Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

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. ~ c.:I ~ C

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