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/209493
NOVEMBER 9-10, 2013 LAKE ELSINORE DIAMOND/LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA OFF ROAD P92 45TH LAKE ELSINORE GRAND PRIX THREE'S A CHARM Justin Seeds caps off Lake Elsinore GP with third Harvey Mushman 100 win STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARLY RAUBA V eteran's Day weekend graced the 2013 Lake Elsinore Grand Prix with two full days of racing on a sevenmile circuit of various terrain and textures, ranging from silty sand blasts to rock-ridden trail. The Harvey Mushman 100-mile race waved a generous cash purse to those who dared to endure the grueling miles of non-stop racing to finish off the grand prix weekend, and Kawasaki-mounted Justin Seeds waved back to take the win home yet again. But both days observed hundreds of passionate riders and thousands of exhilarated spectators that all gathered together to celebrate the tradition of the Lake Elsinore GP and its prominent history. The historic grand prix blew up in 1970 when Bruce Brown's famous motorcycle film "On Any Sunday" documented legends Malcolm Smith, Steve McQueen and Mert Lawwill and their racing. McQueen adopted the alias Harvey Mushman so when he rode no one knew – including his bosses - he was the actor on the track, and the name eventually became the title of the event's premier race in more recent times. Additionally, upwards of 200 serious racers would come to compete and have fun in the original Lake Elsinore Grand Prix. Unfortunately, it also attracted its own mischief and troubles mostly from the violent biker gangs that would show up, which ultimately helped lead to the race's demise in the mid-'70s. The Grand Prix was later resurrected in 1996 with the efforts of Goat Breker, but, a few years later, it was shut down yet again, this time by the complaints of the local community. But with a new promoter and the cooperation and huge efforts by city officials, it was recently brought back to life once again, but significantly reconfigured from the original race that was seen in the movie theaters. Lake Elsinore Mayor Bob Magee joined in on the fun this year. Magee takes great pride in the GP and even took part in this year's race. He said that he is trying to preserve the historic aspect of the event. "The sport's about good, clean family fun," the mayor said. "This is how my son and I bonded, riding out here in the lake bottom years ago. I brought him up in motocross, and he raced the grand prix a number of times, and convinced his old man to finally get out and do it. While he was in Afghanistan serving our country, I ran my first grand prix in my early forties. This year, I'm 50 years old, ran it again and I kind of ran out of talent. I hit my head into the side of a jump, and lights out. But this is good clean family fun, and it Justin Seeds made it three wins in a row in the premier Mushman 100 class at the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix.