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Adelanto Grand Prix 2006: Fans Arrive Early

Posted on: Thursday, 23 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By Leroy Standish

ight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Feb. 23--ADELANTO -- The Adelanto Grand Prix doesn't start until Saturday, but already race fans are parking their recreational vehicles, unloading their dirt bikes and firing up their barbecues in anticipation of the race's 26th running. "We got here Saturday," Jacob Shepherd said. "Besides the (Desert Vipers Motorcycle) Club people we were the first ones out here." 'Here' is a dirt lot southwest of Bartlett Avenue and Bellflower Road adjacent to a curved section of the Grand Prix's dirt track that breaks into a straight away before dumping riders onto the paved Bartlett Avenue. The entire area is dissected by yellow tape, designating territories staked out weeks ago, and pock marked by RVs occupied by race enthusiasts anxious for the bikes to show up and get in gear. "There will be over 30,000 people out here. This whole area will be solid," said Shepherd, who came to Adelanto from Bakersfield to watch and participate in the weekend races. "If you don't have your spot you'll be camping a half-mile out." For many of the early arrivals the Grand Prix is more than just a two-day event. It's a week long adventure. Kathy Kirkmeyer of Apple Valley is taking time off from work to vacation in Adelanto, watch the races and spend time with family and friends.

"My husband marked our spot out two weeks ago," Kirkmeyer said. "We treat it like a vacation." Many of those who are hunkering down now, days before the first racer darts across a finish line, are holding spots for friends. Mike Gonzales of Victorville is anticipating 14 more RVs full of family members coming from throughout the southwestern United States to join the two RVs he already has parked near the track. "We marked this out a week ago," Gonzales said. "You got to get here that early if you want a good spot. It's almost like a family reunion, every year our whole family knows we're here."

The event is sponsored by the Desert Vipers. The club is responsible for installing the fencing, shaping the track and quartering off areas for vendors. "The entire course is about 9 miles long, there's a motocross section from Air Base Road (Air Expressway) to Bartlett," said Carl Ogren, city liaison for the Desert Vipers. "The unique thing about that is there is solid people lining that thing and friends and family get a chance to cheer their riders on." Next year the Grand Prix will be moving about a mile and a half to the west, but will remain within the city. "This is definitely our last year starting at this location," Ogren said. "We will have to move because of encroaching housing tracts." This year race officials are anticipating about 3,500 riders and close to 40,000 fans. Paying overtime wages for extra San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies, public works crews and code enforcement is expected to cost the city about the same it did last year, about $65,000. LeRoy Standish may be reached at 951-6277 or lstandish@vvdailypress.com From Here: -- Back to today's news -- News Archive -- Join the discussion at the community forum

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Copyright (c) 2006, Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Daily Press - Victorville, California

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