Mint 400
Mint 400
The Buggies and the Four-Wheelers Ate Bike Dust All The Way
ED ORR
IF THERE is one thing sweeter than revenge, it is proving a solid conviction. Such as, in off-road rallying, motorcycles are the fastest means of getting from point A to point B. No if's and's or but's. The FASTEST! If there are any doubters, look at the J.N. Roberts/Gunnar Lindstrom performance in the Mint 400.
The course was an off-road rally in the style of the Mexican 1000, but there were several differences. It was shorter, using only 400 miles of desert, rather than the TijuanaLa Paz Mexican go, and it was run in a loop beginning and ending in Las Vegas, Nev. Eight known check points, plus two surprises, dotted the route which was touted as the roughest terrain in Nevada. Sand washes, lava flows, dunes, and unexpected gullies were the natural obstacles that would have made it plenty challenging without the factors of confusion, and lack of organization. The riders also were greatly hampered by a crude, hand-drawn map delivered the morning of the rally, along with instructions such as: “When you come to the white refrigerator, you turn down the trail.” Then there were directions which called for spotting a mine shaft on the side of a hill across a valley-this during the night section of the course.
The route was laid out by local dune buggy and Jeep enthusiasts, and they made it as rough as they knew how. Apparently it never occurred to them to consult any of the desert riding motorcycle clubs for advice on either marking the course or estimating the time it would take to finish. That is why a sharp dip appeared without the familiar three slashes of lime, and aviated one of the riders at about 80 mph. The shunt cost him the run and a broken shoulder. Amazingly, confusion considered, it was the only mishap of the entire rally.
Basing their estimated time of arrival on the ability of their four-wheel machines, the course markers stated that the first finishers would be back across the finish line “in about 18 to 20 hours.” One of the fellows confided that they only said that to be cautious and he personally was sure that no one, but no one, could possibly finish in less than 30 hours. Only with great reluctance were hotel officials persuaded to man the finish line 12 hr. after the start of the event.
They settled themselves down for a long wait only to leap up with startled looks 20 min. later when J.N. Roberts blasted his Husqvarna across the line. They couldn’t believe their eyes, but Robert’s route card had signatures for every check point, including the initials of Eric Rickman of Hot Rod magazine. Rick had signed five bikes through at the Beatty check point before officials arrived to do their
It may have rattled them some, but it was no surprise to those who had been chasing the bikes from point to point during the day. Although they started in the middle of the pack, the first six machines to reach Ash Meadows (No. 3 check point) were motorcycles.
First to arrive was Mick Patrick of Pomona, Calif., on a factory Yamaha 250. Close behind was Bill Hill of Las Vegas, Nev., on his Greeves. Then Gunnar Lindstrom from Sweden, who was sharing the ride with Roberts, showed on the Husky. His left rear shock absorber was completely done for, and while it was being replaced, Bob Ewing from Sepulveda, Calif., brought his dust covered BSA Victor to a halt in the pits. Bill Silverthorn of Lemon Grove, Calif., on another Husky, and AÍ Rogers of Burbank, Calif., herding a Triumph 650, both made appearances before the first buggy came into view.
While the Jeep fans scratched their heads, the bike people smiled knowingly and began to bundle up the spare parts and head for the next check point.
One name was missing from the early arrivals. Bud Ekins, riding his big Triumph, was long overdue. Then someone called, “Another bike coming in!” and through the dust Ekins could be seen bouncing all over the desert. As he came closer, the reason for the erratic ride became obvious. About 40 miles out, he had lost both rear axle nuts and the rear wheel was flopping around like a neurotic gyroscope. A quick search of the pits showed that there was not a single Triumph in the area and Bud was ready to head out without repairs, rather than give up. Then a spectator heard of his plight, and donated the axle nuts from his street Triumph. Bud quickly installed the nuts, arranged for the fellow’s bike to be trucked back to town and was on his way.
The next place the course could be reached from the highway was at Beatty, Nev. This was the half-way point at which the majority of riders were to change. Even with Nevada’s “what ever is fair” highway speed limit many followers arrived there too late to see the first four bikes. Lindstrom came in looking dazed; about 20 miles out he had fallen and landed hard enough to break his glasses under his goggles. The last few miles had been ridden on instinct alone, and he was not even sure where he was when he arrived. Lindstrom sustained a mild concussion and was fine in a few hours, but he admitted he had revised his opinion on the relative merits of European vs. American style helmets.
As J.N. took over the Husky, the sound of Ekin’s Triumph shattered the air. He pulled in, fueled, got his route card signed and then looked around. “Where’s Max?” he asked, referring to Max Switzer, his co-rider. No Max. For the next few minutes Bud expressed his displeasure as only he can, then leaped on the bike, vowing to ride all the way to Las Vegas if necessary. Switzer, it turned out, was running down axle nuts and met Ekins at the next check point. We saw him next at the Parhump (honest, Parhump) road refueling stop. Max hesitated between shifts to ask if this were a check point and when he found it wasn’t, caught the next cog and blasted off into the night.
Roberts had passed the road over an hour before. Those rally followers who wished to see the finish had to hustle.
The finish line was nearly deserted. Katy Lester, of Milne Bros., Pasadena, Calif., was waiting to check the winners, but no hotel officials were present. They dragged in at midnight, and at 12:20 a.m. Roberts took the checkered flag. It was three bikes and 3 hr., 20 min. before the first four-wheeled vehicle made its appearance.
Larry Berquist from Paramount, Calif., arrived 40 min. behind Roberts on a Honda and Switzer pulled in 1 hr., and 15 min. after that to pick up 3rd place. Terry Griebel of Las Vegas came 4th on a Greeves.Herode with Bill Hill, also of Las Vegas.
Bob Ewing was 5th after wandering around the desert, completely lost, for hours. The instructions had said to find the fence and turn left at the flag. He found the fence and then spent the rest of the time searching for the non-existant flag. Finally, he took off in what he thought was the general direction of Las Vegas and eventually picked up the course.
The Jeeps began to arrive at dawn.
This time there were no if’s. Roberts elapsed time of 12 hr., 30 min. gave him an average speed of 32 mph over a course that destroyed 60 percent of the cars that attempted it. For their effort Roberts and Lindstrom shared 1st place money of $2000, plus contingency awards, and another $500 for fastest overall time.
It seems it has taken off-road competition to do it, but at last purses are beginning to match the performances in motorcycle events. It was a long time coming and no one deserves it more.
MINT 400 DESERT RALLY
