“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN RACE REPORT:” IT HAS RAINED SO MUCH THAT NOW THE RACERS JUST SHOW UP

Sean Lipanovich borrowed a KTM 300SX  from Will Harper and brought it to “Saturday at the Glen” to get in a warm-up race in before the World Two-Stroke race this coming Saturday.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI

Josh Mosiman borrowed a KTM 150SX from Pasha Afshar to get used to it before racing it at the World Two-Stroke Championship this coming Saturday. Unfortunately, the World Two-stroke Championship has been rescheduled to April 20 because of even more rain on the calendar. 

When the racers woke up on Saturday morning that were greeted by intermitant rain. You can’t blame anyone for deciding to stay home in their warm beds, but this was a big weekend at Glen Helen, which meant that Glen Helen’s John Allen would have to work magic with his Cat to make the tracks perfect for the two-day OTHG International motocross, “Saturday at the Glen” motocross, the GBC off-road kart/quad/mc race( on the truck track) and the American Retrocross vintage race that was scheduled for Sunday. Luckily, for John and his Cat, the GBC race was canceled and Sunday’s ARX Vintage race was canceled (even though the rain stopped and the sun was out on Sunday).

Christian Clark won the 450 Intermediate class.

The rain wasn’t strong enough to make the Arroyo or National tracks into mud bogs, but when it fell it made the riders wet, cold and messed up their goggles. The rain would come and go. It would be raining as you went to he starting line for your moto and then it would stop once the gate dropped…and vice versa. The riders resorted to wearing a couple layers of shirts, under protectors and many wore out their over-the-jersey  plastic roost guards to break the wind.

The result was that some classes had perfect conditions and others struggled with an irritating drizzle. But, the worst it ever got, still didn’t amount to even one of the torrential downpours that SoCal suffered through in January, February and early March, when it rained over 20 inches, always arriving on race weekends. Historically, Glen Helen doesn’t get very much yearly rain, somewhere between 5 to 15 inches depending on the year. This year it got 25 inches in two months.

Josh Fout (946) went 2-DNF in the Over-30 Pro class on MXA’s 2024 Kawasaki KX450X.

But the hardcore guys, mostly in the Vet and older classes never give up hope. When the weather forecaster would predict rain over the weekend, the riders would say, “The weathermen are never right. I’m pretty sure that we can get the race done before it arrives off the Pacific Ocean.” So when the weathermen said that it would rain on this Saturday, the hearty souls did their own weather predicting—mostly it consisted of this opinion. “The rain always come later than they predict. We can probably get all of the motos in before the rain shows up at 2:00 p.m.” And Saturday at the Glen did get all of its motos in before 2:00 p.m.—but in rained during most of them. And then at 2:00 p.m. the rain stopped as the riders loaded up and drove out of the pits. And, on Sunday, when Channel 5 predicted heavy rains all day, it was bright and sunny and it didn’t rain until 5:00 p.m.

Dennis Stapleton (184) raced four motos between the Over-40 Experts and Open Experts. He wants to race a couple of AMA Nationals this summer and needed to start putting in laps. This photo is a classic example of why you should never dress in all-black. The black gear muddies up the definition in the photo. Dennis did, at least, wear white boots.

It may sound strange, but in spite of the rain, the Arroyo track was in close to perfect condition. The rain never puddled anywhere on the racetrack and the constant flow of bikes kept the track in raceable condition—despite the constant drizzle. It didn’t hurt that the previous two months of rain had turned a large portion of the Arroyo track into a sand track.

Ralf Schmidt (73) was the American TM Importer before he had a falling out with TM’s management and went home to Holland.  During the argument, TM told him that they didn’t need him to be the American TM importer because they had lots of people who wanted to do it . Guess what? Two years later, they still don’t have a TM importer, nor do they have any official TM dealerships. Here, a visiting Ralf races through the trees with Allan Jullien (70) in pursuit.

Ace photographer Debbi Tamietti never flinches.  Here, she held her ground as a 229-pound 300SX zeroed in on her.

Ron Shuler (33) had switched to a Yamaha YZ450F last year, but luckily, he held on to his mint KTM 450SXF because his YZ450’s connecting rod broke and took out the piston, head, valves and cylinder. The parts bill came out to $3800. Ron went back to his KTM 450SXF and finished third in the Over-50 Expert class.

Mike Monaghan is a diehard two-stroke racer—even though the classes he races in are mostly filled with guys on 450s. The former Pro Circuit Husqvarna rider took his Tony DiStefano-sponsored Yamaha YZ144 to a 4-5 finish in the Over-65 Experts.

Ron Lawson (20) took Dirt Bike’s Beta 450RX to a 5-4 score in the Over-65 Experts to tie with Mike Monagahan’s 4-5. Lawson’s better second moto gave him fourth overall. 

6D Helmet’s Robert Reisinger (96) went 2-2 behind Pete Murray in the Over-60 Expert class.

Pete Murray (36) is nursing a sore shoulder, but raced and won both the Over-60 and Over-50 Expert classes.

John Caper (44) had a solid 3-2 day in the Over-65 Novice class on his Honda CRF450.

Val Tamietti (31) swept both motos of the Over-60 Expert class in front of Dave Eropkin and New Zealander Tony Cooksey and then went 3-3 in the Over-60 Experts behind Murray and Reisinger.

Former New Zealand National Champion and MXDN team member Tony Cooksey (6) flew in to spend a month racing in SoCal. Tony went 2-3 for third in the Over-65 Expert class behind Val Tamietti and Dave Eropkin. 

With all of his tear-offs gone, MXA’s Jody Weisel (192) carries on though the drizzle. The rain came and went all day long, but at least it kept the white plastic on Jody’s Husqvarna FC350 clean. To stay warm he is wearing a T-shirt, underprotector, jersey and plastic roost guard. Yes, he did have a rain coat in his truck, but didn’t want to wear it…rain or not.

Randy Skinner (88) normally wins the Over-65 Intermediate class, but in the rain he chose instead to torment his buddies by waiting for them and then taking off. His shenanigans left him in fourth place, but he was happy. His friends weren’t.

Former REM race promoter Frank Thomason, who retired after 35 years of running races, decided that the time had come to rejoin the ranks of those who race instead of those who hold races. He liked the view from this side of the fences and says he will start racing more often.

John Perry (192) drove down from Durango, Colorado, for Randel Fout’s Memorial last Saturday and stayed over for a week to race at “Saturday at the Glen.” Jody lent him his 2024 Husqvarna FC350. 

Thibault Mitchell (left) fell at the very top of Mt. Whitney and was stranded. Josh Mosiman (right) climbed the hill on foot to helped the seven-year-old get his bike down. It was a good thing he didn’t try to ride down by himself since his brakes didn’t work. Even more mysterious, the 7- to 8-year-old Pee-Wee’s do not do the big hills at Glen Helen, but somehow Thibault ended up at the top on his electric Husqvarna Pee-Wee.

Kevin Weston (22) won the 125 Intermediate  class with a 2-1 over Patrick Miranda’s 1-2. Tyler Nichols was third with a 3-3.

Damian Collier (X910) squints as he flies over the finish line jump. He is squinting because his goggles are wrapped around his arm. Damian won the 250 Intermediate class and finished second in the Open Intermediate class. 

Mike Gilmore (17) went 3-2 in the 250 Beginner class.

Jet Bushnell (31) won the 125 Novice class on his Husqvarna TC125, while his mom, Alison, won the Women’s class..

Bode Bushnell (699) swept both moto of the 85cc class, while his dad, Shawn won the Over-40 Expert class. That added up to four wins between Jet, Bode, Alison and Shawn.

Braeker Baggett (4) is the son of Blake Baggett. Blake was the 2012 AMA 250 National Champion and two-time member of Team USA at the MXDN. Braecker went 4-6 for 6th in the Pee-Wee First Timer’s class.

2024 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” SCHEDULE

If you are looking for a racing oganization that offers long motos, low cost and very consistent race schedule—this is it. “Saturday at the Glen” motocross will race again on April 13, April 20, May 4 and May 18. 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 next race (or just show up in person on race day). For more info go to www.glenhelen.com

2024 SATURDAY AT THE GLEN MOTOCROSS (UPDATED)
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
Apr. 20…Arroyo track
May 4…National track
May 18…National track
June 1…Arroyo track
June 15…Arroyo track
Jul. 6…National track
Jul. 20…National track
Aug. 3…Arroyo track
Aug. 24…National track
Sept.14…Arroyo track
Oct. 5…National track
Oct. 19…Arroyo track
Oct. 26…Arroyo track
Nov. 16…National track
Nov. 23…National track
Dec. 7…Arroyo track
Dec. 21…National track

2024 WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP RESCHEDULED TO APRIL 10-20

Because of the threat of excessive rain impacting Glen Helen Raceway this coming weekend, the World Two-Stroke has been moved to April 19-20. For more info go to www.glenhelen.com