BARSTOW TO LAS VEGAS RESURRECTED? What, by many, can only be called a crime will be committed on the California desert over the Thanksgiving weekend--a legally sanctioned crime made possible by a loophole in federal ORV regulations. Last year's Phantom Duck motorcycle race along the old Barstow to Las Vegas route was an illegal escapade which lead to contempt proceedings against the race organizers. This year the Phantom is back, is bigger, & is to be a "legal" race held without a permit and without an environmental assessment. As part of the Phantom Duck settlement, BLM agreed to consider issuing a permit for a major race this Thanksgiving, provided that monitoring and other requirements could be met. Apparently cross-country motorcycle enthusiasts desire more than just a big racing event, they seem determined to reopen and re-establish the massive Barstow to Las Vegas race across the eastern Mojave Desert. Negotiations between BLM, cross-country motorcyclists and desert conservationists have not been without their tense moments. At a negotiating meeting in September, representatives of the American Motorcycle Association issued what must be interpreted as a threat of violence. In stating that AMA had received thousands of letters from people willing to participate in a protest race the AMA spokesperson said that he "just knew some of the riders would come armed and would shoot at the knee caps of BLM Rangers attempting to stop the race". The defiant attitude of AMA is shared by Assemblyman Robert Hayes (R-San Fernando Valley). Hayes, a member of AMA, was present at the September 24 meeting where he indicated he would not only participate in such a protest but would attempt to be the first arrested. Rumors and tensions have been running high for some time with a potentially belligerent confrontation brewing between AMA and BLM. Earlier this month BLM issued an Emergency Closure of key segments of the Barstow to Las Vegas route, contacted both the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and the State Highway Patrol for help in enforcing the closure, and continued to meet with motorcyclists and conservationists In an attempt to defuse the situation.

Caving in to motorcyclists' demands, BLM reversed itself and is now allowing the race to take place along a utility pole-line road, owned by the L.A. Dept. of Water & Power which roughly parallels Interstate 15 from Barstow to Las Vegas. Access roads to the pole-line road are to be used as pit stop areas, and some formerly closed desert lands have been opened for camping and spectators' use. Riders in the event are to confine themselves to this pole-road, those who stray from the road will be subject to citation. Under the emergency closure they would have been subject to arrest. It seems that the riders themselves will be largely relied upon to enforce the route confinement. At the time of this writing we have no assurance from BLM as to the level of enforcement and have no knowledge as to whether or not the San Bernardino County Sheriffs or other law enforcement agencies will be on hand to issue citations. By allowing this event the BLM is not officially giving its blessings to this Hare and Hound chase. What they are doing is letting the racers take advantage of a loophole in Blame's ORV management regulations. Races of less than 50 participants do not require special land use racing permits. This year's race will be conducted with riders starting off In clusters of less than 50. If AMA's statement is true regarding thousands of people willing to ride in a protest race, then on Thanksgiving weekend we will see thousands of riders slipping through this loophole. The Thanksgiving Barstow to Las Vegas run was a traditional race that started out small and grew into the biggest, most spectacular event in cross-country racing. By 1974 the race had grown to over 3,000 participants and attracted a throng of 9,000 spectators and support crews. At that time two waves of riders churned up a mile wide, 150 mile long swath of desert and the resulting degradation was undeniable. 1974 was the last year a racing permit was issued for this event. Each year since has been witness to successively smaller outlaw races or "unorganized trail rides", but the agitation to re-establish the big race has grown.

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