Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

~ DUA LSPORT L.A.·to-B·to-V e • There's more to dual spon riding than -just riding - there's eating! Many of the riders stopped for a burger or two (or three, or ...) at the Scotland Store in Lytle Creek. 34 Early riders were checking in by 2:30 p.m, and were greeted by an enthusiastic group of wanna-be cheerleaders attempting aneight-person version of The Wave." The riders were tired but almost as enthusiastic as the cheerleaders. "I was the ninth one in and I had a great day ," said Dion Salfen. "I've never ridden this ' before, I normally ride the hare and hound race, but I'm a Super Senior now and I'm getting too old for that, The course today was really good and I liked the ride. I'm going to go dual sport from now on. It's more fun than the race because it's less competitive." The first-time riders included Fresno. California's Donnie Simone, who was sporting the distinctive blue and white helmet of the USA ISDE team. "This is my first taste of dual sporting. I came to ride with my father who does this every year," said Simone. "It's fun so far." Another first-time entry was Roger Ansel , who is the amateur competition manager for the AMA. "I came out (from Ohio) for this ride because it's one of 'our National trail ride series. It's my first full fledged ride in California too," said Ansel. Greeting riders as they arrived at the. end of day one, was Bill Powell, another rider from Ohio. "I was going to do both' days, but I'm running a day late because they put me in the hospital in Yosemite on my way here," said Powell, who took a 10-day scenic route to the event from his home in Dayton. "I, came all this way - about 2250 miles - because we don't have a desert out where I'm from. At least I'll get to ride day two. " Raymond Alva was also greeting riders at the end of the first day. His ride was cut to less than on e mile when mechanical.gremlins attacked his bike. "I had to give up about a block from the start. It's only got 2000 miles on it, but it's making some reall y funny noises," said Alva. It was well after dark before the last riders straggled in to the check and hurried to motel rooms to get a good night's sleep in preparation for day two 's 340-mile course. "pay two is a considerably longer day than we've had before, said Pilon. "We had requests from people saying day two was too easy and it wasn't long enough. I guess these were some of our more diehard riders . We wanted to change the 'course to put in some new terrain and we worked really hard with the BLM and th e National Park Service. It's a great second day this year. We even run through Death Valley National Park." Jerry Brenneman, who was riding a 1980 Yamaha DTI25 in hopes of collecting the prize for the smallest bike, was -not looking forward to the second day. . . "Three hundred and forty miles is a long day's ride and on a little bike like this it won 't be much fun ," he said. . Day two promised highlights of a different kind for Patrick Hein and Renee Willis, riding two-up for the third year in a row. They planned to take time out to get married · before Saturday night's dual sport party. Rid ers were on the trail sho rtly after dawn for thesecond day in a row and worked hard to keep the pa ce stead y throughout the long day ahead . Day two 's course ran west from Barstow to Johannesburg: through Pinnacles National Natural Landmark and skirted Searles Dry Lake to a gas stop at Trona. The trail continued north to the . ghost town of Ballarat then turned east [or the run through Butte Valley, part of the Death Valley National Monument. A one-mile side trip just before the National Monument offered a look at Barker Ranch, where Charles Manson hid [rom the law, and a gas truck was waiting near Cinder Hill to get riders through the 138-mile section between gas stations. " Most of the course was challenging . and interesting," said Jack Myrick. " It was harder than it's been before, with some rocky washes and things like that, but it was a ,:,ery long day - too long: really." . The run through Death Valley finished with the first of two "bailouts" that allowed lagging riders to catch up by short- cutting the course. The first bail-out rejoined the main trail at Tecopa and bail-out number two began immediately, heading north on the pavement to cross the Californi a/Nevada border near Hidden Hills Ranch. " I got to T ecopa at 2:35 p.m. and they were starting to close the course," sa id Myrick. " T h ey said only ' 25 percent of us had made it through by then. I think some of the riders were probably disappointed. The course was just too long. I rode from 7:00 a.m to 5:00 p.rn ., 10 hours straight. I didn 't take an y breaks except for gas and I still finished in the dark." The course ran south to cross the bord er at Sandy, Nevada, and headed through Goodsprings on its way to th e fin ish line at th e Hacienda Hotel. "It was like a hare and hound at the end. I was racing in trying to beat the sun," said Myrick. "But I'll probably be back again. It's a fun ride and it's challenging." Organizer Pilon said dual sporters should have another event to look forward to next year. "T he BLM and the Forest Service were pleased with the way the event went. They said it worked out beautifully, so it looks good for next time ," said Pilon. " Day two was a bit too long but all the riders I talked to said it was the best dual sport event we've ever had in District 37." C'I Results DAY ONE HIGH HAND DRIVEil (Male): Dale Brassfield. HtGH HAND PASSENGER (Male): Ga rt Clifford. HtGH HAND DRtVER (Female): Natal i H artenstein . HIGH HAND PASSE1"GEil (Female): Michele Chaboudy. LOW HAND 0 1A: Brad Cognaia. ISDUSTRY HtGH HAND: Bob Andenon. INDUSTRY LOW HAND: Frank Miyako . DAY'IWO HIGH HAND PASSENGEil (Male): Dust in Ra uch y. HIGH HAND . PASSENGEil (Female): Stacey Beebee LOW HA...D 0 1A: I. Phil Holcomb . . INDUSTRY HIGH HAND: Bob And erson . . 'INDUSTRY LOW HAND: Frank Miyako. SPECIAL AWARDS OLDEST M/C:Tttry Pratt (1970 Triumph ). . OLDEST RIDER: Don Liuon (69). . YOUNGEST PARTICIPANT: Dustin Rauchy (8). HARD LUCK: Doug Dougla s. SMALLEST M/C: j f:u y Brenn eman ( 125(" Yamaha ). DISTANCE (Domesti c): Charl es Hyde (Ohio). DISTANCE (Int~rnationat): Ga l)' Smi th (Sout h: Africa ). ORGANIZER. AWARD: Pa t Hein. Rene Willi s. MOST UNUSUAL M/C: I. WilI Pucketl (Yamah. RD400). BEN GAY AWARD: Stan Woods. INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION : Ame rica n H on da . ED HERTFELDER AWARD: JeU Heinemann .

• Cover