MOTOR RACING / VINCE KOWALICK : Hiroshima Survives Bruises, Bumps in Road

Over the years, the sport of motocross has left Bruce Hiroshima with a broken foot, a broken ankle, a broken wrist, broken ribs, a separated shoulder, torn ligaments in both knees and a steel rod in his left leg, which twice has been broken.

Yet Hiroshima, 31, who lives in Camarillo, motors on as one of the best riders in Ventura County.

Hiroshima is the points leader in three of four racing classes at Ventura Raceway as the motocross series resumes tonight at 8.

Despite the fractures and full-body aches, Hiroshima, who has worked as a farmer near his home for more than half his life, has rarely missed a moto since the track began playing host to the events in 1987.

“That’s racing,” Hiroshima said. “It’s dangerous and it’s really scary. But it’s that feeling of coming in first ahead of everyone and it’s the thrill and the speed (that’s exciting). It’s one guy against everyone. You have to love the sport to continue doing it.”

Fact is, Hiroshima digs doing it in the dirt. Or something like that.

As a teen, Hiroshima began working with his father and uncle as a vegetable farmer. Today, he operates his own “custom agricultural service” business. Specifically, Hiroshima, who owns a tractor, answers the call when local farmers are in need of a helping plow.

“If they’re behind in their tractor work, or after it rains if the ground doesn’t dry up fast enough, they call me,” Hiroshima said. “The days can be long, 13-14 hours. If you look at it from the standpoint of owning your own business, it’s fun. But actually it’s pretty boring. The tractor moves pretty slow.”

That may explain his passion for tearing up the raceway.

After five of nine scheduled events, Hiroshima is easily outpointing the pack in the Junior Veteran Pro, 125cc and 250cc classes. Admittedly still an amateur, Hiroshima holds aspirations of striking paydirt as a professional in more lucrative racing endeavors.

“He’s leading not necessarily because he’s the best rider, but because he races every time,” said Cliff Morgan, the track’s general manager. “He’s just so consistent. Since we’ve been doing this, I can’t recall a race when he wasn’t here.”

Two years ago, Hiroshima landed hard on a jump that resulted in a fractured femur, by far his most serious racing injury. He was hospitalized for five days. But three months later, he was back on track.

And the tractor.

Does he love the dirt that much?

“Not really,” he said. “Actually, I like to stay clean.”

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Doing 50: Dave Phipps’ domination of the Grand American Modified division at Saugus Speedway will reach another milestone tonight when Phipps more than likely will clinch his third consecutive division title.

Entering the final race of the season, Phipps, who has led the Grand Am points standings almost every week since the division’s inception in 1991, needs six points to clinch the title. He could earn that with victories in the trophy dash and a heat race.

If not, Phipps certainly should settle the issue in the main event. Phipps has not finished worse than fifth all season.

Of more compelling interest is whether Phipps can take his fourth checkered flag of the season. Phipps, 45, a three-time Sportsman champion at Saugus, is one victory shy of his the 50th main-event victory of his career, ranking him third on Saugus’ all-time list behind Dan Press (64) and Roman Calczynski (63).

“Number 50 will be a big deal for me,” said Phipps, who lives in Simi Valley and has raced at Saugus since 1980. “I don’t know if it matters to anyone else.

“It’s been a little harder this year. The competitors are tougher and they’re stepping up and getting pretty serious about trying to win. Next year, it’ll be even harder.”

Yet somehow, Phipps continues to make it look easy.

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Add points race: Ed Horst of Reseda can clinch his second consecutive Pro Stock division title tonight at Saugus.

Horst holds a 26-point lead over Scott Dinger of Simi Valley and needs six points to clinch. A victory in the oval trophy dash or oval heat race will earn six. Horst, who has six victories and 19 top-five finishes, also can clinch by finishing sixth or better in the oval or figure-eight main events.

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Last add points: Also to be decided this evening are championships in Saugus’ Pro Four Modified and Mini Stock divisions.

Mal Borders of Van Nuys holds a 10-point lead over Kenny Smith of El Monte atop the Pro Four Modified standings. Gerry Mielke of Torrance leads Charles Jezulin of Redondo Beach by 22 points.

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More motocross: The United States scored a narrow victory over Belgium on Sunday in the 47th Motocross des Nations in Schwanenstadt, Austria. Mike Kiedrowski of Acton, a member of the three-rider U.S. team, finished third in the 500cc competition.

The victory was the 13th in a row for the United States. Sweden finished third, Great Britain fourth and New Zealand fifth.