Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125638
885 Riders At Jackass National Enduro In the low 'angle Ught of the early desert sun a wave of sU riders walts for their given start time. The course of the Jackass National Enduro was a minor history lesson in 1tself. R1ders followed trails used by the 20 mUe teams of Death Valley fame anct' the noon time stop was at Ballarat, old boom town that dried up after the sUver rush. an Story and Photos by Leonard E. S1pe RED MOUNTAIN, CAL., oct. 5 - The of the 124-mile second and last loop was rugged California desert - including part especially dlfficult because of so much of Death Valley - was' the scene of the tramc. 150-mUe Jackass Enduro, capably WeMost riders considered the course seated by the FootbUl Hawks of Montesuitably marked. There were ribbon, bello, California. The run began at lime, and signs all over to show the way. Chuck's Wagon Wheel, a camping oasis A total of 19 speed changes were indi14 mUes north of Red Moun1a1n. cated, with 14 secret checks set UP. St:art1ng at 7 a.m. SUIldII1 morning, (one check point, number "E", was 885 riders took off 1n ~ of six to dftc1ally thrown out. It had been mlsftght choking dust, alkall Itis, treachertakenly set up one mUe too soon.) ous washouts and hlke-", lrI ng rocks. Only an estimated 30 percent of the The first loop, 26 mUes ]oog, and part starters were able to check in at the Most riders considered the course well marked and the traJl1ed througb narrow rock canyons and across dry lake beds. Although the designated speed on some of the roadS was 36 MPH, riders that were beb1nd hit up to 80 MPH trying to make up precious seconds. IIEW HIGH FENDERS Deslped for Unc_ed Fork La,s. S14.00 Sliv. 1Ieta"lake Colors$l5•• #c·ll43 Application too n....rous to list. Send for colllplete details pius a~ plication list. FIlId. Is 5 Inches wide and 33 lIIelles Ion&. seats Tanks Olltanks AIrCI• •,. Fend.s f1nal point back at the pit area. Key time for the tln1sh was 2: 15 p.m. The 26-mUe first loop, laid out close to camp because of the. many anticipated breakdowns of Novice riders, was almost all cross-country. Riders went over hllls, through tricky canyons, over volcan1c rocks and into b1ind1ng dust. At one point, the course reached an altitilde of 4500 feet. Then riders picked up a traJl back to the pits for an optional f1Te minute gas break. The second loop began with a 16mile road. Designated speed here was 36 mph, but many late riders were hitting it at 75- 80 mph. It was sUck with countless hoOP-de-do's. The course then passed through parts of Searles Dry Lake with its luner-like landscape. R1ders encountered large beds of talc, salt, potash, and foulsmelling sulfur• At the Trona Alrpori gas check, riders began th1nn1ng out cons1derably. Those still runnlng went on to encounter jagged slate rocks, alkall and narrow, deep canyons where it was lmposslhie to pass a slow or stalled rider. At the lower P1nnacle Mountains, the altitude reached 6500 feet, causing many two- stroke engines to load up badly. More canyons and rocks, and then riders came to Ballarat for a 27 minute noon check. B81larat is an oid boom town that was established circa 1896. At one time, before the mines dried UP, it had a population of 30,000. From Ballarat, riders headed north over a fire road to the edge of Death Valley. Then they swung south and took The Wagon Road, once utwzed by 20mule team wagons to haul borax and talc from the mines to Trona. (Back then, the fifty-mile trlp took three days to complete.) There were also deep sandwashes that, if not taken at suffJc1ent speed, would sink a rider's machine. Then into Trona Airport again for more gas. Through mountains, a traJlparalleling the Trona Railway tracks, pockets of talcum, a rough road to the finish check and the' umque California National Enduro was run. (Results when avallahle) Flbor,.ass Splclalltln Clark IIf&. Co. Rt.1 Box 576 !lull.... Or•• 97042 (503) 129·2156 CATALOGS AVAILABLE IIEWe-etltloa T..ks aad SUts for Yamaha Dt.1 mounts as stock u.s ..II stock flltll's. T_s-S30.IO seats -$24.10 SII_ IIeta"lalle' Low FIIIIder for Covered Fork La,s $12.50 Sliver lletalfla. $13.50 eo.... Ie·1141 Ribbed F.... for 101 to 175cc modIls. will fit lip to 300xU to 21 tire.. #c·1I41 Plain Fender for liSA. Trlulllph, llatchllu, Narlon, will fit up to 300xU III 21 tire.. H.II,. All fenders are made of permanently flexible i&lphalic resins that will out last rigid fiberglass, aluminum, most steel fenders. Colors avaita~e Red, Blue, Green, Yellow or Orange. Parts of the eDduro course reached elevatloas at 6500 feet caustng real problems for riders that didn't bring lean jets for their two strokes.