Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-17
Rough Old Days
OfMotorcyeling
leone Forever
BY George Huber

Several members OF the District
Ramblers Motorcycle Club were
sitting around discussing this and
that when a nonbeliever elbowed
his way into the group and sus-
gested that motorcycle riders.
especially the racing riders. must
have been behind the door when
the brains were passed out.
The motorcycle boys were very
gentle about the whole thing and
the nonbeliever was able TO walk
away under his own power and
with only a few minor bruises.
Maybe in the old days the
motorcycle riders were considered
q rough bunch. but 1t was forced
on them by circumstances and
it isn't so any more. Motorcyclists
today form a good cross section
of the citizenry. The Ramblers'
membership, for instance, In
cludes such as clerks, mechanics,
bookkeepers, a dentist and an
Army officer. It's much the same
as any other social club.
Bob Hartley, president Of the
Ramblers, and Vernon (Red)
House, a .onetime racing driver
and hill climbing champion who
now owns the Harley-Davidson
Agency here. are very proud Of
the public standing enjoyed by
motorists. In the old days the
motors made q lot of noise and
the neighbors complained" House
recalls.
Sport Policies Itself. -:
1.-THE boys had to move from
here to there and they finally
ended up in some dive on the edge
of town. Maybe they got an un-
savory reputation they didn't
deserve. Now the sport has policed
itself, motors are quiet and the
boys behave and are welcome
everywhere"
It all has come about through
better public relations sponsored
by the American Motorcycle
Association, governing body Of
the sport. They have q tough set
OF rules about behavior in public.
Everybody must use mufflers.
there's no crazy driving. so miles
is top speed permitted on the
open road and in town they take
1t even easier than the law de-
mands. And If anybody gets out
Of line we lower the BOOM" said
Hartley. "You know how it is,
one bad apple can ruin the barrel.
We get rid Of the bad apples"
The Ramblers are interested
IN both social riding and racing.
Some week ends they 60 on road
trips with an outing or picnic
at the end of the trip. Other week
ends they have racing meetings
at their club grounds and track
at Piney Grove on the Marlboro
pike.
There are about four we'll
known racing drivers in the
Ramblers club that completes
against riders from other clubs,
and they put on quite . show.
Racing machines either are re-
ular models souped UP and
stripped down. or specially built
affairs, according to the finances
Of the individual. Racing motor
cycles. incidentally, have no
brakes. Seems thst II . driver
applied the brakes at high speed
he would flip over. and drivers
behind him would pile into him.
Instead they wear metal shoe
on the left foot to drag while
rounding turns.
Sabine Is Local Ace.
Best known Of the racing driv-
ers hereabout Is George Sabine.
q big, husky farmer from near
Gaithersburg and who is rated
officially as an expert driver. That
means he can race in any event
anywhere.
Among other top riders in the
Ramblers club are Bee Bee Smith,
Vic Donovan and George Becraft.
Locally motorcycle racing and
riding seem on the upswing.
Crowds are getting larger all the
time for the races at Piney Grove,
and more and more youngsters
are taking to the machines
Motorcycle racing starts May "a
at West Lanham.
Say, don't get the idea that
motorcycle riders are crazy
Hartley said in parting. I'VE
preach safe and sane riding all
the time. The Ramblers were
organized in 1899, and every year
we win some sort Of safety award.
Can any other sporting club say
as much?"
n