A Heavy Favorite of Past Comes Back to Speedway

He never won a race. He seldom finished a race.

But ask anyone who has followed the weekly speedway motorcycle races at the Orange County Fairgrounds over the past two decades who is the most popular rider to fall on the tricky 190-yard oval, and chances are the answer will be “Tumbleweed Walton.”

Pat (Tumbleweed) Walton became an overnight sensation in the summer of 1975, when crowds averaging 9,000 packed the Costa Mesa race track every Friday night.

Walton started as one of those nameless, faceless third-division riders who usually evoke more laughter than racing thrills. At 240 pounds, he was an imposing figure on the lightweight bikes that are capable of speeding from zero to 60 miles per hour in six seconds.

When Walton climbed on a bike, he hulked over the machine. When he fell, he bounced.

Fourteen years later and 30 pounds heavier, Walton will return to Costa Mesa at 8 tonight for the Legends of Speedway charity race.

Among the top riders scheduled to compete are two-time world champion Bruce Penhall, three-time U.S. champion Rick Wood, Dennis Sigalos, Ron Preston and Sonny Nutter. Penhall will meet Sigalos in a best-of-three match race.

Few riders could duplicate Walton’s diet and training techniques. Walton, who attributed his success to pizza, once gained 85 pounds in three months. Asked how he stayed in shape, he said, “I eat a lot.”

Walton looked even bigger because he bought a pair of used riding leathers that were far too large.

Discovering Walton’s whereabouts was more difficult than getting him to agree to ride.

These days, Walton, 36, drives a cement truck and is living in Fontana with his wife, Terry, and three children.

Promoter Harry Oxley found Walton by accident when the Waltons ordered wedding invitations from the printing company that produces Oxley’s programs.

“There was a message on our answering machine asking if Mr. Tumbleweed was interested in racing,” Terry said. “Funny, they couldn’t remember his first name. At first, Pat thought it was a joke. But he’s real excited about seeing old friends at Costa Mesa.

Walton got his old riding leathers out of the garage attic and borrowed a bike. He hasn’t ridden in 10 years, but was scheduled to practice on Thursday at Costa Mesa.

“Funny, a lot of his friends have been calling this week asking if his accident insurance is up to date,” Terry said.