Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Lefl- Larry BergqUlsl2nd In. M INT 400 RALLY By The Cycle News Starr When motorcycles, dune buggies, 4-wheel drive Jeeps and production cars are brought together for the purpose of 400 rough miles through every type of Nevada desert, unusual excitemeut is generated in a city that is used to everything - La.s'yegas, Nevada. The Mint " 400" Del Webb Desert Rally started on April 3 with a parade of all entries through the town and led them to the start/flnlsh Une which was on the west end of the city. All r iders were riding In teams .for the 400 mUes and the MInt officials stated that It would be at least 20 hours before anyone would be coming back In. Because of this overestimated time some of the bike riders found themselves waiting at checkpoints for an official to sign their cards and let them continue. Hot Rod Magazdne-stepped In and signed their cards and took their pictures at the check In case at protest. ThIs klnd of responsible press coverage should be rewarded. Bill HUl (Greeves) at Las Vegas was holding the lead for over half at the race and was pr obably giving thanks to a lady at the start for his good luck. ThIs lady, attar watching Bill's pit crewl ooklng for a cotter pin to get him aU the line, walked up and supplied them with a hai r pin and oft he went. Six motor cycles were reported to be moving across the dese rt In the lead. Even s o, thi s r eporter heard many si de bets being made that the dune buggies would be way ahead of the bikes at the tlnlsh. As we waited In the Press Room at the Mint Hotel tor word at each check POint, and tram the aircraft used to spot and report trouble, we tound that there was a lot of giggli ng going on tram the local reporters who seemed to knowsomething the r est at us didn't. It didn't take long to tlnd out that many of the dr ivers never got past Ash Meadow, check point #3. Ash Meadow, It seems, Is a town that Is heavily populated by "Ladles at the Evening'" This local tun was kept going by a newscaster ·on local TV who reprted that Parnelll Jones had broken down at Ash Meadow, then realized what he had said-and tried to cover a laugh. And so the Joke went on as each competitor was reported out at Ash Meadow. At 11:30 p.m., six motorcycles were reported about an hour and a half out and then began a mad scramhie tor the tlnlsh line . As we waited by the large fire to s ee If the finish was still going to the motorcycle class, we could watch the lights at one or two machines suddenly appear about 10 mUes out across the dark desert floor. They would Just as SUddenly disappear, then reappear, and we knew that the winners were on their way In . As we watched we were also able to tell that some of them were losing their way, and this was not news as the .Mint did have problems In marklng the course so that the riders would not go astray, and many I am sure did not flnls h simply because at the time lost In looklng tor check points and the tlnlsh. The Mint knows they had a problem and has already made changes In their plans for next year . Smiling Winner JJI. Roberts (Husky) came In after mldnlghllo beat the cars" Spectators waited for over 4 hours Intlhe desert cold for lhe first vehicle In. . Five minutes betore the tlrst bike crossed the finish line we know that the motorcycles were In the lead...but which one? Tension mounted as we waited In the desert darkness watching a bobbing light coming down the road. No sound was heard, photographers were poised and ready, no one spoke and then we heard the distinct sound at a two- stroke and knew that It was not Bill Hill. J .N. Roberts (Husqvarna) was the victorious overall champ ion I Ir was a big day for motorcycles as they swept the flrst tour places, the winner taking home $2500 tor his eUorts. " It sure felt good to beat out all the fourwheel vehicles, " Roberts enthused. "I always knew a motorcycle could take any tour - W heel on a desert race. Now we've proved Itl" Roberts explained that they had lost their way at check #8 and when he tound the course and went on to victory , he met the two tormer trant-runners (Bill Hll and Larry Bergquist) returning to tlnd check #8 and knew he was " home free ." As we lett Las Vegas, the city was still talklng about the Mint 400 and It seemed a toregone conclusion that the Mint would again be the sponsor next year . (Results on page 16) Castle Rode 11 Scrambles Marc" 31, 1968 rJIM EINARESON 250cc A Main BE (Jim also took the 250cc Trophy Dash) THE KAWASAKI ; KIND 200ee A Main DAN KIRK ( Dan was the winner of the 200cc Trophy Da sh) nrI 2 BOB 3 WIGGINS nI .} LEW THOMPSON STY LE. .. I s the word f or T he Kawasaki K ind. J im Ein areso n showed the real winning sty li! at Castle Rock, Washington on March 31, 191'8. Kawas aki showed real style i n winning the 250cc c lass and sweeping the 200cc class ...and thi s was the seas on opener! Predsion eng ineered a nd manufadurN by KawlJs.lki Aircraft Co•• Ud., JIJtJ4n • UnSUIPllssed 12 mo., ,2.tXJO m ile warrantY.1 wnte. American Kawasalr.i Motorcy cle, P.O. Box 2066. Gardena. CaM. 90247 rlok; MotDrcycles

• Cover