Ask a biker what else he likes besides motorcycles and the response is likely to include hot rods and firearms; firearms will be saved for another time, hot rods will be covered now.
The All American Speedway (Roseville), www.allamericanspeedway.com, invited River City Harley Riders (RCHR) members and family to attend the Saturday night NASCAR Races on August 14th, a designated "Kids Night," and, to provide the Color Guard for the Flag Presentation.
This author arrived around 5pm and wandered around the pits taking pictures for this article and for the RCHR website, www.rchri.com, for which he is the webmaster. Some cars were ready and sitting under a pop-up tent, waiting; others were getting last minute work. The amount of money at each pit slot is staggering, for the car (maybe $100,000), the trailer, all the tools in the trailer, and the hauler for the trailer - an expensive hobby indeed, and a fun one!
Pre-race events included Trophy Dashes with interviews of the winners and a news paper toss at a waste basket in the center of the helicopter pad with about 100 kids - news paper into the basket to win a new BMX bike or land it the in the center circle to qualify for the next round, then about twenty qualified kids threw the newspaper at the basket while riding the new BMX, two of them threw it into the circle, one round of toss-off and a happy winner was declared.
Seven o'clock was race time opening with an invocation followed by the thunder of fifteen Harleys circling the track and stopping at the finish line to present the Colors. The National Anthem was oh so movingly sung by a local little girl who did not miss a single word. Racing on the steeply banked 0.3 mile track began with Main Event #1 for 44 laps won by Matt Scott, an 18 year old from Pine Grove. Then Baby Grands, Bombers, Late Models, Mini Cups and Street Stocks ran with the last race being Main Event #2 for 44 laps won by Galt's Juan Pitta. If you like riveting side by side, sometimes three wide in the turns, racing, then the All American Speedway is the place.
RCHRs also participate in various Patriot Guard Riders,' www.patriotguard.org, and Warriors' Watch Riders,' www.warriorswatch.org, missions for soldier(s)' send-off, welcome-home and escort. Participation in missions is a very personal choice and decision; visit these organizations' websites for more information, and/or scroll down through the "Events in Review" on the RCHR event photos page to view photos from RCHR's missions support.
Rick Barba, a RCHR member, began dirt track racing on a Triumph 650 when he was so small he could not even reach the ground when seated on the bike - think about what a ride that must have been for that fearless little dude! Rick is also into fast cars and has been a pit crew member with the 98 team and owner since 1976. The driver, Troy Regier, has driven for Team 98 for six years and has won four out of six championships, and won the Super Modified Racing Association West Coast Championship eight times in recent years. Troy races regularly at the Madera track, www.racemadera.com and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, www.lvms.com. The race shop in Carson City, Nevada, designs, builds and maintains their own super modified racing cars. The racing folks at the All American Speedway thought it would be cool to have a motorcycle Color Guard and knew Rick rides a Harley and asked Rick if it would be possible... Rick presented the opportunity to the RCHR Board of Directors, sent announcements and announcement updates to the to the RCHR members, coordinated the ticket distribution for members and families not riding with the Color Guard and facilitated the pit passes for the RCHR color guard and this author/photographer's pit and track access for the photos you see here and the still more displayed on the RCHR website (click on "Event Photos" in the "Main" menu and look for this event). Thank you very much Rick!
Russell "Raz" Holder
KNUCKLEHEADS FOREVER!
