LAKE COUNTY? There”s a new place to play in Lake County. Oasis Motocross, located on Highway 20 east of Spring Valley, is welcoming motorcycle enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels.
The facility is operated by Jeff Mann, Sr. and Jeff Mann, Jr., the later of which is an experienced, professional motocross rider. The family endeavor aims to increase tourism in the county while offering family-oriented activities and events.
“We are increasing tourism in Lake County. Our guests stay at local hotels and eat at local restaurants. We want to help promote Lake County”s beautiful recreational opportunities in a safe and family-friendly way,” Mann Sr. said. “When are guests aren”t on the track we encourage them to take advantage of the amenities of Lake County, such as fishing, biking, hiking, water skiing, jet skiing and our new wine industry.”
At present, Oasis Motocross hosts a pee wee 50cc track and an 80cc track. “We have natural terrain and different elevations so riders can experience a variety of challenges for all skill levels. The picturesque setting the Lake County mountains is ideal for outdoor sporting activities especially motocross because you get to see sights you wouldn”t normally see just driving through; and the wildlife is phenomenal,” Mann Jr. said. “We have the longest track in the area, which allows you ample seat time to hone your skills while keeping your attention. Not only is it a good place to have fun, but serious riders can benefit from the challenges of the closed course national track, which is about a mile long.”
The Manns said that they will be holding events that relate to motorcycles and motocross sports. They will be bringing in promoters from all over like the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) and the California Motorcycle Company (CMC). They are also seeking commitments from other organizations that support motorcycle racing.
“We had a vintage race here in October. It went really well. We had 140 participants and all the bikes were 1970s. It was really cool to see all that,” Mann Jr. said.
Mann Jr. has about six years of seat time in motocross sports. He said he”s participated in professional competitions across the nation. “I”ve run one of the most prestigious motocross series in the United States: the AMA Outdoor Nationals and the AMA Supercross series,” he said. “These races bring together the best motocross riders in the world.”
Mann Jr. is offering his expertise at Oasis Motocross through training classes. The classes focus on body positioning, skills such as braking technique, line choices, throttle control, turns, momentum and mental aspects. “We also work on conditioning the body in order to endure the physical demands of the sport,” he said. Classes are offered privately or in a group.
Future plans for Oasis Motocross include RV accommodations, paintball facility, go-cart track and other training opportunities that will include sleeping quarters for goal-oriented riders who are serious about furthering their potential on the track. Currently, RVers and self-contained guests are offered an opportunity for overnight stays without charge.
According to Mann Sr. a motocross track operated at the Oasis from 1969 through 1987, which brought such motosports greats as Dick Mann and AMA local Eddie Brown of Hillside Honda. He said he and his son started the process to reopen the track about a year ago. All use permits are not in place and Oasis Motocross is ready to rev up the engines and take to the track.
For more information visit www.oasismotocross.com or call 355-2323.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
