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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125751
'ear o.t a Hare Scrambles hy Boonie
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By Kent-Nichols
LAS VEGAS, NEV., Oct. 17, 1971
Mother Nature smiled on riders today,
and gave them perfect desert racing
weather including some clouds to
provide shade and temperatures in the
high 60's.
.
MINT TIME ALREADY
LAS VEGAS, NEV. - An improved
race course, optional production class,
drawing for positions and increased
prize money are among changes for the
5th Annual Del Webb Desert Rally Mint
"400" it was announced by Mint Hotel
and Casino general manager, Jess W.
Hinkle.
Hinkle stated that race director, Me.1
Larson has been working extensively
with local Bureau of Land Management
and Clark County officials to increase
the length of the desert course. It now
appears certain that some 17 miles will
be added that will'result in only six laps
- rather than eigh t as in the past ~
being required to complete the 400-mile
off-road race. Approximately six miles
of the added course will be high-speed
pavement, another six miles will be fast
graded roads and jeep trails, while the
remaining mileage is normal desert.
The March 19-21,1972 event will see
a boost. in guaranteed cash prize money
from the Min t Hotel to $56,000. This
will be awarded for cycles (bonuses to
250cc and under and also 125cc and
under), utility vehicles, single·seat and
double-seat dune buggy and special
off-road vehicles plus an optional class
for production cars and pjckups.
Larson
indicated
that
,rules,
regulations and entry forms Will be in
the mail bymid-November.OriDec.ia
special drawing will be held to
determine starting positions for all
entries received by that time. Entries
received after that time will receive the
next available starting number.
Entrants this year will also receive
two special racing jackets with their
confirmation of receipt of entry form
and check. In addition at time of
registration (March lS-19) each entry
will receive three Jim Beam Collector's
Mint "400" bottles for the years 19701
1971 and 1972.
. ..Entry
forms
an.;!. additional
information are available from Race
Director, Mint Hotel, Las Vega., Nevada
89101.
.
.
If Mom Nature did smile on riders,
Boonie Bounders M.C. didn't. Their
95-mile Hare Scrambles was one of the
roughest races held in this area in a long
time.
Just before the start, riders were
allowed to take a practice run to the
smoke bomb. After all the survivors
returned, a dead engine-on bike start
took place. About a mile and a half
after the smoke, the course went up a
high hill and right down the very steep
rocky other side, out onto a powerline
road. Just when riders beg"n to think
that Boonie Bounders weren't really all
that bad, the course went out into some
super·silty desert. After a mile of this,
the course became another powerline
road.
This one wasn't just a teaser and it
did give riders a chance to rest. The
course then made a righ t and went
straigh t up the side of a small mountain.
To make sure no one was asleep, Boonie
Bounders ran the course right along the
ridge of that mountain. Riders. then
went along what had to be the world's
largest off camber - the whole side of
the mountain.
The way back off the mountain
wasn't for the weak of heart, as it
consisted of a very steep, rocky and
long downhill with a tum at the bottom
which had to be made, because
over-shooting meant going off an 8 ft.
dropoff. Next was a mile long powerline
road to give riders a chance to wonder
what Boonie Bounders would come up
with next.
They came up with more hills and
several different flavors of sand washes
and desert. From check 3 on, th.e course
'went across cactus, rocks, sand, dirt,
wash-outs and all the other things that
make desert racinl( fun.
B.B.M.C. promised riders a surprise
after each lap. Were the riders sUl:prised
when they found that ,the course went
through a very nasty looking water
hole! Boonie Bounders figured that th,c:
course would take its toll, (and it did,
out of 106 starters, 41 finished) without
having people freezed to death from
being wet, so they lDlIJie it possible to
go around most of the water. After all
this, riders got to do it four more times
as each lap was 19 miles long.
When it was all