Race Tracks Los Angeles County

Saugus Speedway isn't exactly the jewel of auto racing. A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti never raced here. The drivers in Saturday night stock-car races are mostly hobbyists who have long given up any dreams of becoming the next Richard Petty. The winners get a purse that barely covers their cost of replacing a set of tires. And the track's mostly local fans sit on rickety benches that are said to have more historic value than comfort.

Daylight is breaking over Saugus Speedway and Tom Pacheco and his 4-year-old son, Alex, pull into the raceway parking lot, a sleek Italian-built kiddie go-kart in tow. The early-morning quiet is soon broken by the roar of engines as other kid drivers and their parents ready their racers. Team Pacheco goes through its pre-race inspections, checking the tire pressure, spark plugs, brakes, accelerator and steering.

Daylight is breaking over Saugus Speedway and Tom Pacheco and his 4-year-old son, Alex, pull into the raceway parking lot, a sleek Italian-built kiddie go-kart in tow. The early-morning quiet is soon broken by the roar of engines as other kid drivers and their parents ready their racers. Team Pacheco goes through its pre-race inspections, checking the tire pressure, spark plugs, brakes, accelerator and steering.

On this, horse racing's biggest day, Santa Anita is opening its gates early so fans can take in all the action--the seven Breeders' Cup races via simulcast from Belmont Park, and then the nine live Oak Tree races. The focus will be on the Breeders' Cup at New York, where the world's best horses will be ridden by the world's best jockeys. But don't look for Laffit Pincay Jr.'s name on the Breeders' Cup program.

On this, horse racing's biggest day, Santa Anita is opening its gates early so fans can take in all the action--the seven Breeders' Cup races via simulcast from Belmont Park, and then the nine live Oak Tree races. The focus will be on the Breeders' Cup at New York, where the world's best horses will be ridden by the world's best jockeys. But don't look for Laffit Pincay Jr.'s name on the Breeders' Cup program.

Local racing gets underway tonight as Saugus Speedway begins its 56th season with five events. The program includes the super late model division, mini-stocks, street stocks (which will be running both the Oval and Figure 8) and destruction derby. Saugus has also added two racing divisions to its program with the pure stock and late-model division. The pure stock division reflects Saugus' attempt to make racing more attractive at the entry level.

More than 300 people crowded into a Mint Canyon Elementary School portable classroom and hundreds more milled about outside to voice both opposition and support for a planned off-road vehicle facility during a county public meeting.

It's as quintessentially American as red Chevy pickups, white souvenir T-shirts and blue-collar grit. It's the roar of a crowd and souped-up stock car engines. It's the aroma of hot pretzels, the smell of burning rubber. It's a star-spangled cast of performers with names such as "Rock" and "Rip" and "Rusty," cheered on by mostly working-class families toting blankets, baby strollers and beer coolers. This is Saturday night at the Saugus Speedway, dubbed "L.A.'s Place to Race."

Seeking a drawing card that will attract more tourists and revive the flagging local economy, officials have asked that the city be designated as a site for off-track wagering on horse races. The City Council last week voted 4 to 0 to ask state Sen. Kenneth Maddy (R-Fresno) to include San Clemente in his legislation to expand the accessibility of off-track betting in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Local racing gets underway tonight as Saugus Speedway begins its 56th season with five events. The program includes the super late model division, mini-stocks, street stocks (which will be running both the Oval and Figure 8) and destruction derby. Saugus has also added two racing divisions to its program with the pure stock and late-model division. The pure stock division reflects Saugus' attempt to make racing more attractive at the entry level.

More than 300 people crowded into a Mint Canyon Elementary School portable classroom and hundreds more milled about outside to voice both opposition and support for a planned off-road vehicle facility during a county public meeting.

Saugus Speedway isn't exactly the jewel of auto racing. A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti never raced here. The drivers in Saturday night stock-car races are mostly hobbyists who have long given up any dreams of becoming the next Richard Petty. The winners get a purse that barely covers their cost of replacing a set of tires. And the track's mostly local fans sit on rickety benches that are said to have more historic value than comfort.

It's as quintessentially American as red Chevy pickups, white souvenir T-shirts and blue-collar grit. It's the roar of a crowd and souped-up stock car engines. It's the aroma of hot pretzels, the smell of burning rubber. It's a star-spangled cast of performers with names such as "Rock" and "Rip" and "Rusty," cheered on by mostly working-class families toting blankets, baby strollers and beer coolers. This is Saturday night at the Saugus Speedway, dubbed "L.A.'s Place to Race."