Pretty cool stuff. Too bad the entire area is an industrial park now. View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdTviR5TAHo
except for a small little green section at the bottom of the valley. a while back a secret invasion of mini racers conducted an operation to commemorate the late Marty Moates' Carlsbad win. It was epic under the radar early morn MX on minis with some fast old guys. I was a spectator it was a super hip thing.
Yes. I grew up down there. Spent many years watching the USGP. Had a favorite spot, was there every year. Saw Danny Magoo win with his goggles down. A happy sad memory, for sure.
I stated racing at Carlsbad in july of 1974 on a Suzuki TE 250 Race there a lot all the way up to the end funny thing for years and years they would have a GP called the last GP at Carlsbad That was one of the best courses
If you head up to the Ranch at Anza, You can ride the Carlsbad replica track and still get the flavor of the original (of course it cant be exact), the elevation changes, drop off, the length and the corners are very close to the original. Ive had my best fun times on the Ranch new version on the RM125, as for the original Carlsbad, by some crazy Husky coincidence I think my fave day was on motoPats vintage 1983 Husky 390 right near the final days before closing of Carlsbad MX thurs practice days, I also rode that track on my 510TX Husky as well as on my KTM300 and 250, but on that one day with Pats 390 it was super cool passing modern bikes. I never raced just the MX track it was always part of a GP race (SRA GP) course. The Thurs (or Wed I forget) practice days were the times we did the MX course in its original form. The place was epic and one of our US classic race tracks. We also did drag races with my friends 427 camaro there and used the drag strip as part of the SRA GP events. http://www.carlsbadraceway.org/
Grew up watching my Cousins on their Silverthorn Suzuki RM's at Carlsbad. Never got to ride the real deal, but have ridden the replica at the Ranch and make it point to hit it at least once when there. The first couple of laps are fun.
I had the pleasure of racing the 4-stroke nationals at Carlsbad in 1976 put on by the Knobby Shop International, what a rush. i was so overwhelmed by the Pro talent i almost forgot to line up for my class. For those who didn't get a chance the Carlsbad speedway as it was called would test your grit, wow almost straight down with a tight turn at the bottom after 100yds. of WFO [ not me but some]. Martin Horn brought CCM's for his buddy's with Mike Bell on a Honda,Yamaha's and BSA's Cheney's too. A few Rickmans, the sidecar class was insane with one of our friends racing an old time BMW 50's version sidecar. Angus was about 65 then, try that for an afternoon. Gunner Lindstrom or Mike Bell won the Pro's i don't remember which but it was my first time to see what motocross done well looks like. Marty Tripes was very impressive as he led the second Pro Moto on a CCM 250 against the big hitters. Great day i'll never forget i think i finished 13th in class although my wife says 9th, i didn't care i was happy just to ride around. Rolf Tibblin lapped me is what i heard from the guy next us in the pits and he was thrilled to be racing with a World Champ. I have been to Glen Helen not the other So-Cal tracks that look flat with triples and doubles and all that crap but you have to have viewed Europe's and America's finest at this natural track to see they were artists.
