Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

IMPERIAL VALLEY 50-MILE HARE SCRAMBLES loop which would be cir cuited three times was a fast course, but his estimate of 15 minutes for the lap seemed unr eal is tic In view of the sand and sag ebr ush nightmare. The fir st rider to check In for the completion of the first loop was Don McCarley of El cajon, Calif. on a 250Cc Montesa . His unoffici al time for the clr cult was 22:58.5 which, considering the torturous ter r ain, Is nothing less than a miracle. I.V.M.C. pr esident Jay Waters expressed the opinion that McCar ley, an experienced des er t r ac er and thir d In last year' s District 38 point standings , would easily win the top time of the day, barring unforesee n trouble , which In des er t racing Is the rule rather than the exceptio n. McCarley ran true to form, however, and duplicated his first lap There was much pes s imistic speculation as the stop watch signaled that It was ti me for the leader to appear on the hor izon and McCarley' s dus ty " roo ster tai l" was not yet In view. As the seconds ticked off the walters wondered If there had been trouble ? Had he fallen or had his machine failed ?·Suddenly a fast moving dust plume appeared but the Identification of Its crea tor could not be ce rtain. When the dust cleared momentarily and the rider flew over the last jump, cover Ing the final 50 yards on his rear wheel, the r esul t was no longer In doubt . Don McCarley had r ung down the cur tain of the current season with a spectacular exhibition of desert riding. Dick Hanse n of San Diego, always among the top fini shers, rod e hard and fast on his 250cc Husqy to finish third Overall winner Don McCarley (Montesa) covered last 50 yards an rear wheel to end Dlsl. 38 desert season March 31. s tory and Photos by Bill Harmer The Imperial Valley M.C. hosted the last 50-mile Hare Scrambles of the 196768 season, SundaY, March 31 at Plaster City, west of EI Centro, Califor nia . At 1l:20 a.m.; the smoke bomb was Ignited and exactly 10 minutes later , a field of 78 riders lined up abreast on a llmed line about 75 yards long were signaled to an ear-shattering start. The start can only be compared to an epic motion picture scene of the opening of the Cimarron Strip with all 78 starters trying to funnel through a draw about 15 feet wide. The result was llke putting 10 pounds of tapioca In a 5-pound bag and needless to say was. terrifying to watch. All managed to negotiate the bottleneck with nothing damaged but a few dispositions. , According to Chad Lincoln, pastprestdent of the hosting I.V.M.C. and our unofficial guide for the day, the 17-mlle Start of last r!ce of '67,'68 suson for Dlsl. 38 shows 78 riders trying for the elusive gold. time on the second time around, even feellng secure enough to stop for fuel . Seconds later he squirreled his bike away from the c he c k point spraying gravel on everyone. During the pit stop , John Krempp of San Diego and his 500Cc Triumph T100, running In second position , gained precious ground on leader McCarley as they sped off Into the dust cloud on the final lap. GO-GO-GO over all and capture 2nd In llghtwelght Expert class. He was only sllghtly pressed by Zane Prather on his Triumph, 4th overall and 2nd Open Expert. By now, the dust was so thick fr om finishing riders roaring across the finish that everything was contusion, but one r ider whoappeared Impressive In his lOth overall and 2nd place 100cc Expert class finish, was Yamaha mounted Rich Walden of Ban- Cycle News contributor Rich Walden copped lOth overall and 2nd place Experl. mng, Calif. Walden first attracted your reporter's attention by his brightly lettered "Cycle News" T- shirt. He survived a wheel tangle at the s tar t of the race with 2nd pla ce 100cc Novice finisher Tommy Cook. Tempers flared momentarily after the race but with no s erious result. Desert racers are a special breed Indeed to subject them selves to hours of torturous r iding.over Impossible terrain, through sage brush and cacti with the bur ning sun baking their brains, thick clouds of sand y dust bllndln g and choking and sifting Into every part of their clothIng, ears, eyes, nos e .and throat. They come up sm iling thr ough mud- eaked teeth and bloodshot eyes, claiming that they're having the ti me of their llves. They must be because they are back every week for more. A person doesn 't necessarily have to be cr azy to ride Hare Scrambles, but It helps. Imperial Valley M.C. president Water s and his hard-working, tireless members put In long hours to make this last desert Hare Scrambles of the '67-6 8 season a huge success. Riders arrived as early as Thursday· and enjoyed the desert campIng as well as the fello wship of kindred souls. They 'll all be watching for the start of the new season next fall. (Results on page 20) Isf ANNUAL CHINA BEACH BENEfIT M -c MAY 5, 1968 To Be Held In The Greater Metropolitan Los Angeles Area All Proceeds To Be Used T o Build Orphanage At Chi na Beach, Da Nang, South Vie t Nam. ACA Sanctioned Presented By 'NTERNATlONAL ORPHANS Entry Fee $3.00 Post Entry $25.00 En,ries Close April 22, 1968 Entries Now Open Limited En'ry Jr. and Sr. All Classes Q-lOOcc 20l-250cc 10l-125cc 251-350cc 12&-115cc 351-500cc l1S-200cc 501-0 pen Mail Entries to: ACA Box ~41 Fullerton, California Gates Open 8:00 ~ - Practice 9:30 am Three Number Plates Required MAKE I.T MOTO-CROSS MAY 5

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