Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

'" ~ III too Q.. .... "" "" .,; "- III .Q S ... ~ III THE CACTUS DERBY OLD HAT WITH ANEW WIINKLE en en E:t ~ tz:l ...:l C,) G So you're a beginner on a Trailbike? Hardly had a foot in the dirt? Well don't let it hang you up when it comes time to send your entry in for the '67 Cactus Derby Endurance Run this October 1. Here's one run you are goint to finish - guaranteed. For if ever an Enduro was tailored for the first-timer, this year's Derby is it! It wasn't always this way - back in 1935, and immediately following the War, .it was the orneriest go a boondockin' bike rider could imagine, its toughness compounded by the fact that the Derby boasted an inkyblack midnight start. That':; right, tbe first man. usually aboard a huge 74 Indian or Harley, shoved off at 12: 01 in the morning to battle darkness, desert, and occasional sub.freezing temperatures just to get to breakfast 6 hours' later - then another couple hundred miles to the finish in late afternoon the next day! They'd Rather Join Ironically, a couple of those compe titors of old .. working on the premise that they'd rather join' em than fight' em, are today members of the layout crew that stage the new streamlined Cactus Derby sponsored by t'he Riversid,e Bombers M.C. Old Derby chasers Bill Wesson and Frank Chase, backed up by Bud Howseman and young Dick Chase. have taken oyer the layout chores the last few years and have given this classic an all-new look. Starting time ,is now a civilized 7 a.m., all the impossible hills are long gone, and the distance has been whittled down to a more contemporary 150 miles. consisting of three loops working out of a whistle stop known a:; Slash X, about 8 miles south of Barstow, California. As if to compensate for the attrition of yore, the l·ime-laying crew of today takes great delight in seeing SACRAMENTO TRACKERS WAIL AT LINCOLN Story and Photos by Dale Mcllinnon Well, the Trackers were up to their old tricks again. on August 19 in Lincaln. Calif. They were a little late getting started - no water truck: The wait was, worth it, though, as a star-studded field showed up. Steve Thomas won his 100cc heat and it looked like he was well on his way in the Main, after a restart. As luck would have it he got crossed up and Ron Blackman relieved him of the lead. Arch Price fell while trying to move up and was struck by Tom Christensen, dashing both their hopes for first. how many starters they can get across the finish line. Last year was some sort of a record. with 50% of the entries going the distance, but the run coming up may break that record. for the course is shorter and,if possible, easier yet. Not that the trail is glass-smooth - far from it, there's not a mile of bighway in it - but it's a just-right combination of scenic tracks through virgin valleys that las t echoed to the creaking wheels of ore wagons descending from the old Lucky Strike Mine. The first loop, the longest at 62 miles, is designed for the ladies and the Trailbikes and, like most of the remainder of the course, calls for an easy gait of 24 miles per hour. And to sbow how sure they are that even the peanut butter brigaae will make it, the Bombers are adding a new trophy, a Junior Trailbike Class for the first rider under 16 years of age. Ladies Too The Wome,n's Class is divided in two. 0 to 100cc. and 10Icc and up. However, the nature of the overall run is so kindly towards those little popcorn roasters 'that the really hungry Trailbike jockeys may want to consider going the full 150-mile route, being eligible to ride all three loops by signing in the 250cc Class - it's okay with the sponsors. So come all you Trailbikers, come all you beginners, the Cactus Derby is gonna be easy pickin's. Here's your chance to take borne a big one, the second most cherished Enduro title in the West. Just one word of warning: we said YOU'll finish, but we didn't let out a peep about the devilishly cunning placement of the checks, so let's not get carried away with your mastery of all that keen cruisin' country and forget to mark time. There'll be a few pro's running the clocks, too. y'all come! $500 + fOl DUAL BEllEflT by Bob Odell Two hundred and two road riding motorcyclists signed in and contributed $1 for their entry to David Pruitt on the RRC Dual Benefit Run, Saturday evening August 26th. The riders met at the ABC store in Montclair where the start was handled by Committee for Better Motorcycling Chairman Jack 'Lindstrum, assisted by members of the Married Wheels Motorcycle Club. The group opened in the heat he went down. Dan Toby, the leader,lost out to Steve Norberg, Bill got back up and was doing battle with Toby when Toby went down. In the Main it was about the same except Toby went down first while trying to hold Steve back. Steve hit his back wheel. Dawson moved back in there after Steve took the lead. Bill almost had it several times but lost out to Steve and Toby both. Barclay Tuhal took tbe lead in both the Main and heat only to get tangled up with Bill Dixon and go down. Barclay took the lead again in the Main and Dixon came up to ,ride pe g to peg with him for several laps. Then Ray Vatne arrived to their tables at 4:30 lJ.m. and accepted riders until 6:30. Nearly every club of the RRC attended the event. The short route took the riders north from the ABC Store to Foothill Blvd,., then west to Grand Avenue in Glendora where they turned south and picked up san Bernardino Road west to Valley. The cyclists continued west on Valley to Almansor Ave. in Alahmbra and turned north to the Almansor Ball Park for the rally. Lack of signs at san Bernardino road caused many riders temporary confusion. The signs had been removed during construction. The name change from san Bernardino to Ramona through Baldwin Park also caused some riders to lose their way. Scot DeWester, owner of the Burger Barn in Glendora, served free coffee to the riders as they stopped ontheir way through to town. The Woody Quartet + One, of Glendora, started the program at 7:30 with old-fashioned country hoedown. Woody Robinson led the music with his fiddle. He was accompanied by DDoc DGraf on guitar, Boli Schultz, banjo; Earl Panic, bass;. and Bob Loyd-Jones on the accordian. Their renditions of Turkey in the Straw, Red Mountain and other favorite break-downs had the riders' feet tappin' and hands clapping. Entbusiastic applause followed each number and when queried if they would like the group to play at the •68 Spring Tour. the cbeering was wild. The Motor Maids greeted each arrival at tbe finish with hot coffee and cold punch and many riders returned for refills. Police Cooperation The Alhambra police responded to a request for an Doccasional patrol car" by turning out their entire reserve police force. One officer told John Andreson of the Los Angeles rimes that, DWe're just puttIng 1n our time, these are the good people." The awards started at 8:30 with Bob ,Fee of 'the CBM as maste r of ceremonies. Mr. Fee conceived the idea fOr the rally and coordinated the activities at the ball park. He sandwiched the awards between musical numhers untii tbe 15 trophies donated by She rman Ames and one donated by the Silver Eagles had been awarded. The music continued while the clubs forme d on the field and two of the trophies were awarded for the largest clubs present. The Road Rangers M.C. took first place. The push them both. It was too much for Barclay, as he fell back and let Ray and Bill battle for first. Ray tried every trick in the book to get around Dixon, but to no avail. Three-Way Thrills As usual, the 250 Amateur/Expert heat and Main produced the most thrills, as Carl Cranke, Gerald Henderson and Fitzgerald really went out to put on a excellent show. Bob Haustein took off like crazy with Fitzgerald right on tail. Haustein got out of shape and Cranke and Henderson came up to take over the first two spots. They rode wheel to wheel most of the way with Carl taking a narrow win. Stoddard family was judged the best dressed and Mr. and Mrs. Del Beauchesne were the best dressed couple. They were awarded I-year subscriptions to Cycle News, donated by publisher Chuck Clayton• At 9:10, Jack'Lindstrum gave the IJ;loney collecte,d at the start ($249.00) to Mr. and Mrs. Pruitt. Their son David was struck by all automobile March 23 rd while riding his motorcycle and has been in coma ever since • RRC Chairman, Bob Adsit, transmitted the $200.00 RRC check to John Andreson of the Los Angeles Times Summer Camp Fund. Indi vidual riders and clubs made additi onal donations of over $50.00 to the fund to send needy children to summer camp. These donations will be acknowledged in the pages of the Time s. Compliments From All Said, Andreson after judging tbe best-dressed competitors with the Pruitts, DI never dreamed that there were motorcycli sts like tnese." A detective from the Alham bra ,Police strolled through the park checking On the action. When he left, ,he told Mrs. Fay Fee, who was on the gate, DThis is certainly a fine group of people.· Residents from the surrounding neigQborhbOd, curious about tbe activities, entered the park to enjoy the mUSic and many made donations. One gentleman living directly across from the park said tbat he couldn't stay because his wife was sick, but when he was informed of the p,urpose of the rally said, DThat's wonderful,' and pulled out a dollar for the Pruitt bo.v. The riders seemed to enjoy the run and certainly made many friends with their efforts. Winners or the trophies were: MALE SOU); Melvin R. ~lIrrain William R. Bland Charles D. oawson Rober.t E. Bible Frank Deckard PASSENGER: Donna Evans Laurel D. Toole Dave Burchett Patricia Chester GAL SOLO: Audrey Wingfield Barbara Peters Lucky Walling Isabel Hetrick SIDECAR: Vernon K. Hamilton In the Main, Miles Anderson ana Haustein were battling it out for first when they went wide and ,Fitzgerald slipped under them •.Fitzgerald led for several laps with Henderson and Cranke just a whisker in back. On the next to last lap, Fitzgerald went down and Cranke went on to win again by a wheel. This is the best Fitzgerald has ridden all year; these three are about the best riders around. Everyone in the area is looking forward to seeing them again in two weeks. as that is when they go for high point and last race of the season in Lincoln at night. (Results on pages 20-21) Smith Doubles Ron Smith finally won a couple at Lincoln. He won the 100 Amateur/ ' Expert heat and came roaring back to take the Main. James Childress put forth a valiant effort but just wasn't up to the task. He was right in there all the way but couldn't quite get around. Baugh Blasts Jerry Baugh came charging up to take the 175 heat and while Jack Driggs came blasting UP from the rear. last off the line, he fell trying to take the whole bunch all at once. Jerry decided to get off the line first in Main but as luck would have he got tangled up with Roger' Oliver and they had to restart. On the restart Jerry decided not to take any chances, so he got a nice long lead and held it to the end. Spills A'Plenty Bill Dawson and his Cub were having their ups and downs in the 200 event. While trying for the lead Carl Cranke eranked It on for a win In the 250cc Amat.."Expert Main. Wimer of the 175ee Amateu"Expert event was Jerry Baush (152k), he,. laklnc over the lead.

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