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/126944
California motorcyclists ride for rights By Anne and Tom Van Beveren LOS ANGELES, CA, DEC. 21 Dual purpose and street riders from all over the Los Angeles region joined forces for a preChristmas ride to raise money for the AMA legal defense fund. The riders enjoyed a 77-mile ridethat began at Hansen Dam and wound through the tight canyons of the Los Angeles National Forest, combining some challenging riding with spectacular scenery. The route for the street riders was restricted to paved roads, but alternate sections for dual purpose riders took them away from the pavement to discover the dirt roads and treelined traiJs of higher elevations. The "Ride for Rights" was organized by Pat Owens, who is well known as the organizer of the annual ALIBritish Road Ride. "I organized this ride to raise money for the AMA Legal Defense Fund," Owens told Cycle News. "That's the fund that prevents adverse legislation from being pass. ed," Owens said. "There's been an active group for 40 years to raise funds so that we can have lobbyists in state capitals and Washington, D.C. The lobbyists protect the best interests of all motorcyclists and they're the reason why we have as much freedom as we have today." Owens, who has been raising money for the Legal Defense Fund since 1980, said the "Ride for Rights" was designed to get more people involved with the fund-raising effort. "I've been raising money just with the support of people wbo ride British bikes but that's a very small segment of the riding population," said Owens. "I wanted to get something going that would involve more of the . riders - more of the people that benefit from the fund." . In addition, a event coordinator Jim Pilon put it, "We also wanted to organize an alternative ride. Everyone gets our and does the motocross even ts and the hare and hounds, but there's a certain group of people that don't want to compete or don't want to break their bodies up any more, and we wanted to cater to them. They're the dual purpose riders who just want to have some fun off the pavemenlo" "It's pretty close to Christmas and a bit cold, but we were expecting a lot more riders than this," said Owens. "It's a very worthwhile cause and we're hoping to make this an annual event. I'm sure we'll get more support when more people hear about the ride." On band to give their support to the event were Louis McKey, the "Phantom Duck of the Desert," and Dana Bell of D-37's Barstow-to-Vegas organizing committee. "If we want to keep riding we have to figh t for it," Bell told Cycle News. "I want the opportunity to be there for my children if tbey want to ride. If we don '1 do something about it they are going to shut down our riding areas, so this is a very important event." Three vintage desert motorcycles were on display at the event, including the 1957350 Triumph Twin ridden to victory by Eddie Mulder in the 1962 National Hare and Hound, and a 1~3 TR6 Mulder repeated his win r----------- ---- I I I cut out and mall today - - - - - - o Bill me with the first isaue. o Check or Money Order encloll8d I (make out payable to Cycle News) '11 •• r •• r . . . I CHARTER Subscription Order Form I I I I I I I I I I ------ -, 0 YESI I want to be a charter subscriber to Personal Watercraft Illustrated. That's the first 7 issuea for $7.00. Name (plea.. print clearly) _ Addresa _ City State Phone ( ........., .. ' ~ ~.'e ,....-..-. _ o Charge my credit card o Visa o Maltercard Card Number. Expiration d a t l l - l - l_ _ Signaturll Mail to: Personal Watercraft Ilustrated c/o Cycle News, Inc. P.O. Box 498 Long Beach, CA 90801 -0498 crMIt un""•• ....... re-""'. AlIeNd:... ~c-.I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . IwMIer .LZ;p, .....:.._ _ ' . _ _ J...JM7- . . ~ _ _ - . , - ~ - _ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I