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/126421
... I. Centl'a1 Pipeline ~ E Only half of the 38 t8IImS entered finished the Texas 24. 8 demanding 24hour enduro hosted by The Trail Riders of Houston. Browning Team takes overall win at Texas 24 Enduro By Margaret Carter NEW WAVERLY, TEX, MAY 26-27 The father and son team of Tom and Dale Browning pitted their skills against some of the top Texas enduro riders to take • 44 the overall with only four points at the Texas 24. Father and son Aubrey and Dare Westmoreland took second overall with their score of six points. Thirty-eight teams started the 24·hour enduro and 19 teams finished. . The event, hosted by The Trail Riders of Houston, began at high noon on Saturday, May 26, and continued through the night until noon on Sunday: The course was a 28.!I mile loop starting at camp and finishing with a 1.7 mile reset back at camp to allow the teams to swap riders and trail information after each loop. Checkpoints were moved each loop to keep the riders guessing; speed averages were also changed at regular intervals. At night, the speeds were dropped to 12 mph and during the day they were 15 and 18 mph. The course was an excellent mix of tight woods, sweeping fire cuts, broader fire roa.ds and a few mudholes and creek crossings. All of it was rideable, despite above average rainfall for weeks before the event. Several hot, dry days just before the race, plus a lot of hard work by the host club corduroying the worst of the bog holes, added up to a very enjoyable course. that held up well. The Texas 24 has been reinstated by The Trail Riders of Houston as an annual event to challenge all enthusiasts, Novice and Expert alike. Each loop taken individually is fairly tame. But when all the loops are added together over a 24-hour, !I!IO mile period, the riders begin to sort themselves out on the scoreboard according to rider ability and bike preparation. Ed Henfelder, author of the "Duct Tapes" column in Cycle Magazine, provided a "Duct Tapes" trophy (a lamp made from an 014 hub complete with spokes and roll of duct tape) to be presented to the most deserving team. It was decided by the event chairman, Gene Brady, that the team of Glenn Behnken and Rick Nordloh, would be awarded the trophy. They couldn't pass the db test until after they had packed their' Rokon with steel wool and consequently started the race 1- ~ hours late. They were disqualified at the first check, but continued the ride wrfun. . Another team which showed tremendous determination and very sturdy backsides was that of Kinki Koi and Joe Dixon. They rode_ the one bike class on a Honda XR80 provided by Pasadena Honda. The bike was stock, with the exception of beefed-up shocks. But even the trickest suspension on a pint-sized bike is still not enough over roots and logs. Mudholes and creek crossings were not much of a problem, though. They just grabbed the bike up under one arm and camed it across the mud lilte a suitcase. No one said that they didn't have a good time. Most commented that it was the most fun they'd had on a bike since their first enduro. And everyone said they would do it again without question. The Texas 24 is probably the most fun and definitely the most enduro you can have for the money. Results OVERALL - Tom Browning/Dale Browning 14). EXPERT: 201 - OPEN: 1. Greg WilmethlF. Hill (10); 2. S. Long/D. Burns 1111: 3. C. Lagiey/B. Bolander 191. 126 • 200: 1. Aubrey Westmoroland/Dar. Westmoreland 161; 2. Sl8IIO Whitworth/J. Jervis m; 3. R. SondusiRichard Hermon 1621. o - 125: 1. Kinki KoiIJoo Dixon 161; 2. Goryt Darrington/Bill Adomo 1111; 3. 0, A1lon1J. DB.is 1941. EXPERT - 2 BIKE; 251 - OPEN: 1. Relph Henderson/Rich Rulau 113); 2. F. Rougoreon/Jeff Colgin 131); 3. Bill HutchisonlEd Melone (84). 201 - 250: 1. Sl8IIO PoweIIILyndon Holcomb 1121; 2. C. SpischocklJ. T. Wingo 11 091; 3. J. CoxIK. Gordner lSI. o - 200: 1. R. McF.Iand/D.· Powell 1191; 2. Don SCibelOueno MCCoy 121); 3. L. .P8nonIIJ. Kinzler 1221. NOVICE - ALL CLASSES : 1. K. FotenotIK. Fotenot (20); 2. J. Gunt.IC. Bryon (521; 3. DaniotIG. Anderson lSI.