2010RACE1

Glen Helen Raceway
CALVMX/AHRMA SoCal Regional Series, Round #1

Himaka Draws First Blood in Cup Challenge
By Steve Caro
Photography by Kathryn Caro
Devore, CA. Jan 17

The opening day of any sports season is always a special occasion. Everyone starts with a clean slate, and hopes run
high for a great season.
The calendar may have read January, 2010, but taking a trip through the pits of Glen Helen Raceway would make a
person think they had solved the space/time continuum and traveled back two or three decades to the days of twin shocks,
drum brakes and air cooled two-strokes.
Staged on the REM course, the Glen Helen staff did an excellent job in catering the course to the vintage (pre-1975) and
post vintage (1975-89) machines. Well-rounded jumps, excellent turns and enough hills to challenge the big bore machines
made for an excellent day of racing. 150 plus riders combined for over 200 entries on the day.
Included in the group were two motocross superstars from the past, 1980 Supercross champion Mike “Too Tall” Bell and
1986 World 250cc Champion Jacky Vimond of France. Also joining the fray was the newly appointed chief of the Los
Angeles Police Department, Charlie Beck.

A new class was added to this year’s series. The Manufacturers’ Cup Challenge is included with the regular Vintage
Sportsman 250 Intermediate class. Participants are grouped together in teams based on their brand of machine. One rider
from each team represents their brand at each race. The cup will go to the team with the highest point total for the season.
Two additional requirements go with cup participation. One, the rider must wear period appropriate pants and jersey.
Number two requires all riders to start each moto using the long-lost “hands on helmet” method.

Long time Maico stalwart Norm Himaka began his season in fine form with stellar 1-1 finishes in the Cup Challenge portion
of the event. In moto one, having solved the extra test of the old school “hands on helmet” start, Himaka finished the first
lap third behind Dave Peabody (Suz) and John Woolsey (Yam). By lap three, Himaka began to close on the leaders. With
two laps remaining in the moto, Himaka got around Woolsey and turned his attention to Peabody. On the white flag lap,
Himaka powered his way into the lead to nab the moto win.
The second moto saw Woolsey, Team Bultaco Mike Garcia and Himaka leading the charge into the back portion of the
course. A stall left Woolsey stranded on the side of the track as Garcia and Himaka sped past. As he had done in the first
moto, Himaka steadily closed the in on Garcia. On lap three, he passed Garcia on the back portion of the course into first
place. With an open track ahead of him, Himaka established a big lead and motored to both the moto and overall win for
the day.

Former world champion Vimond showed why, except for a freak off-track injury (he was badly injured in a celebration for his
winning the world title) which ended his career, he would most likely have been a multiple title holder. Entered in the GP 2
500 Expert division, Yamaha mounted Vimond grabbed a massive holeshot and exited the first turn at least 10 bike lengths
ahead of the pack. Vimond then simply disappeared from the pack. His speed on the steep downhill section of the course
was incredible as he barely slowed for the turn at the bottom. Trailing Vimond was Ed Tashjian (Suz) who was clinging
valiantly to second. With no challenge, Vimond powered to an easy moto win.
Moto two saw Vimond exiting the first turn in third, but by turn three he had blitzed around the pack and sped away from the
field. Watching Vimond in action was like a free riding school. Over five laps, he never put a wheel out of line. Using throttle
to steer out of corners and a minimum of brakes, with his body always in the perfect position, Vimond clinched the overall
unchallenged.

Once again, the pairing of CALVMX and AHRMA resulted in a highly successful vintage race event. A record number of
riders and total entries were just two of the highlights on the day. Round two will see the series making its first appearance
at Perris Raceway on February 28. Perris is always very vintage friendly with a well prepped track and excellent staff.