Some Athletes Get Their Kicks Away From School : ON THEIR OWN : Edison’s Work-Experience Program Propels Greg Hancock to a Fast Start on the Speedway Racing Circuit

Greg Hancock’s classroom is the family garage. His homework assignments include learning about the intricate art of gearing, tire pressure and the proper mixture of fuel and air for a speedway motorcycle.

The riding tests have been tough, but in seven years as a junior speedway rider in Southern California, Hancock has learned to skillfully maneuver the lightweight, methanol-burning, 500cc bikes around a race track.

The toughest exam so far comes Friday night when Hancock, a junior at Edison High School, makes his debut as a division one rider on the tricky, 190-yard oval at the Orange County Fairgrounds, considered the most demanding track on the circuit.

Hancock’s goal is to become an established rider on the weekly racing circuit in San Bernardino, Gardena, Costa Mesa and Victorville. The season begins in April and concludes with the U.S. Championship at the Fairgrounds in October.

Top riders can earn as much as $1,500 a week, but most beginning riders struggle to cover the costs of entry, tires, mechanics’ fees and fuel.

Hancock, 16, isn’t a typical beginner, however. Last week, he successfully raced in his first handicap main events--finishing seventh at San Bernardino, second at Ascot Park and third at Victorville.

Hanock earned about $375 for three nights, establishing him as one of the highest-earning young businessmen in Bill Ridneour’s work-experience program at Edison.

Hancock is one of 225 students at Edison participating in the program. The juniors and seniors must be at least 16 years old, maintain a C average in four academic classes and work a minimum of 15 hours per week. Each student earns five units for each semester in the program.

“The program allows a student to walk out of school at noon and become an adult working in the adult world for the remainder of the day,” Ridneour said. “The program teaches the kids the good ol’ American work ethic.”

Hancock had been majoring in work ethics long before he enrolled at Edison this school year. His father, Bill, has been a longtime supporter and sponsor of speedway stars Bruce Penhall and Bobby Schwartz, the two most successful American riders in the sport’s history.

“Bobby was and still is my hero,” Greg Hancock said. “When I was a kid, I used to go to the pit area after the races and sit on his bike.

“Bobby lived with us, and when he moved to England to race, he would always stay with us when he returned home to race. He taught me how to wash his bikes and service the parts. He’s the main reason I decided to race.”

Hancock began racing a half-scale speedway bike powered by 200cc engine when he was 8. The awkward-looking, lightweight bikes are designed to turn only to the left and have no brakes, so the learning process for Hancock was long and difficult.

While friends played Little League baseball or Pop Warner football, Hancock spent nearly every weekend practicing at either Indian Dunes or on a private track owned by Ken Maely in Corona.

“The toughest part was race night,” Hancock said. “You get under the lights in front of all those people, and you’re really nervous.

“Everybody tells you, ‘Just ride like you did in practice.’ But I could never ride as well as I did in practice. I was always worrying about getting hurt or something going wrong with the bike.”

Hancock struggled for several years but began to show his potential after attending riding schools conducted by Penhall and Mike Bast, a former seven-time U.S. champion. By the time he was a teen-ager, Hancock was one of the top riders on the junior speedway circuit.

“Mike Bast was the best teacher,” Hancock said. “He spent so much time with me. He knew so much about the sport and was so patient with me. I went to six of his riding schools.”

But attending Penhall’s riding school at San Bernardino proved to be the biggest boost in Hancock’s career. Penhall, the two-time world champion, spent a day with Hancock on the race track and decided to sponsor the young rider.

Penhall bought him an English-built junior Weslake bike, and Hancock won the 1985 junior championship. Penhall now serves as Hancock’s manager, securing sponsors and advising him.

Penhall’s influence is evident on the back of Hancock’s riding leathers. Hancock wears No. 145, the same number Penhall wore when he began racing. He has a red, white and blue bike, the same colors Penhall raced under. Hancock also said he will switch to No. 45 after this season, the number Penhall wore during most of his career.

“Having someone as well respected as Bruce behind me has been the most important step in my career,” Hancock said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Bobby Schwartz, Bruce Penhall or my dad.”

Hancock also wouldn’t be racing this season without a court document that waives the right of a child under the age of 18, his parent or his legal guardian to to sue a race promoter in case of an accident.

Rising insurance costs for track promoters prompted them to end the junior speedway program last year and increase the minimum riding age of division one and support class riders from 16 to 18.

The court document allows under-aged riders such as Hancock, Gary Hicks and Trinion Cirello to compete.

“We tried all of last season to get a chance to ride, and then finally decided to take the year off,” Hancock said. “I was the No. 1 junior rider and couldn’t ride. It was very frustrating to sit and watch.

“It took five months to get the proper court document. The layoff gave me the urge to want to ride even more. I had ridden for seven years and now, that was all gone. I wanted it back.”

Today, the long layoff is merely a memory. Hancock has a full schedule beginning with classes from 7:30-11:30 a.m. each day. He is an honor student with a 3.5 grade-point average.

He also works between 15 and 20 hours per week at an auto body and paint shop in Fountain Valley to fill his work-experience requirement. Then, there’s maintaining his bikes and racing four nights a week.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned this year is how to budget my time,” Hancock said. “I’m going to school, working and racing. I try to plan the upcoming week on the weekends. I feel like I’m accomplishing something rather than just sitting around.”

Schwartz, a 15-year veteran with racing credits around the world, has taught Hancock many of the sport’s intricacies.

“Greg picked up the sport very quickly,” Schwartz said. “Once he started riding, it was obvious he was a stylish rider. I expect him to go far in speedway, but it all depends on his desire and attitude.

“Greg could develop into a better rider than either Bruce or myself. But it all depends on how much he wants to be the best. Only time will tell.”

Hancock plans to ride locally for another season, graduate from high school and then pursue a career in the British Speedway League when he turns 18 or 19.

“I’d like to go to college, but my plans are a little up in the air right now with my racing career,” he said. “I want to become a world champion, and I know you have to race in England if you want to be the world champion. Whenever Bruce says I’m ready, I’ll go. I’ll leave that decision to him.”