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/710094
CN III ARCHIVES BY LARRY LAWRENCE S uicide Mountain, the Matterhorn, the Magoo Double Jump, Banzai Hill, the Wedge—mention these to any motocross fan of the 1970s and early '80s and they'll instantly know you're talking about the iconic motocross track Saddleback Park. For the decades of the 1970s and '80s Saddleback was the center of the American motocross-racing universe. The track had a major impact on the sport of motocross. It hosted great races and racers throughout its time of operation and is still considered one of the all- time historic venues of the sport even though it's been over 30 years since races were held at the facility. Cycle World magazine's Joe Parkhurst, along with partner, dune buggy maker Bruce Mey- ers, leased land from the Irvine Company in 1967. One of the biggest reasons they were able to lease the land for off-road use, was the fact that Parkhurst was a busi- nessman who knew and socialized with members of the Irvine family. He convinced them that since the land bordered a landfill, it was basically useless for development. The prototype for open riding parks, at first Saddleback was to be primarily for dune buggies, but business was slow and Parkhurst convinced the Irvines to allow motorcycles, reasoning that it would help eliminate the riding on vacant lots near large tracts of housing developments. Saddleback was named for the ridge that runs be- tween the two highest peaks in the Santa Ana Moun- tains that resembles a saddle when viewed from most of Orange County. Vic Wilson, who grew up on a ranch and would have the experience needed to run the equipment to keep the track in shape, was hired as manager. Parkhurst even brought in a fleet of motorcycles so riders could just show up with a helmet and rent a machine to ride on the Saddle- back hills. In the fall of 1967 many top European motocross riders were on the west coast racing in the seminal exhibition motocross events promoted by Edison Dye. Parkhurst invited Roger DeCoster, Dave Bickers and Joel Robert out one day to help him and Wilson layout a track. As it turns out, the track laid out by the racing legends was only used once for an event put on by the newly formed California Moto-Cross Association (CMA). The first track directly faced a neighborhood of exclusive homes and the residents complained of noise and dust, and the track was moved to a more remote location within the 700-acre complex. When races weren't being held, Saddleback was open dawn to dusk, seven days a week and riders could pay a two-dollar fee to ride as long as they liked. In addition to the MX track, the park also featured areas for Flat Tract Short Track and TT, trials, hillclimb and a BMX section. SADDLEBACK PARK: THE MECCA OF MOTOCROSS P112 Led by SoCal star Ron Turner, 125cc- class racers nearly free-fall down Saddleback's scary Banzai Hill during the Bel Ray Grand National MX in 1984.