Cycle News

~.~> ~_" ---':'~=::.M:~....:- :' Gee, that's the first time _'VII lI¥8I' _n a ding that bIId in a DID rim. They just don't build 'em like they UIlId to - whoewer uthey" are. -, The Last Chance featured somechallenging, rock~rewndescents. Between the uphills and downhills w8I'e, you guessed it, tops of hills which had both rocks and brush. OK, Buddy, this is your Last ChanceL By Ron Schneiders • FOUR CORNERS, CAL., DEC. 2 The Fifth Annual Last Chance Enduro was held on the ftrst Sunday in which gas stations were supposed to be closed in response to the energy crisis. The gas stations didn't close, however•. and the competitors didn't stay home. Over 300 of 330 entries showed up to ride. The conditions for the ruJi were superb. It had rained the night before so there was no dust and traction was great. There was no wind; just bright, bright sun in an azure sky. Plus an i1lch of ice covering left over rain puddles. Yes, it was cold. The fiIst loop ran in a - counter·dockwise direction from the pits (about five miles in on the Cuddeback Dry Lake Road) up around Brown's Ranch and to the west of Red Mountain. There was one hill on the first loop that required pushing by some riders but, in general, the loop was fairly easy and the speed averages were moderate, ranging from 12 to 30 MPH. Most riders lost few points legitimately. Check Two was a minute off. however, so quite a few riders though t they were doing worse than they actually were. The club will correct for this error. The loop was 44.9 miles long. The -second loop was acually four miles shoner than the first. but riders found that hard to believe. It went generally southeast and circled Fremont Peak. There was no single feature of the loop meriting comment, but several stretches were just plain hard to ride, Challenging bush-studdecl uphills _re also induded for variety. mostly because the riders were routed across rocky sidehills where there was no trail. As one rider commented, "Nobody in their righ t mind would go trail riding To get from one hill to the next you had to negotiate some traditionll d_rt "hiltispeedstuff". there for fun." There was also quite a number of short steep climbs and descents as the trail crossed ditches and ravines. These, too, were very rocky and a slight bobble meant that you had to do it over again. The speed averages were too tight for many riders, who found themselves falling behind righ t after the first check of the second loop and were unable to make up any time. The schedule varied from 18 MPH to 28 MPH but the overall average was just about 22 MPH. One rider reported that he heard Dave Holeman, the layout chief, explain, "The schedule speeds are fair and reasonable. Just don't miss a shift." The reactions in general seemed to be that the Last Chance had been a good, stiff, hard ride, but not exactly what one would call fun. The organization was very good. With the exception of Check Two, all the clocks were right on and mileages were accurate. No one seemed to have any trouble following the marking. The California Enduro Association used the flip card system, but because of the problems with the second check was unable to complete the scoring. There were reports of several riders with only one point lost but whether these will remain so after the adjustment for Check Two is questionable. Shamrock M.C. member Bill OchJetree is one of the possible candidates for first overall. The CEA reports that the BLM was very cooperative during the planning stages of the run. Results as soon available. =_ a,

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