1974 Great Bear Gran Prix Film or Results

Don't have results yet, but a buddy of mine showed me his trophy from one of the GBGP's

I'm still researching the history of the GBGP.

http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/USA-California,5/1974-Great-Bear-Grand-Prix,1217303

Mr. Downs, please private message me through my screen name.

From page 8 of the program: This was the course.

Above: Lower left; John McGowan and one of his 7 generations of K-9 co-riders. Everyone of the mom, daughters, and granddaughters were all named, "Kookie".


Below: Yep, yup! Dirt + Asphalt = Definition of a M/C Grand Prix as the definition existed back in the day.

Photo courtesy: http://riversideintlautomuseum.org/riverside-raceway/the-circuit/

Page 54 of the 1974 GBGP program:

Researching more history on OCMC specifically regarding the GBGP which is currently, "Inactive". Sometimes when clubs go inactive there may be some racers in the club that'll join another club. Are there any club members or family members that remember the GBGP?

From the Cycle News archives April 1st, 1974 - These are the only results found so far:

I have a finisher pin from 1973 I think. I rode a box stock 72 TS125 with all the street stuff stripped off of it. Wish I could remember more of it.

The GBGP was the largest GP on the West Coast at the time. According to Les Richter - President of RIR, 'The GBGP was the second largest in attendance at RIR behind them hosting the annual NASCAR circuit.' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:NASCAR_races_at_Riverside_International_Raceway

Illistrated below is the 1974 RIR calendar of events. Notice the bold type in the calendar? Those are the premier events that really drew a crowd. (The IROC race Oct. 27th was #3.)

The author of this topic, Jon Downs emailed this image to post.
This is the first-time I've seen an image of any GBGP finisher pin. Obviously, the No. 2 on the bears front plate represents the 2nd Edition of this event. 1973 was the first OCMC hosted event at RIR.

IMO this has all the indications of a bucket list campaign to affirm to his chiding offspring that he used his big horns and grizzle back in the day. Well, back at you Downs kids!

Thank you! Tim Bartee of Lake Elsinore letting me photograph his 1975 GBGP trophy. He said, "Careful, don't drop it...It could crack the floor "


The Finisher Pin is a (Heavy) three-part assembly that matches the the 1975 logo design on the trophy. (See the reflection on the Place, Class, Name plate above the pin.) The only difference other than size is that the trophy badge says, "Winner"


A rare photo of Mr. Bartee racing the '75 GBGP. "I was a starving teenager then. You'd go to the next race to see the photos of the last race (you were in) and they'd be like 2 or 3 bucks. No way! I couldn't afford to get a picture of every race....I'm glad I got this one though That was a good race."

He still races Vintage and is chatting with his buddies about their memories of the GBGP's.

Keep digging Guys!