1962 Midwinter Rally & Gold Hunt, Atsion, NJ - 1-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1962 Midwinter Rally & Gold Hunt, Atsion, NJ - 1-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, vintage magazine article
Page Size: Approx 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm)
Condition: Good
MIDWINTER RALLY & GOLD HUNT
For the first time in recent years, the
Mid-Winter Rally & Gold Hunt had good
luck regarding the weather. The bright sun
and mild temperature brought more riders
out than ever for this Mid-Winter Rally.
The event was held at Atsion, N. J. on Jan-
uary 13th and 14th. It was sponsored by the
Start of Procession of over 300 riders at Mid-
Winter Rally & Gold Hunt at Atsion, N. J.
Middle Atlantic Motorcycle Dealers’ Asso-
ciation who seek to encourage the year-
round use of motorcycles. Over 300 motor-
cycles were present.
The rally started off with a Saturday
night dance at the Pic-A-Lil Inn in Atsion,
N. J. Sunday morning the first event was
the observed trials. A course was laid out
Riders during Scrambles Race at Mid-Winter Gold
Hunt.
over a rough hillside by use of marker
strings. There were many sharp turns and
grades. The riders were permitted to nego-
tiate this course at their own rate of speed.
Every time their foot touched the ground,
they lost 1 point. Every time they went off
Greeves rider during Observed Trials at Mid-
Winter Gold Hunt.
Bob Connery on Parilla during Observed Trials.
Bob missed turn and found himself out on the
frozen surface of a lake.
the course, they lost 5 points and every time
they stalled their motor, they lost 10 points.
This type of event is very popular in
Europe. There was a class of woods type
machines and one for road type machines.
Women were permitted to enter, in fact;
Betty Morrison won 3rd place in her class
for the 2nd consecutive year. Ted Develet,
“the television producer and star of the Jan
Murray Show” participated in this event
coming in 2nd in his class. High point win-
ner was Ed Varnes with a loss of only 42
points.
Procession of over 300 riders at Mid-Winter Rally
& Gold Hunt at Atsion, N. J.
The Scrambles race proved quite excit-
ing, as most of the top riders in the area
were present. In a tight duel with James
Varnes, S. Longhbaugh on his Triumph
proved the winner of the Lightweight class.
Zubritsky on his BSA took 1st place in the
Heavyweight class.
Three members of Middle Atlantic Dealers' Asso-
ciation who sponsored the Gold Hunt. Left to right
—Horace Fritz—Sec'y of MAMDA—Hank Westra
of BSA and Elmer Shillingford of Gene Shilling-
ford & Sons.
A procession of over 300 machines then
rode 14 miles deep into the cranberry bog
country of New Jersey to the area where
the Gold Hunt was to take place. Almost
100 motorcycle parts were hidden in this
area. Each part had a number and could be
redeemed for a merchandise prize at any
dealer’s shop. The most valuable prize, that
was won was the huge “Head Hunters”
trophy that was found 40 feet high in a tree
by Roland D. Poirier.
When the group returned to the Pic-A-
Lil Inn, a drawing was held to determine
the winners of the merchandise prizes
awarded by various distributors as follows:
1.
Harley-Davidson Motor Co.
Leather Jacket
2.
Beck Distributing Co.
Two Helmets
3.
Joseph Buegeleisen Co.
Helmet and Gloves
4.
B & D Cycles Cowboy Shirt
5.
Pic-A-Lil Inn
Super Trophy
6.
Butler & Smith One Helmet
7.
BSA Inc.
Case of BSA Oil
8.
Cosmopolitan Motors, Inc.
One Pirelli Tire
9.
Gene Shillingford & Son
One case of Drag Oil
Horace Fritz, secretary-treasurer of
MAMDA reported that 23 member dealers
headed by the association’s own “spark
plug,” John Varesio were on hand to offi-
ciate the events. The MAMDA welcomes
any dealer who wishes to become a mem-
ber of this wonderful organization. A veni-
son dinner will be held sometime in May at
Atsion at which time the dealers will discuss
plans to make the Mid-Winter Rally and
Gold Hunt even bigger and better.
OBSERVED TRIALS RESULTS
High Point Winner—Ed Varnes—Zundapp
Lightweight Class
1st Claude Brannam—DMW
2nd Michael De Thomasson—Greeves
3rd S. Hutchinson—Triumph
Bill Newrock Pholo
Herman Pulyer from Groveville, N.J. about to
land his Triumph Cub during the scrambles.
Heavyweight Class
1st Ronald Raunch—Harley-Davidson
2nd Ted Develet—Triumph
3rd Edgar Norton—Triumph
Road Class
1st A. Kinney—BSA
2nd Fred Varnes—Zundapp
3rd Bettv Morrison—Harlev-Davidson
SCRAMBLES RACE
Lightweight Class
1st C. Longhbaugh—Triumph
2nd James Varnes—Jawa
3rd Russo—Triumph
Heavyweight Class
1st Zubritsky—BSA
2nd Weiner—Harley-Davidson
3rd Channey—BSA
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