Hi, my freind and i will be flying in to LAX in January, it will be our first time in CA.
Im just looking for general advice on checking out the SoCal mx scene. We already know that were going to the Aneheim 2 SX and we want to check out Chapperal, Pro-Circuit, FMF etc are these places easy to find?
Can you give us advice on the best tracks to go visit? Im guessing Glen Helen, Starwest & Perris would be the best ones?
Were over for three weeks so if possible we might look into getting hold of some bikes or a bike and hiring a van and do some riding, any advice on the best dealers to visit for this and parts etc, we have enough money to buy a bike and then try and sell it back to the dealer or something like that if possible?
Also where's the best place to stay, we were thinking of Corona area. We only want a cheap motel or similar - nothing fancy needed. We're two guys in our mid tewentys so somewhere with some action after dark - bars/clubs etc nearby would also be good. We dont want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere!
We have a car hired for the first week so getting around is no problem.
Sorry for the long post and all the questions but Cali is a big place and the more advice the better!!
Thanks in advance.....
PS - Are there places to make sure we avoid (especially after dark) ie: trouble spots?

LA is a big place, the MX scene is inland, but the garanteed nightlife for 20 somethings is at the beach. You arrive at LAX. I recommend you stay in the South Bay Beaches those are the beach communities just south of LAX. Get a hotel in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan beach or Redondo Beach. Party at Hermosa beach pier or Manhattan beach pier LOTS of bars at both locations, have a cab from your hotel get you around town. Fine FINE young California girls (Poontang) there every weekend Friday saturday and weeknight TOO.

Those LAX south beach areas are close to the 405 freeway from where you can get to any where in LA and the MX tracks inland provided you drive EARLY am before 6 am or MID day , noonish in bewteen the 4 hour morning and 4 hour evening rush hours when traffic will GRID LOCK all LA freeways.

stay here

http://beachcaliforn.../HERMOSA_BEACH/

http://www.travelher...0.5.400.300.jpg

manhattan beach

http://beachcaliforn...EACH/index.html

http://beachcaliforn...EACH/index.html

hermosa nightlife

http://www.pubclub.c...les/hermosa.htm

girls!

http://www.pubclub.c...NeeshJune05.JPG

Hmmmm.....Lets see where to begin forget about those too lame places!!! You need to stay in century city, they have plenty to do there and it is located centrally to everything. You have city walk (bars) And you will be close to the 101 to go to hollywood and such, You also will be close to the 170 where you can go north to the 118 to the 5frwy north to the 14frwy north and enter into the Mecca of desert riding!!! also you can rent bike at jawbone which is a great place to ride. Let me know if you need more directions I will hook you up

Paulmx45 said:

Trouble spots......Welcome to LA :eek:

twopumpthumper said:

only west LA/santa monica blvd faggots stay in Century city

bigbob said:

Thats why regular straight guys go there, lots-o females looking for a hook-up. Just BS them about being a producer or something to drive the deal home!!

come on saddog back me up here. they should either stay in corona or where ever where the track is and NEVER go out at night becasue they will be shot by gangs

or they can stay at the beach.

but stay at Century city? at what the $250/night marriot? may as well stay in DOWNTOWN LA or LONG beach... WTF who would ever place a newcomer into a CITY scape like that.

Corona is the new Orange County, nobody is getting shot there at night. LOL

Staying in the Corona area would be good spot if being close to the tracks is most important however the night life around here leaves something to be desired when compared to the South Bay/LA areas.

When you out here? I have two bikes (one is torn down for the next couple weeks) and would be glad to take you for some rides and let one of you ride the second bike and could probably russle up another loaner.

Hit me up if you are interested

brian@hollandforloans.com

Go to www.mapquest.com to see the distances from track to track. The tracks you should hit are: Glen Helen, Racetown 395, Competitive Edge MX and whatever else you have heard about. Go to www.motocrossactionmag.com for a list of tracks in SoCal. I have been to Great Britain and you need to remember you are coming to "sunny Southern California" so don't bring too many warm clothes and don't expect any rain. Have a great time and enjoy the traffic :)

Hello,


Here's a link that talks about riding areas near Los Angeles:

http://www.dirtrider...asp?TOPIC_ID=20

As to renting bikes I only have one comment and it's a negative one. PM me if you want the details - the 2 Brits only.

Later,
Doug

Perris and Starwest aren't worth your time compared to Glen Helen, Cahuilla Creek and Lake Elsinore; also Competition Park is opening soon and looks really good (but it will be a bit of a drive from where your staying). If your looking for tracks to ride Cahuilla Creek (open Thursday and Saturday) is the best MX style course in SoCal, Glen Helen is good as well (not sure of their practice schedule), and Elsinore is SX style and centrally located (open every day of the week). If your just going to watch the Pro's practice check out Elsinore as a lot of them go there for SX practice. And yes Chapparal and the race shops are easy to find.

This isn't the best place for SoCal MX advice.

Go to www.proride.com and post your same question there.

Temecula would be a great place to stay, very close to all the tracks you mentioned. Some good places to eat and hang out, try TEXAS LIL'S in old town. Not to far from San Diego or the beaches of Orange County. Huntington Beach is a must. PERQS has great live music with an freindly atmosphere, TUNA TOWN is pretty cool if you like Sushi, I think the bar is owned by one of the guys from KORN. Main street is a great place to go people watching and the locals are freindly for the most part. Wahoo's fish taco's are awesome, or Sharky's in New Port Beach. Fashion Island is something to see as well in New Port. Mikes sky ranch is not far from San Diego in Baja Mexico. They rent bikes and do Baja 500 tours. Do get offened if someone flips you off on the freeways of Socal it just a local version of the turn signal. Have a good trip!

Thanks to EVERYONE who's replied. This is all great advice. Im taking it all in. Thanks to "skthom2320" i'll copy any paste my questions to the proride site too.
I think we may move around a little as to where we stay. The first night or two we'll probably stay at or near manhattan beach as it's close to the airport and we'll only hit the traffic trying to get out of the city anyway (not needed after an 11 hour flight!!)
I've taken on board what you guys have said about tracks - we basicly want to visit as many as possible, im gonna print off all the maps before we go.
Boudroux - were out here from the 18th of jan onwards, if you were able to help us out with anything bike wise we would be VERY gratefull. Were happy to share a bike.
Once again thanks for all the advice, keep it comming!!

The Lake Elsinore track is ok,they tend to over water the track which makes it very slippery since is is on clay,very hard pack.Cahuilla is an awsome track,very loamy sand like track with alot of elevation changes.Amago is very fun with loose dirt and some really nice jumps and rhythm sections,a very fast track like cahuilla.Amago never gets crowded and most of the time it seems like you have the whole park to yourself,especially on weekdays.Starwest is awsome,loamy dirt good jumps,also gets really crowded,starwest probably has the best dirt next to cahuilla.Glen helen gets very crowded and rutted out,still fun.Headed out to competitave Edge at the end of the year,I hear it is an awsome track,very fast.I have forgotten a few tracks but all of these parks have anywhere frome 2 to 5 other tracks you can ride at that specific park.All of these parks are within 80 miles of each other so you have plenty of choices,So cal is riddled with mx parks and great Desert riding 1 1/2 hours away in most spots.Plan to spend a full day at chapparal,that place is huge,like 400,000 sq. ft.,there tire dept.is bigger than most stores.Good luck when you arrive to the mx capital of the world,I love So.Cal.

bigbob said:

You must know that place well.....since you know the prices of the nearby hotels :excuseme:

My advice. Rent the fastest car you can and drive like a bat out of hell -- out of and away from LA. Go to Yosemite, Tahoe, drive up the coast and visit Carmel, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Mendecino, etc.

LA is *****ed up, outside and beyond DisneyLand. IMO! :)

Stay in Huntington Beach or Seal Beach, rent car drive to whatever MX site you want!!!! Staying in Corona- These are our friends... Friends don't let friends stay in Corona :smashpc:

Rent bikes at Jawbone for a day or two. Great desert rides await you and you will see a real desert.

If you go to LA go to Westwood!!! I would still rather be in the OC.