Sears Point

[larry kahn]

https://www.cyclenews.com/2019/08/article/archives-a-half-century-in-sonoma/

 

[Butch]

Whoa. Racing AMA there for 50 years. Somehow I think there was an MX there too. I did not make it there until about 1984.

 

[EastBayDave]

I got there in 77'...

There was a dirt riding area even then, but I don't think there were any official dirt races until later. They also had a hill climb area too; fun to watch between races...:thumbup

 

[SFMCjohn]

https://www.cyclenews.com/2019/08/article/archives-a-half-century-in-sonoma/

:thumbup

youtu.be/jv8O2xHB-Ak

Brad Lackey vs Bob Hannah 1977 Sears Point Trans-Am


youtu.be/x--mszGscTc

home movies from a 1981 AFM weekend ... 116 views ... :gsxrgrl
walk-away low-side in Turn 8 (?) at 7:10 ...

arty

 

[larry kahn]

Zup Johnnaaayy.
I only rode there once 30+ years ago while in the midst of fulfilling my California Dreaming. Also rode Ontario once just before closing. Don't recall much but par for the course anymore.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Zup Johnnaaayy.
I only rode there once 30+ years ago while in the midst of fulfilling my California Dreaming. Also rode Ontario once just before closing. Don't recall much but par for the course anymore.

:thumbup

Sears Point reminded me of the old Loudon track ...
at least club racing a Loudon prepared me well for Sears Point. :ride

 

[larry kahn]

I was thinking Loudon also watching that video. Loudon ruled. Willow Springs reminds me of Loudon too if you took out the two straights.

 

[berth]

I always looked forward to going up to Sonoma back in the AMA heyday. It has some great views and an intimacy that even Laguna lacks.

 

[KazMan]

Whoa. Racing AMA there for 50 years. Somehow I think there was an MX there too. I did not make it there until about 1984.

Butch, they did run pro moto-x races there. Roger D, Chuck Sun, Billy Sugar Bear Grossi, Jimmy Weinert, and many others. The start was up the hill from Turn 7 near where the hospitality areas are now. And it was counter clockwise with a gnarly side hill section and a ravine they dropped into and rode out of. Some where I have pictures that I took.

 

[budman]

I raced MX there. The tracks were awesome. European glory tracks.

I have a great tail of Grandma coming and it rained.
The clay turned the track to an ice rink.

Took a second that day.... and Grandma said :wtf

Kind of love my life history.

Miss you Grandma.

 

[m0t0_ryder]

I remember going to the MX races at Sears point.
They also held Supermoto (Supercross?) there for a couple years up off of turn 7.

Here's a nice RacerX write up of the '76 Trans-AM at Sears Point....
LINK
Roger Decoster won the International class that day. Some pictures.

There's a few Sears Point vintage pictures at the Marvin Knox flickr site
Examples...

Decoster & Noyce


Brad Lackey


Warren Reid


Mike Bell '79 Trans-AM


Here's a youtube video of the '77 Trans AM race at Sears Point...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWc097PykUc

Fun stuff back then!

 

[berth]

I'm guessing last time I was up at Sears, '07, '08, during the AMA race, they were also hosting a Motocross event, and SuperMoto in an upper parking lot.

I assume the MotoCross was a mostly amateur event, but it was fun to watch. It rounded out the entire weekend having all of that there at one go.