1953 NW MC Review
By LILA BULEN
On February 22, 1953, the committee of the Northwest
Motorcycle Association met at the Puyallup club house of the
Tacoma Motorcycle club. This meeting was also attended by
delegates from the thirteen motorcycle clubs that are
currently affiliated with the organization.
The president of the group is Rod Hepburn, vice-president
is Andy Skeel, Elaine Huffman was elected
secretary-treasurer of the association. Don Huffman was
returned to the office of State Referee, Lila Bulen (below)
was elected publicity member of the committee.
During this February 22 session the dates
for the season's events were planned.
Jolly Rogers Motorcycle club asked for the first date,
March 8 for a reliability run open to all riders.
The next event was March 15 - the annual Shamrock run
which Paul Allen of the Allen Cycle shop in Tacoma always
sponsors. The interest of the riders on that date was
divided because the Daytona Beach 200-mile National
Championship race was also being run in Florida on that date
and the foremost motorcycle champion of the Northwest was
entered in the competition.
The men returning at the close of the event were shocked
by the news that C.A. "Red" Farwell had been killed during
the race because a spectator crossed the track in the path
of Red's speeding cycle causing his own death as well as
that of the beloved "Red."
The annual mud run was held at the Old Queen City track
on March 29. This annual laff-provoker was won by Floyd
Payne of Buckley.
April 5, Easter Sunday, the membership met at Woodinville
for the yearly Easter egg hunt.
The first hill climb in the Northwest was run as usual by
the Jolly Rogers club on their own grounds at 216th South.
With the crowds wildly cheering for him, Bart Baker topped
the 420 foot hill in 12.45 seconds to better the record and
become the new champion of the spectacular hill.
On May 10 the Renton Ravens and the Cossacks of Seattle
sponsored the hill climb at McDonald's Grove.
May 10 the annual Bob Knox Memorial race was held at
Tacoma on the Motorcycle club grounds. The proceeds of this
event were turned over to the family of Red Farwell who had
been a member of the club for several years.
Jolly Rogers, on June 14, sponsored the first Tourist
Trophy race to be held in the Seattle area for the past few
years. This two-star event was well attended and Ellen
Wright of Portland, took home top honors in the trophy dash.
Frankie Williams of Eugene, Oregon, was the first in the
Expert l2 lap event. The amateur 10 lap went to Bud,
Budschott of 'Seattle. The 8 lap novice event was taken by
Bob Armstrong of Seattle.
The Gypsy Tour at Long Beach Washington, which appeals to
all motorcycle riders, including members of all N.M.A. clubs
was held June 19, 20, and 21st.
On Sunday morning the Little Daytona was run and after
this the thousand riders began the long trek home. This year
the Gypsy tour was sponsored by the Oregon Motorcycle
Dealers’ Association.
The Third Annual Little Brown Jug run sponsored by the
Renton Ravens was run on July 5.
On August 2 the Annual Death Head Derby T.T. was run on
the Olympia Club grounds at Olympia. Eugene Theissen, a
champion out of Oregon, took away top honors at this event.
In co-operation with the Seattle Seafair, Jolly Rogers
garbed in their amusing pirate gear, rode in the regular
parade which opens the celebration. They were also entered
in the evening parade featured during this occasion.
A spectacular and novel race was sponsored by Arlene
Barfuss, state director of the Motor Maids. This all-girl
competition received a great deal of interest, especially at
the takeoff from the Lake Washington floating bridge.
At a banquet held at the conclusion of the Enduro a
trophy was awarded Evelyn Pugh of Tacoma for first place.
On a date during the latter part of August the Renton
Ravens and the Jolly Rogers both were entered in the Renton
Days Parade. The Cossacks presented several of their fine
acts at the show held in cooperation with this civic event.
A three-star hillclimb, Pacific Coast championship
gukkckumb, sponsored by the Cossacks and the Renton Ravens,
was held at the McDonald's Grove site. In the amateur class
Bob Goddard of Tacoma took the 45 cubic inch, and Jack
Bloomquist of Tacoma ,took the 80 cubic inch event.
September 13 closed the hillclimb season in the Northwest
Motorcycle Association’s calendar. In a hilllclimb held that
day at the Jolly Rogers Hill, Victor Ascenzi rode the famous
bike called "the hores," went over the top of the hill in
12.44 seconds.
As the busy season began to taper off to a finish the
Bremerton club presented to the public a race at the
Silverdale Speedway. The following Sunday the Blue Barons
sponsored a road drivers' field meet at the location of
their clubhouse in South Tacoma.
Numerous small events, in addition to this recounting,
have taken place during the active season of motorcycling
but some of them were unreported. Many were impromptu, such
as the Snow Run to Snoqualmie, which was as exciting as any
of the summer events. |
2006 NW MC Review
By TOM MEHREN
2006 was one of the most eventful years we’ve been
through here at Sound RIDER! When we submitted our schedule
back in October of 2005 to the American Motorcyclist
Association we knew we had a full plate. Poker runs, vendor
events, rallies and more kept us busy throughout the year.
And beyond our own events there were well over 1,000
motorcycle events total in the Northwest this year. What a
great place to be a motorcycle enthusiast!
While the weather started out cold, there was plenty to
do indoors. Ride West BMW and South Sound BMW presented
numerous slide shows throughout the first three months of
the year with guests like moto journalists Clement Salvadori
and Helge Pedersen.
SR! Publisher Tom Mehren began the year presenting
several Packing Light/Packing Right seminars to Sound RIDER!
readers. The positive response inspired the outline and
eventual release of the PLPR book which came out November
21st.
In February we saw the 4th annual Inland Motorcycle Show
in Spokane. The show continues to grow each year in
popularity and will be held in the new convention facility
in Spokane in 2007.
The sun came out by March and many riders made their way
to Adventure Motorsports in Monroe for the Sound RIDER!
Daytona party. Those who were hearty enough used the maps
provided to explore the suggested rides nearby following the
race.
By April many club rides were underway. A record 47
dualsport riders came out to Fall City for a day ride up to
Spada Lake. In late April the old bike enthusiasts once again
convened for another successful Bonehead Enduro along the
North Fork Snoqualmie River. For those who wanted to sit and
watch others ride in the dirt a wet night ensued at Qwest
Field for the second year of championship supercross races
in Seattle.
April also brought the final results of the Sound RIDER!
Dealer Survey. Skagit Powersports (below) along with
Harley-Davidson of Seattle, Moto International, Vince's
Motorcycle Store in Olympia, South Sound BMW and Gervasi's
of Everett scored multiple plaques.
In addition to rides of all kinds May saw many bike
swaps, shows and spring openers across the Northwest.
Cycle Barn held their Sportbike Dyno day in their new
building and rally season was underway with the Hell’s
Canyon Motorcycle Rally held in Oregon.
In June the first annual two day Trollhaugen dualsport
event through the Cascades was a sell out with proceeds
benefiting the Puget Sound Dualsport Enthusiasts and Pacific
Northwest Museum of Motorcycling. The local Triumph RAT Pack
headed for Winthrop and racing of all types includes
sportbikes, nitros and sidecars was underway at Pacific
Raceways.
Idaho played host to the BMW RA rally during July with
just under 1,000 in attendance, and later the Kawasaki
Concours Owners group held their rally in the gem state.
Meanwhile Washougal ORV park once again hosted local AMA
championship motocross.
August saw the annual exodus to Sturgis, but back home
the Starlight Children’s ride covered roads in both
Washington and Oregon beginning at South Sound BMW in Fife
and Ending at Portland Motorcycle Company.
Sound RIDER! Rally Week in the Gorge followed later in
the month with a record turnout of 400 people for the week
long event which encompassed sportbike, sport touring, dual
sport and maxi scooter riders. Triumph America brought
their demo truck and kept busy with non-stop rides each day
for four days straight. The weather held and a good
time was had by all.
That same weekend the Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts held
their Isle of Vashon event. With the good weather the
event was well attended once again.
They say they come in threes and September saw the first
loss of a Northwest motorcycle icon when motocross legend
Jim Pomeroy lost his life to a Jeep accident. We also saw
the passing of former Downtown Harley-Davidson owner and
custom bike builder, Russ Tom, who died in a helicopter
crash. In late October we lost one of the most persistent
lobbyist Northwest motorcycling has even known when Karen
Bolin was taken by cancer.
Cooler weather and rain didn’t stop many from riding in
September. The Triumph RAT Pack enjoyed a ride out to Lolo
Pass, the Ride West Insurance 3 Pass BLA$T took riders
through the Cascades for the annual time/speed/distance
event, and Goldendale held its first Festival of Wheels.
The month ended with another record turnout for the
Anacortes Oyster Run.
October saw the end of racing season, club events moved
indoors and the cool weather set in as it always does.
In November the first ever Skin N Steel expo was held in
Everett featuring bad bikes and lots of tattoos.
December closed the year with another great Cycle World
International Motorcycle Show event held at the Qwest Field
Center.
Numerous small events, in addition to this recounting,
have taken place during the active season of motorcycling
but some of them were unreported. Many were impromptu, such
as the Solstice ride around Hood Canal, which was as
exciting as any of the summer events.
Highlights in this story were culled from the Sound
RIDER! Calendar. List your event today at
www.soundrider.com/calendar.
|
