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/127842
FEATURE By Mike Law Photos by Bubba-Do-Rush and the Bostrom and Wait families 24 ontrary to popular belief, the city of Lodi isn't famous just for the Creedence Clearwater Revival rockand-roll song with the classic line, "Stuck in Lodi again." Ask some longtime residents and you may be surprised to learn that the sleepy Northern California town has another claim to fame: the Lodi Cycle Bowl. Incredibly enough, this race track has been operating continuously as a dirt track motorcycle racing facility since 1953. That's 44 years. If that isn't impressive enough, then also consider that the Lodi Motorcycle Gub, which owns and operates the facility, is celebrating its 60th year as a chartered AMA motorcycle club. In a day and age when dirt tracks seem to be vanishing like drive-in theaters, the Lodi Cycle Bowl has somehow continued to thrive, offering some of the best dirt track racing on the West Coast. Beginning in the first part of April each year, the track hosts a program of 30 race dates with both short track and TT events. When U.S. Highway 99 was built in 1947, the building department chose an area several miles east of Lodi to excavate for fill dirt. When this excavation had been completed, all that was left was a shell-shaped indentation in the ground. In 1952, that land was purchased by the Lodi Motorcycle Gub. In exchange for a whopping $2500, the club became the proud owners of what was known as a "burrow pit" and the property around it. The parcel came to a total of 12.5 acres. Over the years, lights and other comforts were added, and the track grew from a Famous LOO; Cycle Bowl (Above) An unlikely l11onument: Located just off U.S. Highway 99, the Ladl Cycle Bowl has been a training ground for motorcycle champions for more than 40 years. The 12.5-acre facility opened In 1953. (Right and below) Jim Rice was one of the men to beat at Lodi in the mld-'60s. Rice went on to earn a BSA factory ride and contend for the Grand National Championship. Rice is seen here In action at the Ascot TT, a track where his Lodl experience came into play. l/lG-mile dirt oval to a full-sized quartermile and TT track. The original lights (which have long since been replaced) were once mounted on· windmill towers. But it is not so much just the race track itself that has brought the Lodi Cycle Bowl fame, but rather the generations of dirt track talent that it has produced. Over the past five decades, the Lodi Cycle Bowl has been the training ground of several AMA Grand National dirt track, AMA National and World Championship number-one plate holders. Probably most famous was a youngster from Modesto, California, who began racing and winning races at the Lodi Cycle Bowl on a regular basis. His name is Kenny Roberts, and his history is well-chronicled. Roberts took home the AMA Grand National Championship in 1973 and again in 1974 before moving on to three consecu tive 500cc World Championship road racing crowns in 1978-80. Chris Carr, the 1992 AMA Grand National Champion and a current member of the Harley-Davidson factory road race team, considers Lodi his "home track" and has been racing there for 24 years. Doug Chandler, a two-time AMA Superbike Champion and former 500cc GP rider for the now-defunct Team Cagiva, was one of Carr's main rivals at Lodi for years. Along with Roberts, Chandler has the distinction of being one of only four racers ever to complete a Grand Slam in the AMA Grand National Championship Series - earning at least one vietory in road racing. IT, short track, mile and half mile events. In addition to these champions, the track has served as a training ground for many other Grand National winners and contenders. Jim Rice raced at Lodi on a regular basis before earning a factory ride with BSA and winning 12 Grand National events during his career. Doug Chandler and Alex Jorgenson also turned many a lap at Lodi. Ironically, both of these racers joined the elite club of winning a national event on all four types of dirt tracks. Current national number 91 Andy Tresser, winner of last year's Peoria IT, is also a semiregular there. The Cycle Bowl has also produced some famous brother acts, as well as father-and-son racers. Two generations of Bostroms have cut their teeth on Lodi dirt: specifically, Dave Bostrom in the late '60s and, more recently, sons Ben and Eric. All three carried national numbers. Chris Cads dad Gerry also campaigned the oval. Local hotshoe Toby Jorgensen not only follows in the footsteps of his· uncle Alex, but also of his equally fast father, Kim Jorgensen. Current national numbers and road racers Matt and Nate Wait are Cycle Bowl regulars dating back to the early '80s. Kurtis and Kenny Roberts Jr., sons of King Kenny, have also honed their skills on the Lodi track. Road racers Rich Oliver, Wayne Rainey, and Norifumi Abe have occasionally practiced at Lodi. Many of these riders, regardless of generation, seem to have a common recollection of the facility; that it is an excellent place to learn. The lessons learned, however, are as diverse as the generations they span. Anyone who had watched "On Any Sunday" could appreciate Jim Rice's abili-