Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

M PONDEROSA: .... 0> They've Got a Good Thing Going By David Swift LANCASTER, CAL., Jan. 16 & 17, 1971 Ponderosa Recreation and Picnic Grounds, located 15 miles east of Lancaster, has several nice things going for it. It has a bar where the beer is cold, ~ restaruant where you can get a good burger with fries for less than a dollar, and a backyard that is wide-open desert. Since 1965 the Greyhounds M.C. has hosted a monthly Hare Scrambles here and in the process has delivered truckloads of trophies. Although the Ponderosa Hare Scrambles doesn't draw the district's top name Experts, the competition is still there - and everv.body has a good time. Attendanee Marlc Set by Knievel HOUSTON, TEX., Jan. 15 & 16, - A standing room only crowd of over 47,000 watched Eve! Knievel leap his Harley-Davidson over 13 cars on Saturday'night at the Astrodome. Over 37,000 paid attendance saw Knievel attempt the same jump Friday when, Evel confessed, "I didn't quite make it. I hung on," the King of Stuntmen explained, "The safety ramp saved my neck." Knievel's performance was witnessed by the largest crowd in Astrodome history, more than saw Elvis Presley or the Dodgers. On January 27 and 28, Evel will try for a 19-car record at Ontario Speedway, and plans are moving ahead with Olympia Beer sponsorship for his Sanke River Canyon jump and motocross. Cycle News will bring readers the first look at Evel's new Skycycle in a forthcoming issue. CHILD'S McHAL HELMETS FROM New helmets in children's sizes are now available from McHal, including a full face coverage model for $59.50. The new hard hats were previewed at the Long Beach Motorcycle Show recently. MXSCHOOLS John DeSoto will hold motocross schools Saturday, Jan. 23, at Coalinga, Cal. and Saturday, Jan. 30 at Houston, Texas. Classes begin at 10 a.m. and cost $10. Info: (213) 438-8892, (713) 523-3741. , PNTAMEET The PNTA Annual Meeting will be held Jan. 23 at lhe Garden Club Field House in the center of Pioneer Park on the 900 block of East Alder Street. Walla Walla, Wash. at 1 p.m.; dinner al 6:30 p.m. for $2.50 per person. Oak Creek Oraws Crowd By Ken Beach MOJAVE, CAL., Jan. 17, 1971 - On a clear day you could see forever at Oak Creek Ranch. Actually the panoramic view is worth the drive out even if you didn't care to look over the hill and witness the demanding motocross course. The largest turnout yet at Oak Creek Ranch hosted 79 riders and 130 specators. The progralIl started with 125 Jrs. Ray Lopez and his Rickman took the gold followed by the Powder Puffs with Northern Calif. rider Kathy Hubbard winning all three motos. The 250 J rs. had some very close races. Steve Olliver (C-Z) was overall winner. The Open Sr.s really got it on. Bill Payne took top money with Bob Messer hot on his heels bringing in second. The fastest Open Jr. was. Steve Rauch (C-Z), earning a first overall. The 100 Juniors didn't go up the hill so fast but, like Volkswagen drivers, they made the time up coming down with Steve Haag winning. , A hotly contested 125 Sr. class leIt Wayne Garrett (Yam) as the top money maker. Having it out in the 250 Sr. class, Gary Jones' (Yam) throttle stuck going up the steep hill. Everyone thought he was doing a wheelie until he just kept slipping.- Another rider clipped Jones making for the only casualty for the day. A rare appearance was put in by Ron Nelson in the 250 Sr. on a Maico where he took third behind Jim O'Neil (C-Z) .and Bob Hershey. The excellent vantage point was so good, in fact, that some styed in their cars and could see 100% of the course. (Results on page 20) CUSTOM SEAT COVERS It's easy to make your worn-out seat look new again, with a sure fit custom replacement cover. Every cover custom made to order. Black only, $10.50 Plain Pressed Pleat 12.50 Sewn Diamond 18.00 Tuck and Roll 22.00 Order by make, year and modeJ. We pay postage. Money back guarantee. EXPRESS CYCLE AND SEAT CO. 5313 Li..... nois Detroit, Miclligan 48210 Michigan customers add 4% sales tax. I II HANDLES BETTER The Greyhounds have always trophied 40% of the entries. This gives the average weekend warrior, so often lost in a crowd of 600 brawling bikes, at least a sporting chance to win some gold for the mantle. Many customers of the Ponderosa are regulars. Races are held both Saturday and Sunday with camping on the grounds permitted. After the races people are free to k,ep riding. Signs aren't posted every rOo feet. Lots of families have good times out here. A good number of the machines are stock. No super-piped-and-poned wonder machines. They just bring out the Enduors and lift the lighting and POOF! there's Dad's desert racer. Others are th·e product of some pet project. The competition is warm, friendly. The stakes are trophies, Bardahl oil to the first eigh t in each class, and a McHal Apollo helmet to the high point novice of the weekend. (Nearly all the riders here are novices.) This Saturday, due to a new racing schedule, a piddling 41 riders entered. The Greyhounds went into a hole on this one. The top trailbiker was Don Eide. He left the start 'in second following Monte Lee ("Monte can always find the hard trails," said Eide.) Lee fouled a plug later in the race, falling back several positions. Eide took the win but Lee did a swell job rna king up time and carne in second. Out of the five 125s entered, Gerald Herrera was the fastest. On Saturday and Sunday both Tom Clodt and Jim Drake topped the Open class, which includes 250s. Clodt and Drake mixed it up for the 25-mile stint and Drake was aced at the finish line twice. J off Martin was the top 125er Sunday. Martin is a sergeant and mo torcycle patrolman for the Los Angeles PoJ!ce Deaprtrnent. Don Eide and Monte Lee hashed it out again only this time Lee's Hodaka behaved in a more respectable manner and the two dudes switched places, in the final results. The course consists of three laps over an '8.3-mile loop. It is rough with deep, powdery stu ff and an occasional hard trail. Plans for the fu ture include the rejuvenation of a barn adjacent to the bar-restaurant where dances may be held in the summer. Creedence Clearwater wouldn't sound better anywhere else. The next races will be Feb. 6 and 7. A Saturday would be a fine time to tune up for Sunday's point run elsewhere. You can pick up a trophy or two and you might learn how much fun desert competition can be. ~ w Z W ...J U > U

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