The need for speed

Don Leach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: For more than a year, Daily Pilot photographer Don

Leach has been documenting the action at the Costa Mesa Speedway. The

2001 season at the Speedway opened April 21 and continues on Saturday

nights through October.

There are lots of kids here. Legends too. Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell is

here and Bobby Schwartz, aka “Boogaloo.”

A nice young couple came to the Costa Mesa Speedway at the Orange

County Fairgrounds to swing. He will lead, and she will cling inches from

the “dance floor,” dirt flying in her face, hanging on for dear life.

It’s a dance performed not with romantic music, but a high speed colorful

beast of a three-wheeled motorcycle called a sidecar or “Chariot of

Doom.”

Speedway, which opened in 1969, is a Costa Mesa tradition. Ask any

local in Costa Mesa or Newport Beach about it, and they will tell you

stories about going to watch the motorcycles as a kid. Last year, the

race track was near closure. It could have been the end of an era. But

with renewed cooperation with Orange County Fairground officials,

International Speedway Inc. has established a new sense of cooperation

and direction for the popular weekly races.

The bleachers, restrooms, and arena entrance have been refurbished.

And the regulars are still there, with their fox-skin hats, black leather

riding gear and beers in hand, screaming at the riders and each other.

It’s not unlike any sporting event with fans cheering the folks they want

to win. And everyone has their favorites.

Week after week, riders from California to Europe come to test their

abilities at one of the smallest tracks around, the one they call “the

bull ring.” They have come to compete on hand-built motorcycles that have

no brakes and can accelerate to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. The only way to

stop is to slide out of it or put your feet down.

Since the bikes are hand made, riders have to know something about

their machines. Most can reassemble and switch parts and rear wheels

before the next race. Problems are immediately diagnosed, tinkered with

and repaired, with the bikes ready for the next go around. To watch this

process is an art form in itself.

The Speedway experience is open. It’s loud. You can shout. You’re

encouraged to. If you follow along on your score card, you can see why

the competition gets tougher and tougher as the night wears on. You can

feel the tension build. But like a good prize fight, there are five guys

who are battling for champion.

What makes it so exciting is the winner-take-all-attitude. This year,

some of the best riders in the game are at it again. Chris “Manny”

Manchester, Bart “Simpson” Bast, Bobby “Boogaloo” Schwartz, Shawn “Mad

Dog” McConnell, “Flyin” Mike Faria, “Gorgeous” Gary Hicks, Charles

“Dukie” Ermolenko, and Josh Larson are just some of known riders who are

competing week after week.

Even though the elbow-to-elbow style of racing can be dangerous, most

riders jump up, brush off and continue to compete. A good crash is good

drama.

Like any game there are fouls, accusations, high fives, penalties,

cheers and special equipment. The creative and highly colorful riding

leathers are as individual as the characters who are riding them.

FYI

What: Costa Mesa Speedway

Where: Coors Light Arena, Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive,

Costa Mesa

When: 6 p.m. Saturdays through October

Cost: $10 for adults, $6 for juniors ages 13 to 17 and seniors, $3 for

kids ages 6 to 12.

Call: (949) 492-9933