Glen Helen history question?

chuckie108 wrote:

Here's some history: Originally opened in the 70's as Arroyo Cycle Park in the same location as the Vet/REM/Arroyo track is at now. I believe it...

Here's some history: Originally opened in the 70's as Arroyo Cycle Park in the same location as the Vet/REM/Arroyo track is at now. I believe it only ran for a few years. Then at some point, Bud gets the lease in the 80's and opens a sand drag strip which was located where it says "Glen Helen Raceway" on brocster's map above. If you look at it, you can still see how the layout was built around the drag strip. This area is used for parking now and as the pits for the endurance series. Around this time, they also opened a close course off road short course in the location of what is now the "main track". Also, in the 80's they opened a speedway track and grandstands where the Pitbike track now resides. Then around '86 or '87 they reopened the "Arroyo" track as motocross track and So Cal promotors like CMC had races there. A short time later, Glen Helen figured out there were more dirtbike racers than off road short course racers and started adapting the Short Course area for bigger motocross races like the Golden State Nationals, Trans Cal, etc.. That quickly became THE motocross track, and the Arroyo track was basically neglected and closed. The original Main track didn't have Mt. St. Helen. It basically ran in the same area but stayed off the big hill. There was an uphill in the same basic area as what is now colloquially called Shoei hill (the downhill section of it), but it was rarely used in races from what I remember. The most iconic feature on the track back then was "Animal Leap" which was where the Talladega turn is now. Watch races from this era on YT and you can get a sense of it. Also around this time ('89-'90 I'd guess), they started to have open practice on Thursdays, which was a totally new thing at the time as few tracks had open practice days back then. It's now a 35-year-old tradition. Around 1991, with the closing of Ascot, Stu Peters and CMC built and opened a night track in and around the speedway track/stadium. It was open for practice on Monday's nights, and races on Fridays. This ran for 1-2 years and was a really fun scene back then. This didn't last long though and eventually, the Speedway scene in SoCal really fell off, and the GH speedway track closed. All through the 90's, GH really evolved into the hallowed ground it is now with the USGP in '90, '91 and '92, and then the Nationals starting in I believe 1993. At that point it, it really became the hub of motocross in So Cal, and every serious series raced there. Nationals, Golden States, GFI winter/fall Series, Trans Cals, Yamaha Dealer Series, Big 6, World Vets, 4 Stroke World Champs, etc.. Then in 1997 GH went all out on the track and cut in Mt. St. Helen, Shoei Hill, and later the Yamaha Hill. This kicked off the run of tracks that truly made it the "Baddest Track In The Land", or whatever the corny line is. Watch any national from '97 through like '13- super gnarly. Also, around '97 I think, Dirtrider magazine was looking for a new location to hold it's annual 24-hour ride event. They chose GH and laid out trails in the surrounding foothills. This turned out to be and absolute epic resource and spawned what are probably the most unique and epic races at GH- the Grand Prix and endurance series. Then come early 2000's and the closure of Carlsbad, REM was looking for a new home and came to GH. GH not wanting anything to interfere with the good thing they had going, gave REM the old Arroyo track area which then became REM's domain and baby. They reworked that whole area into a great track that fit their old school, vet friendly ethos, and ran races nearly every Saturday. For many years you could race your motos on the REM track and then go spin laps on the main track. Still one of the better race scenes in SoCal even though Frank and Co have moved on. Originally, that track was REM only, and wasn't prepped for practice days etc., but eventually it was just too good of a resource and GH started to use it other in events- like the National, GP's Etc.. Eventually it just became the "vet" track on practice days for guys not wanting to take their lumps on what is an has always been a real motocross track. Then around 2010, they built and opened the current Short Course stadium and track. As for the pitbike track, that particular area has been about the only section that has struggled. It has been the Speedway track, the night track, pit bike track, enduro cross, I even think it was an ABA Sanctioned BMX track for a short time. Currently it is the PeeWee track and that seems to be working. So there you have it, the evolution of GH and it's many tracks and races. I may have some of the dates a little wrong but that's the best I can remember it.     

Bearuno wrote:

Last week a mate of mine SMS'd me with " he'd heard on the commentary ( I think it was in the SX Final commentary?) that...

Last week a mate of mine SMS'd me with " he'd heard on the commentary ( I think it was in the SX Final commentary?) that a lease was just renewed to keep Glen Helen as an MX track, for the next 11 years".

I've not seen anything about that here, or elsewhere.

So, is it a normal thing, a periodic re- leasing / re- approval for use , by the local Council / Government?

I haven't been there for quite a few years now - is Glen Helen being encroached upon by housing development, that may threaten it's future?

 

sandman768 wrote:

Can you camp out on site with an RV and ride? 

sumdood wrote:

https://socalvetmx.org/The old guys and the almost old guys have a race on the main June 14th. They’re a fairly low key fun group to race...

https://socalvetmx.org/

The old guys and the almost old guys have a race on the main June 14th. They’re a fairly low key fun group to race with. Usually 16-18 minute motos depending on the class. They have a support class too so you don’t need to be old. 

sumdood wrote:

https://socalvetmx.org/The old guys and the almost old guys have a race on the main June 14th. They’re a fairly low key fun group to race...

https://socalvetmx.org/

The old guys and the almost old guys have a race on the main June 14th. They’re a fairly low key fun group to race with. Usually 16-18 minute motos depending on the class. They have a support class too so you don’t need to be old. 

RDnutz wrote:

OTH gang?

Robgvx wrote:

I believe the ‘Vet’ track (what was the ‘REM’ track) is the site of the original ’Arroyo Cycle Park’ track from the seventies. REM ceased to be...

I believe the ‘Vet’ track (what was the ‘REM’ track) is the site of the original ’Arroyo Cycle Park’ track from the seventies. 

REM ceased to be a thing when promoter Frank Thomason retired. 

‘Saturday at the Glen’ is the reincarnation of REM with a new promoter. 

Regular GH riders please correct me. 

mxnick wrote:

Did he retire or was he "kicked out" by Bud Feldcamp? I know Frank is very respected within the community, but I recall hearing that he...

Did he retire or was he "kicked out" by Bud Feldcamp? I know Frank is very respected within the community, but I recall hearing that he was basically kicked out and that Glen Helen was "taking over" his Saturday series?     

Robgvx wrote:

I believe the ‘Vet’ track (what was the ‘REM’ track) is the site of the original ’Arroyo Cycle Park’ track from the seventies. REM ceased to be...

I believe the ‘Vet’ track (what was the ‘REM’ track) is the site of the original ’Arroyo Cycle Park’ track from the seventies. 

REM ceased to be a thing when promoter Frank Thomason retired. 

‘Saturday at the Glen’ is the reincarnation of REM with a new promoter. 

Regular GH riders please correct me. 

mxnick wrote:

Did he retire or was he "kicked out" by Bud Feldcamp? I know Frank is very respected within the community, but I recall hearing that he...

Did he retire or was he "kicked out" by Bud Feldcamp? I know Frank is very respected within the community, but I recall hearing that he was basically kicked out and that Glen Helen was "taking over" his Saturday series?     

captmoto wrote:

Jeez, where do people hear this bullshit? He retired. He was wanting to leave the program in good hands, there was nothing abrupt about it. I...

Jeez, where do people hear this bullshit? He retired. He was wanting to leave the program in good hands, there was nothing abrupt about it. I believe he also ran the flag crew for the National. 

chuckie108 wrote:

Here's some history: Originally opened in the 70's as Arroyo Cycle Park in the same location as the Vet/REM/Arroyo track is at now. I believe it...

Here's some history: Originally opened in the 70's as Arroyo Cycle Park in the same location as the Vet/REM/Arroyo track is at now. I believe it only ran for a few years. Then at some point, Bud gets the lease in the 80's and opens a sand drag strip which was located where it says "Glen Helen Raceway" on brocster's map above. If you look at it, you can still see how the layout was built around the drag strip. This area is used for parking now and as the pits for the endurance series. Around this time, they also opened a close course off road short course in the location of what is now the "main track". Also, in the 80's they opened a speedway track and grandstands where the Pitbike track now resides. Then around '86 or '87 they reopened the "Arroyo" track as motocross track and So Cal promotors like CMC had races there. A short time later, Glen Helen figured out there were more dirtbike racers than off road short course racers and started adapting the Short Course area for bigger motocross races like the Golden State Nationals, Trans Cal, etc.. That quickly became THE motocross track, and the Arroyo track was basically neglected and closed. The original Main track didn't have Mt. St. Helen. It basically ran in the same area but stayed off the big hill. There was an uphill in the same basic area as what is now colloquially called Shoei hill (the downhill section of it), but it was rarely used in races from what I remember. The most iconic feature on the track back then was "Animal Leap" which was where the Talladega turn is now. Watch races from this era on YT and you can get a sense of it. Also around this time ('89-'90 I'd guess), they started to have open practice on Thursdays, which was a totally new thing at the time as few tracks had open practice days back then. It's now a 35-year-old tradition. Around 1991, with the closing of Ascot, Stu Peters and CMC built and opened a night track in and around the speedway track/stadium. It was open for practice on Monday's nights, and races on Fridays. This ran for 1-2 years and was a really fun scene back then. This didn't last long though and eventually, the Speedway scene in SoCal really fell off, and the GH speedway track closed. All through the 90's, GH really evolved into the hallowed ground it is now with the USGP in '90, '91 and '92, and then the Nationals starting in I believe 1993. At that point it, it really became the hub of motocross in So Cal, and every serious series raced there. Nationals, Golden States, GFI winter/fall Series, Trans Cals, Yamaha Dealer Series, Big 6, World Vets, 4 Stroke World Champs, etc.. Then in 1997 GH went all out on the track and cut in Mt. St. Helen, Shoei Hill, and later the Yamaha Hill. This kicked off the run of tracks that truly made it the "Baddest Track In The Land", or whatever the corny line is. Watch any national from '97 through like '13- super gnarly. Also, around '97 I think, Dirtrider magazine was looking for a new location to hold it's annual 24-hour ride event. They chose GH and laid out trails in the surrounding foothills. This turned out to be and absolute epic resource and spawned what are probably the most unique and epic races at GH- the Grand Prix and endurance series. Then come early 2000's and the closure of Carlsbad, REM was looking for a new home and came to GH. GH not wanting anything to interfere with the good thing they had going, gave REM the old Arroyo track area which then became REM's domain and baby. They reworked that whole area into a great track that fit their old school, vet friendly ethos, and ran races nearly every Saturday. For many years you could race your motos on the REM track and then go spin laps on the main track. Still one of the better race scenes in SoCal even though Frank and Co have moved on. Originally, that track was REM only, and wasn't prepped for practice days etc., but eventually it was just too good of a resource and GH started to use it other in events- like the National, GP's Etc.. Eventually it just became the "vet" track on practice days for guys not wanting to take their lumps on what is an has always been a real motocross track. Then around 2010, they built and opened the current Short Course stadium and track. As for the pitbike track, that particular area has been about the only section that has struggled. It has been the Speedway track, the night track, pit bike track, enduro cross, I even think it was an ABA Sanctioned BMX track for a short time. Currently it is the PeeWee track and that seems to be working. So there you have it, the evolution of GH and it's many tracks and races. I may have some of the dates a little wrong but that's the best I can remember it.     

uncledaddy69 wrote:

Thank you for taking the time to write this out without using AI 😂

chuckie108 wrote:

Here's some history: Originally opened in the 70's as Arroyo Cycle Park in the same location as the Vet/REM/Arroyo track is at now. I believe it...

Here's some history: Originally opened in the 70's as Arroyo Cycle Park in the same location as the Vet/REM/Arroyo track is at now. I believe it only ran for a few years. Then at some point, Bud gets the lease in the 80's and opens a sand drag strip which was located where it says "Glen Helen Raceway" on brocster's map above. If you look at it, you can still see how the layout was built around the drag strip. This area is used for parking now and as the pits for the endurance series. Around this time, they also opened a close course off road short course in the location of what is now the "main track". Also, in the 80's they opened a speedway track and grandstands where the Pitbike track now resides. Then around '86 or '87 they reopened the "Arroyo" track as motocross track and So Cal promotors like CMC had races there. A short time later, Glen Helen figured out there were more dirtbike racers than off road short course racers and started adapting the Short Course area for bigger motocross races like the Golden State Nationals, Trans Cal, etc.. That quickly became THE motocross track, and the Arroyo track was basically neglected and closed. The original Main track didn't have Mt. St. Helen. It basically ran in the same area but stayed off the big hill. There was an uphill in the same basic area as what is now colloquially called Shoei hill (the downhill section of it), but it was rarely used in races from what I remember. The most iconic feature on the track back then was "Animal Leap" which was where the Talladega turn is now. Watch races from this era on YT and you can get a sense of it. Also around this time ('89-'90 I'd guess), they started to have open practice on Thursdays, which was a totally new thing at the time as few tracks had open practice days back then. It's now a 35-year-old tradition. Around 1991, with the closing of Ascot, Stu Peters and CMC built and opened a night track in and around the speedway track/stadium. It was open for practice on Monday's nights, and races on Fridays. This ran for 1-2 years and was a really fun scene back then. This didn't last long though and eventually, the Speedway scene in SoCal really fell off, and the GH speedway track closed. All through the 90's, GH really evolved into the hallowed ground it is now with the USGP in '90, '91 and '92, and then the Nationals starting in I believe 1993. At that point it, it really became the hub of motocross in So Cal, and every serious series raced there. Nationals, Golden States, GFI winter/fall Series, Trans Cals, Yamaha Dealer Series, Big 6, World Vets, 4 Stroke World Champs, etc.. Then in 1997 GH went all out on the track and cut in Mt. St. Helen, Shoei Hill, and later the Yamaha Hill. This kicked off the run of tracks that truly made it the "Baddest Track In The Land", or whatever the corny line is. Watch any national from '97 through like '13- super gnarly. Also, around '97 I think, Dirtrider magazine was looking for a new location to hold it's annual 24-hour ride event. They chose GH and laid out trails in the surrounding foothills. This turned out to be and absolute epic resource and spawned what are probably the most unique and epic races at GH- the Grand Prix and endurance series. Then come early 2000's and the closure of Carlsbad, REM was looking for a new home and came to GH. GH not wanting anything to interfere with the good thing they had going, gave REM the old Arroyo track area which then became REM's domain and baby. They reworked that whole area into a great track that fit their old school, vet friendly ethos, and ran races nearly every Saturday. For many years you could race your motos on the REM track and then go spin laps on the main track. Still one of the better race scenes in SoCal even though Frank and Co have moved on. Originally, that track was REM only, and wasn't prepped for practice days etc., but eventually it was just too good of a resource and GH started to use it other in events- like the National, GP's Etc.. Eventually it just became the "vet" track on practice days for guys not wanting to take their lumps on what is an has always been a real motocross track. Then around 2010, they built and opened the current Short Course stadium and track. As for the pitbike track, that particular area has been about the only section that has struggled. It has been the Speedway track, the night track, pit bike track, enduro cross, I even think it was an ABA Sanctioned BMX track for a short time. Currently it is the PeeWee track and that seems to be working. So there you have it, the evolution of GH and it's many tracks and races. I may have some of the dates a little wrong but that's the best I can remember it.     

uncledaddy69 wrote:

Thank you for taking the time to write this out without using AI 😂

chuckie108 wrote:

Not sure if that's a compliment or not. 🤣 You're welcome either way. Anyone who was around long enough to experience all that going down at...

Not sure if that's a compliment or not. 🤣 You're welcome either way. Anyone who was around long enough to experience all that going down at GH is either too old to buy into AI, or hit their head too many times to comprehend it, or possibly both! LOL

ParkingLotWheelies wrote:

Commenting so I get notifications, I'd love to hear about this too.

sandman768 wrote:

Can you camp out on site with an RV and ride? 

SLAPAHO wrote:

Chuckie108 is spot on.  CMC Golden States were as big as a National back then, it was crazy how many entries there would be in the...

Chuckie108 is spot on.  CMC Golden States were as big as a National back then, it was crazy how many entries there would be in the opening rounds of the series. Both tracks would be packed all day. Stu ran an awesome program. There are also tons of GP trails in the hills, I was more into moto, but the GP's I did there were a blast. 

Here's a soso pic of Animal Leap from 1989. If you went straight instead of turning right at Talladega, that's basically where it was. I wish i still had that custom painted JT lid... 

SLAPAHO wrote:

Chuckie108 is spot on.  CMC Golden States were as big as a National back then, it was crazy how many entries there would be in the...

Chuckie108 is spot on.  CMC Golden States were as big as a National back then, it was crazy how many entries there would be in the opening rounds of the series. Both tracks would be packed all day. Stu ran an awesome program. There are also tons of GP trails in the hills, I was more into moto, but the GP's I did there were a blast. 

Here's a soso pic of Animal Leap from 1989. If you went straight instead of turning right at Talladega, that's basically where it was. I wish i still had that custom painted JT lid... 

RichieW13 wrote:

FYI - at the bottom of each page, there is a link that says "Get Notified About New Comments".  You can just click that without posting...

FYI - at the bottom of each page, there is a link that says "Get Notified About New Comments".  You can just click that without posting to get updates.