Rules for blowing the chicane (?) at Infineon?

[KazMan]

sorry as I revive an old thread....but I was at my Mom's house last weekend and found 3 binders worth of pics. So for you young or new or forgetful folks...lol...here is the ol Sears Point in some of her glory

the old turn 9 and 10 with the upgrade of new pavement. But note the guardrails, bridge, etc. This is former AFM fast guy Rich Oliver #97 getting chased by some bikes in the '88 AMA National.

The old pits. No fancy garages or asphalt. Just some gravel with oil on top. Many a race were made exciting because a racer dropped a needle clip and couldn't find it...lol

also note the lack of tarps, motorhomes, custom trailers

The old starting line on the drag strip. Notice the beautiful stands facing the sun and the bridge crossing over the track...lol

However somethings haven't changed

The same lady making sure that all the racers are safe and know when and where to be

as well as riders pumping their fists on taking a checkered flag

Budman making it by in the pits to say hi and congratulate a racer

 

[EastBayDave]

Thanks for the pics! Very cool...

Little Richie Oliver was so fast; I donno how many dozen races I was alongside him on the start, only to watch him pull away & disappear. One fast fella he is....

Still recall him showing up at Alice's on a clapped-out RD350 that looked like it had been crashed a hundred times. After breakfast, our group would be heading out down 84, he would start last, then proceed to wobble by everyone by arrival at the beach.

Some of the guys talked him into racing. I'm sure glad we did! Later he trucked his Z1 racebike up there a couple times; & would disappear immediately. Had to find a log to lean the racebike on as it had no stand (as well as number plates, open exhaust, no lights/mirrors/etc.) Was funny as hell...

 

[Cycle61]

Ahh, nostalgia.

I'm way too young and new to remember any of that, but I'm looking forward to swapping stories twenty years from now.

 

[afm199]

Great pics! I forgot all about the bridge! But I remember the hills at T7-8-9, and blowing T8 put you into the hillside at 80 mph LOL.

 

[EastBayDave]

...put it back to the "real" turn 9....

...t'was one of the more fun places at Sears in the old days...

edit add pic:

83' Open Stock start:

The "Koz" on the pole - Kevin Dolan - Me outside

Was a fun race...the guy on row 2 I don't recall name sorry, but he was hella fast on an old Yamaha 920v-twin. Kept up with the big bores for quite awhile. Koz smeared us, Dolan 2nd & I was 3rd

-ebd

 

[EastBayDave]

Great pics! I forgot all about the bridge! But I remember the hills at T7-8-9, and blowing T8 put you into the hillside at 80 mph LOL.

That's actually 7, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b.

I liked the small passing opportunity there between 8 & 8a (rarely made a couple late-race desperation passes there- but it always freaked other riders <your passing me here??!!?">) I recall 8a was the fearsom right into 9. Everyone feared that big hill but I always thought the big guardrail/later K wall going into 8 was scary'er.

If you got the 8/8a combo right it was big power wheelies down the hill that were just...tits. Then bang the bars & into 9. Catch top cog before the bottom & wind out top WFO around 9 which was as fast as the old T1 or maybe even faster for some....waaaaaaa!