Death Valley Run

DEATH VALLEY RUN

A motorcycle event to die for

IN 1962, THE U.S. military's interest in Vietnam was increasing, Ken Kesey wrote his now-famous One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and in California, more than 2500 motorcyclists embarked on the seventh-annual Death Valley Motorcycle Gypsy Tour. Cycle World was there to cover the ride for our inaugural January, 1962, issue.

Organized by the Rich Budelier Company, a Los Angeles Harley-Davidson dealership owned by Dick Hutchins, the Death Valley runs were eagerly anticipated events.

“I just wanted to get people on their motorcycles. I wanted to show them places they would never have gone on their own,” says 73-yearold Hutchins, who still leads the occasional group tour through Death Valley, though the official runs ended in the late 1970s.

The annual rides occurred during the last weekend in October, and motorcyclists from all over California showed up. The scenery was the main draw.

“If there is a God, he went berserk in Death Valley,” says Hutchins’ wife Ann. “You’re surrounded by snow-covered mountains and the floor of the valley is white with salt. And then there are other areas where the earth is so rich with minerals that it

seems they’ve overflowed and the hills are chocolate brown and mint green.”

The ride’s destination was the oasis-like Furnace Creek Ranch. According to the original CW story, upon arrival participants were treated to a “tasty ‘bean feed’ (franks, barbecued beans, coleslaw, apple, cherry or peach pie, ice cream, hot coffee and milk).”

With twilight, the Victor McLaglen Motorcycle Corps made an appearance, and then the trophies were awarded. From the Baldest Head to the Fattest Man, few walked away without

some sort of decoration. Most prestigious was the Best Dressed Group award, which went to the nattylooking Valiants club.

“Ah, the Valiants,” recalls CW founder Joe Parkhurst. “I remember them. That’s what was so great about the Death Valley run. It was a nice, civilized family affair. And in the right weather, it was a really nice ride.”

As we found out 35 years later on the Road King, Royal Star and Valkyrie, it still is. Wendy F. Black