The Roadracing World Air Fence Fund reached $121,458 with an expanded mission of funding Air Fence not only for use at AMA Pro Racing events but also at F-USA, WERA, CCS and affiliated races.

The latest donations were headed by $2900 from Tom Chauncey/Team Wreckless/Pro Thunder #42/AMA 332406, while Anthony and Aaron Gobert sent $1000 and Terry Knott sent $500. C. Renard Fiscus sent $250, as did Bruce and Edith Lind. The Road Atlanta Crash Truck Crews kicked in $111, Robert Kennedy/AFM #995 donated $100, and Mauro Cereda sent $100 In Memory of Jamie Bowman. Jason K. Michelson sent $50, while Ronnie Reyes/CMRA donated $25 and Kathleen Mc Laughlin sent $25

Letters from readers about the Air Fence Fund also arrived.

AFM racer Scott Baldwin wrote: “When I started racing at Sears Point in 1975 anybody that crashed in 10 headed right for a bare concrete wall. On lap one of a 450cc Production race in 1979 a guy went into the wall head-on directly in front of me. The bike flipped up and hurled him completely over the track boundary fence. He broke both ankles when he landed on the downslope of the drainage ditch by the highway. Never saw him again. I saw that wall end several riding careers, and destroy more motorcycles. After watching Aaron Yates bounce up after going head-first into the Air Fence-protected wall, I’m TOTALLY convinced of its effectiveness. Instead of starring at his own funeral next week, he’ll be heading off to race at Road Atlanta. A much better alternative. I’m hoping that your Air Fence project will get Air Fence installed on the outside of Turn Nine next year. Keep up the good work. John Woo is gone, but not forgotten.”

Sue Gobert, mother and manager of Anthony and Aaron Gobert, wrote: “I would like to pledge a contribution to the Air Fence Fund for $1,000 from Anthony and Aaron Gobert. The boys are happy to contribute to such a good cause and are grateful to you for taking the time and effort to raise the money. It could save their lives one day and is something that everyone should at least contribute a little something. Anyway, thanks again. Best wishes.”

A member of The Road Atlanta Crash Truck Crew wrote: “My name is Mike Marquez. Me and some of my friends will be working the three crash trucks at the Big Kahuna next weekend. I called in a pledge of $111 for the ‘Road Atlanta Crash Truck Crews.’ I put up the initial $111 and the rest of my crews will add to it by Friday, May 18th. We will personally bring our pledge then. My e-mail is to also CHALLENGE any corner workers, Safety Personal, EMTs,etc. to MATCH or BEAT our pledge. Someone made the comment to me,’With all that safe Air Fence, won’t that put you out of a job?’ To the contrary, it just makes it a whole lot safer for us to be out there doing what we LOVE. My job is to pick up crashed bikes, not crashed dudes! I also received a sponsorship from the local Suzuki dealer of shirts for one day for the Crash Truck crew’s for one day. My plan is to wear the shirts to the gathering on Friday night and all day Saturday. Added to each shirt will be a small tribute to our late friend Jamie Bowman. Thanks for your time. SEE YA AT THE RACES.”

Jason K. Michelson wrote “Enclosed is a check for $50 to help out with the purchase Air Fence. I know this is barely a drop in the bucket, but it’s really about all I can afford right now. I hope it helps out in the form of freight, tax or import duties. Hell, even some fuel for the semi-truck. Please use it in the best way you see fit.”

Mauro Cereda wrote, “I just returned from racing at Sears Point this weekend. I’m from Italy where protection for the riders is paramount. I know road racing is not the big money making sport here in the states but protection should be just as important. I lost my good friend Jamie Bowman last year when he hit a wall racing at Laguna Seca. If there had been an Air Fence there, I know that he would still be with us here today. My wife and I would like to make a donation in his memory. Thank you.”

Bruce Lind wrote, “Bruce and Edith Lind would like to pledge $250 for Air Fence. After 37 years of competition it is about time someone took on the issue of rider safety. As a rider who has tested haybales and Armco more than I would like to admit, I would like to personally thank John Ulrich for starting this and all the contributors for making my favorite past time less dangerous. With luck I will not have to have any more friends learn to live in a wheelchair. I just wish the AMA would have done it on their own and not have had to be forced into it!”

The contributor list now reads:
Erik Buell/Buell Motorcycle Company $5800
Trent Thompson/Paramount Racing $5000
Anonymous $4725
Dynojet Research $3200
Steve Brubaker/Race Tire Service $3000
Willow Springs Int’l Raceway $3000
John Ulrich/Roadracing World $2900
Aprilia USA $2900
American Suzuki Motor Corp. $2900
Ducati North America $2900
Jonathan Glaefke $2900
Susie and Bruce Meyers/BCM Racing Ducati $2900
Wegman Benefit Fund/Gordon Lunde Sr. $2900
Performance Machine $2900
Dunlop Motorcycle Tire Co. $2900
Max McAllister/Traxxion Dynamics $2900
Tom Chauncey/Team Wreckless $2900
Wendell Phillips/Lockhart Phillips $2500
Advanced Motor Sports/In Memory of Dirk Piz $2000
L.A. Bikers/labiker.org $1810
Dennis Smith/Sport Tire Services $1500
Marc Salvisberg/Factory Pro Tuning $1450
Bob Dragich/Roadracing World $1450
Fred Renz/Yoyodyne $1450
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing $1450
Bob Blandford/N.E. Sportbike Assn. $1100
Chuck Warren/Arclight Suzuki $1000
Jim Rashid/4&6 Cycle $1000
Scott Willock/In Memory of Larry Schwarzbach $1000
Don Emde/In Memory of Cal Rayborn $1000
Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School $1000
Mark E. Dobeck/Techlusion Performance Group $1000
G.M.D. Computrack Network $1000
California Superbike School $1000
Tachyon Racing/Tachyon Sports Injury Research Foundation $1000
Team Pro-Motion Sportbike Club $1000
Anthony and Aaron Gobert $1000
Intrepid Café Racers $775
Yoshimura Racing $750
Team Daemon Racing $600
Don Lemelin/Scuderia West $500
Kevin Erion/Erion Racing $500
Pinky’s Pizza of Walnut Creek $500
Doug Gonda $500
Jerry Wood/Penguin School $500
Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports $500
Jim Davis/J6 Racing/In Memory of Dirk Piz $500
Brooks Gremmels/Shogun Motorsports $500
Jim Di Salvo/Alien Racing $500
Dale Kieffer/Racers Edge Performance $500
The Plummer Menapace Group $500
Reg Kitrelle $500
Specialty Sports Ltd/Teknic $500
Ronnie Lunsford/Northwest Honda $500
Bob Holcomb $500
Aaron Yates $500
James D. Randolph $500
OMRRA $500
Terry Knott $500
Bill St. John/Project Monza $400
Jon Rust $400
Jerry Jirkovsky $330
Richard Hood/Reptillian Racing $300
Edward S. Siccardi, Jr. $300
Dan Fischer/Copier1.com $300
David Finniff $300
Marietta Motorsports $300
Brendan Guy $300
Dean Scarpa $300
Anonymous $300
Kurtis Roberts $300
James Siddall/World Sports/Corbin Grand Prix $300
“Old Slo Gene Templet”/CMRA $300
Eric Kelcher/Blockworks $300
Scott Fisher/Fisher Technical Services $250
Chris Pyles & Beth Walters $250
Peter Hively $250
Brian Mitchell $250
Al Ludington $250
Tim Simpson $250
Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing $250
David Roy, Ducati N. America $250
Debbie Roy/Frenotec $250
Joshua Hayes $250
Gina Nadeau $250
Jeannne Pyles $250
John Ross/Ross Racing $250
Brian Cincera $250
C. Renard Fiscus $250
Bruce & Edith Lind $250
Papa Thiam/WERA BBS $200
Bill Capshaw/ICE Motorsports $200
Scott Decker $200
Terry Embury $200
Jim “Dutch” MacKenzie/WERA BBS $200
Scott Jenkins/Desmoto-sport $200
Cliff Nobles $200
Jodie York/RPM Cycles Ventura/WSMC #11 $200
Mostro.org/Jeffrey Fillmore $200
Jeff Bowis $200
Rich & Lynda Alexander/In Memory of Dirk Piz $200
Nils Menton $200
Melissa Tomlinson/G-Man Racing $200
DP Enterprises $200
MZ Scorpion Cup Racers $175
Chris Kelley/California Cycleworks $150
Robb Mc Elroy $150
Tim Chin/Team Bandit $150
Ed & Catherine Sorbo $150
Damon Buckmaster $150
Chris Hamilton/Grand Prix Direct $150
Marc Palazzo/Synergy Racing Honda $150
Texas Sport Bike Association $150
Stuart Stratton/Stratton Racing $150
Jim Williams/13x.com $125
David Boosales/WERA BBS $125
Mike Brown/Team 222 $125
Pete Martins $125
Road Atlanta Crash Truck Crews $111
Chris Normand/Firestorm Racing $101
Pat Stricker $100
Gary Rand/In Memory of Rusty Bradley $100
Michael Roberson/WERA BBS $100
Sean Jordan/WERA BBS $100
Army of Darkness $100
Stuart Gregg $100
Pinky’s Pizza/Lippman Racing $100
Bob Szoke $100
TyrSox $100
Ron West/Omzig Productions $100
Joe Facer $100
Preston Rash $100
Geoff Maloney/GP Tech $100
Melissa Berkoff/Neighbor Of The Beast $100
Caesar Gonzales/WERA BBS $100
Dorina Groves $100
Dorina Groves/In Memory of Jamie Bowman $100
Philip Rusin/RC51.net $100
Allen “Spence” Spencer $100
Matt Wadsworth $100
Dean N. De St. Croix $100
Tony Tugwell/TZ250.com $100
Bart Fuqua/Team LGC $100
Brian Stokes/Marietta Motorsports $100
Chris “Opie” Caylor/Marietta Motorsports $100
David McElvain/NEDoD $100
Ned “Peanut” Brown/NESBA/TPM $100
Vance Hacecky $100
Patrick Mee $100
Dave and Jason Parker $100
Paul Kingsburgh/RC45.net $100
Lucky Deleoni $100
Tom Drumm $100
David Brown $100
Steve Moonitz/Team Squid Pro Quo $100
Jake Swan $100
Chris Story $100
Chris Eklund $100
Randy Ball/WERA BBS $100
Mark Hellvig $100
Gary Schilling/On Time Racing/WERA BBS $100
Steve Sumner $100
Laura Granato/WERA BBS $100
Norm Viano/Lawdog Sports Mgmt $100
Kevin Jordan/Jordan Motorsports $100
Val Gregory/In Memory of Dirk Piz $100
Dave Gess $100
Rob Berlind $100
Paul Black $100
Steve Hewitt $100
Mike Ciccotto $100
Tripp Nobles $100
Scott Rehl $100
Steve & Lorraine Aledort $100
Jeff Rozycki/29dreams.com Racing $100
Chris Ulrich/In Memory of Russ Paulk And Toby Jorgensen $100
Giorgio Milesi/Galfer Brakes USA $100
Al Lyons/CMRRA $100
Linda Hopkins $100
John Hopkins/In Memory of Jamie Bowman and Toby Jorgensen $100
Vicky&Michael Menard $100
Silvia Salenius/Ducati.net Online $100
HG Racing/AMA Pro Thunder $100
Red Fox Racing $100
Greg Ruffin $100
John Donald/PTC Racing $100
Larry Pegram $100
Pamela Skaff/WERA BBS $100
J.D. Hord/Meccanica Corse Racing $100
Mark Sutton $100
Steve Scott/LRRS#47 $100
Eric Putter $100
Jim Doerfler $100
Ira Englebardt $100
Joe & Nancy Fenech $100
Earl Hayden $100
Chuck Sorensen $100
D&D Thrush Farms $100
Jeff Wilson/American Suzuki $100
Adam Vella/Webcrush Racing $100
Chuck Gault/Motobama $100
Gary Longren $100
Stephan Hottenrott $100
David Kunzelman $100
C.R. “Critter” Gittere/WERA BBS $100
John Light/Lightsmith Racing $100
Ken & Arlene Block (Ed Sorbo’s Mom) $100
Chris Link/CMRA/In Memory of Jamie Bowman $100
Josh Steinberg $100
Broad Squad/CCS NE $100
Logan Young $100
Bob & Sherrie Young $100
Ann Sands $100
Troy Green/www.TG-Racing.com $100
Colin Fowler $100
Asphalt & Gas $100
CelentoHenn Architecture + Design $100
Norm Mc Donald/CMRA $100
Andrew S. Mueller $100
Mary Miskovic $100
Mark Van Hoff/The Plastic Doctor/WERA BBS $100
Robert Kennedy/AFM#995 $100
Mauro Cereda/In Memory of Jamie Bowman $100
Tyson Kamp $75
Vito Dionisio/WERA BBS $75
Kelly Thornton $58
Erica B. Smith & John F.X. Walsh $55
Max Buxton/NEDoD $50
Nelo Hakola $50
Tyler Sandell $ 50
David J. Kopfinger $ 50
Aaron Loyd $50
Martin Voelker $50
Steve Hopkins $50
Louis DeBlois $50
Leigh Taunton/EMGO $50
Randy Sinisi $50
Danny Hull $50
Team Skidmark Racing $50
Ryan Meskimen/WERA BBS $50
Erik Astrup $50
Paul Zavada $50
James Greeson/WERA BBS $50
Victor Mokler $50
Steve Clark/J. Guthridge/Tight Squeeze Racing $50
Nate Olsen $50
Anthony Moey $50
Dustin Miller $50
Jim Frost/NEDoD $50
Steve Martinez $50
Jason Temme/Serpent Racing $50
Mike Hodgson/WERA BBS $50
Chris Borre/Motorcycleroadracer.com $50
Richard Barker/AIM/In Memory of Dirk Piz $50
Mike Reish/Reish Dot Net $50
Kenyon Kluge/K2 Racing $50
Darin Nichols/Team Unit $50
Richard Davis $50
Allen Lyon/Ducati.net Online $50
Eric H. Mathy $50
Steve Breckenridge $50
Jim Race/Speaksy Racing $50
James Aragon $50
James Hayton/Kochenbaulz Racing/WERA BBS $50
Anthony D’Augusta $50
Norm Brown $50
Isaac Ward $50
Jason K. Michelson $50
David Yesman $40
Don Moody $35
Lindsey Leard $30
Dave Deggendorf/WERA BBS $30
Steve Sturm/Squidvision Racing $30
George Gervasi/Projekt9 Racing $30
Bob Elam $30
The Heidepriems/WERA BBS $30
Kimberly Scheffel/rider/race fan/pit keeper $30
Bryan Norton $30
Scott D. Cortese $30
Greg Gabis $29
Ripley Howe $29
Mark Hatten/Meccanica Corse Racing $29
Ted Angle $25
Susanne Hopkins $25
Nolan Ballew $25
Josh Loberant $25
Charles Tomes $25
Jon DeMent $25
Timothy Wilson $25
Mark Novak $25
Rene Ferron $25
Sean Patrick Brisini $25
Richard Korol $25
Eric and Christine Loranger $25
Dee Moses $25
Kyle Kirschenmann/Bayou Riders of Louisiana $25
Marc Asmus $25
Mike Henry $25
Henry Hallmark $25
Ronnie Reyes/CMRA $25
Kathleen Mc Laughlin $25
S.C. Pittman $20
Jamieson D. Yonker $20
Garret Swearingen $20
Darrin Zumbaum $20
Andy Lenz/CMRRA $20
Irwin Arnstein/CMRA $10
Frank Shacklee/CMRA $10
Jan Steven/Carpet Dog $5
Erik Schmitt/CMRA $1


To pledge a contribution, call Roadracing World at (800) 464-8336 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, when operators will be standing by. Credit cards accepted. Pledges can also be made by e-mailing [email protected]. Make checks payable to Roadracing World. Money raised will be used for buying Air Module/Air Fence sections, as well as for deployment expenses and for shipping, tax and import duties.

A full accounting of all Air Fence Fund money will be posted on this website as it is disbursed, along with lists of any pledges still outstanding.

In a new tradition born out of the marketing genius behind Supercross, EA Supercross stars Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael will ride today (May 11) on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno in what is being billed as the second-annual “Tonight Show Cup.”

Last year, McGrath and Travis Pastrana held a short race, and this year, 2001 Supercross Champion Carmichael joins the fun with an even more elaborate track constructed in the parking lot by Dirt Wurx, the official track designer and constructor of Supercross courses. The track is said to include a rhythm section and even a triple-jump.

“Last year, it was huge,” said Dan Krolczyk, Senior Director of Marketing, Motorcycles, SFX Motorsports Group. “I mean, it wasn’t a freak show by any means. They cut into the race about four times. They did a teaser up front where Pastrana did a couple freestyle jumps. The did a brief interview with both Pastrana and McGrath before the race started.

“The race is actually pretty cool. They start it right there on Jay’s stage. They take off. They go straight out of the studio down the hallway and out to the parking area they have out there. They go do a couple of laps around the track. Then they actually finished with a jump where they went off the jump and landed back on the stage. It couldn’t have been choreographed any better. Last year, McGrath won it in classic ‘Showtime’ style by landing practically on Jay’s desk. It was sweet.

“We’re really happy to be involved in this because we see it as a benefit to all of our motorcycle properties and motorcycle racing in general. It brings it more mainstream. So anytime we can do something like this, we do it. It’s a mutual effort between the riders, their PR people, and we just help bring it all together with our relationship with the Tonight Show. We are the ones that invest in the building and creation of the track. It’s quite an investment for us, but it’s well worth it in the development of the sport.”



UPDATE, or, What Else Is New: Carmichael won.

Cruise America’s Jason DiSalvo crashed out of round two of the European 250cc Grand Prix Championship at Vallalunga, Italy April 29. DiSalvo qualified an unusually low 19th due to persisting front suspension problems on his A-kitted Honda RS250. DiSalvo suffered for his poor qualifying as he was run into by two mid-pack riders during the red-flag-interrupted race. DiSalvo’s next action will be in the Spanish Championship series in Jarama, Spain near Madrid May 10-13.

DiSalvo, 17, is using the 2001 season as a final primer before jumping into the FIM World Championship series full-time in 2002.

Gus Conrades, CEO of Wrenchead.com, Inc., crashed and suffered serious injuries April 27, during practice for the first CCS event of the season at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. According to Conrades’ friend Richie Alexander of Attack Racing, Conrades collided with a slower rider, and the front brake lever of Conrades’ GSX-R600 hit the other rider’s bike. Conrades was thrown over his motorcycle and was then hit by another motorcycle while laying on the track. “The third bike did the real damage,” said Alexander.

Conrades suffered a shattered pelvis along with some internal injuries. The condition of Conrades’ internal organs stabilized, but Conrades is currently in traction in a rehabilitation facility in White Plains, New York where he will most likely be for the next two months. “He’s got rods sticking out through his stomach and stuff,” said Alexander.

Conrades described the incident as being “just racing.”

According to an e-mail from Conrades’ personal assistant Jeanette Thompson, “We here at Wrenchead, Inc. are treating this as a personal and private matter for Gus and his family. I just wanted to let you know that Gus is okay and doing well.”

Jerry Jirkovsky of California Racing Services has announced that he will have dual-compound Pirelli DOT-labelled tires available at the next WSMC Willow Springs Raceway event, May 18-20.

More information is available from Jirkovsky at (714) 305-6846.

AMA Pro Racing issued a press release May 9 announcing the hiring of John Farris, the new Vice President of Commercial Development.

The release read as follows:

“AMA Pro Racing announced today that John C. Farris, Jr. has been named Vice President of Commercial Development, a newly created position for the organization. Farris will collaborate with sponsors, promoters, teams and media representatives to strengthen the current line-up of AMA professional racing series and he will also focus his attention on a variety of existing projects as well as design and implement future plans for growth in racing.

“‘To have someone of John’s caliber joining AMA Pro Racing is a huge step forward,’ said Pro Racing’s CEO Scott Hollingsworth. ‘The motorcycling industry is undergoing a time of rapid growth and change, which makes it absolutely vital for us to staff up and apply strong guidance to our sport during this time of incredible opportunity. John’s knowledge of the industry and passion for the sport of motorcycle racing will be great assets to our organization.’

“Farris has ridden and raced motorcycles nearly all his life and owns eight motorcycles. He comes to AMA Racing from General Motors’ Brand Management organization, where he was most recently the Marketing Manager for the company’s highest volume brand, Chevrolet Silverado. Farris orchestrated the cooperative efforts that brought financial support from Chevy Trucks to individual race teams and entire AMA racing series – partnerships that introduced significant levels of sponsorship from a high profile, well-respected ‘outside industry’ source.

“‘The integration of Chevy Trucks into the sport of professional motorcycle racing was extremely gratifying to me both professionally and personally,’ said Farris. ‘As I became more involved with the motorcycle industry, I identified more and more opportunity to become directly involved with the sport of motorcycle racing, and I began to recognize how I could help AMA Pro Racing fulfill a larger overall potential. I’m excited to be coming on board in this vital capacity with AMA Pro Racing.’

“A native of the Detroit area, Farris worked for General Motors for 17 years. After graduating from Central Michigan University, he began his GM career as a district manager, moving rapidly up the ranks in key sales and marketing positions to eventually head the marketing for Chevy’s Silverado, a position he held since 1997. Farris is married and has four children, and he will continue to reside in the Detroit area.

“For immediate post-race results, rider information, AMA Pro Racing notes and news, log on to www.amaproracing.com.”

(See related May 3 Roadracingworld.com post, Former Critic Vreeke Now Advises AMA Pro Racing On PR Strategy)

Copyright 2001 Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

In a secret test held late Tuesday afternoon, May 8, Erion Honda joined AMA Superbike Operations Manager Ron Barrick at California Speedway to determine if it is feasible to hold an AMA race at the Fontana, California track.

After being tipped to the test by a mole deep inside AMA Pro Racing, Roadracing World assigned David Swarts to visit the Speedway and see what was going on.

But Swarts’ visit to the Speedway was cut short when Barrick asked him to leave the facility.

“The track wants to keep this real low key. They don’t want any publicity of this,” Barrick told Swarts.

Before leaving, Swarts was able to learn that the Speedway, best known for its 2.0-mile D-shaped banked oval, also has an existing 1.3-mile road course in the infield, although little if any of the existing track would be used for AMA Superbike racing if the track signs on as a promoter.

Barrick confirmed that there are plans in the blueprint stage to build a completely new infield road course to accommodate motorcycles and other road racing vehicles. “What they have now is just for testing purposes,” said Barrick, who added that a new road course could be ready in time to put it on the 2002 AMA schedule.

Erion Honda’s semi-truck transporter was casually parked in the huge paddock area, where two CBR600F4i and one 2000-spec CBR929RR Hondas were unloaded for Jake Zemke and Mark Miller to ride.

One of the 600s had Miller’s #24 on the plates even though he does not race 600s for Erion in the AMA series. The bikes did not appear to be equipped with data acquisition systems but were fitted with Daytona gearing, according to Erion Crew Chief Rick Hobbs. The initial plan was for the riders to ride the oval as it went “green” at 5:00 p.m. PDT, then to move on to the road course.

Miller asked Hobbs what he should do when he ran out of gearing and Hobbs replied, “Just roll out of it.”

Along with Barrick, Miller, Zemke and Hobbs, the test was attended by Erion Honda owner Kevin Erion, several members of the Erion crew, a large number of California Speedway safety crewmen, and many men in shirt and ties believed to be executives with the track or its parent company, International Speedway Corporation.

Orange traffic cones were arranged throughout the infield course, blocking crossroads and serving as braking markers. Cones were also placed on the front straight and entering turn one. Braking reference point boards, labeled 3, 2, 1, were attached to the oval track’s outside catch fencing approaching turn one.

The infield of the California Speedway is relatively flat and free from any major obstructions. This will allow some freedom of creativity in the design of the new road course.

The Speedway’s infrastructure is well developed, and the track recently hosted a sell-out crowd of 120,000 for a NASCAR event. There are permanent garage spaces for what looked to be close to 100 cars, water fountains and bathrooms on the end of every paddock building, a dedicated parking area for 18-wheelers with power hook-ups, 71 corporate hospitality suites above the garages on pit lane with rooftop viewing areas, and Sky Boxes on top of the 86,000-seat grandstand.

Built in just 18 months prior to its 1997 opening, California Speedway features 14 degrees of banking in the turns, 11 degrees of banking on the front straight, and four degrees of banking on the back straight. According to the California Speedway website, Mauricio Gugelmin used the track to set a record for the fastest lap around a closed course at 240.942 mph in 1997. The speedway racing surface is 75 feet wide with a 15-foot apron road around the bottom edge of the entire track. The facility offers extremely easy access for the Southern California area as it is located at the intersection of the I-10 and I-15 freeways, approximately 50 miles west of Los Angeles, 60 miles east of Palm Springs, 90 miles north of San Diego, and 250 miles southwest of Las Vegas. The track has paved parking for up to 32,000 vehicles and even features its own Metrolink train stop. The $133 million facility has been used in the making of several feature films, including “Charlies Angels” and “Driven”.

International Speedway Corporation bought the track from Penske in 1999. International Speedway Corporation owns several major racing facilities in the United States, including Daytona International Speedway, Michigan International Raceway, Phoenix International Raceway, Virginia International Raceway, North Carolina Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Nazareth Raceway, and Watkins Glen.

William France is the Chairman and CEO of International Speedway Corporation, which is based in Daytona Beach, Florida. Roger Penkse is the Vice Chairman of the Corporation.

International Speedway Corporation trades on the NASDAQ as ISCA and reached a 52-week high price of $48.00 per share on May 2, 2001.

Before Swarts left the track, Barrick asked how Roadracing World found out about the test.

“This is what we do,” Swarts told Barrick.

Recently retired Honda Racing Manager Gary Mathers showed up at the Sears Point AMA National wearing an AMA Pro Racing shirt, serving as a new Operations Consultant reporting directly to AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth.

AMA Superbike Operations Manager Ron Barrick was quick to tell reporters that Mathers’ appointment made a wealth of valuable experience available to AMA Pro Racing.

But when a reporter asked Mathers about longer-than-normal Tech Inspection delays at Sears Point–it took team mechanics and individual riders about three times longer than normal to get racebikes through tech, with long lines stretching out of the tech garage–Mathers said he hadn’t paid any attention to tech.