennings

I was just recalling to myself upon my time in California about how much I loved going to Costa Mesa to see the Speedway Bikes on Friday nights and then to Ascot on Saturday nights for the sprints. I have a couple of questions to my fellow board posters:

1) When did Costa Mesa switch to Saturday nights? I remember LOTS of sprint car fans going to see the bikes. Seems that by running on Saturday's, the sprint car fans can't add to the front gate. Wouldn't this limit attendence? But heck, I'm an Okie, what would I know...LOL

2) Anybody visiting this board hit the Speedway Bike tracks any? (I know Rob does, LOTS of white lines there )

3) Is there still the smell of something other than methanol in those grandstands??? If so, don't say it out loud...LOL

John I used to go to the Irwindale drag strip on Thurs nights they had a great speedway track way better than Coasta Mesa plus In n Out had the connsession stand it dosn't get any better than that

ROB

I went to Costa Mesa Speedway and City of Industry Expo Center several times last year when the sprints weren't running. Both venues have great shows. Expo runs on Wednesday night and Costa Mesa on Saturday. Except when the fair comes to Costa Mesa, then Expo runs on Saturday nights. So it is pretty much the same riders at both places. The California State Championship at the Expo was an awesome show, every race pro level, make it if you can. Costa Mesa had a freestyle motocross exhibition at one of their shows. Got to see a guy doing backflips on a 250cc. motocross bike. Impressive. On Harley night they ran several full size street Harley races. Insane. In the open stands on the backstretch at Costa Mesa I do recall the occasional sweet pungent odor drifting by.

Mike Brown

Costa Mesa and Speedway Bikes . . .what a gig . . .Larry Huffman, Danny "Bezerko" Becker, The Fox, and the Bass Brothers . . .fond memories . . .sweet pungent smells in the pits too

Orange Show Fairgrounds Wednesday nights......

Bruce Flanders handling the PA....Helloooo Betty!!!! More Red Snapper......grunion runs at Mentone Beach......oh yeah, that sweet aroma, going to work with a hangover every Thursday, recovering just in time to go do it all again on Friday at Costa Mesa, then finish off the week at Ascot on Saturdays..

Man, those were the days.

xtremespeedwayaction.com

Something like that has a live feed from industry speedway on wednesdays.

Ive been to industry several times the last couple of years. great venue good show.

Speedway was HUGE back in the 80's out here..........Wasn't it Victorville on Sun., Mon. off, Tues. Ventura, Wed. San Berdoo, Thurs. Ascot, Fri. Costa Mesa ? ? I watched my favorite rider Sam (Guy) Ermolenko rise from 3rd div. to World Champ! ! I still can't believe all the "bad luck" Faria had at Long Beach on the big track every year when it came to the American qualifier. That's also where Kelly and Shaun Moran were the best to see.

My normal weekly schedule was:

Thurs: South Bay Speedway (Ascot)

Fri: Costa Mesa Speedway

Sat: Ascot: Sprints

Sun: Ascot: Midgets, late models, figure 8's or whatever was on the Sunday card)

Then for awhile there was the Thursday Night Thunder series for midgets at Ventura and Ascot. Gosh, it just didnt get any better than that! Had a friend that went each of those nights as well. His wife just hated me for coming by to get him. Because of our racing habit, the woman never liked me. He eventually traded her in for a more race friendlier chick. Good move on his part

When David Vodden opened Ascot North- I mean Baylands Raceway Park, Motocross Wed, Speedway Bikes Friday (Faria was unstoppable) 410 Sprints Saturday, Foreign Stocks Stock Cars and 360 Sprints Sun.This Summer will post Speedway Bikes on the website.

Bruce