1965 Greenhorn Enduro Pearblossom California - 3-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1965 Greenhorn Enduro Pearblossom California - 3-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, vintage magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm)
Condition: Good
The oldest run in the west continued to lure
large numbers on the entry list, but the number
that attracted veterans and panicked the novices
was the mileage to be conquered — 500.
Just a tiny community at the edge of a rapidly ad-
vancing civilization. Pearblossom, California is one of
the last bastions of the swelling Greater Los Angeles com-
plex before entering the rock and sand of Butte Valley
in the Mojave Desert. Several gas stations, cafes and a
market are the town serving scattered homesteads at
the base of the coastal mountains north of L.A., but
for five years now Pearblossom has taken on a special
significance to motorcyclists from all of the west and
many parts of the eastern U.S. The site is the start and
finish of the Greenhorn Enduro, one of the gran’ daddies
of endurance runs; 500 miles of cross-country dueling
with Ma Nature and the relentless sweep of the clock
hands that spell the difference between winners and
losers.
Greenhorn ’65 marked the nineteenth year of the
event sponsored by the Pasadena Motorcycle Club,
and again the two-day running was scheduled for a
weekend late in May. On Friday evening the first arrivals
began to dot the big campground/pit area alongside
the highway. By nightfall the lights from lanterns and
campfires showed a vast swelling of the ranks that grew
steadily until the dawn when the latecomers unloaded
their machines to ready for the challenge ahead. Pear-
blossom’s population had blossomed by some 500. At
6:01 a.m. — the first minute after key time— it began
waning, at a rate of four each minute as the riders were
flagged off to the north along a dusty, twisting road that
flitted between the scattered farms which eked existence
from the arid soil. Crews left as well, following the de-
tailed maps provided by PMC to pick up the trails of
riders at the few points where course and highway
crossed.
RADIO CONTACT
From the base unit in the pits, the VCRA mobile
radio club stayed in close contact with their dozens
of spotters along the course, providing instant com-
munication should emergencies arise. An airplane was
on standby should transportation of an injured rider
to hospital facilities be required. Organization was plainly
evident, when after the last rider had been waved off
(77 minutes after the start), the powerful V8-engined
tractors of the Chuckwalla Jeep Club lumbered out to
follow the riders over the course and lend assistance as
needed.
Little difficulty presented itself that first morning,
since the trail was 90% over desert roads, interspersed
with short sections of virgin terrain through bushes
and dawn sandrivers. Even so, fiat tires, broken cables
and even blown engines attested to the fact that only
careful preparation will ensure finishing the 500 miles.
Regular refueling stops provided known checkpoints
at Adelanto, Hinkley and just outside Kramer Junction.
Speed changes were many, with the average varying from
24 to 36 mph. and several secret checks were stra-
tegically placed to trap even the cream of the experts
who had amassed to pit their skill against the desert
and the clock. Former winners Buck Smith (’59 and
’64), Max Bubeck (’47 and ’62), Eddie Day, Frank
Chase. Al Rogers and Mike Konle were on hand. Add
John Steen, Bob Steffan, Dave Ekins, Bud Howseman,
Gene Hirst, Floyd Burk, and a host of other notable
aspirants to the list and it was obvious that only the
best would prevail.
Iron Mountain, with its slow-average rocky downhill
was the first real test, and soon after, the climb through
deep sand to the crest of Lynx Cat Mountain while
maintaining 24 mph averages proved the big challenge
as a secret check at minimum distance just over the
top recorded point losses for all but ten of the riders.
The noon check was at Red Mountain, following
150 miles of fun-filled or agonizing trail, depending on
the viewpoint. Venerable Lloyd Larson, a youngster
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