Calistoga Half-Mile

From long-time friend of ours, Ivan Thelin...
'Last night at the Calistoga Half Mile, we saw local boy Stevie Bonsey (80) beat some of the best dirt track racers in the USA. Afterwards when we met he said "I have been waiting 17 years for this. I've been wanting to win an AMA National since I was 3.".
He's 20 years old of course, and maybe 110 lbs, and regular at Lodi Cycle Bowl and San Jose Speedway. He could fit in one leg of my leathers. Great kid. In all the hubbub, I forgot to look and see if he was wearing one of my hot shoe straps.'
.
'The crowd was big, and lots of familiar faces were there. Every dirt track racer and fan in Northern California must have bought a ticket. The promoter did a stellar job, and delivered on what might be the race event of the year around these parts.'
Coolbeth in white.
The Dash for Cash for the six fastest qualifiers. (From L-R) Johnson, S. Halbert, Carr, Pearson, Bonsey and Nicole Cheza.
Sammy won the Dash and was second in the main.
Jake Johnson, third in the main and keeping the pressure on to be the Grand National Champion. He's second to Kopp in the combined and second to Halbert in the twins championship.
Joe Kopp's Harley collapsed in a heat race, meaning he had to transfer to the main via the semis on his spare bike. He did. I wonder if he wished, he'd been on his Ducati... It's hard to see what happened, but it looks like the legs of the swingarm have split from the pivot tube.
Wiles and Coolbeth.
Wiles and Mees.
Kayl Kolkman on the Wood Rotax twin. Came fourth in his semi just missing out on making the main.

Photos: AMA Pro Racing