Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

• 00 .... ~ c.. .... "ONCE AROUND THE COURSE" -- Shamrocks ENDURO PREVIEW so stay on lop of the SlUIcL) By Dick Wricbt More, More ~ ED. NOTE - Usually ·Once Around .... Tbe Course· describes a desert rungi its terrain and bazards - after the .c:: race is over. Tbi s time, Dick Wrigbt ~ went out to the scene of the upcom~ ing Shamrocks M.C. Enduro (scheduled for April 2) and looke'f it over ~ ahead of time. In an effort to encourfz:l age newcomers, and clue-in the ~ regulars, be offers the following ~ pointers: Back in the pits, I still felt like riding some more, and was told that I would probably have to push my trail bike up one of the hills on the second loop. Since I don't like to push. I followed Bob Steffan (the man in charge of the run), wbo was just leaving to clock the third loop of approximately 35 miles. The first five miles of the third loop were beautiful - fire roads just like we had at Catalina - and we continued on these until we came to the first of three downhills. This was the damedest downhill I have ever seen. about 100 yards long On very soft sand. Steffan ~ t his Triumph in low gear and idled down in fast time. I put mine in low gear, locked up the rear brake. and pUt a lot of pressure on the front brake. With both feet down, I moseyed down one hill, taking half of the sand with me. At this point, we headed for the old Red Rock Canyon area in open boondock trails for ahout five miles, and then into a nice sand wash leading to more trails. The trail ended at the top of a hill that was hard dirt at the top and soft sand at the bottom, for which Steffan turned it on in low at the top, and shifted into second halfway down and into the sand. Ijust went down slow and let them laugh. We went onto some fast backhill trails and then down the old Red Rock Canyon hill. passing the water pipe wi th running water, and trailing the next 8 or 10 miles to the pits. A few pointers for the beginner: ~ Last SUnday I went out to check the course selected by the Shamrocks M.C. U for their Enduro on April 2. 1967. starting at Cinco's Restaurant, 15 miles north of Mojave on Highway 14. it will be a 125-mile run of three loops, shaped like a shamrock. Trail bikes will travel only the first loop. approximately 45 miles of very enjoyable desert trails and great sandwashes; no uphills, but one downhill to keep it interesting. The start will be across the street from the restaurant. heading east. The first three miles will be the roughest soft up-and-down sand dunes, which I took in second gear on my 90cc Hodaka. For the new rider, the idea would be to keep yOur feet up and keep the engine buzzed. Don't steer with the handle-hars. but use body English. Once out of the soft sand, there's a drop onto a hard sand trail along which we could buzz in third and fourth gear; then onto a fire road and back into a nice trail. still heading east. The trail dropped into a sandwash heading uphill and to the right. so I used second and third gear to keep the engine revved up (Note; don't lug down a smail two-stroke). After the sand wash we followed some trails that ran along the foothill, rolllng up and down. overlooking the dry lake. Then, entering a small sandwash. I saw my first rock - off to the side, but not actually on the trail. This sandwash ran uphill a short distance and then turned right to a trail which took us around the hills. At this point it was time to start the downhill trip and head back to the highway. UpS and DOWDS This is the only downhill grade on the course. and it looks a lot worse than it is. I PU t my bike in low gear. with my rear brake lOcked up and just a little Tbe rid. _d nature form a strlklnc pl1lfll.. Eadl til. desert. .m, -.Is Ills _ pressure on the front brake. and proceeded to bounce down the rocky. narrow section, which is only ahout 75 feet long. There is no real hurry in an Enduro, so this hill should be fun. Gordon Casper even stopped in the middle to light UP his cigar, saying that we had been moving so fast he didn't have time to smoke. After the hill came one of the most beautiful wide-open sandwashes I have ever seen, riding three abreast in fourth gear. and having a real ball for that five miles. The course then turned right again, heading back for the foothills on a wide trail that led into another sandwash. A left bend ooto a fire road for about two miles. and then a right tum-. brought us to some typical desert boondocks. Upon leaving the boondocks we could see the highway, and turning right onto a nice tire road, we cruised back to Cinco's for the end of the first loop and the finish for the trail bikes. "DOte to tile new rider: When making lBms la a saadwasb, remember to use baclY EDcIisIllUld keep !be engine buzzed. Oace 10" pat yo. .....es ... and your foot 110_, 10" just sPin the back wheel, partlCIII. lIIumlllllllaa In L Don't change lanes on a straight fire road or 2-lane Jeep trail. A fast rider may be ready to PllSS yOu. 2. watch for danger markers there will not be many. Il will be three lines of lime across the trail, four feet apart. and about 50 feet before the daoger area. 3. When the trail turns, the club will put three or four !!pots of lime or ribbon markers close together on the side that the turn will lake. Enduros are fun to ride because you don't have to race. You just ride on the clock time set UP by the clUb, so come on out and enjoya day in the desert. H #1 ... • ALL OVE THE EST , • 101 337-2745 E. HUITlIGTOI OliVE, DUAITE, (AUf. 91010 (213) 359-92n

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