Speedway season ready to get underway

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- Racers are getting ready to speed, slip and slide in the

preseason International Speedway Spring Classic this evening.

“It’s one of the most exciting things I’ve seen in my life,” said

Laurie Oxley, general manager of International Speedway, Inc. “It’s

motorcycle racing on a dirt, oval track. They race on European-type

motorcycles that go from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds and they have no brakes.”

The spring classic, which begins at 7:30 p.m., is the first of 25

International Speedway events this season, which lasts until Oct. 13.

The speedway, in its 33rd season at the Orange County Fairgrounds this

year, was threatened last year when negotiations with the fairgrounds

stalled.

It took the fairgrounds and the speedway negotiations from late

October to late September to finally agree on a rental contract.

Bobby Schwartz, a Costa Mesa resident and two-time U.S. National

Champion, said the negotiation trouble last year is making the beginning

of the season more exciting than ever.

“This is my 28th season at that track and, for me, it’s great to know

the speedway is going to be back this year,” he said. “I know they did a

lot to renovate the track this year and I’m looking forward to having

another great season. I love the excitement and the competition and the

fact that it’s a very quick race. It’s over in a minute or a minute and a

half and just the ability to slide and turn and get around a corner with

no brakes is very exciting.”

The spring classic is a traditional warmup race for the season opener

April 21, Schwartz said.

“It’s sort of a teaser race for the fans. There’s always something new

that happens. You never know.”