Costa Mesa Speedway
Encyclopedia
Costa Mesa Speedway in Costa Mesa, California
USA is a major motorsports venue credited with the renaissance of motorcycle speedway
racing in Southern California.
In 1968, 1937 Speedway World Champion
Jack Milne
and motorcycle enthusiast Harry Oxley teamed up to promote motorcycle racing at the Orange County Fairgrounds (OC Fair & Event Center). Interest in motorcycle speedway racing was minimal for the first two years, but the sport soon enjoyed a rapid increase in popularity.
When Costa Mesa Speedway opened its doors in the summer of 1969, it was at the height of the surfer craze in Southern California; skateboarding
, BMX
and motocross
were becoming popular with the state's middle class. As such, races at the Costa Mesa Speedway became standing room only at the weekly events by 1971. Top riders including World Champions with 13 titles between them Ivan Mauger
(6 times) and Barry Briggs
(4 times) from New Zealand
and Ole Olson (3 time WC) from Denmark
soon made the trip over to challenge the new American speedway riders.
In 1981
, Orange County
native Bruce Penhall
won his first Speedway World Championship, becoming the first American do to so since Jack Milne in 1937. Penhall would repeat as World Champion in 1982
when he won at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
, the only time the World Final was ever held outside of England
or Europe
before the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix
series in 1995.
The popularity of the sport in North America peaked in the late 1970s and remained strong through the end of the century; it has waned somewhat since then. It has remained popular enough to spawn smaller tracks in California, among them tracks in Auburn
, Industry
and Victorville
. European teams closely monitor the talent at these tracks and many riders are recruited by such teams.
Costa Mesa Speedway has enjoyed a host of track announcers over the years including Bruce Flanders, current announcer Terry Clanton and Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee Larry Huffman, well known in Southern California radio markets for his "high-powered" motorsports advertising.
Jack Milne
, Bruce Penhall
, Sam Ermolenko
, Billy Hamill
, Greg Hancock
Other Notable American Speedway Riders:
Cordy Milne
, Kelly Moran
, Shawn Moran
, Bobby Ott
, Scott Autrey
, Rick Woods, Mike Bast, Steve Bast, Sonny Nutter, Danny Becker, Scott Brant
, Mark Cherry, Alan Christian, Bill Cody, John Cook
, Mike Curoso, Dubb Ferrell, Jim Fishback, Gary Hicks, Lance King, Josh Larsen
, Steve Lucero, Rick Miller
, Brad Oxley, Robert Pfetzing, Ron Preston
, Denny Pyeatt, Jeff Sexton, Larry Shaw, Dennis Sigalos
, Dave Sims, Scott Sivadge, Gene Woods ... just to name a few.
More Current 1st Division American Riders:
Bobby Schwartz
, Charlie Venegas
, Billy Janniro
, Billy Hamill
, Greg Hancock
, Ryan Fisher
, Ricky Wells
, Mike Faria, Shawn McConnell, Jimmy Fishback, Eddie Castro, Chris Manchester, Buck Blair, Robbie Sauer, Neil Facchini, Dale Facchini, Brad Sauer, Mike Bloom, Bobby Krips, Tim Gomez
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
USA is a major motorsports venue credited with the renaissance of motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
racing in Southern California.
In 1968, 1937 Speedway World Champion
1937 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1937 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 2, 1937 London, Wembley Stadium...
Jack Milne
Jack Milne
Jack Milne was an international Speedway rider. He became the first American to win a motorcycling world championship when he won the Speedway World Championship in 1937...
and motorcycle enthusiast Harry Oxley teamed up to promote motorcycle racing at the Orange County Fairgrounds (OC Fair & Event Center). Interest in motorcycle speedway racing was minimal for the first two years, but the sport soon enjoyed a rapid increase in popularity.
When Costa Mesa Speedway opened its doors in the summer of 1969, it was at the height of the surfer craze in Southern California; skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
, BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
and motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
were becoming popular with the state's middle class. As such, races at the Costa Mesa Speedway became standing room only at the weekly events by 1971. Top riders including World Champions with 13 titles between them Ivan Mauger
Ivan Mauger
Ivan Mauger, OBE, MBE, is a retired motorcycle speedway rider. He won a record six World Championships, a feat only equalled by Tony Rickardsson of Sweden...
(6 times) and Barry Briggs
Barry Briggs
Barry Briggs MBE from Christchurch, New Zealand is a former Speedway rider.He won the World Individual Championship title four times - in 1957, 1958, 1964 and 1966. He appeared in a record 17 consecutive World Individual finals , and a record 18 in all, during which he scored a record 201 points...
(4 times) from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Ole Olson (3 time WC) from Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
soon made the trip over to challenge the new American speedway riders.
In 1981
1981 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1981 Individual Speedway World Championship.1981 was the last of a record 26 times that London's famous Wembley Stadium hosted the World Final.-World final:*September 5, 1981 London, Wembley Stadium*Referee: Sam Bass-Heat Results:...
, Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
native Bruce Penhall
Bruce Penhall
Bruce Lee Penhall is a retired American motorcycle speedway racer who also starred in television and in film. He was the World Speedway Champion in 1981 and 1982 and rode for the successful Cradley Heath Heathens speedway team in the United Kingdom...
won his first Speedway World Championship, becoming the first American do to so since Jack Milne in 1937. Penhall would repeat as World Champion in 1982
1982 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1982 Individual Speedway World Championship.1982 was the only time the Individual World Final was held outside of the United Kingdom or Europe before the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix series in 1995.-World final:...
when he won at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
, the only time the World Final was ever held outside of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
or Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
before the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix
Speedway Grand Prix
Speedway Grand Prix are a series of stand-alone speedway events over the course of a season used to determine the Speedway World Champion. As of 2008, all of the events take place in Europe.- Event format :...
series in 1995.
The popularity of the sport in North America peaked in the late 1970s and remained strong through the end of the century; it has waned somewhat since then. It has remained popular enough to spawn smaller tracks in California, among them tracks in Auburn
Auburn, California
Auburn is the county seat of Placer County, California. Its population at the 2010 census was 13,330. Auburn is known for its California Gold Rush history.Auburn is part of the Greater Sacramento area.- History :...
, Industry
Industry, California
Industry is an industrial suburb of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County. Home to over 2,500 businesses and 80,000 jobs, but only 219 residents at the 2010 census - down from 777 residents as of the 2000 United States census - the city is almost entirely industrial...
and Victorville
Victorville, California
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
. European teams closely monitor the talent at these tracks and many riders are recruited by such teams.
Costa Mesa Speedway has enjoyed a host of track announcers over the years including Bruce Flanders, current announcer Terry Clanton and Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee Larry Huffman, well known in Southern California radio markets for his "high-powered" motorsports advertising.
Notable Costa Mesa Speedway Riders
Past World Speedway Champions (American):Jack Milne
Jack Milne
Jack Milne was an international Speedway rider. He became the first American to win a motorcycling world championship when he won the Speedway World Championship in 1937...
, Bruce Penhall
Bruce Penhall
Bruce Lee Penhall is a retired American motorcycle speedway racer who also starred in television and in film. He was the World Speedway Champion in 1981 and 1982 and rode for the successful Cradley Heath Heathens speedway team in the United Kingdom...
, Sam Ermolenko
Sam Ermolenko
Guy Allen 'Sudden Sam' Ermolenko is a former Speedway rider. In 1993 he won the Speedway World Championship in Pocking, Germany. He is the older brother of Charles 'Dukie' Ermolenko who also rode in the UK....
, Billy Hamill
Billy Hamill
William Gordon Hamill is an American international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a former Speedway World Champion, winning the title in 1996.-Early career:...
, Greg Hancock
Greg Hancock
Gregory Alan "Greg" Hancock is an American motorcycle speedway rider.He is a current Speedway World Champion and a multiple World Team champion with USA, with whom he is currently captain...
Other Notable American Speedway Riders:
Cordy Milne
Cordy Milne
Cordy Milne was an American international motorcycle speedway rider who finished third in the 1937 Speedway World Championship final, behind his brother Jack and second placed Wilbur Lamoreaux...
, Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran was a professional speedway rider who rode for a number of British clubs and also represented USA....
, Shawn Moran
Shawn Moran
Shawn Moran is a retired former professional speedway rider who was one of the most popular and talented riders ever to race for Sheffield Tigers who also represented USA....
, Bobby Ott
Bobby Ott
Robert William Ott is a former American international motorcycle speedway rider. He was a member of the USA speedway team when they won the 1992 and 1993 World Team Cup Finals....
, Scott Autrey
Scott Autrey
Scott Brian Autrey is a former international speedway rider with the Exeter Falcons - with whom he won the British League title in 1974, Swindon Robins and the Poole Pirates in England. In 1976, he became the first American rider to reach a world final since Ernie Roccio in 1951...
, Rick Woods, Mike Bast, Steve Bast, Sonny Nutter, Danny Becker, Scott Brant
Scott Brant (speedway rider)
Scott Brant is a professional speedway rider in the USA. He is nicknamed "The Dominator". Brant began racing speedway when he was 8-years-old,-Achievements:*2004- Ken Maely Cup Champion*2003- U.S...
, Mark Cherry, Alan Christian, Bill Cody, John Cook
John Cook (speedway rider)
John Kenneth 'Cowboy' Cook is a former American international motorcycle speedway rider. He was represented the USA in several World Team Cup Finals.-Career:...
, Mike Curoso, Dubb Ferrell, Jim Fishback, Gary Hicks, Lance King, Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen is a former American motorcycle speedway rider who was a member of the winning American 1993 Speedway World Team Cup team, rode in the 1994 World Individual Speedway Final and in the 1995 Speedway Grand Prix as permanent rider....
, Steve Lucero, Rick Miller
Rick Miller (speedway rider)
Richard Leonard Miller is a former American international motorcycle speedway rider. Rick won two national BMX titles as a Webco sponsored rider in his early teens. Rick then rode motocross in the southern California area before switching to Speedway...
, Brad Oxley, Robert Pfetzing, Ron Preston
Ron Preston
Ronald Nunan Preston is an American former international motorcycle speedway rider who was World Junior Champion in 1979. Preston began his career at the Poole Pirates in 1979 and spent two years there before moving to the Eastbourne Eagles in 1982...
, Denny Pyeatt, Jeff Sexton, Larry Shaw, Dennis Sigalos
Dennis Sigalos
Arthur Dennis Sigalos is a professional speedway rider in the United States. He became World Pairs Champion with Bobby Schwartz in 1982 and appeared in the 1982 and 1983 Speedway World Finals, finishing in third place in 1982 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum...
, Dave Sims, Scott Sivadge, Gene Woods ... just to name a few.
More Current 1st Division American Riders:
Bobby Schwartz
Bobby Schwartz
Robert Benjamin 'Bobby' Schwartz is a professional speedway rider in the United States. He became World Pairs Champion with Bruce Penhall in 1981 and Dennis Sigalos in 1982....
, Charlie Venegas
Charlie Venegas
Charlie Venegas is a professional speedway rider in the USA. He represented the USA in the 2007 Speedway World Cup....
, Billy Janniro
Billy Janniro
Billy Janniro is a professional speedway rider for the Coventry Bees who represented USA in the 2007 Speedway World Cup. He won the 2008, 2010, 2011 AMA National Speedway Championship.- References :...
, Billy Hamill
Billy Hamill
William Gordon Hamill is an American international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a former Speedway World Champion, winning the title in 1996.-Early career:...
, Greg Hancock
Greg Hancock
Gregory Alan "Greg" Hancock is an American motorcycle speedway rider.He is a current Speedway World Champion and a multiple World Team champion with USA, with whom he is currently captain...
, Ryan Fisher
Ryan Fisher
Ryan Fisher is an American international motorcycle speedway rider.-Career:Fisher began riding in the United Kingdom for Coventry in 2002 and has since riddden for Oxford and Belle Vue. He was a doubling up riding for a second successive season at Edinburgh on the Premier side and Swindon on the...
, Ricky Wells
Ricky Wells
Ricky Wells , is an American international motorcycle speedway rider and the current US National Champion. He is also a two time U.S. Under 21 National Champion...
, Mike Faria, Shawn McConnell, Jimmy Fishback, Eddie Castro, Chris Manchester, Buck Blair, Robbie Sauer, Neil Facchini, Dale Facchini, Brad Sauer, Mike Bloom, Bobby Krips, Tim Gomez