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/125684
BIG BEAR RUN LOST IN SMOG Story & Photos by Robert O. Fee • IDG BEAR, CALIF. - 470 road riding motorcycl1sts from central and southern California groped their way through the thick cloud of choking smog to Big Bear Lake, June llinhopesoferijoyingabreath of fresh air with their weekend of fun on two wheels. Unbeknownst to them, they were participating In the last of a ten year series of tours to the mountain resort. Some won't mind because, when they arrived at the lake It was covered with a layer of smog. "There goes this neighborhood," one rider wistfully commented. . Reporting to the Good Luck Campground sign-in near Fa w n ski n, the cycl1sts found their traditional grounds posted: NO MOTORCYCLES ALLOWED. "The Health Department set a l1m1t," the camp manager lamely explained to the Toppers Motorcycle Club just three weelCS before th tour date and after all the publ1clty had been released. So the riders set out searching for the alternate campgrounds secured from the Forestry Service (and very grudgingly allowed) and the Summ1t1nn. Members of the Toppers, who promoted the rally, had to use every persuasion and quite a few greenbacks to secure the sleeping sites. The grounds were so poor that many riders chose to return home Saturday night or seek a motel. With all the dtfftcultles,lt was still an enjoyable run. Saturday afternoon was consumed by the best dressed competition at Meadow Park followed by the dinner that was uP to Its usual magniflcence. Hot fried chicken along with several salads accompanied by rolls, coffee, punch and Iced tea. Trophies for the dress competition followed and then the Toppers broke out the welners for a do-it-yourself roasting party. An amazing number of riders, chicken-stuffed only two hours earl1er, gobbled hot dogs. An early Sunday morning breakfast was free for the entrants and was served at the Big Bear City Fire Station. The Women's club of that communtty served uP pancakes with coffee and milk. For the non-entrants, the cost was fifty cents. Returning to Meadow Park In Big Bear the riders engaged In the field events. ThIs year It was clear and sunny with a firm field. Last year the field was a rain . soaked quagmire. By eleven the Toppers Bingol This cyclist gets a bike with a bit of mustard - on the whiskers • enthusiasm of the Chamber of Commerce using the most charitable terms, has been mintmal." The basic problem Is the population explosion. The normal weekend visitors ftll the area to capactty and overload all the disposal systems with their waste. The area: can no longer handle an organIzed grouP of any size. The reasons don't make much difference. Besides, at the rate the smog Is Increasing, the riders wouldn't be able to find Big Bear. Bai'e, MX Selloo' . Len Collins attempts to kick the ball between the boxes in the hockey event. Write ~our·own Valerian's ad. Win So buells. were gtv!ni' the gold and soon after, the riders headed down the mountain Into the heavy smog bank. An 11th Big Bear Tour next year? "Not 11kely," repl1ed Andy Blanco of the Toppers. "The campground problem has been extremely frustrating and the PIPES BY BOB BAILEV C,AH:lt .",."'l.. -.~~;;,\ CALI~Ok"""", (imichrome .~_-/$IIlaes SUd_I, : JJt ~ ~ltCII"S quIck as a bullflJ • • II . ------------------------------(Your headUne goes here.) Here's all you do: 1. Write a Valerian's headline in the space provided above. 2. Bring it to Valerian's Two Cycle City Ltd. on or before Monday, August 17,1970. 3. Best headline wins a $50.00 Valerian's Gift Certificate. 4. In case of duplicate winning entries, ties will be awarded. 5. Winning ad will appear sometime soon in Cycle News. ~ w~ ~~~.~~~,~,~~~:"~t... Los Angeles, California 90064 - Telephone: (213) 475-4541 Sales - Service - Accessories - Parts - Rivetts Champion Leathers HUSOVARNA' JAWAlCZ' SUZUKI' PENTON· MZ, MONTESA' ZUNDAPP, MINI-TRAILS open monday through saturday SImi dlro... I s a 1I0ney OIiPEnnON Tubl Sl CH EMI CALS Can 53.45 Mi'eo B,"aeo 'e specialize in onl, IIIllIeo 1241•• QraDgetIIIqIe, lII..a Park (14) 522-6111 713 Estos St.... Iowa Falls, leMa 5012& J.1f 1970 ',".r••e"" 'S H.r.I••, YAM,AHAS Parts-Service & Access. GENE H. MYERS YAMAHA 4151 Roelando Buell Blvd., Lawndall, Ca CI.,a\tl To ride motocros's Is' one thing, but to teach Its techniques In one day Is something else. Gary BaIley does both very well. "It's rough," says Batley, who has been teaching motocross since March; "I've got to pack 12 years of experience Into one short day." It may be rough, but from the comments of some of his puPils, Gary seems to manage It. Classes begin at 9 a.m. sharp on Saturdays and the tall EJiPert goes through jumps, starts, sand riding, turns and a mass of other actions Involved with the sport while an average grouP of 20 students watch, and later try. BaIley makes l1ttle money out of the Job, despite what the $15 fee would lead one to belleve. Most of It Is spent on travel1ng expenses and Batley has traveled throughout the United States In .the past live months. HIs main purpose Is to promote motocross. ThIs Saturday, he wtll be teaching a class at Carlsbad. The following week Gary wtll be In McMtnnvtlle, Oregon (Aug. 15) J2l3lli4z..4041-' Ifor/Ck Penton - Hodaka Yamaha - GSA Husqvarna Norton 1223 AVI. I Lancaster (.05) 942·9&24 KAWASAKI - BSA IIAICO·IIOTO·GUZZI·DUCATI·SACHS SALES - SERVICE - PARTS Action Cycle 712 Yorktown AVI", Hunllncton (714 530-3223 DUNSTALL Special Equipment Send $1.00 for catalog B ... Tillman's e, SPOIT CIITEI 6021 WIIitti er Blvd. E. Los Angeles, Cal. (m) 123-3523 ~ USED ~ ~ . .... ~~ ~ ~ ~(, ~aeh PARTS ALL MAKES 40%to SCRAMBLER 60% MOTORCYCLES' 1101 W. Burbank Blvd. IIurllank, Calif. 14"5907 or .45-1731 Ea.•7 off •