ELSINORE GP- VINTAGE RACE

[Hoonson]

I attended day 1 of the Elsinore GP this weekend. If you ever get a chance to check this race out, I highly reccomend it. It's VERY spectator friendly. Elsinore defines the term Grand Prix for offroad racers. A portion of this race is literally run on the PAVED streets of downtown Lake Elsinore, CA.
I was there to cover the quad race for a magazine article, but I just can't get over how cool these old vintage bikes are, as well as the racers who race them. To race in the vintage class, you must be on a bike manufactured in 1974 or earlier, and have no more than 7” suspension travel front and 4” in the rear. There is also a bomber class for bikes built between 1975 to 1980, and a legends class for racers who raced Elsinore in the 1970s.
Many of these bikes have been completely restored. A few of the guys I talked to said it's actually cheaper to buy a completely restored bike than to do it yourself. Other bikes I saw looked as if they were in the pre-restoration stage. Check out the #227 bike with the chrome tank. The owner/racer just picked it up at a garage sale for $32. He had a grand total of $168 in to it to make it race ready, rusty springs and all. That's cheap racing! And these guys have just as much fun out there as the more modern classes. It was incredible watching what must have been 80+ vintage bikes all dicing for that first corner.
Enough of my ranting though. Here are the pics. I know very little about old bikes, so maybe some of you old timers can name some of the bikes in these pics for us. ;)

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80+ Quads begin staging as the Vintage race comes to a close. This was all I got on digital of the quad race, everything else is on slides. There were many big name racers here though, some of which came from as far away as Kentucky. Big name quad racers in attendance included Eichner, Yokley, and even iron man Mike Penland on a Kawaskai Prarie.
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Jeff Henson
Whiplash #21

[Bunk n Teri]

I went to this race 2 years in the early 70's when I first started riding. All those old bikes were state of the art back then! Did they run the side hacks this year? Those guys were crazy! And the Sat.night party on the south end of the lake bed, the lake was dry back then, was a sight to behold. Just amazing no one got killed with cars,bikes and trucks racing around burning hay bales all night long. Those were the Days! Bunk

[u]Wanna keep 'em? Keep ta the trails 'n keep 'em clean!</u>
Green 'n Red Honda 2x Ranchers... Tagged 'n Ready!!!

[Hoonson]

There was one sidehack out there. They race with the quads, just like at the Adelanto GP. There was a Honda Pilot and a Drakkart racing with the quads to. The MC rider on the sidehack was hurt after slamming into a concrete barricade. It looked fairly minor though.

Jeff Henson
Whiplash #21

[kimhuggs1]

Thanks for posting those pictures!! It is really great to see those bikes!!!



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Kim * * 1996 Polaris Trail Boss * *
* * In the desert with a million stars all around * * *
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[Dezrcr]

My back hurts just think about 7 inches of travel! Good picture's, I wish I could have raced it.

Ben Hutchinson
Whiplash #32
BITD #330

Sponsors to thank:
Pit crew,Tucson Steel Dor, MotoWorks,MKB Construction, IMS Products, Sprocket Specalists, Maxxis, Big Gun Exhuast systems, Cycle Gear, Tag/One Industries, Doggone Graphix and Z Moto.

[Lizrdlipz]

Great footage Jeff. I think I may do this one next year.

Steve Feld #31

[Bunk n Teri]

OK racers, what is the date for this race this year? I would really like to go and relive my youth. I do have that old 500 Yamaha that would look good in the vintage race. Need time to prepare. Help an old fart out here.
Bunk

[u]Wanna keep 'em? Keep ta the trails 'n keep 'em clean!</u>
Green 'n Red Honda 2x Ranchers... Tagged 'n Ready!!!

[denny]

bunk those were the good' ole day's racing ' partying,and having fun!!!

denny
2-03 250 arctic cats

[TJyoungBOY]

nice pictures man

[otter_323]

what was the smallest bike out there?

the difference between genius and insainty is that genius has its limmits