Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

FEATURE (Above) Not quite ready 10r prime time, yet: Ben Bostrom (51G) dices with Johnny Murphree (35K) and Jake Zemke (1). Bostrom and Zemke have since gone professional road racing, while Murphree Is now a Grand National Championship hopeful. "The Jorgensen brothers," Carr said. "Alex for his style, and Kim for his speed." And Carr raised another point that seems pretty consistent within the history of the track. "I always liked the family atmosphere and tradition at the track," Carr said. "My dad raced here. My son Cale is 3 1/2 months old, but I would never push him into the sport which has been such a big part of my life. But if he wants to race, he's got my support, and he will probably start at Lodi." It seems as though rivalry between siblings and / or racing families has been a haIIrnark at the Lodi Cycle Bowl since the early days,. and it has continued in recent years as well. A good example of the young-hotshoe-turned-pro-road-racer is Matt Wait. This veteran threw his leg over his first motorcycle at age 3, on a SOcc pee wee, then began racing at Lodi one year later. He also won this race. "I was black-plate number one, two }'l!ars in a row," Wait recalled. "The first year we sewed it up will always be a high point of my career." Wait went through the ranks in the BOcc class from Novice to Expert with the help of some serious competition, and he is quick to name off his own nemeses. "Ben Bostrom, the McDowell brothers, and I had some serious dogfights on the track," Wait said. "We were competitors on the track, and buddies off the track. In the summer we would go swimming on Sunday, then hang out at each other's houses. /I While at Lodi, Wait became somewhat of a role model, helping and often giving racing advice to the younger riders, like his brother and now fellow professional dirt tracker and road racer Nathan "Gator" Wait. "1 wanted to teach my younger brother everything I knew about racing." Wait said. "As I was finishing my last season in the BOcc class, Gator was just beginning. He was really tough. I guess that meant I was a good teacher." Ben Bostrom is another fine example of local dirt tracker-turned-pro. "r was 12 years old when I had my first race at Lodi," Bostrom said. "It was horrible! I was in the 80cc Novice class, and I got dead last. [ got real disappointed and went trail riding instead. I kind of liked that and decided to try motocross. The next year, the Cycle Bowl built a cushion track on the infield. I liked this track, and went from Novice to Expert." As Bostrom and Wait served their apprenticeship at Lodi, a rivalry grew that, at least in intensity, was not at all (Above) Lodi has helped to train future stars from the United States and abroad. Here, a relatively unknown Japanese road racer named Norifumi Abe (17) does his best to keep ahead of local rider Dave Bostrom (7Z) and his kid Ben (14B). (Left) Matt Wait went at it on a weekly basis with Ben Bostrom In the late '80s and early '90s at L!>di. Their rivalry was one 01 the most Intense in the track's history. Like Bostrom, Walt Is now seeking his fortune on the AMA National road race circuit. America. Most agree, however, that a grassroots program is a very important aspect of its regeneration. If a retrospective racing philosophy is the key to a race track's survival, then the Lodi Cycle Bowl should produce two things - more great d.irt track racers, and another 44 years of great racing. (l'I unlike that of Kenny Roberts and Gary Scott in the early '70s. "We raced the whole season and didn't miss any races," Bostrom said of his clashes with Wait. "Every race was wheel to wheel, elbow to elbow, and handlebar to handlebar. Late in the season I got a 250, crashed and broke my leg. 1 gave away the title; Matt won it." The rivalry continued to rage. "Matt usually got the next bigger bike first," Bostrom said. "He got a 250, and then I got one. We raced in the same classes, and we had lots of battles on the track. Matt and I were in our midteens when we got our 600cc bikes, and had our share of tight races. Looking back, it was a learning year. I think we were both fair starters, and the holeshot was everything on that track. Racing on the short track here trained me for the fast groove tracks on the Pro circuit. Loill's IT got me prepared for tracks like Peoria and Castle Rock." As their heroes and predecessors before them, Wait and Bostrom will always be a part of the rich history of the Lodi Cycle Bowl. The race track has made many a racer, but clearly each one has added to the Loill legend in his own way. The future will likely continue to expand that legend, as more young talent of familiar heritage, like Toby Jorgenson, and tho e with less famous parentage but no less ability and determination such as Tony Meiring. continue to learn their trade in the hope of one day joining the honor rqle of motorcyclists who have graduated to the big time. Much has been said and written about how dirt track racing will survive in SIGNCO The future?: Toby Jorgenson (5) and Tony Meiring are two of Lodi Cycle Bowl's newest stars, and both appear to be setting their course toward the horizon of National professional competition.

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