THE FINAL "SATURDAY AT THE GLEN" MOTOCROSS RACE OF 2024

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THE FINAL 2024 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE REPORT

Cody Brownfield (24) took both motos of the 450 Expert class on his Suzuki RM-Z450.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI

Josh Kaller (115) came up one place short in both 450 Expert motos to lose out to Cody Brownfield in the 450 Expert class.

The last” Saturday at the Glen” race of the year cam eonly four days before Christmas. Most of the regulars assumed that there would be a small turnout with lots of Christmas shopping taking precedence over racing, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Although the wind been howling at Glen Helen for the past week, the track actually looked well watered, ready to be used and not dried out from the drying effect of 40mph gusts. The plus was that the wind had stopped and with it went to 80-degree temperatures that came along with the Santa Ana wind. Saturday dawned cool, but once the sun burned through the Stratos cloud layer it warmed up to 74 degrees.

Tristan Alvarez (114) put in a 1-2 day, but lost the first spot to Caleb Tate’s 2-1.

So, instead of a small turnout, 206 riders showed up. The biggest group was the 250 Beginners—which is a great sign about the future, because it wasn’t that long ago that the 250 Novice and Beginner classes were significantly smaller—putting the burden on the Vet classes to carry the weight of the Saturday program, but the almost 40 riders over the age of 60 were bolstered by 57 mini riders from the Pee-Wee, 65cc and 85cc riders.

Jonathan Augusta (30) is Jim Holley’s cousin. He went 1-1 in the Over-30 Novice class.

“Saturday at the Glen” prides it self on running an efficient race program and literally promises that they will get the race program done before 2:00 p.m. so the racers can get home in time to clean and prep their bikes so they can ride again on Sunday. How do they achieve this?

Thanks to a 40-man starting gate and two-wave starts, they can easily put 80 riders on the track at one time (aided by the length of Glen Helen’s National track), but since Glen Helen tries to only run eight races with an on average only 26 riders in each race (some with less than 26 riders and some with more), the track is not crowded. No motos were shortened everybody got two 15-minute motos and the Expert/Pro races were 20 minutes long. It should be noted that 20 minutes at Glen Helen is like 30 minutes on a normal race track.

Val Tamietti (31) used a 2-1 to defeat Tracy Hrach’s 1-3  and Bob Rutten’s 3-2 in the Over-65 Expert class. Val also went 4-4 for 4th overall in the Over-60 Experts.

Bob Rutten (83) was an off-road star back in the glory days of the Baja 500 and Baja 1000, before switching to motocross. Here, Bob and Val Tamietti (31) try to outbrake each other at the bottom of Mount Saint Helen downhill. Val has the inside position and makes the pass.

Bill Sauro (311) won the Over-50 Expert class with a 2-1 score to extend his win 2024 win streak into next season.

Former AMA Pro Robert Naughton (54) won the first moto of the Over-50 Expert class, but his third in the second moto was beaten by Bill Sauro’s 2-1 . During his AMA Pro career he scored 12 top fives finishes in the 125 East/West series and finished second overall in the 1987 125 West Championship and fourth overall in the 1986 125 West series.

Poland’s Arek Kruk (79) went 3-4 for fourth in the Over-50 Experts behind third place Richard Ellis’ 4-2.

Jon Ortner (N1) is still running his NGPC number one plate on his way to second in the Over-60 Experts. Ortner’s 3-2 beat out Ron Shuler’s 2-3

Jacob McCoy (100) took the victory in the 450 Intermediate class over a top five of Cade Myerly (2-2), Capone Spina (3-3), Ryan Kivlen (4-4) and Ammon Pulsipher (5-5). 

Patrick Flynn (23) recently retired from working for Kawasaki and now has time to enjoy life, which means he gets to race his KX450 in the Over-70 class.

Damian Collier (207) is the son of Sean Collier. Damian went 3-1 to edge out Slade Pearson’s 2-2 in the 250 Intermediate class. 

Janis Mijos (54) took his Husqvarna TC65 to a two-moto sweep of the 65cc class.

Shawn Bushnell (25) won the Over-40 Expert class and Open Expert class, while his son Bode was 4th in the 125 Novice class, and son Jett was 7th in the 250 Novice class.

Did we mention that wife Alison Bushnell (35) went 8-6 in the Over-40 Intermediate class against the men.

Josh Fout (77), son the late Randel Fout, was second in the Over-30 Expert class and the fifth in the Open Expert class.

Mike Monaghan’s YZ125 is not helped by Glen Helen’s 70 mph charge to the steeply banked first turn, but once on the racetrack he is able to work his way through the 450-dominated Over-60 Expert class into the top ten. Here, Mike leads Michelle Horton (32) and Ron Lawson (10) on this was to 7th overall.

Andrew Brownlee (13), on a well disquised Husqvarna, was third overall in the 450 Novice class.

Johnny Hayes (14) put together 4-3 scores to get third in the Over-50 Novice class.

Trey Canard’s brother Aaron (141)  went 6-6 for 5th overall in the Over-30 Novice class,.

Liam Canard (41), Trey’s nephew,  raced in the 50cc First-timer’s Pee-Wee class. Luckily, the First Timer’s don’t have to climb the big hills and come back down them. Liam went 9-7 for 8th overall.

Matthew Yarnell (157, is the grand son of Glen Helen’s Lori Wilson, he went 4-5 in the 65cc class.

Meanwhile. Matthew’s sister,  Madison  Yarnell (26) was second in the first moto of the 50cc First-Timer’s Pee-Wee class, but got an 8th in moto two for sixth overall. 

Both of Tony Alessi’s daughter race in the Pee-Wee classes. Aria, shown above, won theYamaha PW50 class, while Mavis took the victory in the 50cc First-Timer’s Pee-Wee class.

Ezra Armbruster (297) swept both motos of the 7-to-8 year old  Pee-Wee class. Here, he is chased by Reed Connor (922).

2024 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE SCHEDULE

If you are looking for a racing organization that offers long motos, low cost and very consistent race schedule—this is it. “Saturday at the Glen” motocross hosts their final 2024 event on December 21, 2024, before taking a break for Christmas and New Year’s. Pre-entry is only $30 ($25 for minis). Post entry is $40 ($30 for minis) on the day of the race. The Gate fee is $10 (per person). You can sign up for the next “Saturday at the Glen” motocross as late as the Friday before the race (or just show up in person on race day). For more info go to www.glenhelen.com

2025 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY & MARCH
Jan. 8…National track
Jan. 25…Arroyo track
Feb. 1…National track
Feb. 8…Arroyo track
Feb. 22…National track
Mar. 8..Arroyo track
Mar. 22…Arroyo track.

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