Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

IMMEDIATE DELIVERY OF THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON - SPRINT 1967 SS Harrietta Whlnall receIve. coneralulallon kill lrom hubby lor winning be.l .lock clas. trophy. est of any red blooded American. Add to that the challenge of visiting it in tbe fall after fierce summer heats have cooled off. and the urge becomes irresistible. Riders return each year. spreading tbe word and bringing their friends. Dick Hutchins, sponsor of the Tour and his Death Valley Committee hardly hang UP their hats from the last event before another bigger and better event is on the drawing board. Participants take home their trophies Or their memories, and vow to come back for more of the same of better ones twelve months hence. Not everyone comes on motorcycles, although to compete for awards or to be officially counted· they have to ride most of the distance. Whole families arrive with campers, trailers, station wagons. pick-ups full of sleeping bags, ice chest1;, and gasoline stoves to make life more pleasant for the husband Or buddy who takes the motorcycle. while the rest of the family joins in the fun (then called a Run) with plenty of space for campin g and for activities. The idea caught on, and plans were made for the 1954 event. The last week-end in October, traditionally the opening of the winter travel season in the desert and the change over from daylight time to standard, was chosen. The 1954 Run started from Lancaster \\II ere crowds assembled at tbe fairgrounds on Friday nigh t, tben rode a prescribed route througb cbeck points to tbe Valley. At tbe last minute the Jackass Enduro was thrown in for the racing set. It was a tough event beginning at Trona just soutb of tbe Panamint Valley and finisbing at Texas Springs Campground. Its route lay along sand washes and rough canyons tbrough the Panamint Mountains to below sea level on the Valley fioor. As the event began to pick up momentum and grow larger the Jackass Enduro was separated, and all attention was given to the road run itself. Events and judging we re moved from Texas Springs Holder of 250cc World Speed record Excellent for Freeway or play. Just $50.00 I)own at J HARLEY-OA VIDSON LOS ANGELES Tel. 149-6235 rBlCH BUDELIER COJ2531 S. Main St. L.A. INDOOR ,MOTORCYCLE RACING RETURNS TO LONG BEACH ARENA!! Saturday, November 19, Gates open 6 p.m. Racing at 8 p.m. "t)~ D. V. ride.. assemble al Furnace Creek R.nch. after arriving. Some show up with an extra bike or two in a trailer or in the back of a truck so that everyone can enjoy the great weather encountered there at the last of October. Most people come, however, on motorcycles, riding singly or as doubles or with side cars. . It all began in 1953 when several motorcycle dealers, sports committeemen, and riders from Southern California got together to outline an event designed entirely for the road rider. It was their contention, and righ t. that a lot of motorcycles were owned by people who like to ride tbem for fun on tbe highways and by-ways, and who were being neglected as far as events designed solely for them were concerned. The suggestion was made at this meeting that Death Valley might be a good place for terminating a large tour tj4Me" , Campground to Furnace Creek Rancb, and a new campground behind the Visitors Center was occupied. Texas Springs camp is still used but is partly gi ven over to trailer camping. From a single entrance with several checkpoints enroute, the Tour now used four main gateways with a checkpoint at each one. Riders from northern Nevada and Idaho usually enter via the Beatty. Nevada checkpoint and come in over Daylight Pass. Those from Las Vegas and the southeast com e in through the Shoshone checkpoint or through Beatty. Probably the greatest number, though. continue to use the Mojave to Trona route from Los Angeles and Bakersfield. This is a spectacular trip leading from the Trona checkpoint over a steep grade into the Panamint Valley. ascending through Wlldrose (Continued on paee 6) wI_. POWER RESEARCH Equipped 11I.1 lilt Ill. d~1e! Al POWER RESEARCH YlIU pi DO ba...., - JUST ~r II£SULTS! P.R. equipped lllkel Inc'•• lU5 & 1'" A.c.A. Road Radel CIia.,'.1 ($Icc, lOlIcc, 12Sce) Two Bo_Y1.1e Record 1 IIolo-X . d De 11I.1 1 .. Bultaco. III ...1 F_IlI', 6_p WaIIl_, . . , alii_I! QII Ie ,... lDance crvwd - TRb , . . '-

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