Caro Articles, Flat Track Coverage
Continued racing coverage from the brother/ sister dynamic duo!!! Kathy and Steve have been an integral part of CALVMX from the beginning! Their photo and write-up of our races continues to be informative as the photos a special
Oval Trackers Salute the Fathers
By Steve Caro
Photography by Kathryn Caro
Campo, CA June 15-16
Round two of the 2024 CALVMX/FAST TIMES AT CAMP LOCKETT flat track series was staged in 90 plus degree temperatures and zero cloud cover. On the weekend fathers were saluted, the racing dads took to the oval with two full days of racing. A good cross section of bikes and karts along with a smattering of quads and three-wheelers occupied the pit areas throughout the weekend.
It was a pleasant surprise to see the father and son duo of Marc and Jasper Heathfield returning to CALVMX racing. The pair logged plenty of laps both Saturday and Sunday.
A most welcome sight in the pit area on Saturday were the three classic Bultaco flat track bikes brought over from Arizona by Marty and Garrett Tait along with Mitch Mcgafrey. Two of the Spanish built thoroughbreds were the purpose-built Astro models. For those of a certain age, their presence harkened back to the 1970’s heyday of flat track racing at venues such as Ascot Park and Speedway 117 when Bultaco’s vied with other purpose built two-stroke powered machines for track supremacy. Their distinct look and sound were a highlight of the Saturday program.
Following the 21 qualifying heat races, the main event commenced in the early afternoon. A mixed field of 70’s Singles Intermediate and Novice, along with Post Vintage 250 Expert, Open Bike Intermediate and Senior 50+ Experts took the starting line awaiting Chief Starter Craig Crossland’s green flag. Being scored by individual class, the race became a battle for track position. Garrett Tait powered into the lead coming out of turn two followed by Brad Roysdon and the rest of the pack. Tait put on a classic display of short track skill as he continued to lead, while Roysdon began to narrow the gap between them. In classic short track racing tradition, Roysdon made his move on the last turn of the white flag lap to power past Tait to be the first across the line. Tait was credited with the Open bike win, while Marty Tait topped the 70’s singles Intermediate division.
In the kart finals, the Adult 4-Stroke A final saw Chief Starter Craig Crosslands’ return to competition. Offered a ride in place of an ailing Lauren Bishop’s kart, Crossland pulled out his driving gear and lined up with the rest of the entrants. At the green flag, Crossland was in the group of leaders as they powered around the course. Crossland began his charge to the front about midway through the race. Drawing on his years of racing, he soon moved into the lead and took a popular win.
The high-powered winged Outlaw Karts were out in force on both Saturday and Sunday. Their Saturday finale saw Jason Bishop lead the pack at the start, with Ray and Kaylee Butler in pursuit. Kaylee moved into second on lap two, only to be red flagged with the rest of the pack due to a stalled kart. The restart saw Bishop regain his lead, chased by Kaylee and Ray Wolf. Bishop maintained his pace and sped to victory, with Kaylee and Wolf, second and third.
Other main event winners on Saturday included Chance Rose in the Pull Start Open Novice, with Chad Reed topping the Pull Start Open Expert division. They were joined by David Kimmel who topped the 125cc A karts. Blake Reed took top honors in the 100cc A kart finale, while his brother Wyatt took the gold in the Run-What-You-Brung A kart main.
Sunday’s program featured all the various kart classes along with pull-starts, quads and three wheelers. Weather conditions were exactly the same as they had been on Saturday. The high temperatures and steady breezes meant frequent track watering to quell the dust cloud issues.
Prior to the morning heat races, a lap of honor was held in the memory of Kyle Herald. A frequent competitor, Herald passed recently after battling a severe illness. A large number of participants circled the oval backwards to honor the memory of a fellow competitor.
The 125cc A karts led off the afternoon main event schedule. Brian Pusey led at the start, with David Kimmel taking over the lead down the back straight. Kimmel briefly spun out into the infield on lap two, allowing both Pusey and Pat Donahue to take the lead spots. Donahue moved into the lead, followed by Pusey. It was a spirited duel between Donahue and Pusey as the race neared its finish. Donahue fended off Pusey’s challenges to speed to the win. Pusey captured second with Kimmel recovering from his spin to take third overall.
The Adult 100cc Two Stroke kart finale filled the air with their familiar high-pitched motor sounds. The start saw Preston Roben taking the lead followed by Wyatt Reed. Roben and Reed soon were embroiled in a tight duel for the lead. Around the halfway point of the race, Roben broke free from Reed. Using precise steering, Roben powered his way to the checkered flag for the win.
The deep bass sounds of the Adult 4 Stroke A Karts spread through the pit areas as they staged for their pace lap. At the green flag, A.J. Dale and Brian Pusey locked into a bumper banging battle that continued for the first laps of the race. Pusey got the drive he needed on the rapidly drying out track to take the lead. Dale kept pressuring the leader till the very end. Pusey resisted the challenges to take the class win.
Additional Sunday main event winners included Chance Rose who was first across the line in the field of multiple classes Pull Start main event. Colton Howe took top honors in the 16+ Run-What-You-Brung Kart finale. Kaylee Butler added to her main event win total with a dominant performance in the Outlaw Karts class. Chance Rose added to his win total by capturing the top spot in the Adult 100cc B Kart final.
Round three of the series will see the competitors returning to Camp Lockett on the weekend of July 20-21. Class championships are still up for grabs and everyone is welcome to join in for some fun oval track competition.
Oval Track Masters Get Green Flag For 2024 Season
By Steve Caro
Photography by Kathryn Caro
Campo, CA May 18-19
The race day morning ritual began as it has for countless seasons. The smells of breakfasts being prepared, the sounds of motors being tested and competitors readying themselves for their upcoming duels on the awaiting oval. Thus began the 2024 CALVMX Fast Times At Camp Lockett Flat Track Series.
Round one of the series was held under ideal conditions with moderate temperatures and faint breezes throughout the two-day event. The well prepared 1/6th mile oval was carefully watered which kept any problems with dust at bay. An impressive turnout of competitors for both two and four wheeled classes were in attendance on both Saturday and Sunday.
Prior to the beginning of the preliminary heat races, a lap of honor was held in tribute to the memory of Mike Donahue, younger of kart regular Pat Donahue, who passed away recently.
Saturday’s program featured points paying main events for the two-wheeled contingent. It was the Pull Start classes with their plethora of machinery who had the largest number of entries. Their main event featured a wide variety of classes with Novice, Intermediate and Expert ranked riders lining up for their 10 laps finale. With a quick wave of Chief Starter Craig Crossland’s green flag, the mixed pack barreled into turn one. With a perfect start, Masters Open Novice entrant Chance Rose emerged with the lead as the pack entered the back straight. Rose displayed a mastery of the short wheelbased bikes that comprise the Pull Starts as he maintained a steady lead throughout the race. Essentially unchallenged after the first few laps, Rose began his season in style, taking his class main event win.
Karts, in all their variety, have become the predominant form of racing during CALVMX events. Amongst the fastest of the kart classes is the 100cc Adult A Division. Their Saturday main event featured a spirited battle between Blake and Wyatt Reed. Coming out of the pace lap, Blake and Wyatt charged into turn one nearly side-by-side. The two vied for first for several laps as they put distance between themselves and the rest of the field. Near the mid-way point, Blake extended his lead over the rest of the class. Running off a string of flawless laps, Blake flashed across the finish line with the win.
Returning for another season of competition were the wing equipped outlaw karts. Equipped with either two or four stroke motorcycle motors, the racing in this class is usually close quartered and extremely fast. With all six entrants pushed into life, the pack lined up for the pace lap. As the green flag waved, Kaylee Butler shot into the lead entering turn one. Butler quickly built up a dominant lead which eventually grew to a full straightaway. Butler was getting tremendous drives out of the corners, her kart often exiting on the back two wheels. Butler’s domination was total as she took an easy win.
Other winners on Saturday included Cody Hicks in Kids Karts 5-7 B, Joe Winston in Open Bike Expert and Brody Moler in Cadet Karts A. David Kimmel joined the winners with his victory in the 125cc A Kart final.
Sunday’s portion of the race weekend was held in identical conditions to Saturday. The program featured points paying main events for the four wheeled competitors. Classes were offered for everything from the diminutive kid karts with their five-year-old drivers on up to the crowd favorite Outlaw Karts.
Leading off the main events was the 125cc A karts. A race long duel between Colton Howe and Brian Pusey commenced from the start of the race. Howe and Pusey were often mere inches apart as they powered around the Camp Lockett oval. Howe used the lower portion of the course to hold onto the lead. Pusey employed numerous tactics in an effort to pass Howe, but at the checkers, Howe’s strategic use of the low line garnered the victory, with Pusey a close second.
Brian Pusey returned to the track later in the afternoon for the Adult 4 Stroke A Kart finale. His main competitor was Geoff Dale who had topped the qualifying heat race earlier in the day. At the start, Dale led the pack into turn one, with Pusey in pursuit. Dale was setting a torrid pace as he circled the course. Pusey never backed off and slowly closed in on Dale. Entering the back straight on lap four, Dale experienced a barely visible bobble which gave Pusey the opportunity he needed to power into the lead. Dale quickly regrouped and rapidly closed the gap on Pusey. Drawing on his experience from hundreds of laps around the Camp Lockett oval, Pusey maintained a steady pace to take the main event win, with Dale in second.
Pull-start mini bikes were back on the oval on Sunday. Ranging from classic mini-bikes that would have been on the sales floor of Sears to custom built specials, the class has become one of the most popular at CALVMX events. Their main event featured five separate classes lining up at the start. In the Masters Open Expert division Brett Miller led at the start. His main challenger was Masters Open Novice entry Chance Rose. The two waged a heated duel, with Rose leading for most of the race. Not conceding, Miller closed in on Rose and got a good drive down the back straight, and moved past Rose to take the win by a few bike lengths.
Other winners on Sunday included Tyler Warner in 125cc A karts and the Run What You Brung A kart class. Joining him on the winners list were Lucas Leone in Cadet Cub B karts and Wyatt Kukla in the Cadet Major Kart B classes. Kaylee Butler scored another dominant win in the Outlaw Kart finale and Nicholas Rose took the win in Adult 100cc B Karts.
Round two of the Fast Times at Camp Lockett flat track series will be held the weekend of June 15-16. The seven round series is just getting underway and there is plenty of time to chase a class championship title.
Section Title
Every website has a story, and your visitors want to hear yours. This space is a great opportunity to give a full background on who you are, what your team does and what your site has to offer. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want site visitors to know.
If you’re a business, talk about how you started and share your professional journey. Explain your core values, your commitment to customers and how you stand out from the crowd. Add a photo, gallery or video for even more engagement.