I use to come here and watch my dad race. It was devastating to know they were closing Ascot down. It was like I grew up out here at Ascot and they were taking it away from me. Thank you for posting this and bringing these memories back to me.
I can say that Ronnie Jones is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. A true gentleman a great father and one of the best dirt track riders of his Era. I am glad to have known Ronnie for many years.
Before I started riding at Ascot we used to park down by the bridge over the canal the flows behind the back strait away. We'd walk along the canal then climb over the fence and sneak into the pits, or watch from those big billboards. Still got a jar of Ascot dirt on my bench.....
Grew up just a few miles from the track - close enough to pedal my 20" bicycle over there and watch from under the fence in the Sammy Tanner days. Saw some great 1/2 miles + TT's there over the years later when I could afford to buy tickets.
What a damned shame, that Ascot was turned into one more office building. If you ever did any California dreaming or dug into motorcycle magazines back then that were steeped in Ascot lore, losing this track was a punch in the gut. Folks, this isn't progress.
Agreed, it was like losing (Nelson Piquet Circuit) Jacarepagua, Rio to the Olympic Complex. Great Olympics, for sure but still, I wish the track had survived it.
I use to come here and watch my dad race. It was devastating to know they were closing Ascot down. It was like I grew up out here at Ascot and they were taking it away from me. Thank you for posting this and bringing these memories back to me.
Ronny jones is one of the nicest men you will ever meet. Great guy
RJ is indeed a good guy and was a damn good racer !
I can say that Ronnie Jones is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. A true gentleman a great father and one of the best dirt track riders of his Era. I am glad to have known Ronnie for many years.
Before I started riding at Ascot we used to park down by the bridge over the canal the flows behind the back strait away. We'd walk along the canal then climb over the fence and sneak into the pits, or watch from those big billboards.
Still got a jar of Ascot dirt on my bench.....
Grew up just a few miles from the track - close enough to pedal my 20" bicycle over there and watch from under the fence in the Sammy Tanner days. Saw some great 1/2 miles + TT's there over the years later when I could afford to buy tickets.
if you watch these guys walk...most of them have some kind of limp...they're beat up...gotta have a deep passion to do this
What a damned shame, that Ascot was turned into one more office building. If you ever did any California dreaming or dug into motorcycle magazines back then that were steeped in Ascot lore, losing this track was a punch in the gut. Folks, this isn't progress.
R C Nelson ,,
Agreed, it was like losing (Nelson Piquet Circuit) Jacarepagua, Rio to the Olympic Complex. Great Olympics, for sure but still, I wish the track had survived it.
What's worse is Ascot wasn't even scraped for an office building. It finally was turned into a parking lot for junked cars!
For decades they poured oil on the track to control dust. It soaked down hundreds of feet. This made decontamination impossible.
Was there with Rusty Rogers when he rode for Johnny Goad and his Honda. Shame it was the last race there.
I'm Clay Bugbee,l blew Rusty away
That came to an abrubt ending..
puttin around? FIRED!
Progress...RIGHT.