Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125680
Cycle Parks Blossoming In Soulb·ern California
By John Bethea
-Nobody's closing any land, but for
some strange reason the riding areas
keep getting smaller and smaller.'"
--Tom Cosgrove.
In an attempt to keep areas oPen for
the weekend-cyclists, three new motorcycle parks are In the process of oPenIng up for the publlc this month - and
each aPpear to have bright futures.
The three areas - Sea Breeze Motorcycle Park (San Clemente), BobBaUey's
Cycle Land (Carson), and Indian Hills
(Ventura Co.)- are forerunners ofanew
trend to cater to the non-racIngfamil1es
and street-b1ke r1ders.
Sea Breeze, located on the north end
of San Clemente juSt off the San Diego
Freeway and the slte of the Dirt Diggers
All S~tes Scrambles two weeks ago, 1s
a hllly 300 acre park with a mile-and-aquarter dirt track.
The acceptance of the park by the local
res1dents 1s great, says Lee Williams,
the park director. But, since there are a
few homes near the track, the city off1cials have allowed the park to open last
Wednesday on a 90-day trial basts with
a grand opening July 4. Fees of 50~ per
person, $1 per min1b1ke and $2 per b1ke
are charged.
If it 1s found after that time that the
dust (wh1ch blows Inland with an offshore breeze) and no1se may be hInderance, another area will be selected.
Thls area, according to W1ll1ams, will
be on the eastern slde of the freeway and
will cover 700 acres, wh1ch would more
than double the park's present size.
Th1s ts something unique In the state,
that 1s, testing one slte and having another to fall back upon If it 1sn't acceptable.
Indian HIDs does not have a slmllar
back-up area, but park director Walt
James, CRA Pres1dent, apparently won't
need one for his 300 acre park. Located
two miles from Interstate 5 on Highway
126 coming out of Ventura, Indian Hills,
open daily from 9 a.m. t1ll after dark,
ts more than a mile from the nearest
res1dent.
There 1s no designated track for racIng, and park officials want to keep it
that way. However, there will be two
small tracks for min1bikes to keep the
children in one ar.ea for greater safety.
Currently, the gates are open with no
charge so that local r1ders can get acquainted with the park, but by the m1ddle
of the month fees will be charged for
maintenance, etc., of the park.
Indian Hllls 1s almost str1ctly for
groups which the pr1ces reflect. Groups
malntaIned with the aid of underground
sprinklers, 1s completely separated from
spectator areas by sturdy snow fencing
and steel posts, givIng the entire complex the look of a European Grand Prix
MX course.
BaUey, professional racer, says a
bike rental shop and service center will
be installed in the near future along with
a r1ders clubhouse. The complex will be
of 10 or more will as asked to pay $2 per
b1ke and r1der and $3.50 per four-wheel
vehicle and dr1ver. Additional adults pay
$1, and children (under 14) 50~. Indlv1duals In groups less than 10 will pay $2
per mlnlblke, $3 per b1ke, and $5 per
four-wheel vehicle. Good parking fac1l1ties are available.
Like with Sea. Breeze, the park lms
no trouble with local off1cials, which
open seven days a week from 10 a.m.
to 10 p.m. and plans are to promote at
least two races a week.
Courses and schools for novice r1ders
are also planned along with renovation
of a mlnlature golf course to keep wives
and children from becoming bored by too
much motorcyc11ng.
Entrance fees, although not off1clally
set, wUl be within the $1-$2 area.
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