1965 Death Valley Tour Furnace Creek Ranch - 2-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1965 Death Valley Tour Furnace Creek Ranch - 2-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, Vintage Magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
10th ANNIVERSARY
The lure of the valley is like a magnet
to those who have fallen under its spell.
Year after year they return, across the
arid reaches of the Mojave, through the
deep canyons of the Inyos. and over the
high passes of the Panamints.
Their rendezvous at Furnace Creek
Ranch on the floor of Death Valley is the
greatest gathering of motorcycles on the
face of this continent.
Held on the last week-end of October,
it offers the extra thrill of uncertain
weather. Anything from a dust storm to
rain flurries can be expected, and riders
must be prepared for any eventuality. Most
years, though, warm calm weather has pre-
vailed with the highlands cool to cold and
lower elevations warm.
The 1964 Death Valley Run began on
Saturday. October 31. after a solid storm
had left its marks from the northwest
through Southern California. Riders from
Idaho reported that plenty of rain was
encountered in their 700 mile journey,
while others from Nevada', Arizona, Cali-
fornia found warm clear weather with
some wind.
Regardless of weather, though, the ride
grows bigger from one year to the next,
and this one. the tenth anniversary of the
run. drew 2400 registered riders phis a good
10% more who did not sign up!
The Death Valley Run is sponsored and
conducted by Dick Hutchins, a partner in
Rich Budelier Harley-Davidson Sales. Los
Angeles, and his Death Valley committee
composed of dealers and enthusiasts
throughout Southern and Central Califor-
nia help make it go. The noted western
feed, catered by Furnace Creek Ranch
Fred Harvey Enterprises, is furnished by
donations from Harley-Davidson Dealers
of Southern California. It is served from
3 to 6 to all registered riders.
ANNIVERSARY GIFT LIGHTER
In addition to the regular frying pan pin
and decorative map regularly given to all
entrants, an anniversary present of a ciga-
rette lighter with Death Valley Run insignia
in gold was included. This very popular
item will be much sought after as a me-
mento of the Run in future years.
Four routes were used this year to siphon
riders into the valley from four points of
the compass. A southeastern route through
Shoshone to Death Valley Junction was
one. a second entered from the southwest
through Trona and crossed the Panamints
to Stovepipe Wells, the third came in from
the northwest from Lone Pine to Panamint
Springs then over Townes Pass, and the
fourth entered from Beaty on the Nevada
side and crossed Daylight Pass. Each route
traverses a mountain grade before dropping
to below sea level at the valley floor with
the road from Death Valley Junction en-
countering the mildest grades and curves.
Riders began arriving at their rendez-
vous at Furnace Creek Ranch before noon
on Saturday with the main group assem-
bling at about 3 p.m. Motorcycles jammed
the two short streets and filled all available
parking places from then until after the
BEST LOOKING CLUB was the Riding Roulettes of Las Vegas, Nevada. Unique trailers reportedly have
good handling characteristics.
evening’s festivities at 10 o’clock. Many
were the old cronies greeted and the old
friendships renewed — it hardly seemed a
year since the last one.
Most motorcyclists slept in the large
campground behind the Visitors Center
near the ranch, but all rooms were filled in
the resort area as well. This was a great
week-end for the management. A small
store with groceries, clothes and sundries
and a restaurant and sandwich bar ran to
capacity for the two days, Saturday and
Sunday.
AWARDS
Activities began at 8 p.m. with a salute
to the flag and a performance of the forma-
tion-riding Victor McLaglen Motorcycle
Corps. This was followed consecutively by
judging for the Death Valley Tour Queen,
youngest AMA entry, shortest rider, tallest
COMMITTEE for the '64 Death Valley Tour. Kneel-
ing are (left) Chairman Dick Hutchins and Co-
Chairman Ed Anderson. Their wives are directly
behind.
rider, the flapjack cooking contest, baldest
head, fattest rider, best looking legs (men
only), and best dressed clubs. Interspersed
between contests were announcements and
awards of 15 Gold Rush Run winners
drawn from entries by lot. The largest Club
was honored as well as the one traveling
the greatest distance, the first entry re-
ceived and the longest distance traveled
by a single rider or a couple.
Sunday morning’s awards went to two
classes of contestants, stock and custom.
Four groups in each class included best
looking motorcycle and best dressed man
solo, ditto for girl solo, best couple and
best sidecar and rider. In addition, awards
were given to best looking family riding
the run, and the oldest motorcycle rid-
den in from the first check point at any
entrance.
Sunday morning was cloudy with warn-
ing notices coming in over the radio that
a storm was moving into the mountains
surrounding Death Valley. By 10 o’clock,
however, skies had begun to clear, but a
strong wind send everyone scurrying to
the cycles, and by noon few were left in
the valley.
What will it be like next year? Who
knows? Rain or shine, wind or calm, it’s
all part of the sport of the ride to historic
Death Valley. One thing we can be pretty
sure of, though — it will be bigger than
this year.
MANY THANKS
This activity would not be possible
without the help of many dedicated people
who form the Death Valley Committee.
They are listed as follows: Chairman, Dick
Hutchins; Co-Chairman, Ed Anderson;
Judges, Bob Whitney, Bud Wain, Wanda
Lisa, Dave Brown. Joe Lisa, Joan Cook;
sign-in crew, Bruce Chubbuck, chairman;
Co-chairmen, Joe Lisa, Tom Center; Rod
Karns. Dave Brown, Bud Wain, Linda
Chubbuck, Charlotte Center, Lee Wain,
Dean Hummer, Jean Brown, Wanda Lisa;
AMA registration Wilma Anderson, Mary
Whitney, Priscilla Hummer, Joan Cook;
Late Entries, Bobbie Hutchins, Delores
Karns; Record Steward Chairman, Bruce
PAUSED before descending info the valley, 5000
feet below, are Erv and Paula Krevich of
'‘Stockton, Calif.
Chubbuck, Bobbie Hutchins, Rod Karns;
Trophy Winners Names, Wanda Lisa, Jean
Brown, Linda Chubbuck; Committee
Lunch, Wilma Anderson, Peggy Russell,
Etta Murphy; Police Detail, Chairman,
Dave Cook, Sheriff Ray Curcie (Inyo
County), Cal. Highway Patrol, Lyle Tice;
Setting up Tour Equipment, Bob Whitney,
Rod Karns, Dave Brown, Bud Wain, Leo-
nard Russell, Dean Hummer, Tom Center,
Joe Lisa, Dave Cook, Charles Murphy;
Music, Leonard Russell, Charles Murphy;
Crowd Control, Chairman. Darrol Peacor,
Ace of Clubs Motorcycle Club; Harley
Davidson Dealers Food Committee, Joe
Walker, Bea Rathbun, Sherman Ames;
Official Photographer, Cliff Boswell. Assist-
ant. Peggy Russell; Check Points, Trona,
Jim and Lucille Yoder. Stovepipe Wells,
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Rickman; Shoshone,
Dick Stilley, Death Valley Junction. Ralph
and Ann Woddell; Beatty. Nevada, Vai and
Neil Butts; Panamint Springs, Lloyd and
Bob McComb. 4
LONG DISTANCE but
well worth it, said
members of the
Roadrunners, Boise,
Idaho.
DEATH VALLEY SMILEY and his 111 year-old
wagon.1 Burros are named Phantom and Silver
Dollar.
13484-6501-04