| September 6, 2022
The 9th annual Carlsbad MX Reunion was held in Vista, California, September 3-4. Scott and Debbie Burnworth are the masterminds behind this fun event, which is normally held on the Sunday after the San Diego Supercross, but with the last Pro Motocross National of the year just down the road at Pala it was decided to have the event the day after.
Larry Grismer, the owner of Carlsbad from 1964 to 2004, was on hand and told how ABC Wide World of Sports in 1968 wanted to film motocross races at Carlsbad, as it was the up-and-coming sport and perfect for TV. The best part, he said, was they paid $160,000 for the right to air it on ABC. Gavin Trippie promoted the USGP and had to run non-point races with the European riders on hand to prove to the FIM that Carlsbad was worthy of holding a motocross GP.
In 1973, the very first USGP of Motocross was held at Carlsbad, and Maico rider Willy Bauer took the win.
“Radical” Ron Turner, flanked by Scott Burnworth (left) and Broc Glover (right), probably has ridden more laps around the historic Carlsbad Raceway MX course than anyone. Photos: Mitch Friedman
The first Inter-Am race was filmed and promoted by Edison Dye. They ran 125cc, 250cc and 500cc International classes with winners Joel Robert, on a Sachs in the 125cc-class, beating Roger DeCoster. In the 250cc class, Crister Hammargen took the win on his Husky over 250cc World Champion Joel Robert. Bengt Aberg took the 500cc win over Robert and Adolf Weil.
Weil, in the last moto, was running second when a fan wandered onto the course in front of him, and Weil did the gallant deed and laid the Maico down to not hit her and lost eight spots but still took third overall.
Stu Peters and Kalvin Franks walked the Carlsbad circuit to figure out the track layout. This was also the start of CMC (California Motorsports Club) and their races held at Carlsbad for two Sundays a month. Grismer said the ABC money is what kept Carlsbad open for so many years because just putting on local races barely kept the facility afloat.
Billy “Sugar Bear” Grossi attended the Carlsbad Reunion for the first time.
Billy “Sugar Bear” Grossi was on hand at the reunion for the first time and had some great stories about being on Team Suzuki in 1975 and riding and hanging out with DeCoster, Gerrit Wolsink and his American teammate Tony DiStefano. In 1976, Grossi said he really enjoyed getting to know and hanging out with Belgian 125cc World Champion Gaston Rahier.
Billy Urban told everyone on hand how he got a chance to ride for motorcycle manufacturer Puch with the help of Belgian Harry Everts. Urban came into the pits after winning a race and Mr. Puch was trying to get his attention because he didn’t want pictures taken of Urban i, at least not yet. Urban was not sure what was going on until Mr. Puch came over and put a Puch t-shirt over the Maico jersey Urban had on. The Puch factory bike was amazing, but the production bike was never as good, and he had to wait for parts to show up from Europe. Urban, also at Carlsbad, said he would race three different classes on three different brands that shifted on different sides of the motorcycle.
KTM’s Sel Narayana was on hand telling how he got involved in motocross and working at Maico with Adolph Weil and how Gary Chaplin was the U.S. rider for Maico.
Glover interviews reunion attendee Donnie Hansen.
The best story was having “Radical” Ron Turner, the local boy who did everything from testing for the factory to racing every race he could during the week and weekends from CMC to AMA National races. Turner did it all. When he was a Suzuki test rider, his job was to test the Suzuki motocross bikes at Carlsbad, and he would ride day after day, 100 laps on each size Suzuki, and then race Carlsbad on the weekend for the 12 or so laps and win more than not. Turner probably has more laps around Carlsbad than anyone.
Other riders on hand were Donnie Hansen, Mike Tripes, Jim Holley, Jim Beachamp, Grant Langston and locals who raced Carlsbad over the years. The MC duties were handled by Broc Glover and Matt Watson.
Todd Huffman and his crew were on hand telling all about the Carlsbad Monument Project and how it is coming along. If you are interested in donating, visit https://www.facebook.com/carlsbadracewaymonumentproject/.
Mitch Friedman