Costa Mesa Speedway

Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California

Knobby Night
September 10, 2022 - Costa Mesa
Report by Howie Zechner

Knobby Night - Costa Mesa Speedway - 9/10/22

Speedways the main but just one in the game that makes Costa Mesa so popular. Hard to explain but the track is like a pub or sports bar. It’s a special place where fans cheer as brakeless motorcycles dance around a small dirt oval in front of them.

What’s new, where you been or going, how’s your other, the wife, kids, car and bike comments all play a part that has made this the place to meet and greet for the last 52 years.
Yes of course everyone loves the racing action. Kids, families, regular Joes and Jane’s. Hot chicks, macho men, even the old attend. They in turn become an energy force. Kind of like a giant tsunami that becomes a happening of fun and excitement. One can’t help but to be swept up in it.

Then there’s the live band. Before and after the races they play as people dance, or walk the large courtyard, talk with vender's, and enjoy food and drink.

Naturally there’s a concession booth to purchase Costa Mesa Speedway, T-Shirts and decals. Don’t forget to grab a free program if you didn’t get one coming in.

Ever wonder who took all those great pictures you see in the program or on the multitude of banners and posters that hang everywhere. Well Costa Mesa is blessed to have some very talented photographers.

Unfortunately many spectators are totally unaware that these cameramen sell the pictures they take. Action shots, crash, rider are all available in most any size you want. No question that if you want the coolest souvenir these guys can supply it. Just go into the pits once the racing is over and ask them about it. Bring a pen and the racers will gladly autograph those pictures for you.

He’s such a hoot I have to mention announcer Terry Clanton again. This cowboy, actor, racer has done it all. The protégé of his friend the late Bruce Flanders, TC has mastered the art of entertaining and informing. Wildly popular his antics and comments are a show in itself. FYI, Terry is related to Ike Clanton and wrote a book titled, Wyatt Earp murdered my cousin. Ask him about it, Terry loves to talk.

The entertainment value and race venue hear in the Bullring has been really high this year. Harley Night, Jumpers, Knobby Night, are wildly popular. Crazy stuff, if you haven’t been there’s still have a couple of opportunities to do so. Smiles are guaranteed.

Of course Speedway and Sidecars are King. They are a spectacular blast of high energy that takes your breath away.

There are only four more race dates on the 2022 Costa Mesa schedule. THIS Saturday September 24 with Speedway, Sidecars and Juniors.

The 52nd United States National Speedway Championship on October 1 is arguably our most important event. A humdinger that decides who wears the #1 plate it is a premier night of Speedway racing that attracts the best racers in America.

October 8 will feature the Harley Night Finals and Sidecar World Championship and the October 15, Fall Classic will close our season.

Hopefully the California Fairgrounds Board will treat International Speedway nicely so dates may be finalized and a 2023 Costa Mesa race schedule can be released to the public.
Unfortunately this process is one where we are left out of the decision process so we have to sit and wait for their decision.

This I can promise: Costa Mesa Speedway will run next year and is looking to expand with additional race dates, stay tuned.

Posting some pictures of our last 8/10/22 Knobby Night event. A nightmare scenario that had So Cal going from weeks of 100 degree weather to a giant rain storm that flooded the track 14 hours before the race. Waiting on the storm to pass everything was up in the air till the last minute when at 10am Brad Oxley made the decision to race that evening. Then he and the crew went to work and created a race surface that delivered. FYI, have to give a big shout out to all the crew that work their butt off every week, thanks guys.

A damp track and cooler temperatures made for some phenomenal racing. Here are a couple of race tidbits worth mentioning.

After his first return to Costa Mesa since 1992, Rocket Ronnie Correy was on the program. Already hurt from a crash at the US Open in New York the week before the Rocket made a good showing but only raced two rounds. It was wonderful to see him on the track again.

Max Ruml won every one of his heats, the semi and main. He is the master and will be the man to beat at the United States National Speedway Championship. Way to go Mad Max. Here is the Main Event video link.

Mark Fillebrown won the Division 2 Main (video link) and Jordan Vanderham the Division 3 Main (video link).

Have to mention Division 3 fourth place finisher Tim McGrath who drove here from Texas to compete.

Yes it was Knobby Night so chaos ruled the roost. Everything from electric-powered 50cc bikes to dirt motorcycles of various engine displacement ripping up the track with their knobby tires. If Speedway racing was the ballet then the Knobby Tire class is mud wrestling. No bad intended cause everyone went home with a smile after Knobby mania was completed.
All in all another outstanding evening watching the wheels go round. If you weren’t there then get it together. There are only four more meets before we’re done and the 2022 season sunsets.

Your attention please: Costa Mesa Speedway will run this Saturday, September 24 with speedway, sidecars, and juniors on the program.

Thanks for Listening, See you where the wheels go round.

Howie Zechner
Press officer

For the complete score and points from this race or that from most every American Speedway track go to speedwaybikes.com The brainchild of RC Jones his website also features the names and info on almost every US rider along with countless pages of information, commentary and pictures.

Scratch Main Event
5 - Max Ruml
24 - Gino Manzares
7 - Austin Novratil
6 - Shawn McConnell

Scratch Consolation
28 - Slater Lightcap
15 - Dukie Ermolenko
14 - Eddie Castro
12 - Randy DiFrancesco

Semi #1: Novratil, McConnell, Ermolenko, Lightcap
Semi #2: Ruml, Manzares, Castro, DiFrancesco

Second Division Main Event
168 - Mark Fillebrown
249 - John Wilder
182 - Rudy Laurer
327 - Tyler Moszer

Second Division Consolation
290 - Harold Hartke
227 - Luke Whitcomb
175 - Jake Myers
296 - Andrew Russell (retired)

Third Division Main Event
123 - Jordan Vanderham
106 - Isaiah Canales
69e - Alan Bernklau
186 - Tim McGrath

Third Division Consolation
198 - Mike Boyle
169 - Dan Wensloff

Mini 150 Main Event
169 - Kayd Fiore
5 - Brandon Soto

First Division Heat Scoring 1 2 3 T
5 – Max Ruml 3 3 3 9
6 – Shawn McConnell 2 3 2 7
7 – Austin Novratil 3 2 3 8
11 – Bobby Schwartz 0 1 0 1
12 – Randy DiFrancesco 1 0 2 3
14 – Eddie Castro 1 1 3 5
15 – Dukie Ermolenko 2 2 1 5
20 – Ronnie Correy 0 2 N 2
24 – Gino Manzares 2 3 2 7
28 – Slater Lightcap 3 1 1 5
137 – Justin Almon 0 0 1 1
214 – Micheal Wells 1 0 0 1

Heat Results
1: (restarted) Lightcap, Ermolenko, Castro, Correy (penalty line)
2: (restarted) Ruml, Manzares, DiFrancesco, Almon
3: Novratil, McConnell, Wells, Schwartz
8: (restarted) McConnell, Correy, Lightcap (penalty line), Wells (fell, remounted)
9: Ruml, Ermolenko, Castro, DiFrancesco
10: Manzares, Novratil, Schwartz, Almon
15: Ruml, DiFrancesco, Almon, Correy (non starter)
16: Novratil, Manzares, Lightcap, Wells
17: Castro, McConnell, Ermolenko, Schwartz