Happy holidays from all the Zillans

I'd like to say we took the day off to go riding, and that could be true for our West Coast colleagues (unless they're ungraciously complaining again that temperatures in Southern California dropped into the 50s — horrors!). For those of us in the Northeast, Spurgeon and me, the riding forecast is not too enticing but we still appreciate the day off.

About this photo. West coast off-road riders of a certain vintage may recall the annual Christmas Grand Prix that ran annually from 1987 to 2003 at Carlsbad Raceway in California. The annual event drew hundreds of enthusiastic amateur motocrossers and a few top-level pros, as well.

Rumor has it the rider seen here is Hall of Famer, AMA and world motocross champion Brad Lackey, but I can't confirm that. It could just be Santa Claus.

Interested in more historic American motorcycle racing photos? Check out Rider Files, the source of this photo and an extensive archive of more than 50,000 racing photos assembled by industry veteran Larry Lawrence. The photos cover various disciplines of motorcycle racing dating back to the 1980s.

If you're looking for another way to spend a few minutes on a day off, here's a story from deep in the Common Tread archives to check out. A crime-fighting motorcyclist in a Santa suit, all caught on video, and poetry from the CT staff. What better entertainment could you ask for on Christmas Day? 

Here at Common Tread, we'll be back to work tomorrow providing you with a daily dose of motorcycle news, reviews, and opinion.