Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Willie the Clown rode througb the crowd with a bull horn and announced that there would be another Ace of Clubs exhibition and everyone momentarily fort ook the jUdging arena to go watcb the spectacular show. Back at the bike beauty contest we observed many types of motorcycles, club uniforms, couples dressed alike and nattily dressed solos all boping for one of the more than 150 trophies being offered by the Terrapins M.C. There were old motorcycles and old riders and new bikes and first year ridersallbomogenized into a happy throng. One rider, Mr. Glenn L. Orr of San Diego stood closely by his "Mint" 1936 lodian 74" whicb he had spent a year and a half restoring, and feeling almostcerlain that be would carry borne the trophy for the oldest machine. A young man on a BMW with higbbopes for the Long Distance rider prize was Bill Vining from Sandia Base Army Hospital in AlbuQuerque, New Mexico but he had beard that there was another rider from Chicago. Bill won the long distance award at the Las Vegas tour just last montb. II was called lhe most massive parade 01 lis' Iyp.. By Bill Harmer HEMET, CALIF. June 1~15 - The Terrapins Motorcycle club of San Diego, California hosted some 1100 motorcycle enthusiasts this weekend as they presented their second annual Cycle Tour at the Farmer's Fairground. President Gabe Palmer had his signin crew on duty Friday evening to take care of the early arrivals who pltcbed their camps inside the fairgrounds and enjoyed an evening of socializing. There was a crowd. Terrapins cbef Bob Ward started early preparing bundreds of pounds of fried chicken, cole slaw, masbed potatoes and all other extras that go with feeding sucb a big mob. 79-year-old Hettie Mllchell rode behind her son, AI Williams lrom Hunllnllon Palk, Cal. At 1: 30 p.m. the Hemet Police Dept. rerouted traffic around the main section of town and the Ace of Clubs drill team gave an exhibition of their precision motorcycle drills. They led off the most spectacular motorcycle parade that this writer has ever had the good fortune to observe .Cycles filled the streetfrom curb to curb and beld close formation as far as the eye could see, sucb was the overwhelming number of gleaming machines and glittering riders. The parade concluded at the ,lairgrounds where the riders had arranged their camps througbout the acres of beautiful tree shaded lawns. Hundreds of the most beautiful and interesting machines "Were lined up in groups of their individual classes with proud owners polishing last minute smudges off their bikes. Maybe S..dra H..ry brou&hllhls monklY alone to start her chopper? Perhaps the most startling rider to arrive was Sandra Henry of Fallbrook, Calif. who roar~into camponbercbopper with a live monkey, dressed in white leathers and belmet, hanging onto the sissy bar and cbewing a wad of gum. It is worth going to a motorcycle rally, just to see what Sandy is going to come up with next. Perhaps a cinch to capture the Irophy for the oldest passenger was Hettie Mitcbell of Huntington Park wbo will be 80 years old in November. She rides with her son Al Reynolds and they are active members of The Originals M.C. of Bell Gardens. One couple who looked like they might have a chance to win a prize were George and Wilma Streeter of Lancaster. Not only were they dressed alike but they rode identical blue and white 350Cc Sport Yamahas, marked "His" and Hhers" • •• o I C1IECk 1IIE RACER DISCOUNT PLAN AT D.C-C. .. ~~""~~~~~,,~ 714-531-9984 And then there was 65-year-old "Pop" Sponsler of Ontario, Calif. who had ambitions of carrying off the oldest rider trophy but was fearful that the same 74 year old rider who beat him out at Las Vegas would also be at Hemet. Don White of Dana Point, Calif. was lovingly rubbing the highiy waxed surface of his customized red and white metalflake Harley 74". The red and white diamond tufted vinyl and velvet saddle was spotless and the chrome glistened like jewels in the afternoon sunshine but he was not hopeful about his chances as there were many other classy bikes on the line. The huge Tri-City M.C., nattily uniformed, were arranging themselves in their best formation with high hopes of winning the best dressed club award but nearby the sharply uniformed Singing Wheels M.C. of San Diego was busy with a similar thought in their collective heads. The Mary's Men M.C. of San Diego also were outstanding in their two-tone blue outfits and were standing 10 contention. Chuck and Becky Byers and their young son, Eric, looked very sharp in their matching Pacific Coasters M.C. uniforms and their friends were trying to talk them into entering the family group judging but with no success. To know how good a judge your reporter was you'll have to check the official results on page 20, but regardless of who carried borne the chromed pot metal, everyone rode home from the Terrapins second Annual Hemet Cycle Tour a winner. They had won new friends and renewed former ones. (Results on page 20)

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