Paul Orlandi

April 30, 1950 - July 2006

1984 - Northern California Champion
1974 - Northern California Champion

I met Paul when I was a photographer at Auburn in the mid 1980's. Paul loved to stop and chat and would tell me all about the track and every bump and rut that was in it that night. A truly nice gentleman and it was very hard when he told me he had cancer about a year before he passed away. I really enjoyed his company and his stories about racing speedway and his other love of road racing. A true racer for sure... RC Jones

Paul Orlandi story. The front of his leathers had nothing on it and one night in Napa, we walked over to a bingo game on the fair grounds after the races. We saw a ticket taker with a leather vest with a big dragon on the back. I said to Paul, that's what you need for your leathers. He laughed and then walked over to the guy and talked him into selling his vest. Next week Paul had it on the front of his leathers. Miss my friend... Roondog Mike Rooney

Rider Number: 5
Hometown: Grass Valley, California - USA
Date of Birth: April 30, 1950
Deceased: July 2006 - following a 2 year battle with cancer.
Children: Rachelle, Chris, Vanessa
Relatives that race or did race Speedway: Son Chris Orlandi, Brother Steve Orlandi
Date Started Speedway: 1972 - 2002
Reason to Race Speedway:
Goals or Ambitions for Speedway:
1999 Photo from Gary Roberts Action Photo: RC Jones

Also raced Open Superbike and AMA Pro Thunder.
"Paul rode Speedway from 1972 till 1991. Yesterday morning I was reading through a friend's old Speedway programs, and there was Paul Orlandi's name as a second division rider in a 1972 Baylands program. This year, after a 7 year break, he is back, and brought his son, Chris. He spent the first two or three weeks getting back into the swing, but now looks totally comfortable as demonstrated by this win. Gary Roberts.

Tracks Ridden:
USA: Bakersfield Speedway - Dixon - Fast Friday Speedway, Auburn - Solano County Fairgrounds, Sports Arena, Vallejo - Cal Expo, Sacramento - Ventura - Cycleland, Chico - Ascot -Folsom - Napa - Reno - Baylands - San Bernardino

Achievements:
2002 - Fast Fridays Events Jun 14, Jul 5, Jul 12, Aug 9, Aug 30
2001 - Fast Fridays Events May 18, May 25, Jun 1, Jun 15, Jun 22, Jun 29, Jul 6, Jul 20, Aug 3, Aug 10, Aug 24, Aug 31
2001 - Cal Expo Events Jun 16, Jun 30, Jul 7, Jul 14, Jul 28, Aug 4
2000 - Fast Fridays Events Jun 2, Jun 16, Jun 23, Jun 30, Jul 14, Jul 21, Jul 28, Aug 4, Aug 11, Aug 18, Aug 25
2000 - Cal Expo Events Jun 10, Jun 17, Jun 24, Aug 5
1999 - Cycleland, Chico May 29
1999 - Fast Fridays Events Jun 18, Aug 20
1999 - Cal Expo Events Jun 26, Jul 10, Aug 7
1982 - Finished 13th in US Nationals

RC Jones Photo at Cal Expo ~1989