I will be in San Jose on Saturday morning for the swap meet, etc. Seems that Bay Area Y Blockers are a scarcity, but if there are any, PM/Email me if you want to meet up.

http://www.hotsanjosenights.com/

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

demolition derbry, roller derby and a swap meet???? man, where's the beer and what time?

wish i could get outta town for that.

This ain't no L-Kamino!

SF's Bay City Bombers (male and female teams) were the national hot ticket for Roller Derby in the Bay Area starting around 1960. WWF on skates. Not sure if I will take that in but should be pretty entertaining. Demo Derby was a semi-regular event at the old San Jose Speedway back then too and later after the Speedway closed, the races ( Hardtops then Modified then Sprint cars) moved to the Santa Clara County fairgrounds. Changed from one of the fastest paved banked tracks to flat dirt then. Not the same. The fairgrounds are also where the infamous San Jose Mile motorcycle race was held until it was banned in the late 80's I think.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

I used to go to the San Jose Mile and watch Ricky Graham, Bubba Shobert, Doug Chandler, Chis Carr and others back in the early 80's.  If I remember correctly I think the last SJ Mile was in spring of 1988.  Its too bad...that was some of the best specator motorcycle racing ever.  I can't make Hot San Jose nights but might be at Pleasanton in August if you go to Goodguys event there.

   

1956 F100 Big Window 309ci Y-block,  1956 F100 small window 272ci Y-block

Greg.  Mountains of North Eastern CA

Yep...I remember the day when Shobert was injured so badly at Laguna Seca Raceway. I live about 20 miles from the track. I usually make the Goodguys in Pleasanton so we could get together. Also...the best event around here is the Monterey Historic Vintage Races in late August. It is run the same weekend as the Pebble Beach Concours De Elegance. If you haven't been to these events you must attend at least one time. The pits are completely open and many former and current professional racers, celebs, old timers come to race there collector racers. The Vintage Trans Am and Can Am races are a big deal. I walked the pits with Jay Leno a decade or so ago. Saw the Battle Birds there also.

http://www.mazdaraceway.com/pages/sched-reunion  

http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/pages/3022

The Goodguys West Coast Nationals are the following weekend.

http://www.ggwestcoastnats.com/



57 Black Tbird 312/auto

I helped with a local sprint car (Hanford Radiator) in the late '80s, we'd go to "the San Jose Mile"  I guess that would be about the time it was at the end.  On a happy not we do have Roller Derby in Visalia now, quite popular too.  The V-Town Derby Dames.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Mark,

I think Shobert would have went on to be one of the all-time best motorcyle racers if it had not been for that accident.  Very sad day. 

I will be out in the woods chasing deer with a stick and string that weekend of the races.  Those events sound like fun though.  I have family down that way I could stay with so I will put it on the list for next year.  I'll keep you posted on Pleasanton.  Thanks.

   

1956 F100 Big Window 309ci Y-block,  1956 F100 small window 272ci Y-block

Greg.  Mountains of North Eastern CA

Greg,



I will check with you the week of the West Coast Nats in Pleasanton. Hopefully the weather will be reasonable. It can get warm there.



Tim,



Isn't/wasn't there a dirt track in Hanford? Seems like I have heard that years ago. Also, I was talking with a friend today that informed me that we have a womens roller derby team in Santa Cruz of all places.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Yes!  they still run them in Hanford. Kings Speedway.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias