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My parents and I went to watch a few USGPs during our vacation from AZ during 1977-83 and hadn't been back since, so my wife and I took our kids to Lego Land last year and stopped by the track (kinda hard to find going by memory) here are a few pictures...
The "today" pictures are interesting as well, legendary tracks like Carlsbad, Indian Dunes, and Saddleback get closed down due to "progress" and yet decades later remain in nearly the same condition. Granted, the buildings and houses are a little closer, but so much remains of the old ground it really makes you wish they could have held on a little longer.
The Shop
No whoop sections and only a few jumps was fine with me. I never got accustomed to the hard pack being from Ohio but the few times it was tacky I had my best finishes....mind you this was in the Vet class not in the pro ranks.
hehehe
Thanks for posting that scottie
RIP Bimbo and Moates
Rode a TT500, in the 70s, and if you remember, how a 4-stroke would hook up there. Then again, in the early 80s, rode a trick TT600.
Rode YZ125s & YZ250s a lot there, then got mad at My Yamaha deal, and bought a XR400, in 1995 (Pre-production) IMS built the shit out of it, and that was my favorite bike at Carlsbad...even better than my last ride on a CRF450.
One thing about Carlsbad, when you showed up, it was rough. No whoop section, no big jumps, a lot of elevation change, a lot of off camber. A whole lot of bumps, a few drop offs, or drop aways, and it was longer than most tracks. But...It was a true Motocross track, and will remain my favorite.
It was the "House of Moates" !
That video was great, thanks for posting.
Pit Row
If I'd had a shovel, I'd have cleared it off before it is lost for all time.
In the pic above of the start pad, the area to the left is all overgrown, as is most of what you see on the far end of the pad.
The only part exposed seems to be about a 4ft area just this side of the nearest bush on the right.
Next time I go down I may just clear it off myself if no one else has done it
I was a regular from 88 til circa 98 when REM moved to GH. I broke third gear on my 500 on the uphill. My memories are ROUGH terrain not whoops like Millville or whoops in SX. I had riding buddies who wouldn't race Carlsbad because it was too rough.
Just loved (not) hearing how one guy in particular would talk about clearing a big jump while practicing at Perris.
BFD
EDIT After REM left Carlsbad they added a whoop section at the top of the downhill. Think I raced there once.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vObsQfFsg3U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7aw24TRN1s
I remember racing there every other week with CMC. Saddleback and Carlsbad was the norm with Saddleback Saturday also. Then throw in OCIR Thursday and Corona Friday nights... we raced 4 times a week in the summer. But some of by best memories were going to the Suzuki School of Motocross at Carlsbad.
It will be very special and super cool!
We'll need all the help we can get so stay involved!
https://www.facebook.com/Carlsbad-Raceway-Memorial-163913233621152/
Thanks!
Todd
Question for the historians- What was it like riding a 500 compared to a 250 there? Seems like the big bumps might have been easier to soak up on the lighter bikes. Were the lap times similar? Cant get enough of the 500 vids
Post a reply to: Carlsbad USGP a look back from 1977-82 (Fixed)