REMEMBER THE CARLSBAD GP!

On Valentine’s Day 2016, hundreds of Carlsbad Raceway loyalists relived past glory days at a daylong fest staged at Booze Brothers Brewery in Vista, California. All the while a group of dedicated volunteers worked the beer and memory fueled crowd to raise awareness and funding for a Carlsbad Raceway Monument.

Ex-factory rider Scott “Burner” Burnworth’s annual Carlsbad Raceway Reunion saw dozens of local and international racers and past motocross champions in attendance including local hero Broc Glover, winner of the 1984 Carlsbad USGP (United States Grand Prix) and fellow El Cajon, CA native Ricky Johnson, the event’s 1986 champ. Headlining the event however was 5-time USGP champion Gerrit Wolsink, and Mr. Motocross himself, Torsten Hallman, the man credited with introducing the sport of motocross to the US. Also joining in on the celebration was the USGP and ABC Superbikers promoter Gavin Trippe.

“For fans of motocross racing this event ranks 20 on a scale of 10. You can’t even move in here without bumping elbows with a hero like Torsten Hallman or Gerrit Wolsink.” Said Carlsbad Raceway Monument committee member Todd Huffman. “This is a great event with great people to help raise money and awareness for the monument.”

Throughout the day the beer flowed and the glory days were revisited again and again, as the Carlsbad Raceway Monument fund found a new gear. Enthusiastic revelers reached into their wallets throughout the day to purchase raffle tickets, t-shirts and participate in live auctions for artwork, photographs, racing memorabilia, cameras, scooters and motorcycle gear.

“Thanks to a lot of nice people here today, we added more than $6,000 to the Carlsbad Raceway Monument account.” Said Anita Button, of Road2Recovery.com, a 501c3 charitable organization assigned to manage the Carlsbad Raceway Monument financial affairs.

Raffle and live auction items included an oil-on-canvas portrait by famed moto artist Rob Kinsey of the late Marty Moates, winner of the 1980 Carlsbad USGP, Moates’ Yamaha Race of Champions front racing number plate was also auctioned. A GoPro camera, numerous autographed magazine covers, large banner stand art signed by Wolsink and Hallman also raised several hundred dollars toward the effort.

The original owners of Carlsbad Raceway Larry Grismer and his son Jeff joined the festivities. Both men upped the fundraising ante by presenting personal checks and delivering stirring oratories that brought both tears and laughter to the crowd. They were joined by Kevin Hill of H.G. Fenton a Carlsbad development company who contributed the start up donation for the monument project.

https://youtu.be/tWmdURY9SVw

For t-shirts and donations please visit:
road2recovery.com/carlsbad-raceway-monument-fundraiser/

About the Carlsbad Raceway Monument Project:The Carlsbad Raceway Monument project was started over five years ago to develop and build a permanent, interpretive monument and display overlooking the famous Carlsbad Raceway site at the corner of Palomar Airport Road and Melrose Ave. in Carlsbad, CA. The completed project will have information and pictures of the history and activities that took place at the raceway in it’s 40+ year history, including the motocross track, drag strip, road racing circuit and skateboard park.

The first Phase is the design and development work by environmental design and architectural firm Helix Corporation. This is expected to be completed by Spring of 2016 with construction beginning in the Fall of 2016. Project completion is expected by Q1, 2017.

About Road 2 Recovery: The Road 2 Recovery Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that was founded in 2000, and is dedicated to helping AMA licensed Professional Motocross/Supercross riders and Action Sports Athletes with financial assistance if they sustain career-ending injuries as well as providing motivational, emotional, and spiritual support to these individuals and their families. Federal Tax ID # 86-0996104