Lake Elsinore National

I went to the National Motocross race Saturday. A group of us desert riders decided to go to the race. Got there at 9 am paid $20 for prefered parking. Got to the gate $40 to get in and another $10 for a pit pass........for a minute I thought I was at a NA$CAR race. It looked like someone has spent some bucks on the MC track. Lots of new infrastructure and the course was long 1.5 mi. Some crazy jumps and the course was fast. For spectators it was good for viewing, you could walk around to see all of the track. I don't know how many people were there but by 1 pm it was asshole to elbow. We got a good spot to watch the race from took our ez-up for shade. All and all not bad.......except for the heat. There were areas you could park a motorhome in almost every section of the track $350.00 from thursday to sunday. Food prices were off the chart can of beer $10..........no coolers in the park. Oh did I say it was HOT. For a event like this I thought most people were well mannered. We went back to the truck to eat the lunch we brought with the AIR on the temp said 107. I saw a chick with a 2 infant stroller with 2 new borns....that is borderline child abuse. We left after the first 2 races 250/450 just to HOT. Got home to watch it on TV sitting in the pool drinking a beer. The TV just doesn't do justice to the track.....some places were rough and you didn't get that on the tube. Would I go again maybe, but it would have to be in the 70's.

If you went what was your experience ?

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Permalink Reply by pdxracefan on September 10, 2012 at 12:51pm

I say YIKES on the prices. That sounds like someone is certainly taking cues from Na$car, at least. And 107? Sheesh, too hot for racing or watching. Sounds like you enjoyed yourself. Sadly I couldn't make the drive down from the Portland area. Thanks for the update from the desert SW.

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Permalink Reply by Vlad Rogers on September 10, 2012 at 1:22pm

I went to two races at Fontana with 110+ weather. One race had no wind at all, the other had a stiff breeze from the desert. Funny seeing the stands clear out before the race is halfway over.

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Permalink Reply by DB on September 10, 2012 at 8:50pm

Killer time out there GTX...you weren't kidding about being a little hot though. Good racing and the plus of being there was, seeing who gutted it out and charged all moto long in the heat. I know hard to judge on 1 race but...some guy's were giving up & just cruising 2nd moto with no one in there sights....i'm sure they were beat but.. Tickle was on the gas from start to finish...Someone need's to sign him up & i guess Hart & Hunington did..on Suzuki's, other hand- the #21 Kawi...couldn't even hear his bike when he came by. Had the treatment in there with the Toy hauler parked right by the finish line, canopy on top and you could pretty much see the whole place, real nice facility...rumor is it ain't going back though? -anyway, great time out there.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on September 10, 2012 at 10:32pm

@GTX, any Bubby sightings?

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Permalink Reply by DB on September 11, 2012 at 6:12am

No RV or Bubbu...both hurt and one's not even on the payroll haha. Bubba's brother was out there and rode his ass off...charged in the heat, rode good.

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Permalink Reply by GTX - HEMI on September 11, 2012 at 8:19am

MIKE...No buba's on or off the bikes....maybe to hot for them. DB what do you hear about the NO RETURN and WHY ? Someone spent a ton of money on the course layout pouring concrete, building tunnels, planting trees and hydro seeding the banks. Also they built a couple of ponds. Some thought went into the track to only have one race.

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Permalink Reply by DB on September 11, 2012 at 5:42pm

Nothing official by any means GTX. just shooting the shit with a friend in the pits..saying possibly back to Glen Helen. I don't mind either way...Elsinore facility was way nice. I prefer Glen Helen race watching wise...everythings either in front of you, or below you- easier to keep track of the race as a whole.

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Permalink Reply by will on September 11, 2012 at 8:11pm

Not gonna happen at Glen Helen again. The reason it was moved away from GH is the track operator [Bud Feldcamp] will not make improvements to bring the facility up to the level of say the new Elsinore track, or the Pala facility. Dr. Feldcamps reason is really quite sound, as he does not own the property but has a lease with the County of San Bernardino. A quick Google search of "scandal in the County of San Bernardino" will make the point, even though the name Bud Feldcamp will come up if you research enough of the scandals! Bottom line is AMA/Allisports wants the nice white fences and other eyewash for tv, and they don't give a crap about spectator viewing. Bud Feldcamp ain't gonna spend a bunch of dough on a facility he could be out bid on the next time his 5 year lease is up.
BTW GTX, great subject for a thread, I would have seen it sooner if you had posted it in Planet Biker Bar! My main reasons for not going were [1] HEAT and [2] not worth dealing with the HEAT if the spectator experience is not as good as Glen Helen.

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Permalink Reply by GTX - HEMI on September 11, 2012 at 8:44pm

Sorry WILL......didn't know about the Biker Bar.

Today I talked with a friend that goes to most of the outdoor races in CA. and he said he liked the GH track because you could see most of the track just about any where you stand. The last time I was at GH was for a GP I rode in back in the late 90's. Wasen't to concerned about the spectator's just with the track. You are right about the LE track if you are a spectator you only see a small part of the course and then move to a different areas to see the rest of the track. I herd Sunday the lake got 2" of rain in a hour. The two lakes inside the track must have over flowed not to mention the lake bottom. I also herd the airport was under water. The main road in & out was along side the airport......Sunday would have been fun to try to get out with a motorhome.

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Permalink Reply by will on September 11, 2012 at 9:07pm

Now that you know about our little secret hang out, you'll be able to keep up with all the stuff we like to share ;)
Your buddy is right on the money with GH for spectators. I checked out the LE track a couple of weeks ago, and decided F-that. A $20 36 pack from Costco and the AC at home was just fine with me! I even got to do a little cut and paste live blog on chat here with my twitter feeds and buddys on a conference call. The guys on the conference call said I knew more than they did about what was going on!