1951 Motor Maid Alice Wamsley Norwalk CA - 2-Page Vintage Article

Description

1951 Motor Maid Alice Wamsley Norwalk CA - 2-Page Vintage Article
Original, vintage magazine advertisement / article.
Page Size: Approx. 9" x 12" (46 cm x 30 cm)
Condition: Good
...
Corpus Christi Girl Rider
Wins San Antonio Field Meet
Frances Kirkley of Corpus Christi, Tex.,
won the Pierce Trophy in the annual San
Antonio Motor Maid field meet held March
18. The trophy must be won three times in
succession for permanent possession. Pat
Boatright of Sheveport, La., won it last year.
Second place went to Bobbie Jenkins of
San Antonio and third spot to Helen Mc-
Kinzie of Corpus Christi.
The high-point Motor Maid trophy
donated by Marie Schumann. Motor Maid
state director, was awarded to Iris Sawey
of San Antonio.
The San Antonio Motor Maids thanked
dealer Skinny Pierce for helping to make
the meet possible.—Marie Schumann, sec-
retary.
California Girls Go Picnicking
A picnic for girl riders at Hillcrest
Park in Fullerton, Calif., brought out the
following cycle-mounted lassies (from left
in cut) :
Mary Brunner, Thelma Lewis, Dayl
Standley, Betty Dimmitt, Phyllis Dimmitt,
Mackie Parks, Carol Uhlir and Alice Wam-
sley, state director for southern California.
CALIFORNIA GIRLS
Picnic brought ’em out.
Cancel Tour
The Lookout Mountain tour for
Motor Maids May 13 at Chattanoo-
ga. Tenn., has been cancelled,
according to Lou Riggsby, Motor
Maid state director for Tennessee.
Motor Maids In Three States
Plan For Parkersburg Meeting
Motor Maids in West Virginia, Virginia,
Maryland and Washington, D. C., will have
their district meeting May 12 and 13 in
Parkersburg, W. Va. This is the home of
Mabel Aston, state director in charge of the
two-day affair.
Headquarters will be the Blennerhassett
Hotel. It is from this point that the girls
will form Saturday night for a parade
through the city. Ending the procession back
at the hotel, the girls will enjoy a banquet,
then adjourn to the Harley-Davidson shop
for an evening of bingo, dancing and talkin’
about sickles.
Sunday morning the girls will have a
six-event field meet with trophies for the
four high-point winners. The first four
winners in each event will win ribbons.
A long distance trophy donated by R.
M. Huck, manager of the Blennerhassett,
will go to the girl riding her machine the
greatest distance to attend the event. Donat-
ing trophies for the field meet are Haden
Motor Company, Charlottesville, Va.; Grand-
staff British Motor Sales, Moundsville, W.
Va.; Ray Konkler, Harley-Davidson Sales,
Cincinnati, Ohio, and Cosgrove Indian Sales,
Cumberland, Md. Ribbons are being donated
by Harley-Davidson Sales and Service,
Parkersburg, W. Va., and Ilene Clausen,
Motor Maid secretary, Chicago, Ill.
Reservations should be sent to Mabel
Aston at 530 Seventh St., Parkersburg, W.
Va., as soon as possible. The double rooms
in the hotel are .50 each per night, while
the banquet and bingo games are .00 for
both or .75 for the banquet alone.
ALICE WAMSLEY
She managed fine.
Meet Your Motor Maid
State Director—Alice Wamsley
Alice Wamsley of Norwalk, Calif., Motor
Maid state director for the southern half
of her state, first had an interest in motor-
cycling when her husband bought a machine
and let her ride buddy seat to races and
other motorcycle events. There she noticed
other girls riding solo, and she decided
she’d like that, too.
Her husband’s machine was a Harley-
Davidson 80, which she says was too big
for her to handle. So a friend loaned her
a 61 with a low solo seat, and she managed
fine. In January, 1946, her husband Lee
bought her a new 45.
By April of that year Alice was ready
to join the Motor Maids, and by January
she and Linda Dugeau of Los Angeles were
well acquainted and were planning rides
for other Maids in their area.
In the meantime, Alice had sold the 45
and bought a 74, later turned in on a 61.
Her husband had a 74 at that time and the
two of them took many motorcycle trips,
(See THE GIRLS, page 30)
(Continued from page 29)
to cover the 1,825.2 miles in 24 hours."
The day wore on, and finally darkness
fell. Crew members touched blow torches to
the flares, and by the time the last rays of
the sun had sunk behind the mountains,
a five-mile circle of yellow lights guided the
rider on his long and tedious endeavor.
Other lights piercing the blackness were
the two red glares at the desert road crossing,
the gasoline lanterns used by the checkers
and in the cook tent, and the lonely beam of
the headlight on Ham's mount as it traced
a circle on the sand.
Now and then the rider stopped for
fuel or adjustments, but soon he was on
his way again. Every passing hour and
every added hundred miles saw him set
another new record.
By 11:11 a.m. the next morning. Ham
had broken Bennett's record, and was grind-
ing steadily on toward the 1,800-mile mark
he had set for himself.
After 23 hours, 40 minutes and 31
seconds of riding, his mark was reached.
He did five more laps before getting the
welcomed checkered flag at 24 hours, and
crossed the line with 44 new records.
Everybody gathered around a tired but
happy Fred Ham, whose first thought was
to shake the hand of Bill Graves, his
mechanic, and Freddy Ludlow, his riding
coach. It was a proud moment for all of
them.
tt
WITH FRINGE, CHROME PLATED
STUDS AND TRIMMINGS
Only Harley-Davidson Brings
You These Outstanding Features
•
Top Grain Heavy Cowhide
•
Sewed with Specially Treated
Strong Linen Thread
•
Rust-proof Buckles
•
High Grade White Leather
Fringe
•
White Plastic Welt
•
100% Waterproof Back
•
Solid Brass Chrome Hanger
Plate
FAMOUS
"After the run was over,” Graves said,
"the engine was torn down and found to
be in good condition, considering what it
had been through. Cylinder wear was about
.025 inches. The bearings, valves and guides
were in good shape. The sprocket shaft was
blue from chain heat.
"I’m glad I can’t remember what kind of
chain we used, as I don't think the maker
could be blamed—the chain was not made
for that speed and that load. Our chains
are better, a lot better, today."
Fred Ham lost his life three years later
in line of duty as a motorcycle patrolman
in Covina, Calif. But the memories of those
"maximum results” will always linger with
Bill Graves.
THE GIRLS
(Continued from page 24)
chief of which was a two-week vacation to
the 1947 Yellowstone gypsy tour.
Then in 1948 the girls around Alice’s
part of the country were having more and
more rough rides, and she decided she
wanted a small motor—a new BSA twin.
This mount was later replaced by an Ariel
Square Four. Lee had bought two of them.
They still have these machines.
Alice likes long road trips, cow trailing
and endurance runs.
IN LEATHER MILWAUKEE SADDLERY CO. Milwaukee 10 ]
"I really enjoy being state director,” she
says, "as it brings me in closer contact with
more girls. And I like to meet the new
members and hear of their experiences.”
She and her husband have belonged to
the Jokers MC in Downey for five years.
Alice was club secretary in 1947, treasurer
for 1950 and re-elected for 1951.
Motorettes Thank Clubs
Who Voted For Their Candidate
The Motorettes of Chattanooga, Tenn.,
send thanks to all clubs who voted for Mary
Jo Pate, whom they sponsored in the Most
Popular and Typical Girl Rider contest.
The Motorettes were happy to see Mary Jo
end among the first 15.
President Mabel Huggins recently pre-
sented the AMA trophy to activity contest
winner Lou Riggsby.
Shirley Me Pherson and Elizabeth Jones
have re-joined the club after being absent
for some time.—Lou Riggsby. reporter.
Promise Three Trophies, Dinner
For All-Girl Run June 3 At Joliet
A 50-mile all-girl run will be held June
3 in connection with a reliability run
sponsored by the Joliet (Ill.) Throttle
Twisters, according to Velma Kolars, Motor
Maid state director who is in charge of the...
16742-AL-5104-23