Carlsbad USGP a look back from 1977-82 (Fixed)

Uncle Tony
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Uncle Tony 6/23/2016 5:31pm
6/23/2016 5:31pm Edited Date/Time 6/23/2016 5:31pm
Real motocross! Never lucky enough to race at Carlsbad but was glued to the TV when wide world of sports came on, thanks for posting Scottie
kzizok
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kzizok 6/23/2016 6:51pm
6/23/2016 6:51pm
Looking for the link too?!
KennyT
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KennyT 6/23/2016 7:21pm
6/23/2016 7:21pm
I believe the first GP I attended was around 1973....I remember Willi Bauer was on a Maico #2.....Pomeroy on silver and Red Pursang. I was in awe seeing those guys:

Was able to ride vintage races there right up to when they closed it down. It was sure cool riding my 1980 White YZ 250 up and down the hills with a bunch of CZ's, Maicos etc.
I don't remember the year but I think it was around 2005 or so that I last rode there. Then they teased us with a membership offer...you paid a certain flat fee and a group of 50 or so members would have access to the track for ride days. I jumped all over that offer but before they collected any money it all went down the drain and the next thing I knew it was closed down. I still drive down Melrose and Palomar airport road almost daily and I think about the races every time I cruise by
KennyT
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KennyT 6/23/2016 7:27pm
6/23/2016 7:27pm


This was the last day I was able to ride Carlsbad. Guessing around 2005 by my daughters age

The Shop

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Anonymous (not verified)
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Anonymous (not verified) 6/23/2016 8:27pm
6/23/2016 8:27pm Edited Date/Time 9/1/2026 6:11pm
I can see the old track from my house. It was gone before I lived here. Great place to walk the dog nowadays. I did ride the "replica" at the ranch.
7I3N
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7I3N 6/23/2016 8:40pm
6/23/2016 8:40pm
notme wrote:
I cant see any vid, just a white square.... is there a yt link?
There was...8 years ago.
kzizok
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kzizok 6/23/2016 8:58pm
6/23/2016 8:58pm
Having a hard time getting up to 88mph! Delorean having flux capacitor problems.
sclark309d 6/23/2016 9:11pm
6/23/2016 9:11pm
Anonymous wrote:
I can see the old track from my house. It was gone before I lived here. Great place to walk the dog nowadays. I did ride...
I can see the old track from my house. It was gone before I lived here. Great place to walk the dog nowadays. I did ride the "replica" at the ranch.
I ran into several people walking their dogs while on my pilgrimage. One told me that coyotes were all over n the underbrush, even eyeballing their dog in case he got to far away from them.

My daughter lives about a mile south of there right off Melrose
Brent
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Brent 6/23/2016 9:25pm
6/23/2016 9:25pm
KennyT wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/06/23/140705/s1200_image.jpg[/img] This was the last day I was able to ride Carlsbad. Guessing around 2005 by my daughters age


This was the last day I was able to ride Carlsbad. Guessing around 2005 by my daughters age
Close. Last ride before the equipment moved in was in July 2004.
cz2crf2wc
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cz2crf2wc 6/23/2016 10:20pm
6/23/2016 10:20pm


1973

Sully
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Sully 6/23/2016 11:59pm
6/23/2016 11:59pm Edited Date/Time 6/23/2016 11:59pm
Anonymous wrote:
I can see the old track from my house. It was gone before I lived here. Great place to walk the dog nowadays. I did ride...
I can see the old track from my house. It was gone before I lived here. Great place to walk the dog nowadays. I did ride the "replica" at the ranch.
What ever happened to The Ranch? I saw videos of guys riding the Carlsbad replica track, and I'm pretty sure there was even a video of Marty Tripes saying they were going to build a Saddleback replica too, and then POOF! no more updates on their website, or Facebook, and no more current pictures on the web.
anniebertmojo
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anniebertmojo 6/24/2016 7:54am
6/24/2016 7:54am
1911 wrote:
I never raced there, just the Suzuki School. 1982, Rodney Smith was in the class. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/06/23/140674/s1200_image.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/06/23/140675/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
I never raced there, just the Suzuki School. 1982, Rodney Smith was in the class.




awesome... the late Wayne Boyer was my instructor, 1980. I remember Wayne explaining how to push the bike away off the jumps coming down the freeway. Also on the starts... two feet down, weight over the bars, steady throttle and find that clutch engagement. I still use that starting technique today when I launch off a dirt pad lol...

Fun times as a kid at Carlsbad. Plus I got to ride new 1980 RM125's... I had the same bike, but it was a bit whipped and worn out.
2WheelsForTheMasses 6/24/2016 8:02am
6/24/2016 8:02am
I wish Irvine would reopen Saddle back track for another year like they did in the 90's for the short trial period. It was so convenient.

Also you guys remember Escape country in trabuco canyon. That was a fun local track that I used to love to rip on. For the locals that don't know, there are some local groomers up in the hills of that same canyon, about 2.7 miles worth of solid track. Legal no, but still there today. Where? Can't say! You'll have to do your homework.
mx12boy
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mx12boy 6/24/2016 8:17am
6/24/2016 8:17am
I was lucky and got to see the 84 Grand Prix before I shipped out to Okinawa.
Anonymous (not verified)
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Anonymous (not verified) 6/24/2016 8:45am
6/24/2016 8:45am Edited Date/Time 9/1/2026 6:11pm
Anonymous wrote:
I can see the old track from my house. It was gone before I lived here. Great place to walk the dog nowadays. I did ride...
I can see the old track from my house. It was gone before I lived here. Great place to walk the dog nowadays. I did ride the "replica" at the ranch.
sclark309d wrote:
I ran into several people walking their dogs while on my pilgrimage. One told me that coyotes were all over n the underbrush, even eyeballing their...
I ran into several people walking their dogs while on my pilgrimage. One told me that coyotes were all over n the underbrush, even eyeballing their dog in case he got to far away from them.

My daughter lives about a mile south of there right off Melrose
So many coyotes, and cougar. It's pretty much wild again.
Brent
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Brent 6/24/2016 8:54am
6/24/2016 8:54am
2WheelsForTheMasses wrote:
I wish Irvine would reopen Saddle back track for another year like they did in the 90's for the short trial period. It was so convenient...
I wish Irvine would reopen Saddle back track for another year like they did in the 90's for the short trial period. It was so convenient.

Also you guys remember Escape country in trabuco canyon. That was a fun local track that I used to love to rip on. For the locals that don't know, there are some local groomers up in the hills of that same canyon, about 2.7 miles worth of solid track. Legal no, but still there today. Where? Can't say! You'll have to do your homework.
The residents up there in Coto will call the cops if they even see a dirt bike in the back of a truck. I know this from personal experience.Blink

Escape country was the best track around while it lasted.
Brent
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Brent 6/24/2016 8:56am
6/24/2016 8:56am
Sully wrote:
What ever happened to The Ranch? I saw videos of guys riding the Carlsbad replica track, and I'm pretty sure there was even a video of...
What ever happened to The Ranch? I saw videos of guys riding the Carlsbad replica track, and I'm pretty sure there was even a video of Marty Tripes saying they were going to build a Saddleback replica too, and then POOF! no more updates on their website, or Facebook, and no more current pictures on the web.
You have to ask Sondra Peters, but I think poor attendance killed the Ranch, which is too bad.

I only got to ride there one time, great place in the fall and spring. Summer and winter not so much.
etccb
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etccb 6/24/2016 9:10am
6/24/2016 9:10am Edited Date/Time 6/24/2016 9:11am
I cant see the 1st post video either. Can someone give us poor fools another link? I went to a couple of golden state races there back in the day.

Pit Row

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ocscottie
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ocscottie 6/24/2016 2:55pm
6/24/2016 2:55pm
kzizok wrote:
Looking for the link too?!
This post was from 2008, dont know why the vid isnt showing, ill see if i still have it and re upload it. Slim chance though.
kzizok
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kzizok 6/24/2016 3:02pm
6/24/2016 3:02pm
kzizok wrote:
Looking for the link too?!
ocscottie wrote:
This post was from 2008, dont know why the vid isnt showing, ill see if i still have it and re upload it. Slim chance though.
No, I know. Was being sarcastic, hence the 88mph time travel post. Would be cool to see if you find it though!
ocscottie
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ocscottie 6/24/2016 3:58pm
6/24/2016 3:58pm
Found it, its pretty crappy quality, ill try and get it uploaded this evening.
downard254
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downard254 6/24/2016 4:47pm
6/24/2016 4:47pm
Closest thing I can use to compare would have been Honda Hills in Linnville, Ohio during open practice on weekdays. Dirt like concrete, dry and dusty, and the sawdust that Dick dumped on the track for race day was built up into mountain sized braking bumps. It would build your stamina though.
kzizok
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kzizok 6/24/2016 5:58pm
6/24/2016 5:58pm
Dude, that is so cool to watch.
1911
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1911 6/24/2016 6:09pm
6/24/2016 6:09pm
anniebertmojo wrote:
awesome... the late Wayne Boyer was my instructor, 1980. I remember Wayne explaining how to push the bike away off the jumps coming down the freeway...
awesome... the late Wayne Boyer was my instructor, 1980. I remember Wayne explaining how to push the bike away off the jumps coming down the freeway. Also on the starts... two feet down, weight over the bars, steady throttle and find that clutch engagement. I still use that starting technique today when I launch off a dirt pad lol...

Fun times as a kid at Carlsbad. Plus I got to ride new 1980 RM125's... I had the same bike, but it was a bit whipped and worn out.
That is funny, about the whipped and worn out bike. We were the last class to ride the bikes , next class would have brand new RMs. I raced a 82 250, and rode a 250 in the class. All I remember is blue sky after practicing my first start at Carlsbad. Almost looped out, even though the bike was beat to death!!! It was embarrassing!!! At 16 years old, I learned how much better things ran at sea level, then 5000 to 6000 ft above sea level. It was my first time out of the state of Colorado riding a motorcycle.

I replaced my Scott boots, with a pair of M Roberts boots I bought from Wayne at the class. Good times
ocscottie
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ocscottie 6/24/2016 6:09pm
6/24/2016 6:09pm
kzizok wrote:
Dude, that is so cool to watch.
Man i have a TON of cool oldschool vids in my profile but they all arent working, they try, but stop.

Go look at the last page of my profile under videos. http://www.vitalmx.com/community/ocscottie,405/all#videos If there is any you want to see i can probably dig them up.

In the meantime I'll shoot Aaron a msg and see if there is a fix, some real classic stuff.
anniebertmojo
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anniebertmojo 6/24/2016 9:01pm
6/24/2016 9:01pm
I took this picture as a kid with big life dreams in 1980. I've raced on this track before and I wanted to see how good the G.P. riders were.

As I leaned over the chain link fence, I said "oh shit" they they are coming quick and snapped the shutter as Bad Brad chased Heikki Mikkola.

They both missed me my millimeters as they went by. But the dust, the crowed cheering Lackey on and Gerrit Wolsink giving chase to both of them... it was heaven.


legswag
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legswag 6/24/2016 9:32pm
6/24/2016 9:32pm
Rode there in the late 90's early 00's. The track layout was so unique and natural and stayed the same over decades.
ninety3
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ninety3 6/24/2016 9:51pm
6/24/2016 9:51pm
One of my favorite tracks, and races

Thanks for posting that

G-man
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G-man 6/24/2016 10:23pm
6/24/2016 10:23pm Edited Date/Time 6/24/2016 10:27pm
That's an awesome photo!
Above and anniebertmojo.

Oh man I loved everything about Carlsbad!
The USGP was legendary and I never missed one.
We had quite the crew who trecked on down annually....

One year we had five Heineken kegs.
Two the night before and three for the race.

We used a cart with tie downs and rolled it up to the infamous Carlsbad Freeway, which was anything but. Damn they went FAST! Woohoo

Ended up giving a mug of Heineken to Bengt Aberg when his Bultaco broke down and I waved him over and the crowd went crazy when he downed it in one big GULP.
Snot puppies and the whole nine yards....Grinning

GOOD TIMES!

Check it here:
Carlsbad



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