Motorcycle ICE Racing Comes To Los Angeles
Exclusive Slideshow Coverage
Richard Kontas
Issue date: 1/14/10 Section: Features
So it's that infamous and much reviled (by the rest of the world) 'winter in Los Angeles' (you know, when it rains for three days) and so itching for a motorsports fix if you will, I went carousing the internet for something to do on this particular day…it was a Friday morning - and then, wow, I stumble onto Icespeedway.com and it turns out there's a race the next night out in Ontario.
Slideshow Media Credit: Richard Kontas
Utilizing my vast investigative research skills (google) I determine that media credential requests are too late to be submitted -hmmm, like that's ever stopped me before - my MO is to inquire 'diplomatically and politely' (to a woman whenever possible - they love to 'help' us poor clueless males when approached properly) and hey I just want free admission and preferred photo access that's not asking too much is it?
So as it turns out I actually contact the publicity dept of the venue and the female employee was very receptive to my plea and furnished instructions for credential pick up upon arrival - woo, whoo I'm going to the ice races!!
The irony is this being LA where the average median temperature is like 90+ degrees on any given day and yes I'm from Detroit where he winters are typically 10-30 degrees BELOW 0 with wind chill and I had never seen or heard of ice racing - go figure!
Here's a brief (and I mean brief) lowdown on ice racing: it is yes a descendant of dirt track/speedway (racing on an oval shaped track and to turn they add throttle and power slide around the bend-very exciting)style racing dating back to about 1975 when someone decided lets try this on ice. One thing led to another and it evolved into the finely honed format known today as ICE / World Championship Ice Racing.
The bikes are all 450cc motocross bikes with moderate mods - the main one being the studs added to the tires. They run 8 qualifier heats with 4 bikes each, with the first place finisher of each heat advancing to the main event final.
Slideshow Media Credit: Richard Kontas
Utilizing my vast investigative research skills (google) I determine that media credential requests are too late to be submitted -hmmm, like that's ever stopped me before - my MO is to inquire 'diplomatically and politely' (to a woman whenever possible - they love to 'help' us poor clueless males when approached properly) and hey I just want free admission and preferred photo access that's not asking too much is it?
So as it turns out I actually contact the publicity dept of the venue and the female employee was very receptive to my plea and furnished instructions for credential pick up upon arrival - woo, whoo I'm going to the ice races!!
The irony is this being LA where the average median temperature is like 90+ degrees on any given day and yes I'm from Detroit where he winters are typically 10-30 degrees BELOW 0 with wind chill and I had never seen or heard of ice racing - go figure!
Here's a brief (and I mean brief) lowdown on ice racing: it is yes a descendant of dirt track/speedway (racing on an oval shaped track and to turn they add throttle and power slide around the bend-very exciting)style racing dating back to about 1975 when someone decided lets try this on ice. One thing led to another and it evolved into the finely honed format known today as ICE / World Championship Ice Racing.
The bikes are all 450cc motocross bikes with moderate mods - the main one being the studs added to the tires. They run 8 qualifier heats with 4 bikes each, with the first place finisher of each heat advancing to the main event final.
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