Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Gerber Flies in Firebird 100 Story by Larry Knop Photos by Paul Gourley JERICHO, UTAH, Sept. 27, 1970 The Great Hare and Hound in the Sky is alive and well in the Utah desert. The Firebirds MC Club of Eureka held their ftrst annual Firebird 100 Sunday, and it was about the closest thing to a desert rider's heaven that can be found on this old earth. The Utah dl'sert around Jericho is a great riding land, and the Firebirds took advantage of everything the country had to offer. The course was 100 miles long, with three loops fanning out like a clover leaf. The first loop was sand. There were also hills and cedars and sage and a long, flat, grassy start, but primarily there was sand - nasty, power-sucking sand. The second loop was rocks and forests and mountains. There was all types of terrain actually, including a super-neat gravel creekbed with beautiful banks and a short section of' road where you could wind it out in top gear and wish you had two more. But it was the rocks and cedars and the mountains which were featured on this loop. There was one nasty hill that particularly stands out. It was long and steep, with loose rocks and looser dirt, and dotted with trees so a straight run up it was impossible. Even at the end of the day it was still climbable, but only with great difficulty. The third loop was a combination of the ftrst two, with rocks and trees and mountains and sand, and a few added attractions such as a small creek. It"was a fitting climax. Great riding country is not enough to make a great Hare and Hound however, and the Firebirds' race was a great one. Early in their preparations the Firebirds decided they weren't interested in seeing how many bikes they could break nor how many riders they could get hurt. They wanted a RACE, and that's how they set up the course. There were hard sections to challenge all of your ability and endurance, followed by easier sections where you could recuperate a little. None of the course was impossible, even ror the small bike riders. After the course was set, it was marked. The Firebirds used sixty (60) rolls of surveyor's ribbon. It figured out to roughly one very visible marker every To~ten Hallman Racing, Inc. West Coast Dlst. lor PENTON Motorcycles the end of the day however, Christiansen had to settle for the second place trophy in the Open Class. Ite, in tum, was pushed by Don Fuller, and it took some hard effort to make Fuller settle for third place in the Open Class and also third overall. All of the riders who finished the race received a neat little finisher's trophy, and even the riders who didn't fmish had a chance at a prize in the drawing after the race for merchandise donated by many of the area IW::.:h::er=-=e_y,-o=-u::...:c::o:.:ul=d~r:.:e:::la=x::....:W1:..:·:.:th::.....:c:.:o::.n:.:fi.::ld::e::n::c:.:e~_m=o:..:t::o.:.rc::.:y~c=l::e.:s:::h~ops.was told before the I and just ride for all you were worth. Needless to say, on su~h a riders' course, the racing was fast and furious. To the surprise of almost no one however, the ltrst rider in on each of the three loops was local favorite, Preston Gerber. Number 1 in the Open Class and number 1 Overall. As a reward for his day's efforts, Preston took home the four-foot-tall Firebirds Traveling Troph y, and a brand new Sachs trail bike. Not bad for a few hours effort, but he definitely didn't have an easy time of it. Gene Christiansen, in particular, pushed Gerber hard. At the end of the first loop, while Gerber was the first rider in, Christiansen was the ltrst rider out on the second loop. At ' • '._ Torsten Hallman speelal design leathers & raelng equipment U.S. DI st. lar Trellebarg Moto~ross tires For dealer Info. write ar call 5345 Tlmken St., La "esa, Cal. 92041 C1(4) 460-1402 '20 feet around the entire course. It was possible to get lost, but then some people can get lost _ going to the bathroom. In addition to the ribbon, pie plates were used to mark sharp changes in direction and danger spots, and members of the club were detailed to guard the road crossings. Danger spots were particularly well done, as the club marked not only the obvious spots, but also the places you hardly notice at 20 mph but which iP.stantly separate rider and bike at 50 mph. It was a course ~e py "(imi'chrome '~'~"/$IIlnes SUddenly :J~rr Slmlchrome is a honey liP Cle .. S qulek 1/ IS a bunny OMPEnnON Tube 51 CHEMICALS Can 53.45 , 713 Est.. Street Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126 Send For CUSTOM MADE race that the Firebirds were hoping for !>O% finishers, and even here expectations were exceeded, as 184 riders started and an even 100 riders finished. It was a great race. There were even several scenic viewpoints on the course, if you cared to stop and apprec,iate the scenery. There was cold drinking water W ...J tJ >tJ at every checkpoint even for the tail-enders. It wasn't perfect - the start was about forty minutes late, and the 3rd place 1 75cc class trophy was almost given to an Open Class rider - but it was almost perfect. If you missed it, kick yourself and start planning for next year's race. (Results on page 22) Final Race of the Season list Chalce to See the Stars il Action It Ascot Park KEN MAELY6S. I", tilt M'" wII, Ulurr NIt! 529.95 Plus C.O.D. & Postage Send lraeln& of boot for perfeet fit Z PICIFIC COAST CBA.PIOISBIP Skid ShOe the shoeman ~' Route 2, Box 758, { Corona, Calif. • u o ~ w Special Double Header SAT. OCT. 10 T.T. The fast Suzulcis and the fast Kawasalcis use ••. " " malces Yamahas go better tool n~Ald~aJd" ~I power booster really worlcs I'I'E~~'~UPERfILM. The same Big Names will be on hand-plul Ace T.T. SUin like Eddie Mulder and Duny Cop~. see th' liars on the tight, twisty T.T. course and OVlr tht famous Alcot Jump. See .11 tne ltan on tht Fimed Ascot O..,.-with the New Nillional Number One. Gene Romero, trVlng to put it ovef the Ascot reg....lars. TRIPPE, COX ASSOClAlB PRODUCTIOII all V~mollt ar rl~ J/IIN',IO" of rile Sail DIf!90 amI HarlKu Fff!}t!WiJYS'" GMrlf!",l C.lll' PLENTY OF SEATS P_ (213) 321-1610 PLENTY OF PARKING HARBOR FWV

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