Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

· S? ~ :O:Winter Touring 2 liles High ~f~: o 4f~~,.'Jr 'I"lA ~ By Darryl Skra.bak ~ »"n..w She had reason to be. There was sleet in Kansas, and riding into Denver was so cold we were stopping every tew m1les in gas stations and grocery stores and even just the side of the freeway to warm UP. "You're crazy," Judy said tcJJy. When we 'arrived at our place to stay in Denver, Judy ran into the house, PQUl'ed berselt a tub of hot water, jumPed in and didn't come out until after dark. "Listen to them," Judy implored. She 'Ibis is about Colorado, a mild state with high places. All across the country as we rode our Honda from the east, people warned us away trom Colorado. They warned us in places llke 1nd1ana, Missouri and Kansas. Their teeth clenched from the cold of their own states, they shook their heads when they learned we were headed tor the Roc:ldes. ~ . wanted to reach Calltornta by a more "Like the report says, there's l1kely to be snow in spots, but that's an." "Can a motorcycle make it over the passes?" I asked. "Well, I've seen them ride on a snowpack," he replied. "Of course, they go pretty slow, but they make it. You have to assess your own capabtUties tor tee ridingo" The answer wasn't DO, I 1ntormed Judy, but it wasn·t an unquaJUted yes, either. I decided to call the weatherman the next morning. The weatherman predicted temperatures in the 70s tor Denver. How i.bout the passes? "Oh, it ought to be uP in the 50s uP there," he replied. "Let's get packed," I called to Judy. The weatherman was right. Our ride through Colorado was the warmest tra- ' veUng we'd done tor more than a week. And it was, as I had hoped, a beautttul ride. The snow was lovely on the moun- southerly route. But I was heading tor San Francisco, and it was shorter to go through Colorado. Besides, I wanted to ~ the h1gh passes in wiDterttme. "We'll watt in Denver tor a warm day," I pr0m.U!ed Judy. "It wtll be a beautiful ride 0" "Humpt," she replied. Judy was frankly disgusted with me. . When a 10111 molorcyc Ie jO".J run. Into winter and you .e a lone way Iroll home It ...... that tho.. mte line .Icn. ju.t don't co by lui enouch. The next day was warmer. But wh11e I worked on the motorcycle, Judy was berating me about the roads ahead. " You saw what it said in the paper," sbe said. "'Snow-packed and icy 1D A roury .now plow blow. a path lor bike riders (and driver. fA war..er vehlclu) on one 01 Colorado'. hlp mountain pa..... spots.' We can't go over that. We'll tall down." At last I agreed to call the state poltee to check on road conditions before we lett. Judy relented, sure that the pollce would recommend agaInst motorcycles on snow-packed roads. and we would have to take a southern route after all. But the patrolman I called had a dttterent story: "Snow-packed and icy in spots means the roads are almost all clear," be said. Kansa. may well be the "Home 01 Bullli. lui Women' but If they all wore cold wea· ther motorcycle clathu like Judy. one could hardly tell. ta1ns, and roads were completely clear. That day. in the first week of November, we rode 400 miles, all the way through Colorado and into Utah. Amidst the ice and snow of an early wiDter, that is a long way. Wet Las Vegas Motocross Biggest Of The Year By Yvonne WW1ams LAS VEGAS, NEV. Nov. 16, 1969-Desptte threatening sides the Vegas Valley M,C. spent saturday grading, hanging flags and preparing the course tor their biggest motocross of the year. The heavens opened saturday night and the club members went home not knowIng what to expect the nen morning. What they should have expected were lots and lots of motorcycle racers. The riders came trom all over including Arizona and Southern Calltornta. The racers tound a lot of mud during practice but they all came ott the wet course ready tor the races to begin. The 250 Expert class was won by Bill H1ll on his Greaves. Bill really rode a hard race and it there bad been a racer of the day award, Bill certa1n1y would have won it. B1lly W1ll1ams. Lightweight #1, bad to settle tor a second place on his Bultaco. Steve Shaw won first place on his C- Z in the 500 Novice class and that was his last ride as a Novice. Next week, he gets to ride with the Amateurs and EllpI!rts. James Johnson, Husky, took second place. The 500 Amateur and EllpI!rt classes were run together. Tom Scales took first honors on his Husky and Robert Lea took second place, also on a Husky. 500 EllpI!rt class was won by Max Switzer on a Husky and Terry Griebel won second on his Greaves. In the 250 Novice, Heat B, Peter Buck graduated trom his 125 to a 250 Mateo. Peter really rode a beautttul race and won first place. Pat Friel. Mateo, took second. The 250 Amateur and EllpI!rt classes also rode together. Mike Drews won the 250 Amateur class, on his C-Z with Dennis Benson on a Yamaha taIdng second. The 125 Novice Heat B, was the next class to get on the grid. 'Ibi,s race was wbn by Floyd Widener trom Albambra, Calltornta, on his trusty Yamaha. Tommy Ehrenberg, on a Penton gave h1m a good run. Casey Folks won the 125 AmateurEllpI!rt race agaIn. Dan Statlander rode his Yamaha tor a second. Bob Shruley, Greaves, won the 250 Novice, Heat A. 'Ibis guy can really get his bike moving and he probably won·t be a Novice tor long. John Damico was really riding his C- Z and wound uP with second tor the day. In the 100 Novice class, Jobn Grosso took his tirst wiD tor the year on his Hodaka. Norman Kauke took second on a Honda after a hard ride. The next race was the 125 Novices, Heat A. Walt Davis, on his hot llttle sachs took the wiD tor the day in that event with Kenny Joseph on his Yamaha going tor the second place bonors. (Results on page 21) Bill WI Ilia.... local Wcht Weicht number one and ..cond placer In the recent Vep. ValleJ 1I0tocro•• ph rl&hl down to the real nltty-erltlJ and u... hi. front fender for a chin rut. ~;.., .... U

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