Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125471
DEATH VALLEY (Conl1nued) RIders Ilow down lor the photo"'. at TO_I Pall ..trance to Death VallllJ Nallouillonum.t. Below, 'elt: 112·,ea,-old waeon and new bikes at Stovepipe Weill. Rlpt rider prepares lor ov_lpt c.plnCo Canyon and then peaking out at 5300 feet before beginning the long, straight drop into Death Valley. Almost as speelacular is the western entrance from Lone Pine across the IlIYo molmtains to the Panamint Sprincs checkpoint then over Townes Pass. A tae-end Siena storm is sometimes centered in the To,,", es Pass area Mlere some snow Durries may be encOlDltered. Desert weather in late Octo ber is fairly predictable. although not entirely reliable. Most Death Valley Tours have had the benefit of sunny skies with warm days and comfortable evenings. but a few have been· weathery". One of the early events was met with heavy rainstorms, a few flash floods, and high winds. Others began rough and ended quietly, or vice versa. A storm can move in from the north in a matter of hours if conditions are just right. It can bring rain in sections of the deserts and mountains, winds in the valleys, and a thin covering of snow in the high passes. Rain gear is carried by experienced riders as well as adequate sleeping duffle for keeping warm should a cold front move in. Windscreens are used by most motorcyclists to protect against wind buffeting and moisture. Weather for the 1966 Tour was perfect. The western flavor o'f the Death Valley is reflected in the little copper frying pan pin given to each registered entrant along with a lighter with a prospector and a hurro pictured on its side. SOme of the fine trophies also reflect this theme. The most sought after trophy is the cast iron frying pan mounted on a hardwood base with a lifelike prospector statu.e in front. One of the most popular cootests features the old iron sIdllet in a game desiped to test the flrebuilding and Dapjack conkinC sIdlls of man and wile teams. Wbtle the man builds a lire bis wife mixes a small amoUDt of pancake doucb, then be cooks tbe flapjack and she eats it. First co~le finished wins the trophy. The annual exhihition of stunt riding and team maneuvers is eagerly' looked forward to by those who have seen the famous Victor McLaglen Motorcycle Corps in action. UP to nOw these per-formers had to work in a very limited area during evening festivities, but this year the show was moved up to Saturday afternoon, and the space expanded for better viewing hy the large crowd of motorcycle enthusiasts and a better performance. The McLaglen group held the world's precision riding championship at one time, beating out the great riding group from Mexico City. A free western feed on Satw'day afterooon furnished to all recistered riders by the Harley-Davidson Dealers of Southern California was another highlight. Huge catering trucks were brought out from Las Vegas to feed over 3,000 hungry riders Ibis year in only 4 hours. A new activily that began this year and which held much interest was a showing of motion pictures between 1 & 3 and 10 to 12 p.m. featuring motorcycle racing and other events. It was handled by Clyde Earl who produced many of the films and also narrated the show. Aside from the regular acti vities scheduled year after year a great deal of excitement of the Death Valley Tour stems from just being in the place with two or three thousand other people of similar interests. Furnace Creek Ranch is the center where old friends meet and new ones are made. With Len Russell at the piano and Charles Murphy on the banjo furnishing old time tunes to fit the surroundings. the places swarms with riders from all walks of life and from all points of the compass. Queens and Coutests Below we have two viewl 01 the VIetor McLauplln IIIC Corp I In acd" Precision rldlne club wallorMd bJ late Hollywood actor. It's hard to say which of the Tour's contests is the most interesting, but from the standpoint of the greatest number of people taking part, undouhtedly the prize goes to the Best Riding Cluh competition. Riding Cluhs come and go, but their number. like the Death Valley Tour itself, increase annually. The excellent Riding Roulettes Club from Las Vegas won top trophy in 1966. It is a tribute to these fine groups that they can put on such a fine show after riding in for several hundred miles. This tribute also goes to the many single riders, couples, and families who ride their motorcycles to Death Valley, then dress them up in spotless condition to compete for best looking. Spe elators thron ced 10 th e Death Valley Tour Queen contest. The 1966 queen is Carolyn Carbonne of Lakewood with Venus de Milo proportions. Queen coatestaots must ride in on a motorcycle as part or their qualifications. and must appear in bathing !lUits. SOme of the more humorous contests which are alway s good for a roar from the crowd are the bald headed competition, the best looking leg contest for men. the fattest and the shortest rider. Het"e is a nDMIown on events aDd winners. Death Valley Tour Queen for 1966: Carolyn CarbonDe, of Lakewood Shortest Rider (man) Odey Sprape, Placentia (women) Louise Coben, Van Nuys (CDlltiDDed DII pace II)