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/143894
(Clockwise from ebove left) Phentom Duck of the Desert Louis McKey leeds son Keith on their ennual trip. An ettentive crowd listens for the key number et the off-roed drawing. A peir of riders cruise into the Kelbeker Ao8d pit ern. Mergeret Tossetti (center) fleshes her $ 150 prize flenked by Deve Hegey end the holder of Jeff Miller's third piece hand. Unorganized trail ride: Hundred,s attest that B-to-V dust hasn't settled By Jim Bowman ~hoto. by Dale Brown and Bowman BARSTOW, CA,/I,AS VEGAS, NV, NOV. 27 Amidst encouraging reports that the famed Barstow to Vegas desert race may run again in 1983, hundreds of off-roaders gathered in small groups to make the yearly protest ride from Barstow to Las Vegas. Estimates on attendance ranged .. from 750.to o:ve~ 1,000 traIl nders, making thIS probably the' 6 largest turnout in the eight years since the B-to-V race was cancelled. The great turnout attested to the fact that B-to-V isn't just an issue, it's one fun run with a lot to offer everyone. At the traditional starting area near Barstow, it looked like one of every kind of rider and machine had showed up. There were first time riders, desert racers, motocrossers, trail riders and just about everything in between. Bikes ranged from trick competition steeds to strictly stock street bikes and there were even a few dinosaurs and antiques roosting the desert sand. The Phantom Duck of the Desert Louis McKey, was on hand again to ride with his family and remind all that the B-to-V issue is just a small part of the big battle to keep our right to ride in the desert. McKey finished on his dual purpose Yamaha DT250 while son Keith rode an old Hodaka 175 with a complete set of street legal equipment. Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman rode again as did the three-time winners of the unoffic~al long distance award. John Hopkin~and Harry Gold flew out from Sprmg Valley, New York, to travel farther point-topointthan'theotherriderswhocame 1rom almost every state. There were also a few Canadian trail riders. Beginning early in the morning, riders started in their own little groups for the traditional finish in Las Vegas. The first leg of the journey ended at either Rasor Road or Kelbaker Road, depending on where each rider's chase vehicle stopped. The trip into Kelbaker Road started on sandy fireroad along the north side of Interstate 15 and made its way over numerous washouts to Rasor Road. A few unsuspecting riders hit these washes at warp speeds, but the majority of B-toVers saw the pr.otruding helmets and handlebars and slowed to pilot their way through carefully. A fairly steep uphill led up from the Rasor Road area to an eye-opening downhill that spooked a few riders, but didn't turn any away. The uno(ficial course continued along alternately sandy, then rocky fireroad to a drainage tunnel under !-I~. Fro~ here the pro.t~stt;r~ p~cked up the paved remanents of the old highway ~nd followed them to the smooth, flat ride across Soda Dry Lake bed and into Kelbaker Road. The lake bed was broken up by little drainage ditches and a big wash at the northeastern tip which kept riders alert and made for some spectacular jumps going into pit one. A powerline service road paralleled 1-15 on the south side to make up the easiest leg of the approximately 130mile ride. Trail riders met their pit crews at Cima Road for gas and innertubes. (A special than lis goes to the Training Wheels Motorcycle Club from the author.) Reports told of innertubes selling at record prices and speeds and one rider called in to say he'd had three flats over the r9cky terrain. The majority of trail riders took off from Cima Road and went north about five miles to a fireroad that would lead them through the pass in the Clark Mountains. The trail up to the pass was rocky and twisty as it rolled up and down and wound up the west side of the mountains. The .view from the top was spectacular and the trip back down to the desert fun. Signs that read "Main road" pointed the way through winding little canyons that encompasssed the bikers like a tunnel without a ceiling. Bursting out of this tunnel to see the desert and the mountains in the distance was breathtaking and worth a second trip for that experience alone. A wide-open trip across the flawless surface of Ivanpah Dry Lake bed led from the pass into the last pit area that most riders would use. After finding the chase vehicles at Stateline (and perhaps dragging their crews out of the casino) railroad tracks pointed the way to Blue Diamond Road and the loading-up area for the dusty trail riders. The last jog of the trip included more fireroad with washouts and a rollercoaster ride up, down and around the ridges that supported the railroad. One final tunnel under 1-15 had placed everyone OJ:! the north side of the freeway and it was time to enjoy the afternoon festivities at the Las Vegas Union 76 Truck St9P. o All the riders that donated their $5 to the combined fund (for the Phantom Duck and the AMA Legislative Supporter Fund) and made their own way to the Union 76 Truck Stop received an event pin, five playing cards and became eligible for the offroad drawing. The top three poker hands were to be awarded cash prizes from Cycle News and almost 100 prizes worth about $5,000 would be given away. The prizes were donated by motorcycle-related businesses and included riding boots, a trailer, a jacket and numerous motorcycle accessories. . The cash awards of the day were awarded to three California trail riders. Margaret Tossetti from the Bush Busters Motorcycle Club was the big winner with four kings and a jack, taking home the grand cash prize of $150. Dave Hagey of Camarillo won the $100 second place prize with four kings also, seven high. The third place $50 award went to Jeff Miller from Anaheim for his four jacks. In addition to the hundreds of offroader~ who showed up for the offroad drawing, there were also some special Nevada guests in attendance. The Silver City Scramblers MotorcycleClubassisted the Cycle News staff in handing out the prizes and a couple of Nevada law enforcement authorities showed to ask about just what was going on. They were concerned about the safety of all those unorganized off-roaders and said their normal duties were being taxed because they had not been forewarned. They were very understanding, but warned that organization and authority notification are important for all concerned. Basically, that is the message the Phantom Duck and all of today's riders were trying to get across. After the drawing, which lasted from 3 p.m. until nearly 6:00, many of the riders went into Las Vegas for someof the traditional big city entertainment. The Circus Circus Hotel andCasino helped Cycle News with a lot of the drawing preparation and their huge RV accommodati~ns became home base for many of the road riders and off-road riders. It-was party time then and the riders were on their < p~~ ttgai!l' . .', • o 0