Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Tijlltlhtl TD Viti FIInlJi/(e ! ttl PtlZ By Ron Grant it is wide enough. it is extremely undulated with frequent large pot holes, which make the going very rough. Although we could average 35 to 49 miles per hour on this stretch to El Rosario, we could think of no worse road for Illsting the motorcycles to pieces. As we approached El Rosario, the road got progressively worse, and OUr average speed dropped to around 20 or 25 mile s per hour. We made our first stop for ga in EI Rosario and hastily swallowed a few Vienna Sausages. Our morale, at Ibis point, was still great. We took 01T from EI Rosario, fuJI throtUe, at 12:56 p.m. After EI Rosario we found a su cession of hills with elevation up to 1700 feet and the road became increasingly dangerous in view of the frequent washouts and· rocks that suddenlY burst upon us. Our average speed was in the range of 25 or 30 miles per hour and we were rather pleased with ourselves for being well ahead of schedule. We continued on throu~ San Augustin over the same type of terrain; and, about 15 miles after this settlement, Luciano Pozzi didn't guite make it in a tum at the bottom of a low hill; left the road, hit a large rock and tumbled down a gravel pit. Apart from bruises, for which he hasn't yet stopp~d complaining, he was in good shape, Illt the motorcycle itself was beyond salvation. The forks had broken and so had the front wheel. The gas tan k had a hole in it two inches in diameter. For Pozzi, this was the end of the journey. After carrying the remainder of the motorcycle on his back for 15 miles to San Augustin, he finally managed to hitch a ride from one of the local Rancheros back to Tijuana. where he arrived 40 hours later and $50.00 lighter, which represented the fare to the Ranchero for the 300 miles covered. Bob and I, still in good shape, ca1'" ried on toward Punta Prieta where we arrived at 10 p,rn. The road seemed to become worse and worse, and we were starting to feel the strain of riding on lightweights motorcycles over the roughest or terrain. (To be continued next week) r-JiCiS,iiONSl ~ t t t t t t: , t , t t~ t t t t t t , ~U;"TP: •••• NOW OPEN···· t FEATURING COMPLETE t SERVICE DEPARTMENT HELIARC WELDING AND t MACHINE WORK t WATCH fOR t : lforlori) I t t t t ! Cactus In Baja Callfomla. On TuesdaJ, OClH« 11, 19&&, at & a... Bib B. .s, • a 125ee GRAND OPENING 15514 S. Atlantic, , 9-9 Mon.-Fri, : CI~tonSat.I H l~~~~~I:.!~~J Garelli motorcycle, Ron Grant and Luciano Pozzi, on 91cc Garellis, left Tijuana, MexlCl directed 18 La Paz. The purpose was 18 estabU sit a new record for 91cc and 125cc IIIOtorcJcles on a run 18 La Paz, nonstop and CIlIIPletelJ ulassisted by fuel ... supplJ drops bJ air on Ibe way. From all infonnatioo a \'ailable, it appeared that it would be difficult to find gas ~d oil 00 the way, so it was decided that each 98cc motorcycle should carry a 3~ gallon sPare tank, and the 123cc motorcycle, a 5 gallon sPare tank of gas. We later found bowever, that we could get gas and oil at any Rancho on the way, even at night, ~ simply knocking on the door till some- SALES. PARTS & SERVICE 18411 HAWTHORNE BLVD., TORRANCE, CAUFORNIA SP 2·1823 Pit 1·7533 body turned up; we decided therefore to elimtnate the reserve gas tanks to lighten the dead weicht we carried. In addition to the gas, we eacb carried a good supply of sPare parts, repair kits, water bottles, first aid kits, etc. This equJpment was evenly sPread between the three of us and added 18 pounds to the weicht of each. Tbis weight, together with the additional gas cans, greatly reduced the good handling characteristics of the motorcycles. We later discovered that the 18 polDlds of supplies that each of us carried could be safely cut down to a minimum of :I or 6 pounds without the risk of being stranded for lack of parts. We did not, in fact, bave to use any sPare parts at all during the whole joumey. The performance of. the moto... cycles was faulUess all the way to La paz. The going trom TIJuana to J\rroyo Seco. via Ensenada, was excellent since the road is wide, smooth aspllalt. At Arroyo Seco trouble started immediatelY. The road is graded gravel and although IfACHu CYCLE Cf.Tfl ...11 •• of Part. _II AceDl_I•• f. ALL BRANDS Speclalllllll III 1I0nlla .. HodIU 5SO UIOItY·IIIPERIAL BEACH n4423-1331 NOVEMBER 13 0 ~ ~ I ti I , ~ t t~ HONDA of TORRANCE Ru_ for the trip was to have 10181 fun _d cover th. lrIaeherous dlstanc. on trail bI ...... Her. on. of th. 2·......1 adventurers po.. s wlth 2 of !hi Ga"III's In Iront of a ct-t SUlUaro ~ MOTOICYaES t t Calif. & Nevada riders welcome ~5~Z .. :'=.:;~~:=::-~~=~~~ [)five or ride out nigllway 80 (east) to Wilmot, lin left to EASTSIDE FUN, TRY TUCSON!" PARK CYCLE "JUST FOR 112--MILE GRADED & OILED COURSE WITH !JUMPS & FUN Refresllmellts, facilities, laading field overni gilt c...ing "A REALLY GREAT TRACK"

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