MOTOR RACING / BRYAN RODGERS : Saugus Fans Hope to Get Back in Race

As realization sets in that Saugus Speedway is on the brink of extinction, drivers, fans and residents of the Santa Clarita Valley plan to make a last-ditch effort to help save the 56-year-old facility.

A protest is scheduled for noon Saturday at the speedway, which referred to itself as “L.A.’s Place to Race.”

The track was abruptly closed on July 18 because an engineer’s report said the grandstands are unsafe. Saugus was the only active racing venue left in Los Angeles County.

With the season canceled, several drivers are relocating to other tracks throughout Southern California, but their hearts still belong to Saugus.

Kirk Miller, who competed in the Street Stock division, said, “I live in San Bernardino and am only 15 minutes away from the Orange Show race track. I drove 100 miles to Saugus by choice because the facilities there are excellent.”

Miller and a large contingent of drivers are hoping a demonstration might convince the Bonelli family, owners of the land where Saugus is located, to reconsider.

“If enough people show and make an impact maybe it won’t be a dollars-and-cents issue,” Miller said.

“Instead of looking at what a bean counter puts on paper, they should look at all the positives the track brings to the community.”

Since making the decision to cease racing, the Bonelli family has been unavailable for comment.

T.K. Karvasek of Reseda was fourth in the Street Stock points standings when the racing card ended. He doesn’t believe the Bonellis’ reasoning for closing down the track.

“It’s just an excuse on their part,” Karvasek said. “They just don’t want to be bothered with racing. None of them live around here so why would they care about this place?”

Julianne Seeley, a Street Stock driver, is going to compete in Saturday night’s races at Kern County Raceway but she still plans to attend the demonstration.

“I’m going to stop by and see what’s going on,” Seeley said. “Saugus has been a big part of my life and if I can help save it I’m going to do what I can.”

Because Dana Rea, a Pure Stock driver, is involved in a battle for the points lead at Kern County, he doubts he’ll attend Saturday’s protest.

“I’ve got a commitment to run at Kern County but that doesn’t mean I won’t be thinking about what’s going on at Saugus,” he said.

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Quick reaction by a track official prevented a tragedy at Ventura Raceway last Friday night. During the Street Stock main, Al Adam of Westlake Village flipped into the wall and was hit by William Hagel of Santa Barbara.

The gas tank in Adam’s car ruptured, and the fuel quickly ignited, but quick thinking by technical inspector Mike Bittner possibly saved Adam’s life.

“The trackman came up to the car and yelled ‘Fire!’, grabbed me by the arms and yanked me out of the car,” Adam recalled.

“I might not have gotten out if he hadn’t yanked me out.”

Once Adam and Bittner were clear of the car, a 25-foot fireball engulfed the wreck.

“One of the track assistants said it was the worst fire he’s seen in the four years he’s been here,” Adam said.

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Lance Hooper collected his third Southwest Tour victory of the season when he took the checkered flag at Madera Raceway on Saturday night.

Hooper leads Granada Hills rival M.K. Kanke, who finished fifth, by only five points in the battle for the points championship.

Seven caution flags slowed the race’s tempo but Hooper adjusted.

“The track was extremely bumpy,” he said. “I tried to drive it like El Cajon, I tried to drive it like Saugus and like Mesa Marin.

“But I’ll tell you what, Madera is its own track.”

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According to promoter Ron Hall, car entries have doubled in every division at Kern County Raceway since the closure of Saugus Speedway.

Gerrit Cromsigt and Karvasek are among the Saugus Street Stock drivers who have relocated to Kern County.

“The phone has been ringing off the hook,” Hall said. “The first week we had 300-plus people in our pits and most of them were drivers from Saugus who wanted to check us out.”

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Bryan Herta of Valencia took second place in the Cleveland Grand Prix last Saturday, his highest finish since he signed with the Chip Ganassi Racing team.

Herta took the lead from Michael Andretti with one lap remaining. But while he was dueling with Andretti, Indy 500 winner Jacque Villeneuve shot past them to get the checkered flag.

Contributing: Darin Esper.