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YUMA, ARIZONA MARCH 29, 30, 1969 - An estimated 1800 to 2000 motorcyclists converged on this desert communIty to participate in the Norwalk Centaurs Motorcycle Club's eighth revival of their famous" Yuma Prison Run". Secretary Joy Garcia reported at deadline that there were 966 officially registered tour delegates and the remaining 34 meal tickets were quickly snapped up. Hundreds of requests for additional tickets bad to be denied. Yuma Is located where the once turbulent Glla (pronounced HEE-la) River (now a dry bed) meets the Colorado. The force of the Glla flowing west caused the mighty Colorado to veer westward for several miles. So It Is on the southern bank of this east-west stretch that the town Is laid out. Traveling south on 4th St. (US 8) the abundance of br1lllantly- Eighth Annual YUMA Prison Run By Bill Harmer riders bad neglected to seHbelr watches ahead to the Mountain Standard time, but no one went hungry because of the mix-uP. The trophy presentation and dance were held In the same spacious hall starting about 8: 30 in the evening. The novel trophies are hand crafted by members of the Centaurs M.C. and are iradltiooally a barred jail cell on a wooden base and topped with a gold cycle. Inside Prl son.. Iropllies are treasured by road rl d. So seen you since Indio or was It Brawley" recalled past tours. The whole cause of the Tour, the prison, was only in operation for 34 years, 1875-1909. It housed some of the Southwest's most unsavory desperados. Many inmates attempted escape but In the entire history of the institution only one, a man named Martinez, was successful. After the pri son was closed In 1909, the Yuma High School was housed In the prison mess hall and other out-buildings, and to this day the Yuma high school athletic teams are known as "The Criminals" • Sergeant Frasier of the Yuma Police • Uncapd parade thraueJ! the slr"ts of Yuma, led by the Road Crul.ers M.C. of San Dleco. Meal Tickets: 1. Susan DiaIIa. 2. Fred ... Blanton. BOOT RACE: 1. Joe MIllis. 2. James D. Glaser. 3. Al Bluhm. 4. Don Bluhm. WOMEN: 1. Kathleen ShIpman. 2. Marlin ShIpman. CIDLDREN under 13: 1. Walley Hill. SACK RACE; Male James D. Glaser. Women Mlille R. George. Children under 12 Ken Mathaway, LInda Mathaway. POTATO RACE: Male'JerryMcKInney Women Millie george. BINGO WINNERS: 1. James R. Clark, Pomona, Calif; 2. Jack D. Ratt1ff, Hawthorne, Calif.; 3. PaulIne Hlurst, Huntington Beacb, Calif.; 4. Danny Abers, Westminister, calif.; 5. Rosalie Wilson. Huntington Park, Calif. 6. Harold E. Neumana, Gardena, Calif. 7. Nancy Matot Carlsbad, Calif. 8. Richard W. Simmons, Torrance, calif. 9. Shirley T. Wilson, Maywood, Calif. 10. Marty Emmons, Torrance, Calif. 11. Jose Morris, Wilmington, Calif. 12. Norman BrichOuse, Bell, Calif. 13. John P. JUdd. Bell Gardens, Calif. 14. John W. Smith, Paramount, Calif. 15. Kelly Dusenberry, Phoenix, Ariz. 16. Edward E. McKInnon, Santa Fe Springs, Calif. 17. Jesus D. Solis, LakeSide, Calif. 18. Franklin L. irwIn, Midway City, Calif. 19. Diane M. Leslie, Phoenix, Ariz. 20. Beverly A. Murray, PhoeniX, Ariz. 21. John Matyjasek, Long BeaCh, Calif. 22. Elaine GUilletee, Huntington Beach, Calif. DANCE TROPHIES: 1st Dance; 1. Rick & Vicky Rogers. 2. Ken & Sandy Smith. 3. Robert & Debra Morey. 2nd Dance: 1. Philip & Barbara Miller 2. Al & Bea Reynolds. 3. Gabe & Martha Palmer. DRA WING MALE SOLO: 1. Ronald Derouin, 2. Fred Blanton, 3. James E. Daley, 4. Jack C. Chamberlain, 5. Ted E. Murray, 6. T. C. Ferris, 7. Peter Gianhuas, 8. George O. McMurdo, 9. Howard ShIpman, 10, Carl E. Butzin, 11. Burney Clark, 12. Albert Weimer, 13. Robert \¥heeler, 14. Frank E. Deckard, 15. Neal H. Hoyt, 16. Gordon Grundman. FEMALE SOLO: 1. Faye Bray, 2. Betty Jo Buch, 3. ShIrley Fuller, 4. Nadene Davidson, 5. Arlene Carpenter, 6. Bea Reynolds, 7. Barbie Lee Ferrln. PASSENGER: 1. Judith Lewis, 2. Dale Costa, 3. Betty Ott, 4. Martha Smith, 5. Mary Ann McKinnon, 6. Joyce Nintermute, 7. Mildre J. Ward, 8. Beverly Hofstede, 9. BIllie K. sager, 10. Becky Myers. CHILDREN UNDER 12: 1. Rosalie Wilson, 2. Rebecca Davidson, 3. Jeanne NorriS, 4. John H. Norris. SIDECAR: 1. Shl.rley Wilson, 2. Phyllis Clark. ~ ... ~ '" ~ ~ lo:l ,.J ~ U Spring TOlr Apr.26&27 Naltlly-unlformed Ralnbow$ Moe. captured coveted Irophy for best-dressed club and neatest maclline" Ace of Clubs drill team frolic In the Ydma park. neoned motels, restaurants and watering places reminds one of the famous Las Vegas "Strip." Being a winter tourist mecca, Yuma has thousands of hotel and motel rooms but they didn't have enough to house all of the cyclists. Hotelmen reported that they were completely sold out three weeks before the cycle conclave. Because the central street of the city Is a U.S. highway, the customary parade had to be routed on secondary streets but still drew many spectators who cheered the procession of nattily uniformed riders on their glistening "full dress" machines. An authentic Arizona beef barbecue was served at the Junior Chamber of Commerce hall adjacent to their famous world championship Silver Spur Rodeo grounds. Caterers piled the plates high with generous portions of savory beef, beans and macaroni salad and a choice of tortillas or bread. The riders were enthusiastic about the fare and many went back for seconds. Coffee was Included but most of the riders from the Coast preferred cooler refreshments from the bar. The chow call was from 5 to 7 p.m. There was a lot of confusion as most of the California dept. reported that the cycling group was one of the best behaved crowds that he had ever seen, and they had not even issued a citallon. It was estimated that of the 1800 to 2000 cyclists who were on hand for the conclave, about 500 were mounted on "choppers" which prompted the local police to announce that Arizona'S helmet law went into effect on April 1st and next year bareheaded riders and passengers will be cited. The merchants and inn keeper s were joyous with the increased business that the tour brought and were unanimous in invlting the motorcyclists to return for the ninth time next year. RESULTS: Sweepstakes: Barbara Ann Miller, PhoeniX, Ariz. "Largest Club: Road Cruisers, San Diego. Long Distance Club: Road Kings, Bakersfield. Best Dressed Club: 1. Rainbows. 2:-Singing Wheels. 3. Valley Vagabonds. 8th Sign In: David E. Johnson, Los Alamitos, Calif. Long Distance: Robert Wheeler, San Jose, Calif. Shortest Distance, Lois Revels, AlPine. Tallest AMA Male: Phlillp Miller, Tempe, Ariz.ShortestAMA Female: Kara Troya, Phoenix, Ariz. Hard Luck: DarwIn Maxwell, Ace of Clubs. Blue the cell Is a dejected looking littie doll dressed in horizontally striped clothes of the Yuma prisoners. Over 150 of the highly desired trophies are presented each run and Tour riders who are awarded one. treasure them proudly. Many cyclists who did not care to join into the dance made the short trIP sou to the little Mexican town of San Luis, Sonora. Others parked their motorcycle . in front of their motel rooms and patronIzed the local night spots but long after midnight the throaty roar of 74' s could be heard cruising the streets of Yuma. The official ceremonies of the run were all completed on Saturday In order to give the more culturally-mInded tour members a chance to visit the old Territorial Prison and go through the museum. For several hours on Sunday morning, the prison parking lot was so packed with motorcycles .that tourists driving automobiles, had trouble finding a place to park and many left without seeing the crowded museum. Cyclists, however, made the most of It, buying post cards and descriptive histories of the prison and taking each others Photographs throughout the grounds. Many old acquaintances were renewed and shouts such as, "Hey you old so' n so, I baven't y More than 2,000 motorcyclists w1ll ride into 29 Palnls for the ninth annual Spring Tour of the Southern California Roadriders Committee on April 26 and 27. As in the past, Ibis event will benefit the City of Hope. The two-day run will attract motorcyclists from all parts of the Southland, Nevada and Arizona and Is sponsored by the 29 Palms Chamber of Commerce. The tour, sanctioned by the AMA, is a R.R.C. Point Run and features the AMA Tour Award.· The roar of hundreds of cycles will lead into a program of events that wUl feature the world renowned leaders of the Hollywood Christmas Parade. The Huntington Park Elks Motor Corps, headed by Captain Harry Fisher, w1ll perform precision drllls and stunts. Other events will include a parade featuring the Ace of Clubs DrUl Team under the direction of John George, and Victor McLaglen Drill Team headed by Major Herb Harker. Field events will feature stunts performed by the drill teams and wheel stands by "Spider." Other scheduled events are a barbeque and the big dance to be held at Sky Park on SaturdaY, April 26, at 9 p.m. An M-65 Trail Bike, donated by the Southern California Harley-Davidson Dealers Association through the efforts of Sherman Ames, president, wUl be the grand-prize to be awarded with other prizes and trophies. Proceeds from the individual $3 donations will benefit programs in research, education and patient care at the free, nonsectarian Pilot Medical Center in the battie agaInst catastrophic diseases. •