Squirrel was everywhere in the 60's

Mike Kidd's CX Honda Flat Tracker

I'm at the NRA Shot Show in Vegas this week, which means a pilgrimage to Red Rock Harley to commune with a lot of incredible racing machines including this Jerry Griffith built flipped sideways V-Twin Honda. Kidd won the Championship on a Harley and Honda hired him and his nice,new, No.1 Plate and put them both on this incredible Dirt Tracker. Honda were serious about winning the Championship outright and this was the start of something big. It wasn't easy but they committed and eventually got the job done with skill and perseverance. Honda's involvement was the best thing to happen to Flat Track but after they eventually dominated, they pulled out and it seemed like the worst thing they could have done for the sport. Flat Track is obviously fantastic and the Grand National Championship weathered the storm and is back strong with world recognition and a real appreciation for what is the greatest show on earth.

Del Mar Short Track, IV league Flat Track Group.

IV League is putting Del Mar back on the map and more power to them. A great turn out of riders and fans and everybody was having a great time. This is real grass roots racing with a wide variety of machinery. When one class rolled to the line with a bunch of classic two strokes, bean oiling the place up, the announcer says, "It is smokier in here than a Crack House in Victorville!" In the pre-race amble the same announcer talked about all the local races he had announced including the Long Beach Grand Prix and I remembered this guy and how good he was. One line of his I remember from Long Beach, when there was a complete lull in the program ,he comes on the mike and says, "Linda Lovelace, Linda Lovelace,to the announcing tower please!" At the time I thought that was the funniest thing I have ever heard.

Jeff Johnson was a joy to watch on the tight cushion 1/8th Del Mar

DT1 Perfection

A good look at the tight cornered Equestrian Center track. The Boozefighters have been Flat Trackers since the beginning,way back in the '40s with Cameron and the original founding members on their Harleys and Velocettes and still are to this day. I saw their Colors out there battling with the best of them.

Nicky rides Perris

Here is something you don't see every day,Nicky Hayden riding at Perris. Let alone,practicing his right hand TT turns. Nicky was in SoCal recently and was out a Perris enjoying some winter sunshine sliding. Beautiful action shots courtesy of DW Media.

Romeo Palamides 1956

375hp Desoto Hemi (305 CI), 1550 lbs wet, 115" wheelbase. '39 Merc Transmission,'40 Ford rear end with Halibrand QC. Used 2nd and High gears only. Palamides lost two cars in competition in eight weeks. He built this as their replacement. Romeo Palamides designed and built the iconic five spoke mag wheel that is still the wheel to have on your American Muscle today. This car has Slotted Mag Wheels, 15 x 7 that he also built himself. Slotted mags are like Twiggy is to a 5 spoke Torque Thrusts Linda Vaughn.

Jim McMurren's first Road Race Victory

1958 Paradise Mesa, San Diego and Jim is tucked in on his 1955 Caproni-Vizzola 250 NSU, streaking across the finish line to take his first road race win. Talk about getting close to the action. Spectators seem completely unfazed with bikes flying by flat out, just feet away.

Neil Keen 10 Straight Ascot 1/2 Mile Victories BSA Goldstar mounted.

Neil did go on to win the 1961 Ascot 8 Mile National on Dennis Mahan's Goldie, making it eleven in a row on the famed Gardena, Calif Half Mile.