Steel Stampede 2008

A bunch of us went up to Crooked River Ranch last Saturday to watch the second annual Steel Stampede. The Steel Stampede is a vintage trials and scrambles competition limited to bikes manufactured before 1974. Trials competitions are certainly the slowest of any motorcycle competitions ever to be held. Contestants are challenged to ride over a series of obstacles without touching their feet to the ground. The rider to complete the courses with the fewest dabs is the winner. The weather was on and off at best, just like last year. Temps in the fifties with spitting rain. Hey when you live in the high desert you take whatever rain you can get.

One of the big attractions was the appearance of the legendary Dick Mann. At 73 years young, he rode a 350 Ariel through thirty courses. I don't really know who may have won, Dick competed in class "3".

Here are some pics of the action. Have you ever seen a bicycle rider do a track stand? That's where a bike racer locks both feet to the pedals and awaits the starting gun.
These guys do that frequently during each section.







Check out this INCREDIBLE AJS 500.



Unfortunately Dick learned the hard way that Oregon Junipers do not easily give up their victims one of them very nearly pulled him off of that Ariel.

KZCSI

it takes some serious balance to do that kind of riding!

It's great to see that Dick still gets out there just for the love of the sport.

I really dig that old Ariel.
Long time ago in a far away place a friend of mine
had and old single cylinder 350cc Ariel road bike which
I thought was just the coolest thing ever.

Great photos.

Thanks