Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

second loop which turned out to be really fun. It's hard to make a loop fairly easy and keep it from getting boring but URA succeeded. I heard some very good comments from the 'riders about the second loop. The loop took off up the dirt road leading up. to the foothills above the Wagon Whee] Cafe, then turned cross-country for some interesting riding at a fast 24 MPH average. The course dropped down to a mining road which then led across the railroad tracks where the speed dropped to 18 MPH for the trip across the valley. Riding across the valley floor, you can see all the way to the hills on the opposite side. Since it was fairly flat, a lot of riders ignored the 18 MPH average figuring there couldn't be a check till the hills - which was a big mistake. About halfway across was a check hidden in a little depression and a lot of points were lost there. One of the checkers had a sign which said "How early are you, Sam?" for one of the riders. Sam fooled him, though, and zeroed the check. Taking off from the check across the valley, the course turned up into a neat windy sandwash which kept getting narrower and narrower. Just about the time it looked like there was no way out, it ended and we were fmally in the hills which are my favorite riding area. . . URA had scouted. out some new trails here and there Was a 10t of fun running up and down 'the canyons. After playing in the hills for a while, we hit another check (but on time) and soon thereafter found ourselves on the pipeline road at a fast 36 MPH average. , Now 36 MPH doesn't sound that fast until you try and average iL It was WFO time down the pipeline for about five miles until we hit the railroad tracks again. This time there wam't an easy road crossing to get us over. It was get your bike across any way you can. The mini-wheel desert '-tiel went ......ired to ride only the fint 32-mile loop. Most at them IllaIIlIlIIId it just fine. URA Family Enduro Some riders had it down pat and went righ t on over while others loet a lot of t!me and energy getting their bikes over. The average dropped to 24 MPH at this point but it wasn'~ much help as it was cross-coon try time again right to the finish. It was all tight, windy terrain which meant if you got behind schedule, it was very difficult to make up time. Finally, the finish to a fun enduro. URA had their usual original idea finishing pins, this time a nice foamy head on a mug which, to the kids, was root beer and to the adults just good cold beer. ' IRRC and Service Search and Rescue (SSAR) were present providing communications and first aid, respectively, and happily SSAR was used but sparingly as the injuries were few. . The mileages were spot on. I heard a few complaints about times but don't know if they ,were valid. There dido't seem to be any consistent rider complaints, however. URA has been hit by course sabotage in the past and have now adopted some tough anti-tampering measures. URA prefers to keep some of them secret but anyone caught on the course got' a blunt warning the next time they would be considered tamperers and dealt with accordingly. URA pre.rides the course now and Fred Hayes (Mettco) and Gary Calkins (Penton Imports), two of Southern Califomia', top enduro riders volunteered their time to come out and give URA a hand by playing "Ghost Rider" for the enduro. ,I heard rumors that URA hadjoined District 37 and was putting on a 1).37 enduro next year but when I asked URA about it, they told me that there w. nothing definite yet. It was still under consideration. It was a "lOod time" weekend, everyone had fun, went home happy and you can't ask for more. Results • . when we get 'em. . .' .And a g 00d, time" . ,was had by -all 66 . . ' , By Sylvester Bogard W~GON WHEEL CAFE, OCT. 28 ,Under absolutely beautiful desert skies, the .United Racing Association threw. their first 'Annual Good Time Enduro Sunday and about 600 enduro riders (Men, women, kids and several combinations thereof) showed up to take part. . URA did a friendly thing in having a lpecial family rate entry fee - only $12.50 for the entire family. The guys with a wife and a couple of kids who like to ride really appreciated it. It's pretty expensive to put all of them on the line at the normal $7.50 each. Joe , Striss, URA president, told me that quite a few families to.ok up the offer and in the future URA'is 'going to try and offer similar specials. . The Good Time Enduro was billed with an easy first loop which was laid out with Powder"Puffers and kids 'in mind, and a harder second loop, but still fun. It turned out as advertised. I didn't hear any complaints about either loop. Since Dayligh t Savings Time ended Sunday and there was some £onfusion over which time to used as key time, URA fmally decided not to turn the clock back for key time but a few people didn't get the word and.showed up to run on their number to discover their line left quite awhile before. JJRA gave them new later numbers, taking care of the problem. Next year it will be in the riders' instructions which time is used. The flfSt loop (32 miles long) took off down a dirt road, turned down a aandwash a ways, then crossed Trona' Road into the flatlands for lome easv riding to loosen everyone up: 'Iben the course turned up into the hills above Ridgeaest but avoided any bard uphills or downbiJls. '!he only bard part of the first loop had both a ''hard way" and "easy way" around. Finally the course turned under the railroad tracks and waiting t4ere was a check which didn't catch 'tOO many off schedule. However, URA did catch a lot of riders early at the next check which was only three miles from the last one. Generally, rules- say you can't throw a check within three miles of another but you can have one exactly three miles at 18 MPH. Since most riders know the 2.9 miles after a check are "free", they can ride fast and then wait for their time to come up. However, if they were't careful, they ran right into the meaky check, some of th9" quite early. Usually the fD;lish is a known check which allows riders to come in up to 15 minutes early without penalty but, for this run, URA did not make the finish of the flfSt loop a known check so there wouldn't be the usual "Hare and Hound" for the last three miles. The purpose was to try and keep the mini's and Powder Puffers from being run down by an overzealous racer. It worked pretty weU with only a few riders either not reading their instructions or forgetting and coming in early. At this point, the enduro was over for the mini's, Powder Puffers and kids under 16. Waiting for everyone eIsC was the an / Most of the URA rau1ing_ rllMiwly...,. flat, .... the ........ enduro tvpes Mel trouble not hitting dMc:ks NrIy 011 the first loop. Ewen if they went riding . . XL-250 with the liFts 011. When they ..... it • ......., enduro". this WOUP retpCMlCIecI by bringing. the c:heIper by the doan end with lix you lilt . . roll. ,f_ilv. 8eIicIlIs It _

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