Overflow Crowd Shows Up for Speedway Races

Radio personalities Mark and Brian helped attract a crowd of 9,200 to Friday’s speedway program at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. More than 1,000 spectators reportedly were turned away.

Mike Faria of Colton won the four-lap scratch main event with Steve Lucero of Riverside finishing second, Brad Oxley of San Clemente taking third and Shawn McConnell of Brea taking fourth.

Charles Ermolenko of Cypress won the eight-lap handicap main event. Oxley was second, Shawn McConnell from Brea was third and Faria was fourth.

Mark and Brian, of KLOS-FM, failed in an attempt to jump two motorcycles in a bus because the ramp broke.

The last sellout for speedway at the Fairgrounds was in 1981, when Bruce Penhall returned from winning the world championships in London, England.