Friday Night at the Races
The team challenge takes off from the start late in the evening.
Fast Fridays: A Moto Photo Story
Words: Mike Blanchard Photos: Mike Blanchard and Miguel Guitierez
When you go behind the curtain at Fast Fridays speedway races in Auburn California the word that leaps to the fore is family. The pits are full of families and the stands are full of families. In many of the pits there are three and four generations of family. Mom and dad race like their parents before them.The kids, from the teenagers to the kindergarteners, are getting out and racing. The thing about Fast Fridays is the quality of the racing. National champions and world champions race at this little track in the foothills. The kids have the opportunity to see the best and learn from them and it pays off. Racing is an all day thing. The racers load in about noon, get setup and begin tuning the bikes. There is a lot of work to do before hitting the track. On this night photographer Miguel Guttierez and I had the opportunity to wander the whole facility. We bring you a story in photographs.
Riley Rearick ready to go.
Strike a pose.
Baylee Evans Seeley
The next generation: Mason Howell, Riley Rearick, Hank Hanaway and Gavin Evans Seeley watching the opening ceremonies.
Brock Nicol having a moment before the start of the racing.
Danny and Ryder Faria honor the National Anthem
Mike Rooney is an ex racer and has been the announcer at Fast Fridays for years. In 1973 he was the Northern California Speedway Champion. Rooney has an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport and rider. It seems like he knows everyone and half the people in the stands.
The cats at the start line ready to go.
Wesley Rearick gets up on the tank and swings the rear out going into turn three heading for the finish line in one of the Youth 250 races.
Brock Nicol leads the pack into turn two.
Russel Green’s tattoos say it all. Unfortunately, crutches are sometimes part of the deal for a speedway rider.
General manager Trish Grace and promoter Dave Joiner pause for a second.
Jameson Huchinson, racing in the Youth 250 class, watching as his bike gets tuned in the Janniro pits . The tune of the Carburetor and the clutch are key to success in speedway racing.
Brock Nicol visiting with friends between heats.
Danny and Ryder Faria and family
Billy Janniro hanging it out around turn four. You have to get up on the tank and stay on the gas around the corner.
The Todd family pits at the end of the evening.