Another one for the old Geezers

Fred Boss Mx Dion 11/14/2013 8:29am
11/14/2013 8:29am
Fred Boss Mx Dion wrote:
How many of you have fond memories of racing at the old Sunnyvale ( PAL ) Dumps?
There were actually 3 different tracks in the same neighborhood just off hwy 238 ( I think ).

There was the Sunnyvale PAL, which was north of 238 at the old landfill. This track was ran by Mullins and then later on I promoted a few races there. Finally had to give up on the track when the old bed springs and refrigerators started coming to the surface.

The Santa Clara PAL was just on the corner of 238 and what was later Great America Pkw. They had a few good races there in the early 70s and a lot of well supervised weekend practices.

There was another track just across the street from Santa Clara PAL that ran a few night races with very poor portable lighting and didn't last long.

This was a great era in the sport and I have many fond memories, Like hauling my 400 CZ to the races on bumper racks on the back of my car.
MOTOXR12
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MOTOXR12 11/14/2013 9:49am
11/14/2013 9:49am
Fred Boss Mx Dion wrote:
How many of you have fond memories of racing at the old Sunnyvale ( PAL ) Dumps?
That and the original Santa Clara PAL Track. The one that had the big viewing tower. And once an hour a police cadet would drive around the track in a 3 wheel meter maid vehicle looking for anyone broken down or hurt. They used to make you fill your gas in a paddock area- safety first!
Then it mover to Great America Parkway and Kirk Smith made things 10000 times better before he had to move it all to Club Moto.

I remember coat hangars and doll heads sticking up through the dirt at the Sunnyvale PAL track.
Good times on my CZ125!
MOTOXR12
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MOTOXR12 11/14/2013 10:04am
11/14/2013 10:04am
Summer 1974- Original Santa Clara PAL...
CR250
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CR250 11/14/2013 2:01pm
11/14/2013 2:01pm
The Original #7

Santa Clara PAL...I think Santa Clara Golf Course took over a lot of this property..not sure though





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friday10
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friday10 11/14/2013 7:45pm
11/14/2013 7:45pm
racer480 wrote:
Here are some more [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/sunnyvale_dump_moto_L_659546.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/Sunnyvale_Dump_MX_huffman_L_481601.jpg[/img]
Here are some more



I thought that looked like you George!
JRMX59
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JRMX59 11/14/2013 8:48pm
11/14/2013 8:48pm
Yeah great memories racing at Dixon, Plymouth and Helvetia. Also friday nights at West Sac Raceway. Used to wash dishes at a golf country club until 3 am then head to Helvetia or where ever and sleep in my van in line at the gate. Fred, you would let me and mark pick up trash after the races to cover our entry fees and earn a little $$! Some of the best times of my life.
ocscottie
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ocscottie 11/14/2013 8:54pm
11/14/2013 8:54pm
My best bro Nealer and i at PAL, i even have the t-shirt on Cool

Tumblin
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Tumblin 11/14/2013 9:15pm
11/14/2013 9:15pm
JRMX59 wrote:
Yeah great memories racing at Dixon, Plymouth and Helvetia. Also friday nights at West Sac Raceway. Used to wash dishes at a golf country club until...
Yeah great memories racing at Dixon, Plymouth and Helvetia. Also friday nights at West Sac Raceway. Used to wash dishes at a golf country club until 3 am then head to Helvetia or where ever and sleep in my van in line at the gate. Fred, you would let me and mark pick up trash after the races to cover our entry fees and earn a little $$! Some of the best times of my life.
I was making little parts out of big parts in a meat shop & was lucky enough to get every other Sunday off, fortunately we also had Saturday night races in Nor Cal. I sure don't see kids looking for those "opportunities" like you had JRMX, but yes it was a lot simpler to make a buck back then also.
Anyway, for Nor Cal; Plymouth #1, Helvitia #2 (only because it was cool - big trees, swimming pool, but no movie stars), E st #3 (only this low because it kicked my ass by lap 4), Garberville river track #4 (Eel River & bikinis), SandHill #6...never made it to Santa Clara...sounds like a dump.
CR250
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CR250 11/15/2013 10:23am
11/15/2013 10:23am
BTW..Len Macciarella and his brother Joe lived around the block from me when I was a kid. He was extremely fast and if memory serves he had just got signed witha Husky ride about a week or two before his passing (not positive) Len Macciarella, Jimmy Nuovo, Reggie Caselli, Jim and Tony Tupper, Jeff Bucholtz, Jack Mortensen, and a few others were the local Willow Glen riders that used to ride behind Dicks Supermarket on Minnesota Ave in San Jose. I pulled these off of the South Bay Riders website.






Fred Boss Mx Dion 11/15/2013 10:47am
11/15/2013 10:47am Edited Date/Time 11/15/2013 10:49am
CR250 wrote:
BTW..Len Macciarella and his brother Joe lived around the block from me when I was a kid. He was extremely fast and if memory serves he...
BTW..Len Macciarella and his brother Joe lived around the block from me when I was a kid. He was extremely fast and if memory serves he had just got signed witha Husky ride about a week or two before his passing (not positive) Len Macciarella, Jimmy Nuovo, Reggie Caselli, Jim and Tony Tupper, Jeff Bucholtz, Jack Mortensen, and a few others were the local Willow Glen riders that used to ride behind Dicks Supermarket on Minnesota Ave in San Jose. I pulled these off of the South Bay Riders website.






YES, indeedy.....Good pics of the Sunnyvale PAL track. There was some very good racing there in and around 1972-73. And, as I recall, Bill Roush didn't stay in the intermediate class very long and became a very good expert rider. BTW For you young'ns that was what a rubber band start looked like.
BobbyM
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BobbyM 11/15/2013 12:59pm
11/15/2013 12:59pm
racer480 wrote:
Here are some more [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/sunnyvale_dump_moto_L_659546.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/03/03/Sunnyvale_Dump_MX_huffman_L_481601.jpg[/img]
Here are some more



friday10 wrote:
I thought that looked like you George!
George fucking McNamara?

No way!! Smile

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