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/126454
LOok th~ short side trip and its cold and cool grass is w~1I worth th,' time and the added miles. Th.. I\"as station had gas and it was cheaper than our local stuff. At the campsite Mother Natur~ really b,'gan to get upsel. It was snow· ing in the Si~rras, snow and rain in th~ Inyos and we w~re gelling a strong, gusty and cold 40 mph wind. I think it was cold ~nough to do som~thinl\" to a brass monkey. Trying to cook on Col~ man sto\'(os was a big z('ro. Instead of cold heer and vodka giml~ts we all wer~ ha ppy to sellie for a cu p of hot coffee. We improvised a semi-windproof SlOv~ and finally got dinn~r hoI. But you had to eat it fast because it almost froze on your plate. wat~r With the ~ind, the threat of rain and snow, sleeping was a problem. Some rather strange accommodations or arrangements were set up. I thought I'd be smart and use the bucket seat of the Bronco. It made for a very long night and a very stiff back. The only thing that could have made it worse would have been a toothache. The next morning dawned cold, windy and very cloudy. We left camp and headed down and across Eureka Valley. After 12 miles th,' long climb into the Inyo Mountains began. When we passed the 4000-foot mark the temperature started down. In Cowhom Valley another flat tire plagued us. then one of the 125s tumed sour and stopped running. Thirty minutes of tinkering with extremely cold and stiff fingers did no good. It was finally stuffed into a support vehicle and we continued. At the 76oo-foot level, the highest point of the trip, snow covered the ground. Everyone was thoroughly chilled to the bone. With the snow, a 40 mph wind, and SS' temperature, the chill factor was awesome. One rider is also a backpacker and had a kit with all the trick instruments to record this bit of information. Maybe if we hadn't known how cold it was it wouldn't have been so bad. At this point the decision was made to abort the last SO miles in Saline Valley. It was very unpopular with some of the "damn the torpedo" riders. The decision was made for many reasons. We were faced with a high chance of rain, extremely cold weather and travel in an area subject to severe flash flooding. Most of the .riders were not dressed for this much cold and surely not for a wet ride. In retrospect, 1 often wonder if we would have made it without too many problems or if we should have just taken the chance and gone for it. A couple of the older riders think we made the right choice and want to try again. We dropped down 17 miles into Big Pine, 4000 feet lower and a tad warmer. Warmer - it was somewhere in the low 40s. Four riders decided to ride Highways S95 and 16S the 7S-odd miles back to Darwin. The rest of us loaded our bikes into th~ vehicles along with 15 gas cans, ice chests, sleeping bags and assorted junk. We looked like the "Grapes of Wrath." For the younger set who haven't seen that classic movie from the 405, change it to "it looked like a swap meet on wheels." Get the picture? The ride was enjoyed, damned, cold, windy, rocky, and dusty but interesting. It was not the super pleasant ride some of us enjoyed last year. The third annual may be run. If the BLM, the enviromentalislS and Mother Nature are kind and reasonable we'll make it back to th~ hot springs for som~ skinny dipping. As you can see what appears to be an easy ride can be deceptive in both terrain and weather. Again. go prepared, don't take chances, and good luck. • E • ~ WESTERN UNITED STATES CHAMPIONS WFINDERS Ii GR DPRIX· ~ ~ o CO ~ formerly RIVERSIDE INTL. RACEWAY'S§ GREAT BEAR Wl::::r D MARCH 1st & 2nd 1980 9 - The Sa;"" "GREAT" Challenge - The Same "GREAT" Cou"" - The Same "GREAT" Traditional Weekend of ExcitemeD,l - ENTRY INFORMATION • ENTRIF.S OPEN JANUAR Y 12, 1980 AND CLOSE HBRUARY 16, 19i1O. • MAIL ENTRY $20.00 PF.R RIIlER (incl. $1 for dist. 37 If'lt'll dcf. fund) • POST ENTRY $35.00 • STARTING POSITION DF.TF.R~lI:'>:t:)) BY POSTMARK ON ENTRY • NO REFUNDS. ENTRIES NO:'>:· TRANSFERABLF.. " ofIlc.1al u.. only VIEWFINDERS OFFICIAL ENTRY ILUQC , . . ( P'l.EASE PRINt ) 1Wtt:., __ .DDRFS5 --, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _5TXTr., CITY RACE INFORMATION • FOL'R RACES F.ACH 100 MILES • PARTICIPATION PINS AND FINISIIF.R PINS. DISTRICT 37 POINTS. SILF.NCERS REQUIRED. NO PLA Y BIKF.S. RF.SCUF. 3 WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE. COMPUTF. ORING. dill SANCTIONED. WATER· PROOFING RECOM~IENDED. VIEW· FINDERS "LEGENDARY WATERJlI~IP" WILL BE WAITING! .·RIDER NlIMBt:RS PROVIDED. 2.000 RIDERS EXPF.CTED • ENTRY INCLUDES RIDERS ADmSSIO;o.; TO RACEWAY. VIEWFINDER G.P. DECALS. MOTORCYCLES ~IUST BE IMPOUNDED PRIOR TO RACE. PI""" • Xcr.,----,J;;;IJ";;;'n;QR;-------- DISTRICT , aTHER ( BEC. _ _rIDVICE_ _ ....TIIlU:_ _ EXPERT _ ftive name of ...oc.. )'- lYPE POTNTS WANTED , DESERT_ _ MO'rD-X_ _ SCRA."mLES_ _ IolO!'£NS DIV1S1ON SENIOR DIVISION ( 40 01' over ) _ _ _ _ vi:Tlt ........ 1IIVI-"(JII 00-19' HEAVY WT ' LICMT W'T. StDEHACkS CWB OR --I Zl' _ _ A.H.A. f SPONSOIl~_-:, ENGINE SlZE _ f'W(E OF' HOT09l:CYCLE, _ IMPOUND TIMES FRIDAY - 6 P.M. til 11 P.~1. SATURDAY - 6 A.M. til 7:30 A.~1. SATURDAY·6 P.M. til 11 P.~1. . SUNDAY· 6 A.~J. til 7:30 A.~I. ' ' w_._ "._ _. ........ , _, ,, """,, _ _- SPECTATORS _"" 'C .. , .. t> h .. ' , _ [._, ", " "._ " , _ _ ' :..' ;~::.: :":':..":::::=.:::'.;:.~": :-;:.:.::. ~.~~: ':::::'''''::'''7:..: ~..::..::;..:'~==-~~:.'~::'''.~.::.~:.:.::: ..;::;''~-':':' v_ w _ ",,,._.,, , _ _ , •• < _ __ _ , _ .0 ' ,,, , __ , , .... ::;:======::.:::::::==:::::=:.:======::::*-------........ """ _-----....---------.. . 5 ....,..... 0<'_'·.-.1 IMPORTANT ALL EmlES MUST INCWDE J SELf' ADDIU:SSED STA."!PED ENVELOPES AND A PtlOTC COPY' f' YOUR RIDER ctASSIFlCA.TlOti CAJU)! ( DISTRICT CARD,C'1C,AME, CRe, !:Te. ) MHE CHECIS PAlABU TO: "VIEWFINDERS M.e:' EflTRY FEE $20.00 SATURDAY SATURDAY 1:00 9:00 A.M. START 100-eLASSlfIED. ALL 125-<:LASSI fl F.ll..~ 1.1. I75-<:LASSIFIF.ll. ,~L,L WOMF.NS CLASS. AI.I. ~,~.~:J:',l.l~: .wan Or..." 2434W. Ave 32 Los Ant-lei. Ca. 9006S 21 J 258·J358 100 T0 OP":S 3 P.~1. SUNDAY ~.OO ,\.~1. STAR'I SPORTS~'F.N (ALL) .:iO YR .•.10 YR. SUNDAY START 250. IIF.(: .. :-IOL SR,. HTS. nt-:(: .. NO\· .. SR.. \'t·:TS. OJ 111'1'.' \IX ·II~:(: .. XO\·,. SR.. \F.TS ,,'11':' . 1:00 P.~1. START 250· F.XP...IR .. SR.. HTS. OPt-:~ . t-:XP., .JR.. SR .. \'ET5i. ~IX SF.XIOR. F.XP.. JR. SIIlWACKS MAIL ENTRY TO: Vi.'.n_s M C. MAIL ENTRY TO: VI~II:1::::'C. Can I $1. ~ :148·7188 _P:::t:~.9'30. 2U RIck ~~,!I!dllBlg Blfdl =";':11:',1;. c.. 91706 213 962·1927 THE ONLY 1980 DISTRICf 37 EVENTAT RIVERSIDE INTL. RACEWA y@i BUY DIRECT from . .nufIIcturer .1Id SAVE Free Engraving & Delivery There is no Iree lunch, nowadays it's called "Happy Bour." Co......tulatlons from Out Front Number Plat.. to all 1980 National Numbers NOWl Between February 1st and April 1st. 1980anyNational Number will receive one FREE set of (4) number plates with any order. call or write for info. GET ~EJlj&+~ "Hand Painted" Number Plat.. and show the world 2650 S. E. Park Ave. Mllwa"", Ore. 97222 • 5031653-16&6 • A "hIInd painted.. 10" X 12" radIused comer pillte with clear coated proteetion for the front. Four plates per set-$18.oo. Three or more sets -$15.00 ea. Also available for H-D XR· 750 • pressure sensitive ~yl for use on the e.hIIust pipe side. Get OUT FRONT! Order Now 13