Another one for the old Geezers

Fred Boss Mx Dion
Edited Date/Time 11/15/2013 12:59pm
How many of you have fond memories of racing at the old Sunnyvale ( PAL ) Dumps?
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racer480
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racer480 3/2/2013 5:07pm
3/2/2013 5:07pm
I grew up in San Jose, my first ride was a 1974 YZ80A then a '77 Suzuki RM125B I raced the PAL in San Jose and in Sunnyvale by what used to be the Landfill if I remeber right. I raced most the south bay area tracks form 1974 to 1979. Fremont dragway on Friday night, Argyle, Sandhill, Carniege, Hollister Hills. Brings back memories for sure. Yes I'm old.....52 to be exact. My next door neighbor's dad worked at the dairy right by the PAL track and we rode there, EVEN when the gates were locked.
burnside
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burnside 3/2/2013 5:23pm
3/2/2013 5:23pm Edited Date/Time 3/2/2013 5:25pm
Fred Boss Mx Dion wrote:
How many of you have fond memories of racing at the old Sunnyvale ( PAL ) Dumps?
edit. wrong topic. never mind..
teamblue
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teamblue 3/2/2013 5:25pm
3/2/2013 5:25pm
Broke my collar bone there. Missed a shift going over a double, over the bars and smashed my cool JT chest protector. Remember riding with Todd Hicks and being amazed how he jumped doubles so easy. Tony Flores, amazing talent that seemed to have a blast riding and never seem to want any more than that.
ocscottie
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ocscottie 3/2/2013 5:30pm
3/2/2013 5:30pm
If you rode there in the late 70's early 80's on Wed. afternoon practices, me, my mom or brother signed you in. Cool

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teamblue
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teamblue 3/2/2013 5:40pm
3/2/2013 5:40pm
ocscottie wrote:
If you rode there in the late 70's early 80's on Wed. afternoon practices, me, my mom or brother signed you in. Cool
For sure, those were the good ol days... Manny is my brother from another mother, he raised me at the moto tracks. Miss Nor-Cal...
ClassCClairVoyant 3/2/2013 5:45pm
3/2/2013 5:45pm Edited Date/Time 3/2/2013 5:49pm
I remember going out there early on the weekend and moving the tires around to switch it up. I think that was before they had invented water or prep of any kind. Loved that place!
racer480
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racer480 3/2/2013 6:52pm
3/2/2013 6:52pm
One thing that sticks in my mind was ROCKS!!!
[/img]
Fred Boss Mx Dion 3/3/2013 5:51am
3/3/2013 5:51am
And then there was Santa Clara PAL which was ran by a bunch of old Marine drill sergeants who never prepped the track. Remember there were berms that they let build up that had 1 foot deep whoops. Also how could you have more fun than riding Spencer's 2 hour marathons at Fremont.
ClassCClairVoyant 3/3/2013 8:07am
3/3/2013 8:07am
Ya, I think I got mixed up. There were two PAL tracks. The original was probably the Santa Clara track where I learned to ride and after that closed the other one (Sunnyvale?). I rode the newer one a few times when it first opened but it wasn't well developed. If anyone has any more pics it would be cool to see them!
Coyote
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Coyote 3/3/2013 8:33am
3/3/2013 8:33am
Fred Boss Mx Dion wrote:
And then there was Santa Clara PAL which was ran by a bunch of old Marine drill sergeants who never prepped the track. Remember there were...
And then there was Santa Clara PAL which was ran by a bunch of old Marine drill sergeants who never prepped the track. Remember there were berms that they let build up that had 1 foot deep whoops. Also how could you have more fun than riding Spencer's 2 hour marathons at Fremont.
Good times for sure!! Us Santa Cruz boys all would mix it up any time there. Gary Murphy, Greg, Tim Hebard, Steve Bargiacchi, Rob Stuart, Roger Belgard, Rocky Pocock, Mike Marquez, Mike Schalow, myself and lord knows how many others I'm forgetting!!
Parks65
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Parks65 3/3/2013 8:45am
3/3/2013 8:45am
Which track was located near great America?
racer480
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racer480 3/3/2013 9:06am
3/3/2013 9:06am
Parks65 wrote:
Which track was located near great America?
That track was the Santa Clara PAL. track. Last time I was in the area there is a BMX track there and Google eath still shows some old remnents of a track.
neverwas
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neverwas 3/3/2013 9:28am
3/3/2013 9:28am
I remember by the end of the day Sunnyvale track garbage would come up from the ruts and whoops that formed,fun track though.
Santa Clara PAL was a true blue groove hard pack track.
Those big whops you speak of coming out of the bowl turns were a hand full a first time racer on a 74 Elsinore with 4" of travel not to mention the levee jumps.
Fun times
racer480
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racer480 3/3/2013 10:16am
3/3/2013 10:16am Edited Date/Time 3/3/2013 10:17am
ClassCClairVoyant wrote:
Ya, I think I got mixed up. There were two PAL tracks. The original was probably the Santa Clara track where I learned to ride and...
Ya, I think I got mixed up. There were two PAL tracks. The original was probably the Santa Clara track where I learned to ride and after that closed the other one (Sunnyvale?). I rode the newer one a few times when it first opened but it wasn't well developed. If anyone has any more pics it would be cool to see them!
I hijacked these photo's from another forum. These are from the "Dumps'
]





BobbyM
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BobbyM 3/3/2013 10:19am
3/3/2013 10:19am
Fred Boss Mx Dion wrote:
How many of you have fond memories of racing at the old Sunnyvale ( PAL ) Dumps?
Only raced there once. It wasn't one of yer best tracks Fred that's for sure. What was you favorite track to hold a race Fred?
racer480
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racer480 3/3/2013 10:20am
3/3/2013 10:20am Edited Date/Time 3/3/2013 10:21am
Here are some more



Fred Boss Mx Dion 3/3/2013 10:33am
3/3/2013 10:33am
BobbyM wrote:
Only raced there once. It wasn't one of yer best tracks Fred that's for sure. What was you favorite track to hold a race Fred?
Bobby, I had a lot of tracks that I liked for different reasons: The Plymouth track was probably the best pure MX track . I had a road grader out there and the dirt was easy to move which let me change up the track when I wanted to. I had great loyalty to the Argyll track because of the Campbells and the fact that I ran about a zillion races out there. The funnest track for me was Helvetia park...The ambiance was great and then there was the pool with the yellow water. I really enjoyed all the tracks where we had strong camping crouds...Saturday nights were always great for the fellowship and parties. Thanks for asking!
Fred Boss Mx Dion 3/3/2013 10:45am
3/3/2013 10:45am
ClassCClairVoyant wrote:
Ya, I think I got mixed up. There were two PAL tracks. The original was probably the Santa Clara track where I learned to ride and...
Ya, I think I got mixed up. There were two PAL tracks. The original was probably the Santa Clara track where I learned to ride and after that closed the other one (Sunnyvale?). I rode the newer one a few times when it first opened but it wasn't well developed. If anyone has any more pics it would be cool to see them!
racer480 wrote:
I hijacked these photo's from another forum. These are from the "Dumps' [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/sunnyvale_dump_maico_todd_L_125010.jpg[/img[/img]] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/sunnyvale_dump_moto_S_735030.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/sunnyvale_dump_husky_125_L_529655.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/sunnyvale_outhouse_L_93389.jpg[/img]
I hijacked these photo's from another forum. These are from the "Dumps'
]





Thanks for the pics....I should know the rider on the 125 Husky but my old brain fails me...Think it was one of the fast guys from Santa Cruz. Then you have a great pic of Ron Huffman and George MacNamera hooking it up.... Bob Grossi used to show up once in a while and then there was the great young rider, Len Macciarella, ( RIP) , Henry Halbeck, Jim and Paul Turner, And many others.

Pit Row

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Coyote
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Coyote 3/3/2013 1:01pm
3/3/2013 1:01pm Edited Date/Time 3/3/2013 1:02pm
ClassCClairVoyant wrote:
Ya, I think I got mixed up. There were two PAL tracks. The original was probably the Santa Clara track where I learned to ride and...
Ya, I think I got mixed up. There were two PAL tracks. The original was probably the Santa Clara track where I learned to ride and after that closed the other one (Sunnyvale?). I rode the newer one a few times when it first opened but it wasn't well developed. If anyone has any more pics it would be cool to see them!
racer480 wrote:
I hijacked these photo's from another forum. These are from the "Dumps' [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/sunnyvale_dump_maico_todd_L_125010.jpg[/img[/img]] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/sunnyvale_dump_moto_S_735030.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/sunnyvale_dump_husky_125_L_529655.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/sunnyvale_outhouse_L_93389.jpg[/img]
I hijacked these photo's from another forum. These are from the "Dumps'
]





Fred Boss Mx Dion wrote:
Thanks for the pics....I should know the rider on the 125 Husky but my old brain fails me...Think it was one of the fast guys from...
Thanks for the pics....I should know the rider on the 125 Husky but my old brain fails me...Think it was one of the fast guys from Santa Cruz. Then you have a great pic of Ron Huffman and George MacNamera hooking it up.... Bob Grossi used to show up once in a while and then there was the great young rider, Len Macciarella, ( RIP) , Henry Halbeck, Jim and Paul Turner, And many others.
Don't know the #77 on the 125 Husky and don't think it was an SC boy or I'd recognize him. Just looking at names from the other post and Len Macchirella popped up. Len didn't work on bikes and John Moore had me while I was injured going to the races and working on Len's bike as his grandmother and grandfather couldn't. He was friggin fast and I believe would of had a great future in his racing career...I remember when he started feeling bad at Carnegie as his kidney had actually ruptured. They took him into the hospital and don't remember the exact reasons but he passed while there...think he was 16 or 17...great kid..godspeed Len.
Fred Boss Mx Dion 3/3/2013 2:07pm
3/3/2013 2:07pm
Coyote wrote:
Don't know the #77 on the 125 Husky and don't think it was an SC boy or I'd recognize him. Just looking at names from the...
Don't know the #77 on the 125 Husky and don't think it was an SC boy or I'd recognize him. Just looking at names from the other post and Len Macchirella popped up. Len didn't work on bikes and John Moore had me while I was injured going to the races and working on Len's bike as his grandmother and grandfather couldn't. He was friggin fast and I believe would of had a great future in his racing career...I remember when he started feeling bad at Carnegie as his kidney had actually ruptured. They took him into the hospital and don't remember the exact reasons but he passed while there...think he was 16 or 17...great kid..godspeed Len.
Coyote...Yea, I remember Len very well. He was one of those standout riders that had sick skills even as a novice. He always had the shiniest equipment and the best looking girlfriend in the pits. I recall his crash at Carnegie. That was my race and was the next week after the Trans-Am on the new upper track. I don't know this as fact but I think Len passed due to a blood disorder of some kind. I remember thinking how unfair it was for a great, talented kid like him to pass at such a young age.
Coyote
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Coyote 3/3/2013 7:50pm
3/3/2013 7:50pm
RexBackman wrote:
Helvetia Park, my first D 36 race....
1st race my wife of 33 years ever went to!!
neverwas
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neverwas 3/3/2013 7:53pm
3/3/2013 7:53pm
Helvetia Park was truly like racing at a city park.
Still have a trophy from 1977 2 day 4th of July race sitting in my garage.
Fun times.
BobbyM
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BobbyM 3/3/2013 10:30pm
3/3/2013 10:30pm
ted rogers hauled ass there...not so much anywhere else. Wink
Fred Boss Mx Dion 3/4/2013 7:09am
3/4/2013 7:09am
BobbyM wrote:
ted rogers hauled ass there...not so much anywhere else. Wink
Yea....Ted, If he didn't win there his Mother would whip his ass...The other king of Helvetia was Mike Hersman ( RIP )
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Mhsimpson 11/13/2013 8:21pm
11/13/2013 8:21pm
Ted Rogers was my best friend back in the 70's! Used to wrench for him sometimes. Bought a couple of his old Huskies. Thanks for posting here!!! Remember well watching Richter, Magoo, Zhart, all those guys!
Top End
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Top End 11/14/2013 1:19am
11/14/2013 1:19am
Wow, The old PAL track was first MX track I ever rode. First time racing was at Baylands.
Highsider
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Highsider 11/14/2013 5:03am
11/14/2013 5:03am Edited Date/Time 11/14/2013 5:03am
Great thread. Love the photos.
Helvetia and Plymouth look like super cool tracks.
I never got out of So Cal to ride or race.

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