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/126499
- ----- --- ----------- ---r------~__y~---.........==-=~ IClockwise from left) Louis and Mary McKey show off the Matrix Design decoy duck given to louis for his work as the Phantom Duck, The BlM was very friendly; even had their own bikes! Off-roaders and on-roaders mingle as they feed the Phantom Duck Quacker Box, Unorganized B to V trail ride Hundreds say "Vegas, ho!" By Dale Brown BARSTOW, CA-LAS VEGAS, NV, NOV. 29 Hundreds of off-road motorcyclists followed ribbon, their memories, or their hearts as they made their way on existing roads and trails from the familiar meeting ground on Alvord Rd., east of Barstow to another familiar meeting ground near Las Vegas' Blue Diamond offramp. 6 This year saw the motorcyclists following varied routes. Many picked up on ribbon laid by a Wyle Coyote, while others used roads and trails that they had taken before. Bureau of Land Management presence at the happening was up·key. "We're not here in a law enforcement capacity," said BLM'sJim Moses as he stood with fellow BLM employees John Scull and Steve Evans by a BLM truck with IT Yamahas in the back. "We're here to assist the pu blic." Aided by a California Highway Patrol helicopter, they rode sweep on the first part of the course. In a telephone conversation on Monday, Ott. 1, Moses said, "We were able to make one good rescue, a guy with a compound shoulder fracture. He said his buddies were coming back for him, but he'd been out there for four hours." The rider was evacuated by the helicopter. There were no BLM personnel counting riders. Estimates ranged from Moses' 250-500, to CBS's 600. Although turnout looked like it would be down due to the southern California fires and the subsequent temporary closing of 1-15 - the Alvord site seemed almost deserted on Friday afternoon, but the flow of people and vehicles picked up around sunset and kept steadily going thereafter. Two of those delayed were Louis and Mary McKey, who eventually had to drive to Palm Springs and then take the highway through Yucca Valley and Lucerne Valley to Barstow. Louis, better known as the Phantom Duck of the Desert, was taking advantage of BLM California State Director James Ruch's offer to ride on the Inter· mountain Power Project Corridor .over the Thanksgiving weekend. Between Friday night and Saturday morning, many received a map of a course laid out by Wyle Coyote - not to be confused with the famous (infamous?) EI Coyote - which picked up a pole line road just east of Alvord Road and proceeded northeast before dipping slightly southward and heading towards the first pit at Silver Dry Lake, north of Baker. But as happens with an unorganized, grass roots happening, there were riders on other existing routes, and some were there other than by their own choice. Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman reportedly got lost and wound up at Rasor Road with 49 miles on his odometer, somewhat more than the ~o or so miles it takes to get to Rasor via the direct route. While veteran desert racers found Wyle's route more refreshing and challenging than pole line roads and the like, some novice trail riders had a difficult time with it. The trail stayed north of the freeway past Baker and then cut down to the south side just before Cima Road, a traditional gas pit site. Other riders who had pitted on Kelbaker Road south of Baker, followed a pole line road that paralleled 1-15 into Cima. From there riders headed for State· line, some on Wyle's route south of the freeway, others through the Clark Mountains, or on roads north of them. From Stateline in riders followed several routes to the finish at Blue Diamond Rd. One of those to make it to the finish was the Duck, this year forsaking the small Hondas in favor of a dual· purpose Yamah 250. Later he said, "This is the greatest one ever. There were no hang ups about staying out of everyone's way and not having to worry about the BLM's harrassment," Two of the Duck's trail companions had to receive the long distance rider award. John Hopkins and Harry Gold crated and air freighted their PE Suzukis from Spring Valley, NY to the ·Duck's house in Fontana, and then flew out just for Thanksgiving weekend. They made it all the way to the finish in their first·ever shot at desert riding. Hopkins said of the experience, "The top thing I've done all year, excluding women. And that's competitive." Said Gola, "This was the top social event going on on the east coast this weekend. " Some celebrity trail riders had their difficulties. I n one of his last acts as a State Assemblyman, Bob Hayes set out to inspect conditions in the eastern Mojave desert. But instead of the familiar VW Thing, Hayes chose a 125 Suzuki, and it broke early on. Hayes was reportedly towed to the Afton Canyon off-ramp. Another familiar voice, Rick "Thumper Freak" Gochnaur got beyond Cima Road before his beloved thumper ground to a halt due to mechanicals. Still, it was a great day to do some riding in the desert.