Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

co Now, Somewhere In The Back Hills Of ·Pomona. •• - i ... ... '" ~ Z W ...J (,) > U By John Bethea "We're just baby sitters," Paul said suddenly. What better way to put it. "Mothers drive up to the gates, pay the fees and drop off six kids with six mini bikes and leave them with us for four hours. We're just baby sitters." It may seem a sad outlook for an owner-operator duo to describe their motorcycle park, but that's the way they see it - and they wouldn't have it any other way. Paul is Paul Marshall, gas station owner and the workhorse in the venture. His partner is the man with the money and growing enthusiasm, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Claude Osteen. "Our major concern," says Osteen in his boyish Tennessee accent, "is giving Osteen's Bike Park is ideal for the pleasure riders and family groups. A variety of terrain gives both flat areas as well as difficult hillclimbs, not to mention an unobstructed view of the motocross course to be used during the.upcoming Steen's CMC series. the young kids a place to rid.e. "We had read about kids having trouble fmding places to ride their mini bikes and we c.ould certainly hear them in our alleys so Paul and I kicked the idea around and fInally started looking for an area. n About a year ago, Osteen and Marshall found such a place in the Pomona area. "It was orginally a tract of land about 165 acres," Marshall says. "The city (Pomona) did everything it could to help us get the park ok'd by the San Bernardino County Board but it was rejected in the end. Even the mayor came to the hearings." Unlike most cities in Southern California, Pomona's government officials and residents realized the need for a park and were willing to do something about it. "I orginally had no idea o~ the problems the surrounding cities were having. They need a park," Osteen explains. So the pair continued to work. Drawing a sketchy map, Marshall points out the problems they faced. "That first area, the 165-acre one, was situated on the L~s Angeles-San Bernardino County Line...and San Bernardino turned us down. for maIl.Y different reasons." Some of these reasons were persona! in nature, others political, but all based upon mis-information. "When Paul told me of the arguments against the park," Osteen adds, "it really surprised me. I didn't know what I was getting into." After the rejection, Osteen and Marshall leased another tract of land from the same owner. This time one covered 200 acres en tirely in LA County and within the city limits of Pomona. With the help of that city's parks and recreation department, Claude Osteen Motor Bike Park soon opened. "This site is 100% better than the first," Osteen states. "It's away from everything but easy to get to." The closest house is about a mile away. In four months of operation, the park has nO'er had to call an ambulance, although the normal scrapes and bruises have occurred with a few broken bones. There's a concession stand and a place to rent helmets and buy spaFk plugs. A hospital is only a short distance away. "It started off slow but has picked up greatly to where now on weekends we get from 300 to 350 riders out here," they proudly point out. Recently, the CMC sponsored a motocross race at the park, the park's frrst race. "The things I envisioned would happen when we got our feet on the ground are beginning to, now," Osteen adds. "We've had no trouble with the local residents or officials. In the San Bernar'dino hearings they said our fences would be cut, fires would occur, as well as a host of other problems," Marshall explains. "They haven't happened yet; and we don't think they will." Not surprising to Southern California's motorcycle riders, but surprizing to Osteen and Marshall is the fact that most of the riders showing up on weekends don't come from the local area. "They' did at fIrst," says Marshall, "but after word began spreading we found people from San Diego; Riverside, San Bernardino as well as the LA area." One major reason for this is that the park is ideally located for most major cities. It is just off the San Bernardino Freeway, midway between San Bernardino and downtown LA. Just take Highway 71 to Dudley St. and follow the signs. Beginning this month, the CMC will start a series of three races at the Park sponsored jointly by Steen's. N ow that the park is moving into the racing scene, will the original plan to make it a recreational facility be set aside? "I don't know," Ostec:n admit:s, "we'd like to have It remaln predominately for the young kids but, w~ll, we really don't know. Starting this track is just like learning to ride a motorcycle. I can remember the first tiri:le I went out there and rode around; it was fun and you start off slow then begin to g~t daring... then you fall. Our future remains to be seen." Osteen's off-season chores include more than the park; he has several other business operations so he doesn't really have the time to devote to the park. This he leaves to Marshall. "Besides," he adds, "I've got my family to be with and I don't see much of them during the summer while on the road." "Getting back to the kids," Marshall interjected, "we've been planning with the local officials and will attempt to set up a riding school for beginning riders. You know, mechanics, riding skills and hints. This is all in the works, but it's something to look for." Later, after Paul was forced to leave because of another appointment, I asked Claude to elaborate more on the riding school but he responded, "Like I say, Paul's in charge of that. In fact, that was the fIrst time I've heard about it, but I think it's a good idea." Married and a father of four, Osteen is experiencing the frustration many parents of young sons have also felt. "My 'kids are beginning to want mini bikes but where can they ride?" he asked himself once. His answer was constructive and it has turned him and his partner into "baby sitters," ... on a massive scale, of course. Yleight Lifting? GET It UP WITH A'FLOATER' SUPER UGHT 21 IN FRONT WHEEL 125 Senior Class CMC Motocross Series 1st Harry Everts - Puch 3rd Chris Gouverneur - Puch 125 Amateur Class Carnegie Motocross 1st. Dan Nack - Puch 125 Expert Class 1st. Jack Jensen - Puch Coming on strong Puch Dist. Co. 9825 Mason Chatsworth, Ca. 91311 (213) 882-8860 S~I RIm $5995 AUoy RIm $6995 FREIGHT PLUS For all Bultaco 5 speeds and can easily be modified to fit other brands. We have combined stainless steel spOkes and double'sealed bearings to giw you a light weight rugged wheel. 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