The Sacramento Mile

[Jeff Higgins]

I have been a fan of traditional AMA motorcycle flat track since I first saw Mert Lawhill in On Any Sunday. I have been to half mile races (Sturgis, SD), TT races (Castle Rock, WA) and countless indoor short track races. I had never been to a mile track. Endeavoring to correct that rather serious gap in my motorcycle racing fandom, my younger son and I attended the Legendary (the announcer fit that in every time) Sacramento Mile.

It was a five day road trip for us, leaving the Seattle area on Thursday and arriving back home on Monday. A lot (1,700 miles) of driving for just one Saturday evening of racing, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. We both approached it as more of a father/son road trip punctuated by a motorcycle race than anything else, and we both thoroughly enjoyed one another's company.

We initially considered making it a drive in our R Gruppe hot-rods (his '68 and my '72), which would have been a real hoot in and of itself. Then we decided we really wanted to ride together, so we figured on using my '72. Then we saw how hot is was going to be - 103 degrees down most of the Central Valley - and settled on his 2018 Mustang GT. And what a fantastic GT car it turned out to be, its most appreciated feature being real, modern A/C. Beyond that, it was actually quiet enough inside to carry on a real conversation, above and beyond yelling simple things at one another like "I have to pee"...

But, yeah, back to the Legendary Sacramento Mile. Having seen it on TV, in film, and on YouTube, I was still ill prepared for what I saw. Sir Jackie Stewart's quote about "it takes a certain lack of imagination to be a racing car driver" comes to mind. These had to be the "least imaginative" young men I had run across in an awfully long time. 140 mph top speeds, rounding the corners at 80-ish with their left foot in the dirt. On a horse racing track. What could possibly go wrong?

It turns out, not much. The skill and finesse with which these young men and ladies handle these machines is something to behold. They are good. Really good. And committed (or maybe they should be). Unfettered aggression, no holds barred, locking handlebars racing. Very, very entertaining. I would highly recommend going is you can.

Oh, and I met Mert Lawhill. Yes, he is still alive, and looking pretty darn chipper. I also met Scott Parker, nine time winner of the Legendary Sacramento Mile. And I got reacquainted with Jay Springsteen, who I met years ago at my local track, Pacific Raceways. He had pulled in driving a rental pickup truck with a Triumph Trident and a BSA Rocket III in the back after one of our PCA track days. He was going to familiarize himself with the track, being scheduled for a vintage bike race the coming weekend. I helped him unload the bikes, and spent some time b.s.'ing with him. He actually remembered that day, and wasn't just being nice about that.

Anyhoo, what a great way to spend a few days. The highlight of it all, of course, was spending some quality time with my younger son. Priceless.

[LakeCleElum]

Jealous Jeff.....Always wanted to see a mile track.

As a little kid our farm was next to back straight of a 1/2 mile track in Port Townsend. I always had a front row seat with the bikes passing by within 3 feet of my Wide Eyes.

[LWJ]

Awesome!

I met a guy years ago with a sweet vintage Triumph flat tracker. Had a hand made metal shoe for that inside leg. Fellow was well into his 70’s but was really fit due to dragging those giant balls around.

Every now and again, things just make a very strong impression. This was one.

[herr_oberst]

Cool. I used to go watch the flat track on Friday nights at the local track ("Peaceful Cove won't be peaceful this weekend!") but I've never seen a mile either. Are Harleys still the bikes to beat?
Is there a jump at the Legendary Sacramento Mile? Is Ascot still a working track?

(I could google these questions, but I want to keep the thread going!)

[Otter74]

Thanks for reminding me of this. There’s a Flat Track TT in Peoria every year and I’ve never been yet.

[MMARSH]

Sounds like an all-around great trip.

[Jeff Higgins]

There are three forms of traditional dirt track competition for the "big" bikes, and traditionally two classes. There is the half mile oval, the mile oval, and the TT. The half mile and mile are simply ovals, left turn only, with no front brakes on the bikes. The TT introduces a right hand turn and a jump, and allows a front brake. The traditional classes are twins and singles, with the twins going 750 cc's and the singles 500.

Modern times see "Super" Twins and "Production" Twins (which will be combined into one class next year). "Super" is the top class, with full-on race bikes, and "Production" is, well, production bikes. Both have "parity" inducing restrictions, like intake restrictors. Modern Singles are essentially 450cc Super Moto bikes with the front brake removed (for mile and half mile) on dirt track tires.

Some teams still run the old Harley XR750, the most long-lived, dominant racing machine of any kind in any pro series ever, two or four wheeled. And they do win, sometimes. But Indian has kind of taken over, and Yamaha are very competitive as well. But, again, "parity" is paramount, so who really is the "fastest"? Jared Meese, the dominant rider lately and five time winner, came in second to a Yamaha mounted rider. First thing he did when interviewed was blame the difference in intake restrictors.

That said, you will never see more exciting racing. At least shoulder to shoulder, wheel to wheel. As some of you may recall, we also went to the IOM TT three years ago. Exciting, but in an entirely different way. Sheer aggression at the mile, sheer speed at the TT. I would (and will) go back to either in a heartbeat.

And, well, the reason for that is that I went to both with my son. We also went to the local AMA road races this year at The Ridge Motorsports Park here in Washington. Great racing, just like the TT and The Mile. The best part of all three, though, was time with my son.

So, yeah - go to a Mile if you can. Bring your kid.

[Tobra]

Nothing like dirt track racing, the sounds and smells. Raw earth and nitromethane in the evening, smells like America.

Sacramento, Hangtown(Placerville), Chico, Calistoga all have dirt track racing. Sprint cars and bikes. Went to Calistoga a few years ago with my grandson. Guy had a vintage quarter midget, just the right size for a little kid. Guy let him sit in it, was not running it that day. Tiny little thing with an Offy four cylinder, I bet it was crazy fast, little car with all that motor.

Oh yeah, those guys on the bikes are insane, sliding around 100 miles an hour on dirt with no brakes.