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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125655
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Showdown At Castaic Corral
,
By Sylvia Mulconery
Ell:
There was a showdown at the Castaic
Corral Sunday. The old West met the new
r.J West and after the dust had cleared the
body on the ground was astride a motor~ cycle.
U
The Castaic Saddle Club was challenged by the Viewfinder Motorcycle Club
in an alf-day event which pitted horse .
and rider against bike and rider. The 7
competitive classes were taken straight
from the rule book of the American Horse
Show Association.
Bike rider Ernie Alexander charged
down the center of the 300 foot arena In
the first event. Keyhole. The object was
to enter the 20-foot diameter keyhole
through a 4 x 10-foot neck turn around
and come back out, then travel 50 feet
across the finish line In order to break
the beam of the electronic timer in the
shortest time. The Keyhole was outlined
with lime; if horse or bike touched lfme,
It was disqualified. To qualify what happened in this event, It must first be
stated that bike riders are accustomed
to looking for lime. not avoiding Itl
Photo by Rick Hernandez
Of the first five motorcycles to try
AlthouCh Ieadlnc briefly here, this blka soon Joined th. others which lo.t a field ....tto hor.... Just walt till they chall.nc. u. to a motocross!
Keyhole, Randy Whittaker'S time of 9.03
seconds on a Montesa looked good. Then
Bill Golhy forgot to turn his gas on and
only 8 horses with qua1ifYlng times.
silent bike pits. "Unfair." muttered a
the first horse and rider tried it. Bernice
stalled his bike halfway through the poles• .
Just when the bikers thoughtlt couldn't
horse rider. "It was a full Yamaha
Kallen on a big bay gelding. touched lime
time, 27.12. Mike Dobblns stalled his
get any worse. rain started to fallon the
against a quarter horse."
- disqualified - looking great for the
already wet ring. bringing visions of
engine on the start. tried again a second
bikesl Second horse and rider .••8.85
time with his headlight on all the way.
knobbies floating through their heads. It
Quadrangle Stakes was the most comseconds? Must be super-fastl Third
11 didn't help and he took 15.07. I.W.
was time for Polebendlng. where 60 foot
plicated event. Four poles are set uP to
horse, 8.29 seconds. fourth horse. 8.93
Sweet did a get-off at the last pole and
poles are set in a straight line at2l foot
form a square about 3/4 the size of the
seconds, fifth horse 8.12 seconds. Uh
Thelma Allen, who had lnltlally been
Intervals. A rider must break the timing
ring. Two more poles are set 15 feet
oh, the bikes are In bad trouble and it
wearlng white pants. crashed In the muck
light as he reaches the first pole. weave
apart In the center of the square. The
only got worse.
for a grand total of 44.58 seconds. The
through each pole. turn and repeat the
rlder must criss-cross the square twice
Mike Dobbins on a Yamaha had to have
pattern coming back. Ernie Alexander
first motorcycle was 8th overall Dick
In opposite directions each time circling
the slowest time of the day - 19.11 secAllen, then 10th overall Ray Graeber.
led off the bikes. It was a hairy ride with
a different pole and crossing his own
onds. He crashed In the Keyhole and then
legs flying and the bike twisting from
13.74 seconds.
tracks.
wheelled all the way out causing the ring
one pole to the next.
The most exciting event of the day was
announcer to comment, "Never saw a
The bikes were disqualified for forBill Leggett on a Yamaha caused a
the .. Motorcyclist's Revenge", a flathorse buck like that."
getting the course, and Gayland Terry
spectator to remark. "Looks like a drunk
out race between Dick Allen on a Yamaha
Of the next six horses. the best time
fell in 6 inches of pure mud or somesailor". Dick Allen. showed the way to
and Thelma Harbison on a bay quarter
went to first overall winner. Charlie
thing. Lloyd Power's horse completed
ride this event by maintaining as straight
horse. Allen putted forward and right
Webb, with 7.61 seconds. Diane Gautier
the maze In 20.38 seconds. Dick Allen
a line as possible while weaving the
beside him trotted the big quarter horse,
on a sorrel quarter horse was second
on a 175 Yamaha finished In 25.36 secpoles and then topped the whole thing off
unruffled by the allen bike: The flag
overall winner with a time of 7.94 - with a big wheelie and best bike time
onds for first bike ·and 8th overall.
dropped, Mrs. Harbison spurred the
seconds.
The final insult of the day was Cloverof 12.85 seconds.
horse In a giant leap forward with Dick
As the day progressed. the bike riders
leaf Barrels. where three metal barrels
After the first seven motorcycles
Allen smoothly accelerating right alongwere more spooked by the horses than
are placed In a large triangle about 120
competed, a tractor was brought into the
the horses were frightened by the motorside. They reached the end of the Nng,
feet apart. The rider must make a 360
ring to grade It for the horses. It broke
cycles. Third, fourth and fifth overall
U-turn. the horse causing gasps as the
degree turn around each barrel each
down. There was no luck for anything
were, needless to say, all horses. Down
rlders' stirruP almost touched ground on
time crossing his own path. Lloyd Powers
with an engine this day.
around ninth overall, you found Randy
the turn. As they race toward the finish
was again first overall with ·19.22. The
Of the 16 horse competing in Poleline, 1I's Allen by a spoke. then Allen by
Whittaker, followed by tenth, Dick Allen
best bike was Ray Graeber with a time
bending, eight had times under 12 secon a 175 Yamaha with 9.36 seconds.
a gas tank, and as they cross the flnlsh.
of 25.01. No one was surprised when the
onds. Overall winner was horseman Bob
Ninth overall doesn't sound bad to a
Dick Allen wins by two fendersl A rous. Hi-Polnt Trophy of the day went to
Lange, 10.71 seconds.
desert rider, but of course. there were
Ing cheer goes uP from the formerly
horseman Lloyd Power.
The bikes were getting rattled.
r.J
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t3
Earl Barker Captures District 38 TT ' Season's Opener
.
Ray Vanderpool (551) trle. the In.ld. Croo.. to pall Earl Bark.r but doesn't make It. Bark.r
won th. HI Bools TT on a Triumph.
N.II Han.y
of
Lomita
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