Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

By DlI.II L. SmUt: eerie enough that civilization seems 1Ilmost out of place. We found a vacant spot aod jJRrked lbe bike, stowed our jllckets etc. and started up the street to do a little window sbq>ping. There were a multitude r1 Uttle shops and bigger department stores, some opened and some closed all witll out any lIPparent pattern. One at !be more unique shops we found was located 011 a small side street ott the main drag. It was a small "bole in the wall" sort of place, that made and sold iis own creations 10 candies. Unfortunately. it was closed but after much peer ing 10 tile windows we-decided it would be wortll a visit again sometime wben it was open. Many of the stores were '1la.v~ a sale and were advertising some "Very reasonable prices for tbeir items. We stopped 10 an ice cream parlor and picked up a small ice cream cone apiece. The night was balmy enougb tbat one bad to be careful to keep it from melting and runniog over the edge of the cone. After walking to and fro and checking out all of the latest fashions, and admiring all the different type at restaurants and filing the information tor later use. we beaded bacl< for the bllce aod the trip bome. One more place meriis mentioning, bowever, most of Ule restaurants were ImlPty or appeared to be inactive. But Ibis one place. called Louise's Pantry had people staDd.I.ag QII lbe sidewalk waiting to get in, aod Ibis 011 a week nlgbtl We gassed up aod beaded out tbrougb lbe avenue at sftYingpalmsaodtbenioto the black nigbt witll lbe moooligbtinglbe sand aod making it appear as snow. Tbe wind was blowing harder now tbao on our way in. It is enough to maIce a person shiver from grim memories. Every now and then a gust of wind would hit tile bilce hard enough to make it shudder. Reminded me of a night, long ago, when we rode over this same pass on our way ioto eautornia for tbe first time 011 an old R-50 loaded for bear, but tIlen that is ano!ber story. As we clear the pass, the bike begins to miss real bad on one cylinder beyond a ceI:laio rpm, (see BMW's do have problems. we are for reall). To keep it runniog right I have to run slow enough tbat 1 notice that I am running the speed Urnit for a change, and being passed by all Ule traffic! In a short while we are again home. ready to face the duties tbat tomorrow will bring. This weektbougbwiUbemade a little more enjoyable by !be tun wehad on a '11uesdl,y nigbt. Now, where to oen time? MEETr ~ Betty Nichols Sunset 'n Pal", Springs We were just finishing up our Tuesday evening meal when out r1 \:be blue I suggested, "Let's take the bIke aod go to Palm Springs tor coffee!" My wife's first repJy would be better ott not repeated, but after a sbort discussion of lbe pros and coos r1 tile lssue we grabbed some ridiog gear, (she bas Ibis phobia about gett10g wet, every time I even begin to look at tile bilce she is grabbing for her rainsuit), fired UP lbe tai tbtul beast, hurried to the nearest freeway and 'beaded for lbe desert. On past Redlands aod Yucaipa, and then we begio climbing the grade over San Gorgonio Pass. Just as we near Beaumont we leave the smog of the valley and the air begios to smell fresh and clean. The bike sounds really ne:Lt when it is pulling strong on a long grade. One of these days 1'm going to record that sound for listeuing pleasure at home. Wi th the evening sun reflecting ott the snow-capped mountains, and the bike sounding ott, I begio to feel so full of adventure that 1 turned and casually suggested to my ever-loving, "it's so nice out and all, I think we ought to keep going maybe to Blythe, or we could be 10 Phoenix 10 just a little bit, and I'll bet you I could pull down New Mexico before daylight!" At this apparent outburst of in- THE DRAGGER sanity from me, her reaction was swift, shouting. gesticulatingmadJy.andPQUDding on my back to registler her protest. We were quite caught q:> 10 our own little world rigtlt tbere on the freeway running through Banning. When we were brought back to ea.rtb as a big Cad mac full of sedate looldng people passed us witll loolts at amazement on Jbeirtaees,completeJy certain !bat they were witnessing a violent domestic quarrel, or tbat here was Ibis sweet little girl being hauled c#:f agalnst her will. On down lbe pass we ride witll the air gainlng in warmtb witb every mile. As we reach the Palm Springs turn olI the sun is beginning to set. A sunset 10 the desert has to rank among the most beautltul 10 the world. AU the various colors brought out of tile seemingly colorless roclcs. witll ever chaoging hues with each passing moment, and add to this display of color and pageantry a wind strong enough to stir tile arabian type sand ioto swirUng as it it were alive. and you have all the makings of a fairyland. As we reach the Umits of the city, the lights come on as it 10 welcome. The air is so warm and balmy that our jackets and helmets seem out of place, it not a downright nuisance. The main street of the city is lined witll palms and each bas iis own light illuminatiog tile branches being swayed by a light warm breeze. Loolting out from the night of the city we can see the silhouette of the mountaio ridges set ott against lbe western sky tbat is not yet dar It.. rt is beautiful yet Lions Drag strip I!as seen a oewarrival from \:be East Coast win every time out 10 his class on a Bar ley-Davidson. TIm Mark, from Buffalo, N.Y•• nowUYeS in Long Beach with his wife Sue aod dallghter 'Theresa. Sue is not too wild aboui Tim's drag racing, but as sbe says, "It be didn't have lbe bike tomess around wltll, he'd probably be earousinC 10 the streets." The Mark's UIce california and plan to make their per~ home here. We wish them lbe best r1lucI<. Very successful ...""..... III ... h.1 Cult; TilllMarit sits onbisHarl.y·Dmdsoa*acsW. 6~ I ~.. MIKE BURKE Motorcycle Specia1ties 1'5118 R.,_ 51. Vu Nuys. ~I. 91-406 TelepboAe (213) 780-(l779 DESERT SET UP SCRAMBLES ''''''25" lIt'QtC"n • Walt Axthelm's Triumph-Suzuki Motors 1049 West 511l St., Perno•• , c.JIf. C7I41629-8642 -- -- ...........- ,- - -- _. -"'. - ..-,_. -'-- ....... ...... . ...- . ... ...... A'AIiAllf AT niESf DEALEtS D,....,..C.. --. 0....... "'..-<-. .. -,-.. tAu,... e-CtltCloc" C_(I" ~ ....e - · l SWee'$takre$ 1st Cit Wheat - , -_ . ...• ...-crrto ~ w\..... _ _ .s..L"Crc:_ ... _..._c,ete ,,..,.'1'-- ,-- 0.... """ ... . ,---" ..... _c"' "_CJoc" ,,- .....,.s..&. ate,", t_c,c:1o -,,~ J,Ma .-..-...·c c,.". Cl..... ~ .. " ._~.,. -'k"''' ... '..Iullo .- .. ........ c,..,... ~.·ce- ~e-r ".-..e IM o _ .... 1 ,.-..1_.. , , - "'n.. _e-c..,' Cl....... 1_ _ •• 1,\'111_ _ -.,. , ~ _ _ C...10 _ -- ,- .- ''-- ....... -- ._- -- .,. -- _.- -- --- -- - -- _.- - - - _.- .... .. - -.. _ ...... ,,..... ....- ..... ...- -..._. ~'''·'.'C Maico ,. -- .......- -- -. --- .... -- -........ --- __ - ..... ...... ,.--_ --- - -- .... ',-- - - -.- .... . ~ May 4, 1969 Open Expert Class 1st CoH. Wheat - Mai co 360tc 2nd Mike PoSey - Triumph 650cc 3rd Vince GTaves - Suzuki 250cc 4th Ray NidlOl s - Mai co 360cc _ _ ~Io ,...._.c:,.... ,. ........,s-- Perris TT -- "'0_ C -~ • ....,.cru. ~c*. __ 0.'_ s. SpKi.lizecl Tri .... h - HODda Rep,;rs • C'uslom RxinC. Encines M.cIIine 'Worlt • IMeli sse 'Kils Cyl. BoriaC • Head Portinc I 2 Pentons only . ". ,S & • IS 110 , SPECTATOR LIABILITY AND PARTI· CIPANT INSURANCE FOR TRACK OWNERS, PROMOTERS AND CLUBS ~ BUSINESS PACKAGES- MOTORCYCLE & AUTOMOBILE - LIFE & ACClDEN1. HARRIS· POlSKY OF MICHAEL BENDER ~ ASSOCIATES, INC. 5225 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD• .5Iol .. 717 LA., C.IIf.!IOO36 (a3) m-2Gll BROKER INQUIRIES INVITED. 11 PENTON ...".O.WII_'I"c. O_'C"C~. ,..1"". ........... $ ........... 'c I~'''''. ,........,"1.. L_ _ Crc_ LJL'l:tl.1I .. ~ ..- _ _••"Co- e..-tI.cyeIH L.'.*!C ~ ,' ..'tl_tt~ ~-'-"' "_,'.c,,,. .,-'-',.- "'.i.c,c" ~- "..... ..- ~ ....-c,....'..... 0-" T. .••• C ......... ....1ll

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