1954 Riverside CA De Anza Park Motorcycle Steeplechase Track - 1-Page Article

Description

1954 Riverside CA De Anza Park Motorcycle Steeplechase Track - 1-Page Article
Original, vintage magazine article.
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm)
Condition: Good
AIRBORNE ANTICS of Billy Meier (24) and
Jimmy Phillips (8) had the fans at fever
pitch at September 19th race. Meier won.
Riverside Steeplechase
Southern California Riders Have Hey-Day
at New Revamped De Anza Park Track
Photos by Bob Bales and Vai Chaney
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA competi-
tion riders and race fans have been
in for a real treat these early autumn
months. This “treat” has been in the
form of Motorcycle Steeplechase Races,
held bi-weekly at Riverside’s De Anza
Park half-mile track.
The revamped half-mile oval features
a T.T. type layout, with three right
turns and four left turns. To add to
the thrills, a “ski-jump” was built on
the infield backstretch, in complete
view of the entire grandstand. (See
August issue, page 20, for map of
course).
Originators of the Steeplechase track
are Riverside Triumph, Ariel and Har-
ley-Davidson Dealer Skip Fordyce (a
true “spark plug” in Southern Cali-
fornia motorcycling circles) and Jack
Smutz, Riverside Advertising and Pub-
licity Agent, as well as a Junior Cham-
ber of Commerce member (whose or-
ganization co-sponsors these races
along with Fordyce).
The track has received several “face-
liftings” since the first race. The 2nd
VICTORY SMILES of Dudley Perkins, (San Fran-
cisco H-D Dealer) and rider Billy Meier. Billy
won two of the Riverside feature races.
*
ski-jump was removed, the big ski-
jump was rebuilt, as were all of the
turns, with the improved course offer-
ing the maximum in rider safety as
well as the tops in spectator enthusi-
asm. The entire track measure 8/10ths
of a mile.
The current race season got under-
way on September 19th, with two San
Francisco riders showing the local tal-
ent the quick way to the checkered
flag. They were the sensational Billy
Meier and Carl Kiesow. Kiesow topped
the novice main and trophy dash, with
Meier doing the same honors in the
amateur-expert dash and final. Both
were riding Harley-Davidsons prepared
by Dudley Perkins, San Francisco H-D
Dealer. Triumph mounted Jimmy Phil-
lips gave Meier a real battle in the
main event, with Phillips holding the
front spot until about the midway
point, when Meier took over. In one
of the earlier heats, Kretz demonstrat-
ed to the fans and riders alike, that
he and his Triumph were a winning
combination, as he fought his way
thru the race traffic to cop first. He
suffered mechanical trouble in the
main event.
The October 3rd race again saw the
flyin’ Meier top the field of experts
with his Harley - Davidson. Charlie
Cripps and his B.S.A. Flash swept the
novice trophy dash and novice main
event. Jimmy Phillips wheeled his Tri-
umph home in front of Ed Kretz and
Red Rice to take the amateur-expert
trophy dash. Records were shattered
on this day of racing, with Matchless
mounted Jack Thurman setting a new
novice mark for one-lap. Novice Kie-
sow turned six laps at a new speed,
and Cripps chalked up new records for
three and ten laps.
In the amateur-expert bracket, Billy
Meier stole the show, with a new one.
A field of expert riders dive into the first hair-pin turn. Tex Luse (H-D) leads the pack. Jimmy
Phillips (Tri.) is at left, and Billy Meier (H-D) is in a tight slide as he comes thru the traffic.
six and ten lap record for contestants
to shoot at. Phillips lowered the pre-
vious three lap time for another new
record of the day.
October 17th saw a new champ, with
Johnny Gibson (this time mounted on
a Harley-Davidson) sweeping the field
in the final event. He led Phillips (Tri-
umph), Red Rice (Har-Dav) and Brad
Andres (Har-Dav) to the checkered
flag. Gibson also copped the trophy
dash, finishing ahead of Phillips and
Meier. In the novice dash and final, it
was Joe Williams who set the winning
pace.
Sunday, November 14th, will ring
down the curtain on the current River-
side racing season, with this finale
being pegged as the Pacific Coast
Here’s Phillips and Meier in hot competition
again. Note Phillips' airborne front wheel.
Steeplechase Chempionship. From past
attendance turnouts, this race is almost
guaranteed to be complete sell-out,
with “standing room only” being the
early afternoon chant of the ticket
sellers.
Our crash helmet is off to Skip For-
dyce and the Riverside Junior Chamber
of Commerce, for doing a real bang-up
job of race promotion.
15441