Veteran racers Dennis Kanegae and Elliott Iverson
outhern California Flat Track Association like any other racing organization depends on a cadre of devotees that contribute to the racing for a variety of reasons, the simple answer would be for the true love of it. The scorekeepers, track flaggers, track maintenance workers, racers, and the fans all have a hand in keeping the Flat Track dream alive. Entire families such as the Pettons have been involved for decades and through multiple generations with the next generation represented by the jetting Travis Petton IV. Petton carries the torch well as indicated by his 2011 50cc Series Championship winning eight rounds. He also won four of the last five rounds in the 65cc placing third in points. A brief history in the Flat Track world, but having an impact on the SCFTA gate on a regular basis, is the related Bush and Flores families. Two time SCFTA Pro series Champion David Bush leads the tight knit group with racers Robert Bush, Emmy Bush, Ava Bush, Anna Bush, Noah Bush, 2011 SCFTA 65cc Champion Alyssa Flores and Frank Flores. Tom Bush, the father of David and Robert, has a varied four wheel racing resume sending his teams to the top in the past with an emphasis on set up. He brings that winning attitude to his family’s racing. Tom Bush’s winning ways have had an obvious impact on David Bush who has risen to the top of SCFTA Pro standings twice, in just three years of full time racing. Rotax aficionado, Elliott Iverson, is a constant presence at the SCFTA shows as a master of all trades. A vital part of the SCFTA, Iverson does tech inspections, staging, flagging, web promotion, and has also reported when needed submitting articles to S&S Off Road and Cycle News. Of course he is really there to race having taken the green flag across a forty year span starting at South Gate's Trojan Speedway practice in 1974. Riding the whoops and jumps of motocross and off road, he started sliding in 1989 at the Carlsbad short track. He has road raced and raced Pikes Peak and was the 1996 Willow Springs Motorcycle Club's (WSMC) Formula Singles Champion, 1997 SCFTA Open Amateur Champion, and 2009 SCFTA Senior +50 Champion. The daughter of Thomas "Doug" Douglas (Douglas is very ill at printing), original owner of San
S Travis Petton IV, 50cc Champion
ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY RODNEY RUTHERFORD
Bernardino's storied Doug Douglas Motorcycles, Colleen Brown has oil in her veins. A highly alert flagger, Brown stands in her customary spot in the apex of turn three and four and is on her game every time bikes are hot lapping, with nothing but the safety of the racers in mind.
Rudy Gil, the chief flagger for SCFTA's competition has honed his skills to a razor's edge after just two full seasons of running the front line. In the action he stays fully attentive during all phases of staging, starting, lap count, finishes, and is a cool customer under fire. He is also the father of 2011 Open Amateur Champion and now SCFTA Pro Chris Gil, and 2011 SCFTA Youth 85cc Champion Monica Gil. A great Dad, Gil explained to me that he can't help but think about his kids before they race. Wondering if everything is ready to go and they are prepared, but has over time gained a lot of trust and knows they have it all taken care of, judging by the two Championships I would concur.
Keenan Harvey has been working at Perris Raceway with the Edwards for fifteen years. Helping with track maintenance and preparation, he played a key role in the SCFTA's expansion to the new facility, assisting in all facets of building the current track. An experienced flagger, Jim covers turn one and two like his head is on a bionic swivel. Doing his best to see any incident before anyone hits the dirt, racers can be assured they are priority one when Jim is in the infield.
Let’s give the Flat Track walking encyclopedia, journalist, and high definition announcer Jamey Blunt, and his shutter bug Janice Blunt kudos for keeping the races news in a celebratory fashion. With that note, for 2012 SCFTA will keep Flat Track racing alive and well in urban Southern California further emphasizing, "The Race Must Go On." Please go to
www.perrisflattrack.com for 2012 racing and practice information.
Colleen Brown
Keenan Harvey
The Bush and Flores families
Jim keeping the track safe 40 S&S OFF ROAD MAGAZINE - JANUARY 2012 -
www.SS-OffRoadMagazine.com
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