The inspirati0n for this eventwere the very first MX races in the US held at the movie sets in Westlake and SimiValley CA.   Through the Viewfinders MCa lot of racing has continued all of these years with only a brief interruption and now there is a new tradition!!!   Thanks!!

 

 

 

                                         Recipients

 

                                      Lloyd Ferguson

 

     A Pioneer in the helmet safety world by developing the first full faced helmet with an opening large enough to allow one to wear goggles instead of the shield,  he also had the first helmet with a cutaway in the back to prevent neck injuries.  He promoted races at the famous Bay Mare racing facility in Moorpark CA.   He helped many of the young racers of the day (including yours truly) get to the races with sponsorships and he also sponsored our #1 AMA District 37 club the Claimjumpers MC.  It was truly an honor to have known Lloyd and thanks for all of the help!!!!   CB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     Andy De La Torre

 

 

 

   If you were around MX in the late 1969’s and early70’s you saw a lot of Mid Valley CZ jerseys on the podium.  Andy’s shop sponsored a lot of the top riders all over Southern CA.   What you might not know or remember was how instrumental he was in getting MX brought to the States.  He had travelled to Europe and witnessed this style of racing.  Through his efforts and others (Edison Dye, Ted Lapadakis) convinced the Europeans to come stateside and demonstrate their skills at several events across the country.   In talking with his wife I learned that the CZ team would stay with them when in the neighborhood and they became good friends to this day.   DeCoster  and Joel Robert came to Andy’s 80^th birthday party last year!!  How cool is that?!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   Ernie Alexander

 

 

 

   And speaking of bringing the races to Westlake, Ernie and the Viewfinders MC were more of the responsible parties.   Ernie started and ran Indian Dunes raceway in Valencia CA.  It started with the International course that could be stretched out for the longer Gran Prix races that included a water jump at the Santa Clara River.   The Shadow Glen course was a tighter track through the trees.  The night races had some of the best lighting of all of the tracks.  I had years of fun at the Dunes.  Thanks from all of us!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                       John DeSoto

 

 

 

    AKA the Flyin’ Hawaiian is one of the CZ riders Mid Valley sponsored.   He was one of the first to do respectably against the Europeans.  John flew at all of the tracks around CA and was a formidable competitor.   It was a lot of fun to watch.  The tricks we used to play on each other.  Downshift the guy next to you…use the heel of the boot to hold in the clutch for those hand on helmet starts… it only worked on our CZ’s…but my favorite was the old pull the overhead rope back down behind the rider entangling the rest of the starting lineup.   Yup they really did use a rope stretched across in front of the riders to be lifted out of the way most of the time!!   His brother Ron was no slouch on a bike either.    John still rides today.  His daughter accepted for him.

 

 

 

                                      J.N. Roberts

 

 

 

   #3in Baja teamed with Malcolm Smith and #1 in the Desert AMA District 37. The first time I saw him ride was during ABC’s Wide World of Sports.  It looked like the only things touching the bike were his hands.  He was passing trucks on his own trail.  It was incredible to watch.  JN then took Bud Ekins lead and took his motorcycling skills to Hollywood and the Big Screen as one of the top stuntmen in the business!

 

 

 

 

 

                                    Ken Ferguson

 

 

 

   As a racer a stuntman and now a promoter and producer Ken has been around motorcycles his entire life.  He helped his dad with Champion helmets and all of the work and promoting that went with owning the race facility, Bay Mare”.   Some huge events took place at this historic track.  And now Ken is an integral part of “ A Day in the Dirt “.   Thanks for letting me blow up your Maico!!! And many thanks for all you have done and are still doing for the motorcycling community!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                               Ken Alexander

 

 

 

    The driving force behind a “Day in the Dirt” He keeps everything running efficiently.   It helps to have all of those Indian Dunes years of experience.   The Stuntmen and Motion Picture Industry have been there for MX since the beginning in the US.  Thanks for keeping the ON ANY SUNDAY theme going!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   Steve McQueen

 

 

 

   AKA Harvey Mushman was one heck of a motorcycle rider Aside from seeing him at a lot of the races back when,  I think I recall that he was on the 1967 ISDT medaling team.  He gave great credibility to our sport.  When he took MX to the Big Screen it did away with the bad biker image so many people had back then.  Thanks for all you did and are still doing for our sport!!   Every time someone watches” ON ANY SUNDAY” they just can’t help themselves they just have to go and ride.

 

 

 

                                 Chad McQueen

 

 

 

   From winning his class at the World Minis to driving for Porsche with Jackie Ickx at the Goodwyn Event, Chad has been around racing his entire life.  It is no wonder why he wants to keep the ON ANY SUNDAY spirit going… He lives it!!!  Chad was not here this year and I am trying to catch up with him.  He does know about it I swear!!!