Streetluge.net Message Board

Gravity Racing Returns to Bonelli Park!!! *LINK*

Posted By: Marcus Rietema <rietema.m@...>
Date: 11/11/04, 12: 24 a.m.

The IGSA is very excited to announce that we will be bringing gravity
racing back to Frank G. Bonelli Park. Bonelli Park is located in San
Dimas, California approximately 30 miles East of downtown Los Angeles.
Many of yesterdays and todays top racers have competed in Bonelli Park
events and the IGSA is very pleased to be able to continue the tradition.
On January 16, 2005, the IGSA will begin holding regularly scheduled
events there.

The .6 mile course is very wide and speeds in excess of 60mph are
possible. This width will allow multiple course configurations and two
distinctly different finish lines. The traditional course is flat out to
the finish and requires less technical skill. Drafting is the key on this
course that makes a perfect Regional venue. The alternate, technical
finish will require racers to brake heavily from top speed to negotiate a
tight 90 degree corner before the finish straightaway. A slalom course
will also be available.

Bonelli Park has large, beautiful grass lawns everywhere. Permanent
restroom facilities are located close to the finish line. Plenty of paved
parking is available. The park also has camping and rv hookups, hot tubs,
miles of mountain bike and equestrian trails, Raging Waters water park and
Puddingstone Lake for boating and fishing.

Roger Hickey started the tradition of the Bonelli Park races back in
1993 when the Federation of International Gravity Racing (FIGR) began
holding regular races for Hickey's Gravity Formula 1 cars. Eventually
Hickey and Perry Fisser began racing their street luges and stand up
boards and Dwight Garland rode his gravity bike. The races continued to
grow as more and more new racers entered the sport and old school riders
came out of the woodwork.

By 1995 the races were huge with riders like Lee Dansie coming out
from Seattle and Beagle Jarvis from New York. Bonelli is where we first
saw riders like Tom Mason, Biker Sherlock, Sean Mallard, Pam Zoolalian and
many, many more. Old school riders like Bob Ozman and Darren Lott were
regulars at the Bonelli Park races.

Back in those days it was all about fun. Our goal is to recapture the
spirit of those early years and hopefully bring many new racers into the
sport. Entry fees will be kept low and we will experiment with different
ideas and innovations throughout the year.

Originally we had planned to hold our first event at Bonelli this
month but unfortunately there were a few delays in finalizing the permits.
We will be well prepared and ready to go January 16th. Detailed
information will be available at gravity-sports.com soon. I want to thank
Bob Ozman for all his hard work, perseverance and effort to bring gravity
racing back to Bonelli Park! It's going to be great!