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AMAjSuzuki National Dual Sport Trail Ride By PAUL FLANDERS FONTANA, CA, NOV. 26·27 ,,., he 16th annual After Turkey Day dual-sport trek to Las Vegas started early in the morning at John Burr Cycles in Fontana. The event's 321 riders were picking up their roll charts and maps as the sun was creeping up to the horizon on the San Bernardino Mountains. Ron and Bobbi Rugh from Pennsylvania were just getting acquainted with their machine for the ride. Rather than truck their own DR250 out, they made arrangements with Bill Burr of John Burr Cycles to ride his XR250. Being used to the tight woods and mud back home, they wondered if the riding in California could be that different. After all, they'd ridden some of the Racer Production's National dualsport rides back east. The hours in the saddle would be about the same (nine to 10 hours each day), but the distance covered would be greater due to the more open terrain. Packing double through some of the desert sand washes was a challenge, but they finished in good spirits, taking home the longdistance award for traveling the farthest distance (within the United States) to come to the event. Current AMA Speedway National Champion (and also 1996 World champ) Billy Hamill came out to the ride for his third time. He invited fellow World Speedway grand prix rider Mark Loram to come over from England and ride with him. Loram picked up the International Award while getting a real tour of the mountains and deserts of Southern California. To say that "the bloke was stoked" would be an understatement. He was reminded to "stay to the right" several times before the ride. The District 37 Dual Sport organizers forgot to order that "giant water truck in the sky" this year, and the trails were quite dusty. However, the riders soon spread out, and the dust became tolerable. The day's perfect riding weather was appreciated by all. The course headed out near Glen Helen Raceway. The riders then went up Palm Avenue to the mountains. From there, the route went near Silverwood Lake and Lake Arrowhead. The first hard/easy split was after Green Valley. The riders passed by the burned area that was devastated by a forest fire last September. After Holcomb Valley and the rocky Gold Hill Trail, it was time for lunch and gas at Big Bear City. At the lunch break, riders had time to decide whether to take the challenging sand wash through the Wildlands Conservancy area in Rattlesnake Canyon or take the paved "leap route" down State Highway 18 to the next gas at Luceme Valley. Friday's final section brought the riders through the BLM Limited Use area just west of the Johnson Valley r..I Open Area (where many District 37 races are held). Dagget Wash ensured that the riders got their fill of sand just before the day's finish. A dirt route around the Marine base was available, thanks to the fact that the event was a Toys For Tots benefit, and the riders came into Barstow from a new direction this year. A typical LA- B-to- V Friday night at the Holiday Inn saw riders prepping their bikes for the second day, after the 210-mile ride, with help from Dual Sport Connection's and XR's Only's support trucks and personnel. On Saturday morning, everyone was out early for the second day's 270-mile course. More than half the riders had left the start before sunrise at 6:25 a.m. for the trip past the Slash X Cafe, Camp Rock Mine and Box Canyon. Ron Griffo was suffering from a bout with the flu. Knowing that he was riding with fellow Big Bear Trail Riders Dr. Mitch Youngblood and Father Steve Sallott, he felt secure. "If Mitch can't fix me up," Griffo said, "Father Steve can give me the last rites." Griffo ended up bailing out at Baker after helping Olaf Lee untangle a wire that had gotten wrapped up in his chain, sprockets and rear wheel near Box Canyon. Father Sallott was asked why he didn't ride on Friday. "Well," he replied, "I'm the rector at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, and we had a CIF quarter-final football game last night. I can't stay around Saturday night, either, because I have 9 (and) 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. masses back home on Sunday." After the riders passed the Hector Mine, site of September's 7.1 earthquake, they came upon the first checkpoint. The course then crossed (Above) Riders participating in the AMAlSuzuki National Dual Sport Trail Ride had some rock-dodging to do on their way through the San Bernardino National Forest. 1-40 and headed toward a .small portion of the old Barstow-to- Vegas race course in the Razor Open Area. Then it was on to gas and lunch in Baker. There, riders made their decision whether to take a "leap" for 24 miles on the 1-15 freeway or do the additional two hours on a new dirt route splitting the Kingston Wilderness Area. Riders then merged just before visiting Sandy Valley's Sky Ranch air strip, where a special gas truck supplied fuel. One of the event organizers, Jim Woods, said that when he arrived and saw the gas truck, he was relieved. "When you only deal with the gasoline people over the phone, then send 'em a map to get there," Woods pointed out, "you always worry about whether they'll show up or not!" The final section was the highlight of the ride - a visit to Red Rock Canyon in Nevada. This provided a spectacular view for those who arrived just before sunset. The ride finished at the Hotel San Remo in Las Vegas. The awards presentation was held next door at the Tropicana Hotel. This was much better than in previous years, when the awards were 10 miles away at the Shriners' Hall. Picking up the "Hard Luck" award was Don Kassner, who missed Friday's ride when his new diesel pickup was filled with gasoline by mistake. It cost him $780 to get it straightened out, $350 of which was for disposal of the mixed fuel! Kassner did get to ride on Saturday. Robert Fisher rode the oldest bike entered, a 1947 Triumph with a ridged rear wheel. His bike was 200 engine numbers older than his friend Bill Getty's '47 Triumph. Fisher's bike finished, while Getty's bumed a hole in a piston. cUDle n Roy Coe and Jim Heinemann shared the "Oldest Use of Equipment" Award. They've each been riding their XT 500 Yamahas for 12 years straight. Hoy Mitchell, at 73 years young, won the "Oldest Rider Award." Participants generally raved about how great the ride was, with neverbefore-used sections. However, some riders, not used to the desert sand or the distance involved, said it was a bit too much for them and that they wouldn't be back to try it again. Evan Clements had very few problems with his 1969 DTI Yamaha until a rock flew up and broke off the ignition key. Then the only real problem occurred when he shut off the motor to help Dave Flanagan just as it was getting dark, near the end of the ride. Luckily, Dave had a flashlight, and they were able to fiddle with the switch to make it work again. "I absolutely can't wait until next year!" Clements said enthusiastically. Rex Heyer had been planning to ride the event for several weeks, even though he had little dirt-riding experience. He actually purchased his bike only the day before, from his riding buddy John Nave. Heyer finished both days after taking four or five soil samples and customizing his DR650's steel gas tank on both sides. His rear rim was dented so badly that the tube was showing, but it was still holding air. Rich Gold, a 10-year veteran of the ride, summed it up best. "Phenomenal!" he said. "My friends and I had a great time, and we all agreed it was the best LA-B-to-V we eN' have ever ridden." e _ os • JANUARY 12. 2000