SoCal's Roadracing Clubs Rev Up for 2013

Photo: OXYmoron Photography

2012 was a bad year for club-level roadracers in the Southwest United States. Early in the year, Willow Springs Motorcycle Club (WSMC) dropped a bombshell: After decades of hosting near-monthly meets, the club was closing up shop. At the same time, other race organizations condensed their schedules due to reduced budgets. Track day providers felt the financial pinch, too, and held fewer events at fewer tracks.

But 2013 promises to be better. In fact, this year is shaping up to be pretty busy, with five clubs offering races at a dozen tracks. Newly formed Moto West Grand Prix (MWGP) has stepped in to fill the void left by WSMC's departure, and is racing at the Streets of Willow course in addition to the legendary 2.5-mile "big track." Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association (CVMA) is just a few years old but has developed strong membership thanks to pre-race qualifying sessions and double-header race weekends at their Desert Center, CA, circuit.

Founded in 1954, the American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM) has been going strong for 59 years, and its Thunderhill and Sonoma Raceway-centric schedule offers competitors the chance to ride on some of California's best tracks and offers the best opportunity for spectators. As the name implies, Western Eastern Roadracing Association (WERA) hosts races across the country, and its Western arm is the first to kick the 2013 season off with their January 13th event at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. But this year's most extensive schedule comes from M1GP, a mini-roadracing series that's just added a 250cc class and several new tracks to their twelve-race 2013 program.

If you're in to classic machinery, most clubs offer at least one vintage class, but American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is where you'll want to go for a real classic bike fix. AHRMA is a national organization, and they'll be running events at Willow Springs in April and Sonoma Raceway in May.

For your convenience the AFM, WERA, MWGP, M1GP, and WSMC schedules are listed below. Event dates may change, so check the organization’s website before gassing up your racebike.

**American Federation of Motorcyclists **
March 2-3, Buttonwillow Raceway
May 4-5, Sonoma Raceway
June 1-2, Thunderhill Raceway
July 6-7, Thunderhill Raceway
August 3-4, Thunderhill Raceway
August 31-September 1, Sonoma Raceway
October 5-6, Thunderhill Raceway

**Lucas Oils WERA West **
January 13, Auto Club Speedway
February 9-10, Las Vegas Motor Speedway Classic Course
April 20-21, Las Vegas Motor Speedway Classic Course
July 27-28, Miller Motorsports Park
September 1, Auto Club Speedway
November 9-10, Las Vegas Motor Speedway Classic Course

Moto West Grand Prix
March 9-10, Willow Springs Raceway
April 13-14, Streets of Willow Springs
May 18-19, Willow Springs Raceway
June 15-16, Streets of Willow Springs
July 13-14, Willow Springs Raceway
August 10-11, Streets of Willow Springs
September 14-15, Willow Springs Raceway
October 12-13, Streets of Willow Springs

M1 Grand Prix
February 16-17, Willow Springs Kart Track
March 9-10, Horse Thief Mile
April 6, Grange Motor Circuit (8-hour event)
April 27-28, Streets of Willow Springs
May 11-12, TBA
June 8-9, Willow Springs Kart Track
July 27-28, Streets of Willow Springs
August 17, TBA
September 7-8, Horse Thief Mile
September 22-22, Willow Springs Kart Track (24-hour event)
October 19-20, Grange Motor Circuit
November 9-10, Willow Springs Kart Track

**Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association **
January 19-20, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
February 23-24, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
March 30-31, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
April 27-28, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
September 21-22, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
October 26-27, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
November 16-17, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway