06/13/2004: Well, we
just got home from a weekend trip to the Lake Elsinore Quad Track... and it
has become our favorite track. The majority of the time driving back to
Phoenix, we kept going over the track; how we hit certain tables or
step-ups, the rhythm section, the doubles, singles, and whoops... it is an
awesome track. We met several other quad riders out there of various ages
and abilities and everyone was so nice and generous to one another, it was
great. We met John and Dean (#44) from
www.miniatvs.com as well as Mike from Just 4 Fun Racing. Sorry we missed
you Albert (www.miniatvs.com) We ripped around the track with Brad and other
guys who were practicing for round 2 of the Dirt Days of Summer (Newton #62,
#17 on a YFZ450... he rips, a guy on a DS650, and several others). In
talking with Mike and John they told us that the Quad track has been there
for about 6 months and in round 1 of the Dirt Days of Summer series, there
were about 65 quads (20-25 of them in the youth classes).
The track is soooo awesome!
The track is long and wide (except for the chicane and front straight away),
the layout is sweet and rideable for all ability levels. The starting area
is about 100 feet long and then you turn left onto the track right on a
roller type jump. Then you turn right for the start of the chicane and next
thing you know you're going down the long straight away (this is the only
narrow section, about 15 feet wide). At the end of the straight you hit a
180 degree turn to your left that splits into 2 lines, the outside line has a roller jump
and the inside line is flat. As soon as you get thru the turn, get on the
gas and preload and you'll clear the 1st table (it's not a tall table, but
it is long). Right after the table you'll take a 180 degree turn to your
right and hit another table followed by a step-up. As soon as you land the
step-up, you'll come down the back side, as if the top of the step-up is a
mini table, grab your front brakes and hit the next 180 degree turn on your
left. Get on the gas as you hit the 1st of 2 single jumps, followed by a table,
then 2 more singles (these can also be doubled), and then another table.
After this table you'll hit another 180 degree turn to your right. You're
then looking at another table followed by the biggest jump on the track that
can launch you 15-20 feet high, but it's not very long and you don't need
much speed. We were clearing this in a medium 3rd gear (this jump can be
easily
rolled or cleared), right after this is another table and then you're going
into a 90 degree turn to your right. The outside of this turn sets you up
for another step up that's fun to clear and the inside sets you up for a
step-up & step-down (a little trickier to hit it smooth but fun to try).
After this section you hit another 90 degree right hand turn followed by
another step-up (all of the step ups can be rolled, there are no nasty peaks
anywhere). After this step up you'll hit a very short but long table, if you
pre-load you can clear it. You'll then hit another table on a 45 degree turn
to your right, you'll come off the table and turn 45 degrees back to your
left and head into the whoop section. There are about 8-10 whoops and they are
not deep or peaked, everyone can roll right over them. We were hitting them
in 3rd on our 400's and almost able to double the last 4 (they are very
forgiving). Immediately following the whoops you'll turn 90 degrees to your
right and hit a small step-up with a tiered landing. Then you'll go down a short
straight to the next table followed by a single (rolling hill). Then you'll
turn 180 degrees to your right and the track will split into 2 lines. This
is the rhythm section. We watched #17 and his buddy on the DS 650 turn the 4
single jumps and table at the end into 3 doubles (this was the outside line
or left side). We preferred the inside or right side of this section (mostly
because we didn't double the other side). On the inside line there are 6
smaller singles and we were doubling the last 2. It was cool as we got a lot
of air off it. Right after the rhythm section you turn 90 degrees to your
left and hit a single roller jump and then you're back at the start where
you hit a roller and then the chicane.
The track was groomed and held
together extremely well. The faces of all the jumps and tables were smooth
and didn't have, or develop, any ruts. The water truck did a great job
keeping the dust down and they didn't over-water. There were no rocks on the
track that we recall and the best part was how wide the track was, about
20-25 feet for the majority (see photo's below). The people at Lake Elsinore
did a great job putting this track together and we can't wait to go back.
There is a $20 use fee and a membership fee as well ($5 for the day or $20
for the year). There are outhouses and over night camping is allowed (not
sure if that's an additional charge). The quad track is open every day
except Thursday's. There is also a pee-wee quad track for the little guys
and gals. Dean (#44) from www.miniatvs.com
had no problem ripping around the main quad track on his kasea 90 with the
rest of us big kids. For the bike riders out there, you're going to love it
too. There is a 60/80 track, a vet track that looks pretty awesome, a main
track and a race track. There is also a flat track out there... an excellent
place for the whole family! We'll add our pictures soon.
Well, we've gone back quite a few
times since our 1st trip, and they have shortened the track considerably and
took out a lot of the technical aspects.
It's still a lot of fun, but to make room for another bike track, the quad
track lost the gentle whoops, 3 doubles, a double/triple, and 2 long
straights. It's still fun, just disappointing to see another track
loose some attention from the owners. We realize their argument about the
quad turnout at times, but when your other competitors are Glen Helen,
Racetown 395, and the Glamis dunes the owners need to encourage turnout.
We'll continue to go back. We have a great time at LEMP and the other
attractions we visit while in So. Cal. Plus the cooler weather for riding,
compared to AZ, also makes it inviting. For updated information on track
hours, schedules, etc visit LEMP's site at
www.lakeelsinoremxpark.net .
