Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

were on our way, trying to outrun the rain, heading north from West Yellowstone. Soon the road joins and follows the Madison River as it meanders through the rolling plains and uound the table top mountains that jut from the country side. Futher north, the green grasslands faded Into dry plains and flLI'mlands, then barren, undeveloped land. As we neared the Idaho border these drylands began to show welcome tints of green again, but unfortunately the occasional thundershowers of Montana changed to steady rain. This can be miserable, especially in the higher altitudes. We found it necessary to devise something to protect our legs from the rain and cold. Cutting up one of our smaller pieces of plastic, we made chaps for our legs out of it. We cut these as big as possible, giving enough to wrap around each leg, from the ankle uP to the knee, and tied it with shoe strings, or whatever was handy. We now had a virtually water and wind proof protection for the most vulnerable part of our legs. The rain began persisting into the nights and since we had no shelter, we began using picnic tables. We simply draped some plastic over the toP. This gave us quite satisfactory protection, somewhat cramped but falrly waterproof. Imagine the two of us under a table trying to undress and crawl into our sleeping bags-mummy bags at that. If it wasn't the cobb webs, It was somebody's chewing gum, but It was dry and well worth the trouble once we were squared away. One morning we just lay there, listening to the early morning rain, hating to have to get out In it, yet anxious to get on our way. After a while we peeked out, and saw happily that It wasn't rain at all, but a near by creek we'd forgotten about. . To prevent the moisture and vibration from ruining our cameras and film, I lined a surplus 30 caliber ammunition box with foam rubber to tit them snugly. The case is completely moisture and dust proof and the foam padding absorbs vibration, keeping all those goodies inside the camera from rattling out of place. Moisture did cause one problem. The plywood board for our rack was coming unglued and warping. A few strategically-placed nuts and bolts saved the day, and the board. To avoid tbis I'd recommend using a muine plywood. To the back of our board we bolted a wooden tool box just the right distance to allow our stove to wedge in between It and the back rest bolted to the front of the rack. This kept everything secure and prevented it from slipping backward. The box in back made the tools readily available for us. To hold the load securely in place, we cut an innertube into sections, making rubber bands approximately one and a halt inches wide and eight inches long. Several of these bands were then looped together to form three tie downs several feet long. This was all that was used to hold on the rack-mounted Items during the entire trip. wind but since they still afforded some protection, we kept them. The roads were clean and the air crisp as we went through Salem and on toward Bend. West of Bend, a broken stream of logging trucks with their tendency to occasionally straighten out the wet curves made things a bit unnerving. But neither this, nor the rain, could obscure the beauty of this state. We sped on through Idaho, its green forests and cold, wet weather to Spokane and momentary sunshine. The tree-lined roads of Idaho'S northern section gave way to a more sPlLI'sely-forested countryside of east Spokane. As we continued west through dry rol11ng, straw-colored grain fields an occasional bright red harn with white-rimmed windows shared the countryside with the shadows ot passing clouds. Crossing the Columbia River and passing through Wenalchee, we headed toward Seattle. The sky clouded over as we continued toward the coast. Soon we were riding in a continuous drizZle. The amount of vegetation that grew along the road came as no surprise _ forests with tall trees covered with many years growth of moss, and waist deep ferns covering the ground. We had hoped to see the Olympic National Park in northwestern Washington but poor weather conditions caused us to skip it - this time. We had read much about its beautiful rainforests and glaciers but somehow these didn't appeal to us now. The thought of buying rain suits entered my mind many times, but I always hoped we'd soon reach better weather. The cost of a good rain suit at the time was prohiblUve. However I'd suggest you shop around and buy some good-quality, durable, rain protection before you go on any trip. I've since found out that you can be pretty comfortable in cold or rainy weather with such apPlLI'el. Anxious to head south and toward sunnier weather, we made tracks toward Longview, just north of Portland, Oregon. We spent another night under a picnic table in what would have to be the closest imitation to a rainforest imaginable. The trees dripped moisture' when it wasn't raining. The moss and vegetation were the thickest here of anywhere we'd been on the whole trip. The two-burner stove was more than earning its extra weight and space. Granted, it was bigand bulky, but have you ever tried to light wet wood with a match? Ideally, one or two single burner stoves would be best, thus eliminating a lot of the weight and bulk of the twoburner unit. We used my brother's Boy Scout back pack to keep the sleeping bags In. They stayed completely dry throughout some pretty wet weather. Dark Clouds Next morning we headed east from Longview along the northern bank of the Columbia River, past large sea-faring ships, great log jams floating to the riverside log mills and people fishing for sturgeon. As the road meandered toward the coast ano momentary sunshine, the ferns and moss faded. The last four miles to Astoria were across a toll bridge at the mouth of the Columbia River. Needless to say, the view was well worth the dollar fee. The wind that was apparently blowing the fog from Thanks go to Jay York [or his help on this artic! e and to Wilson"s Motorcycle shop [or advice in preparing the bike [or the trip. the shores here, leaving us a bright day, was also blowing fog Into the shore as we headed south. Our make-shift leg protectors were now badly ripped by the BAKERSFIELD Exciting Ending teur Jim Maxwell did the same in the combined novice-amateur-expert event. Maxwell recently went the marriage route, and with that usually goes that nasty work work. This was thetirst race he's made for quite some time. Walch this boy next year, he'll figure out some way to get race days oft and return to his full schedule uP and down the valley. Both Davis and Maxwell rode Bultacos. Rick Newby rode the Roseberry Kawasaki to another impressive win in the 125 expert race. Amateur Leon Cotton of Porterville, also riding a Kawasaki, followed Newhy to pick uP his trophy. Special awards for the year were presented to three riders by Jack Light Action Photos. Jack singled out the most photogenic rider and machine in each class and presented each with atrophy. Ron Tobey and a well-prepared Bridgestone took the first award; Tim Thomas got it for his immaculate Bultaco and Triumph, Midge Griffith for a fine Norton. (Results on page 16) District 37 Trailbike Division JACK MORGAN - HODAKA :[N· . For a first-hand demonstration of : Send me YOllr bookl.t, "The Hodoko Story," : HODAKABILlTY, vi sit your . I'ln endosin" 2Sc to cover postage and handlin,> : : Nome4...............................•. _.....~ ... _. __ .__ ._.. _ _._ : .. nearest dealer for a FREE test . ' : Street.. _ ; ride. . ~ ~::.~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~:::~;~:::. ::::::::',:::,::.,,1 •..••.•.••.•••.......•.....•.•.... _ The t1wH IIIOst phoIDpnlc rldlrs over the season were presented trophies by Jack Light. From left,lI.y are Ron Tobey, Tim Thomas and illidge Griffith. ~ .-.1'''''' forthedeoler --~':u~rr-co neares.t you ,write: J....... • P.O. lOX U7 ATtBA, OIIOON 97113 - Cll ~ Q" en $ r.:l ~ r.:l ...J U Broken clouds and dry breezes increased our :>.. hopes for good weather, although the cold left some U doubt. At the Crater Lake turn-oft, we saw clouds, dark clOUdS, in the direction we were now traveling. Heading toward the northern entrance of the park, we saw white stuff on the trees farther ahead. Snowl As our first chaps had given way to the wind, it was time to make new ones. We cut our two plastic air mattresses in two and wrapped a halt around each leg. Since these were double thickness, they protected our legs from the biting cold, and were strong. As it had been snowing here for three days it was quite cold. Soon the windshield was covered with snow, and only some fast wiping kept my glasses from icing over. When we finally reached the rim village, we dismounted and headed inside. We must have been quite a sight - bright red plastic wrapped around each leg, shivering so badly we could hardly put fresh film in our cameras, and so stiff we could hardly walk. But now that it's past, it is one of the outstanding experiences of the trip. We spent several hours thawing out, drinking coffee, and looking at post cards and slides of the area. Determined to leave, we headed out the way we'd arrived, as the road south had snow for some 60 miles. Going towards California, we passed through many areas of extinct volcanic activity. l'assing through heavy rain at Klamath Falls we went into northern California. Mt. Shasta couldn't be seen because of cloud covering. Then redwood forests and winding roads gave way to warm weather and freeways. Oh, how sweet it is! We began to realize that the straight roads and the winding ones, the harren mountains and the beautiful, the lush green forests and no forests at ail, the friendly people and looks of amazement, that they all were coming to an end as we traveled on. Past the small road-side communities, the dry weeds and litter of a late August. Past grape pickets and tomato fields. On through the traffic and past the occasional tourist. It was over. " By Ernie Winslow Photos by Jack Light BAKERSFIELD, Cal., Dec. 29 - Closing out the season at Sprocket Park proved to be an exciting as usual. Sid Payne, like a vintage wine, seems to improve with age. Not that Payne is by any means ready to apply for Medicare but be's been around racing for a few years. This season Payne's trucking business has curtailed his bike racing, but even atter a four month absence Sid showed uP for the final race of the year and rode Jim O'Hara's Triumph to an easy victory in the open class. Mike Keen" showboated" around in the 500 lLIllllteur-expert event. Tbe apparent ease he had in winning thi's class was a strong point in favor of running this classy rider and his mighty Malchless in the open class and making him work just a bit harder. Stan Sibley of Visalia riding a 360 Bultaco was first amateur • The 250 experts were demoralized by a uPstart amateur. Steve Davis led the blushing experts to the finish line.Ama- ~ 1I011'''' 1101"" \ 11011'''' 1I011'''' 1I011'''' HOI"'" 1101"" \ Hl/II\" \

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