Don't try this at home. Riding the MAC to Morro Bay

[Thruxton71]

Perhaps I should not be reading 'Leanings 2' by Perter Egan, where he describes, page after page, adventuresome motorcycle rides, some in awful conditions. After all, I thought, how hard can it be to ride a 1952 Velocette MAC across Soda Lake Road in the summer?? I have ridden all sorts of motorcycles across that road, a 1987 Moto Guzzi Lemans, a modern Triumph Tiger ATV, my 1970 Triumph Daytona, and I think my 1966 Velocette Endurance. I have been riding the MAC since I was 16, much longer than I have ridden those other posers, so no problemo, right?

Off we went, Friday the 22cd, with a full tank of gas, and Jane following with my Nissan Frontier, also full of gas AND with a Jerry Can of premium, or as we used to call it, ethyl. Also, just in case I broke down or crashed, a ramp, a ton of tie downs, tools of all sorts, spare tube, tire irons, hand pump, assortment of zip ties and wire.. you know, the usual stuff you need for a 70 year old motorcycle. Not that I was worried.. I had a new K70 on the back, and a reasonable semi ribbed front, all at the proper pressure. I was ready.

Over 33 out of Ojai, climbing into the sun, but now with my new high tech visor glued to the top of my biltwell bubble three snap shield, I am not blind, and the familiar curves of 33 are a joy to negotiate. I wasn't running hard, but somehow Jane fell back. An easy descent to Ozena Fire Station, where I waited for her to get in my mirror. Down the road we went, stopping at 'The Place' in Ventucopa, now under new ownership, for breakfast and a rest. Not bad, we didn't get sick and the staff was nice. All new faces. I hope it works out.

Soon the lone rider and support truck and heading down 33 to 166, turning east. In a few miles we turn left onto Soda Lake Road, which runs though the length of Carizzo Plain National Monument (https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-c ... l-monument). Hey.. it is a National Monument.. how bad can the roads be?

After a few miles of interesting pavement we enter the 20 mile plus section of what I was thinking of as a groomed dirt road.

The first set of washboards that knocked my feet off the pegs (a 1952 MAC has NO rear suspension) and bottomed out the front fork quickly set that idea to rest. What followed can best be described as a very slow and sometimes terrifying ride over washboards with occasional sand pits. There were three occasions when I was sure the sand had me and I was dabbing with my right foot while following the hard to follow advice of twisting the throttle. In each instance I somehow rode through the section, losing points on the dabs, but not kissing the ground. Jane reported that she was having trouble keeping the truck on the road in sections. The truck.

We inched along the road, barely getting above 25 mph, trying to pick out tracks that were not washboard, and also not deep sand. About 18 miles in some punk on a dual purpose small capacity motorcycle zoomed by, probably wondering what insane asylum I was released from and if he should report me.

All this time I am thinking about the Southern California riders in the 40s and 50s that embraced the MAC as the answer to off road racing. I always like to think that to them, it was the KTM of the day. Light, much lighter than the Harley's and Indian's people raced off road, and with good power to weight. Based on my experience, these were Real Riders. The next day I was describing my ride to an accomplished off road rider of British bikes, and he proclaimed that I was going too slow. 40 would have worked better. Sure. I guess I would have cut through the sand, and floated over the washboard. As would have the Nissan. I will never know.

Somewhere, after what seemed an eternity of hair raising road negotiation, we found the exit, and a continuous stretch of paved road. ..(oh,,there was that teaser section about mid way through, just to let you know how bad things are). it was a feeling of elation to twist the throttle and negotiate the easy to spot giant potholes all the way to the next stop, a fire station with a paved driveway. I pulled in and refueled with Jane's help, then suited up for the next section. Oh, and guzzled water like an elephant.

Now things look up, as one of the big reasons I wanted to take SLR was to connect with Highway 58 west right before it turns into one of the most voluptuous sections of motorcycle road you can find in California. I don't know why, but maybe after feeling like I had no control over my motorcycle on SLR literally shacking off the dust on 58 was just what was needed. This is a very well engineered section of road that threads though rolling hills and ranches on it's way toward the coast. Our plan was to take La Panza road into Creston and CA 41, and that is what we did. I overshot 41, and would probably still be looking for it, but Jane saw the tiny sign and set me right. 41 is another nice bit of road, and once you clear Atascadero it get really nice. I could see this, but I was following Jane and other traffic, so I didn't wring the most out of the road. What was really welcome was the rapid drop in temperature, from the low 100's of SLR, to the 60's as we approached the coast.

Dusty and with chunks of plant life captured in parts of the undercarriage, I rolled into the Hotel where the Velocette club of North America was finishing up it's final day of riding. This has been on my bucket list for a while, ride to the final day and attend the Annual General Meeting. There used to be a rider who spent the whole week riding to the yearly event, attended the AGM, and rode home. He came from the mid-west somewhere, I think they called him iron man Mike, and I thought it was a good idea this year. I only had to go a little over 170 miles, and I trucked home, but still, I was happy.

I entered the show the next day, parking the dusty MAC among the gleaming Velocettes. There was a MAC special for instance, A MAC engine in a gold star frame, with alloy oil and gas tanks - built by Jim Romain and Steve Eorio, looking like it came from a factory, Then there was one of my favorites, a racing MAC of Gary Roper's (https://www.rideapart.com/features/2470 ... velocette/ -- scroll down and look for #7). Wandering around in the crowd was Motor Journalist Clement Salvadori (who featured my MAC in one of his magazine articles), and, fresh from a vintage race at Laguna Seca the famous Dave Roper (https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/ro ... pionships/) who is a member of the club, as he likes Velocettes.. odd man..

After the show (and getting help loading my bike on the truck) there was the big event, held on a patio overlooking Morro Bay. Kind of like Dinner and a show, where the official club business is dealt with (next years officers, next years ride, etc), a raffle is carried out (bottle of wine from Steve Eorio.. very good), and the this years awards (show judging, etc) are given out, as well as some joke awards. Very entertaining, it is.

So kids, don't try this at home. Motorcycles are dangerous, especially in the hands of the untrained..

From Ojai,

Cheers.