Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California
Harley Night #1
May 11, 2024 - Costa Mesa Speedway
By Howie Zechner
Track Announcer Terry Clanton
After what can only be described as a dreadful start to the 2024 Speedway race season after the forced cancellation of the April 13, Spring Classic – Jack Milne Cup because of rain, Mother Nature finally smiled and blossomed with that perfect day of sun and warmth Southern California is so well known for.
One must understand that Speedway here at the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds is more than racing. It’s a happening with roots that go back over a half century when 1937 World Champion Jack Milne and Harry Oxley first promoted here. Riders became legends as the facility gained fame for its tight, take no prisoners racing.
Some claim Costa Mesa is the greatest Speedway track in America. A silly statement at best as everyone knows the best race track is whichever one you are at. And each has a different appeal as some are longer, wider have a different race surface or better safety fencing. Still anyone making such a rash statement would not get an argument from many. After all since it opened on June 13, 1969 this small Bullring has produced four World Champions and if upcoming racer Luke Becker gets his way a 5th may be coming.
Anxious to hear the motors rumble and smell burning fuel and rubber Billy Gray, Ernie Aragon and I arrived hours early. Already crowded and busy Harley Night is always popular as it allows heavy American iron to compete on the small 1/8 mile dirt racetrack. This also translates into a crowed pit area as those bikes share space with the Speedway and Sidecar machines.
Elated that their wait is finally over fellow competitors trade stories and happenings. For some this is the first time they have seen each other since the National Championship was held here on September 23, 2023.
The number of spectators waiting to get in was incredible. Many had been standing in a long ticket line for quite some time before the gates opened at 6pm. Greeted to Rock and Roll from the high energy Durty Watur band, a free race program featuring the 50 years of Shawn McConnell racing on the front cover and a dozen or more vendors selling everything from shirts, motorcycle parts, legal services and more. It was party central as the crowd enjoyed the pre-race festivity.
Track announcer Terry Clanton entertained, plugged sponsors, greeted guests and VIP’s till Alexandra Castle sung the National anthem and the first race run.
Although Speedway is not a contact sport the saying rubbing is racing is surely true here. After all the machines are lightweight frames with a 500cc motor stuffed in them. And these alcohol powered bikes have NO Brakes. Nope to slow them down the rider must apply full throttle. It sounds crazy cause it is crazy. But crazy or not it is the truth.
A stellar program with all the hot shoes including National Champion #1 Max Ruml, “Outlaw Racing” # 7 Austin Novratil, #14 “Fast” Eddie Castro, Ascot/Chris Agajanian sponsored #98 Broc Nicol, multi gold medal winner #11 Bobby Schwartz, 4 time World Champion Greg Hancock son #117 Wilbur Hancock, Perris Speedway promoter #46 Aaron Fox, #6 Shawn McConnell, #28 Slater Lightcap, #30 Alex Martin, #312 Russell Green, #214 Michael Wells, #137 Justin Almon, #123 Jordan Vanderham, #49 John Wilder and # 68 Mark Fillebrown. Throw in an additional 18 racers for the lower 2nd and 3 divisions, plus ten 1000cc Sidecar jockeys and you have a program that will keep you on the edge of your seat all night.
Almost forgot, this is Harley Night and that means there were an additional 10 races of motorized motor madness as riders with names like “the horn guy, grass man, chopper dude and ape hanger man, raced their street hogs on the small oval. Now don’t get the wrong idea as there are some truly seasoned racers on these big bikes but they have their hands full trying to thread the needle and win.
A night filled with excitement, going to see Speedway is an experience like no other. Fact is its addictive as coming to one race meet can make you a lifetime fan. Think not, well come-on down and experience the impossible for yourself. For sure you’ll be shaking your head saying How they do that.
Everyone who raced on this night deserves credit but the man with all the right moves was #98 Broc Nicol. Winning all his Heat races, the Semi and the Main Event he was simply unstoppable. An amazing feat especially when one factors in that the night before he was 450 miles away racing at Fast Fridays in Northern California.
Video of the racing can be seen on the RAZ Video Production page
See all 200+ pictures on Facebook
Below is the nights complete scoring.
Thanks for listening, see you where the wheels go round.
Howie Zechner
Scratch Main Event
98 - Broc Nicol
1 - Max Ruml
7 - Austin Novratil
46 - Aaron Fox
First Division Semi Final
1 - Max Ruml
7 - Austin Novratil
30n - Alex Martin
321 - Russell Green
First Division Semi Final
98 - Broc Nicol
46 - Aaron Fox
28 - Slater Lightcap
214 - Michael Wells
Second Division Main Event
182 - Rudy Laurer
37 - Joe Donaldson
163 - Ron Davis
290 - Harold Hartke (engine failure)
Third Division Main Event
246 - Brec Barrett
313 - Paige Newsham
400 - Avant LeGarde (fell, remounted)
101 - Jake Scarborough (non starter)
138 - Jim Sanders (non starter)
Sidecar Main Event
911 - Stuart Glass/Jack Straw
1 - Joe Jones/Tom Summers
07 - Kevin Kale/Jen Hernandez
11 - Kevin Holman/Weston Farnsworth
Division One Points
1- Max Ruml 8
6- Shawn McConnell 4
7- Austin Novratil 8
11- Bobby Schwartz 0
14- Eddie Castro 2
28- Slater Lightcap 6
30- Alex Martin 6
46- Aaron Fox 8
49- John Wilder 0
68- Mark Fillebrown 2
98- Broc Nicol 9
117- Wilbur Hancock 4
123- Jordan Vanderham 2
137- Justin Almon 3
214 - Michael Wells 4
321- Russell Green 6
Division Two Points
34- Archie Perez 3
37- Joe Donaldson 5
111- David Newsham 4
113- Tony Rutledge 2
150- Damon Barry 1
159- Kevin Fiore 4
163- Ron Davis 5
175- Jake Myers 2
178- Eloy Medellin 1
182- Rudy Laurer 6
250- Jacob Wondolowski 4
290- Harold Hartke 5
299- Rayson Normandin 3
327- Tyler Moszer 3
227- Luke Whitcomb 0
373- Bob Peet 0
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