Banzai Mini Cycle Park in Anaheim

Anonymous remembers the Banzai Mini Cycle Park ...

Anyone remember Banzai Mini Cycle Park? It was across Walnut from Angel Stadium where a fire training facility is now. Right next to the Santa Ana River. They only allowed bikes of 100 cc's or less if I remember right. I had a Suzuki 90 at the time so I spent some time over there.

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BMX Tracks at Saddleback Park & Escape Country

Erick asks if anyone remembers the BMX tracks at Saddleback or Escape Country...

Does anyone remember the BMX tracks at Saddleback or Escape Country? Ive done some research and it seems Escape Country opened for BMX in 1973 and moved the track a year later to a downhill location.

I have talked to riders that swear they raced Escape in 1972 and Saddleback in 71 or 72. None though can provide exact dates or newspaper clippings or proof. Anyone got any or a photo that was dated BITD so we know its accurate?

My email is racer@themlo.com if you want to submit something to me. Thanks.

PS I recently got a Escape Country sticker given to me someone had from the old days :)

By the time I moved to California neither BMX track was running (1982).

Read previous memories on Saddleback Park and Escape Country here on OCThen.

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Escape Country, Robinson Ranch

Escape Country was the name of an outdoor recreation area at the eastern end of Rancho Santa Margarita, where Robinson Ranch now sits.

It was mostly a place where folks went to ride their dirt bikes and off-road vehicles, but it was also popular for sky diving, fishing, hang gliding. People camped out, partied all night long, and even live bands played there. I never went there, and don't really know much of it. But here at OCThen, we get a number of e-mails and comments about it.

There's also quite a few comments regarding Escape Country on my previous article about Saddleback Park, another motocross area.

Anyways, here are few comments we've fetched regarding Escape Country...

i remeber escape country, it was in the area that is now rancho santa margarita, u had to go thru trabuco cyn to get too it x a creek and up the hill, the hill is still there, but this would have taken u too escape country.

    Anonymous, Jan 11, 2009

hey i remember escape country. i use to race motocross there in the 70s. 71 i think i was like 14 then and my mom was one of the parks safty police..remember that monkey by the office. it was a nutcase. lmao... Bruce Priddy

    Bruce Priddy, Nov 22, 2008

Ahh Escape Country...I drove up Robinson Ranch Rd. and parked my truck in the neighborhood that occupies the old riding area.There's a small utility building next to the street and you park there and walk down a trail and suddenly you're on the back side of the old riding areas. If you keep walking, you end up at the downhill that leads to the old pond. It was cool to sit there looking at the old trails and have flash-backs of the good ole days.I miss that place and those times.

    Ted Mercer, Capo Beach, Sep 26, 2008

There are many that I can recall but some of the names have become a little obscure.

I met Jim Robinson at Escape Country in August '73 and he offered me a job. It was fun and I met some really great people. I used to "drag" the motocross circuit between races on Saturdays and Sundays with the D9 CAT. I wonder what happened to Ron Hoppie who ran the races and bike rental with Dick.

The bush fire that was at Escape Country remains quite clear in my mind and especially being rescued by Bill, the house framer, on the back of his bike after the CAT and I got cut off. I was sad to find out that the ranch was no more when I visited in '89.Such days as those will never be seen again. Thank you Orange County and Escape Country.

    Terry McGrath, Jun 24, 2008

To 'anonymous' from Feb. 4th posting . . . I sure do remember Escape Country!!! That's where I first learned to Hangglide! It was a primo area to learn (and make mistakes!). Fond, fond, fond memories indeed!!!

    Anonymous, Apr 21, 2008

I also remember Escape Country. We used to drive there along those windy roads every Sunday in the summer beacuse they had live bands play in the afternoon and everyone would party. I think that area is now Dove Canyon and Robinson Ranch are of Santa Margarita.

    Anonymous, Apr 2, 2008

Does anyone remember a place called "Escape Country"? It was off Santiago Canyon, between Irvine Lake and Cooks Corner. We used to go there in the 70's to watch motorcross. There was also hang gliding, fishing and sky diving. Anyone remember?

    Anonymous, Feb 4, 2008

If you remember Escape Country, please "post a comment" below...

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Saddleback Park

Saddleback Park was an area used for motocross, and in its hey day, was one of the most famous destinations for MX riders across the Southern California. It was the first park in the USA designated specifically for MX.

In 1967, it's main track was designed by Joel Robert and Roger DeCoster, two famous MX racers at the time. Saddleback Park hosted many regional, national, and international motocross racing events.

But in 1984 the park shut down. The park was plagued by lawsuits. There were supposedly disputes between the park operator and the landowner (Irvine Company). There had been rumors that the park would reopen, but it never happened because of the liability. The 241 toll road now runs through the park, though some dirtbikes and motocross riders still manage to make use of its tracks even today.

I went through some comments and e-mails submitted by OCThen readers over the years, and found some mention of Saddleback Park. I've posted them here as comments. If you have some memories or facts to share of Saddleback Park, please click on "Post a Comment" below.

If you have photos of Saddleback Park, send them to me via the "Contact Us" link o the side, and I'll post them here.

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