Motocross: West brings motocross to the O.C. Fairgrounds

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - When Bill West and Brad Oxley were children, the Costa

Mesa Speedway was like their second home. For West, the motocross arena

was just across the street from his house. In Oxley’s case, his father,

Harry, was the promoter of International Speedway Inc.

Much like today, they helped out in preparing the track. They raced

there and they were raised there.

“This was our background,” West said at the Costa Mesa Speedway last

week. “We literally grew up in here.”

Little did they know their paths would cross as Oxley and his wife,

Laurie, are the promoters for International Speedway Inc. And West, a

promoter of arena motocross, returns to Orange County with his friend and

business partner, Erick Hilton, to bring a wide array of motocross sports

to the Orange County Fairgrounds this season.

Oxley opens the 33rd year of professional speedway motorcycle racing

with the Coors Light Spring Classic April 7. And in its first year,

Hilton and West bring arena motocross, which includes pro and amateur

racers, opening Saturday at 2 p.m. Sunday will feature more arena

motocross action at 9 a.m.

West, who went to Estancia High, grew up with amateur racing in Costa

Mesa. He began racing at age 6 and continued until he was 19. He then

became a mechanic on the pro circuit, where he met Hilton, who was a pro

racer. The two have worked together ever since. They created Hilton and

West Motocross and traveled with their sport of arena motocross to Utah,

Texas and also into Mexico.

A strong love for motocross sports has never died for West and that’s

what has driven him throughout his life. He has endured countless

surgeries, cuts and bruises from his racing days.

He then learned from nationally renowned promoters, including Mickey

Thompson, while working as a mechanic on the pro circuit.

After he and West watched and learned, they decided they could put on

a good show and eventually they brought that form of sport and

entertainment to Orange County.

“We wouldn’t have come here without Brad’s blessing,” West said.

“We’re trying to revitalize the second generation of Brad and his

Speedway and we want to try the arena motocross and see if it’s

successful. And in the offseason, we’re going to build a program here.

We’ll bring year-round motor sports to Orange County.”

Arena-motocross is a display of intense action with outrageous jumps.

It is different from speedway racing, which features a level dirt track.

In arena motocross, there are jumps and obstacles. The track is also

narrow and tight, just 15 feet wide, so there’s bumping as racers pass

each other.

Hilton and West’s arena motocross also features amateur racers,

including youth.

“Most amateur racing is 18 and under. We’ve had the opportunity to

work with the younger kids. That is the thing that makes you feel good

about what you do. You see these kids out there that don’t do drugs and

don’t hang out with gangs.”

“You see entire families showing up in motor homes,” he said. “Mom’s

watching the action, Dad’s wrenching on the bike, the kids play in the

dirt with his buddies and it doesn’t get any better than that.”

West and Hilton are working to create that atmosphere at Costa Mesa

Speedway and keep it there.

The two have developed a successful system for their business. While

West focuses on designing race courses, Hilton concentrates on sales and

promotion.

Hilton, who grew up in Huntington Beach, recently worked as a judge

for the Gravity Games in Rhode Island. He has advertised his venture on

radio, with the hopes of bringing in the young motocross fans and extreme

sport lovers.

While this weekend is like a test run for Hilton and West, they are

hopeful Costa Mesa Speedway will be their home during the pro racing

offseason.

“This is the hotbed of Motocross,” West says of Orange County.

Race information

Arena motocross will also be open to amateur racers.

The race pre-entry fee is $40 and the race entry is $50. A mechanic’s

fee, one per rider, is $10.

Spectators 3 and under are free. On Saturday, adult admission is $12

and children (ages 4-11) are $6. On Sunday, it’s $8 foradults and $5 for

children.

There is also overnight camping with limited hook-ups available for

$16 each night.

For information, call (310) 541-1549.