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/128402
PHOTO BY ROBERT BEAUPRE
MX West Fall Series
Round 6: Champion Speedway
Requiem for a Champion
By ROBERT BEAUPRE
CARSON CITY, NV, SEPT. 25
A
s the sun set above Champion Speedway at round six of the
it marked the ending of more than just
another day at the track. It marked the end of the track itself.
The 42-year-old northern Nevada racetrack closed its gates
forever after a final day of motocross that drew more than 350
riders, many of whom attended to pay their last respects to a
course on which they have raced for decades.
Jimmy Hazel. 19, who raced his very first race at Carson when
he was 4, topped the l2Scc and 2SOcc Pro classes. He paused when
asked how many laps he has done on the circuit in the past IS years.
"Hundred and hundred and hundreds," Hazel said.
"Yesterday at practice, I must have put in at least a hundred, just
to get the most out of it. I'm going to miss this place a lot."
The track, which opened in 1963 as an auto-racing oval and
later added a motocross track, met its end earlier this year when
the track owners sold the land, citing falling car-race turnouts
and ever.higher offers (rom real-estate developers. But despite
the dwindling number of racecar fans appearing at the track, the
motocross track has been growing in popularity for years.
"I remember that a hundred riders used to be a good turnout
for me," said Robert Hansen. the promoter of Carson's
motocross events from 1988 to 1999 and the current director of
arenacross for Clear Channel. "Now they're getting 300 to 400
easily. So many people have put so much effort into this over the
years, like Rod Dunivent, Jim Holley, Tom Diloreto, Greg King,
Steve Garnett, Rich Thorwaldson and Vic Wilson. I understand
Why it's closing, but a lot of kids are going to miss this place."
Ty Erquiaga, the head of Nevada Motocross Development,
Which promoted the Carson motocross events during its final two
/'"'\Mx West Fall Series,
Michelln/WERA National Challenge Series
Round 10: Barber Motorsports Park
FourforJensen
at Barber
Motorsports Park
By DAN SCHMITT
BIRMINGHAM, AL, SEPT. 25
w:
th a fast-drying track, the Open Expert Superstock final
tiptoed off the line with Robert Jensen leading the pack into
turn six. Ben Thompson was second on full rains. As the track
Robert Jensen backs it into tum six on his way
to victory in the 600cc Expert Superstock final at
round 10 of the Michelin/WERA National
Challenge Series.
56
NOVEMBER 2, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS
years, has himself raced at Carson for more than 20 years. Erquiaga
said that recent drcumstanees, which included legal challenges from
the track's neighbors, made the closing an inevitable conclusion.
"It's bittersweet," Erquiaga said of the success of the final
race. "It's really unfortunate that the neighbors and community in
this area didn't support the place beller. Our livelihood here has
been crippled by permit restrictions. The natural conclusion of
that was the sale of the track."
The actual racing at this final event, however. conveyed none
of the sorrow that longtime riders inevitably felt at the loss of the
track. The motos went on as usual atop the famously loamy
Carson soil, closing the final chapter of a track that nearly
everyone on hand said they will miss deeply.
"It stinks," said Aron Harvey, 17, of the closure; Harvey topped
the I 25cc Intermediate, 250cc Intermediate and Schoolboy
Division One classes and has raced Carson since he began racing 3
1/2 years ago. "But we'll get something better. There's always
something better [Motocross) is just going to get bigger here." CN
CHAMPtON SPEIDWAY
CARsoN CITY, NEVADA
RISULTs: SEPTlMaIIl 25, 2005 (ROUND 6)
50 (4-6) PRVTR: I. Gaige DeMars; 2. Dawson Clinord; 3. Cl1ristian
Andenon. 50 (7 +) PRVTR: I. Gaige Bobbitt; 2. Gavin Clouser; 3. Evan Oben.
50 (7+) FCTRY: I. Garrett Kinsler. 65 BEG: I. Hunter Ferguson; 2. Jordan
Schultz; 3. Gavin Douser. 65 JR: I. Hunter teeny; 2. Garrett Kins~ 1. Hunter
Roberts. 65 INT: I. jesse Masterpool; 2. Ty 5iminoe; 3. Corwin Mclntosl1. 5165:
L Jesse Masterpool; 2. Ty Siminoe; 3. Corwin Mcintosh. 15 BEG D·I: I. Dan
Randolph; 2. Michael Stenerson; 3. Steven Valdez.. 85 BEG D·2: I. Curtis Stlapiro;
2. Jim Graham; 3. Zachary Cochran. as JR D-l: I. Ty Siminoe; 2. Krista Griener:
3. Sam Osheroff. 85 JR D-2: I. Westee Valerio; 2. James Estes Jr:; 3. Tyter Niefsen.
15 tNT: I. Aaron Slmlnoe: 2. uk Riley; 1. Dylan Bauer. StHINI: I. Aaron
Siminoe; 2. Dakota May; 1. Zak Riley. 125 BEG D-I: I. Preston Charles; 2. Mark
Gwaltney; 3. H;kaeI HcC,..",. 115 BEG 0-1: I. lY Kowabkl; 2. Keith Allen; 3.
Lance Home<-. 115 JR 0-1: I. Ramsey Canham; 2. Oal