Speedway Season Opener Is Set for Saturday at Fairgrounds

The 1999 speedway season opener takes place Saturday at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. The 31st season of racing on the one-eighth mile track continues through September.

Promoter/rider Brad Oxley, the defending points champion, and his administrative team are aggressively targeting the youth market this year.

“It’s getting harder and harder to run these events in Southern California, and the proof of that is that there used to be six tracks and now we’re the only one left,” Oxley said. “I think any future our sport has is going to depend on developing our youth. If we’re going to do this another 30 years, we’re going to need those kids.”

Beefed up security in the grandstand area is one way speedway has become more family friendly.

“The 1970s are gone, and we have to be responsive to that,” said Oxley, who sat in those grandstands as a child. “There are not many places you can take your kid for $3 or for free--we’ve turned it into a more wholesome family atmosphere.”

Children 12 and younger get in free on Times Orange County Kids Night on April 24. There are youth-oriented motorcycle competitions May 22, July 11 and Aug. 28.

Ticket prices this season remain unchanged: adults $9, juniors (ages 13-17) and seniors (60 and older) $6, and children (6-12) $3. Parking is free. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., first race is at 7:30 p.m.