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Of 20-30 Bike RaceBy LOREN USTIAK The Yuma Dai fa SunA tired but happy Dave Wilkins of 1737 Pendcrgast Avenue raced across the finish line yesterday afternoon to win the Active 20-30 Club bicycle race.Averaging almost 20 in ph. Wilkins finished the 14-mile race that began and ended at the Sears parking lot in 44 minutes.Less than a minute later. Cliff Wimberly, MCAS, spedEDITOR’SNOTEBOOK The GreatByJONESOSBORNOne month ago today, Congress closed its books and went home. And the following day, the first hint of a settlement in the Vietnam war was flashed around the world.A French newsman reported from “usually reliable sources” in Saigon that the conditions of a cease-fire would be proclaimed throughout Indo-China within 10 days. Most Americans, wearv from 10 years of bloodshed and disappointment* seized on the news like a drowning man grasping at a straw. That was just 17 days before the U.S. election.Two days later, spokesmen for Hanoi described the peace talks as extremely important.'* And two days after that. President Thieu of South Vietnam announced that peace could come “in the near future — hut onh if the North withdrew all its troops from thv South.In our eagerness to see. at long last, that much-promised ''light at the end of the tunnel ” Americans were content to ignore -Thieu's solemn warning. The prosed of peace was ton jovous in let anything interfere.By October 2fth (just 11 da vs Ik? fore the election) we had word from the crafty negotiator himself. Dr. Kissinger said flatlv that “peace is at hand. He said three or Tour da vs of private diplomacy would do it. Bui he also spoke of a coalition government for Souih Vietnam, in which North and South and the communist guerrillas would pro-Peace CampaignHe lashed out at the negotiations. calling the secret pact 'suicide/' Columnist William Buckley, sensitive to the plight of the puppet dictator, wrote that Thieu was ^caught in the crunch.'* lie was caught be* tween Mr. Nixons fervid drivp for a pre-election settlement and the North's cool demands for advantages - all at the expense of the South, Mysterious developments in Vietnam.” Buck lev called rhem. Bv Nov, 1st. Thieu was positively adamanL He refused to be sold down the river. He demanded that North Vietnam and South Vietnam negotiate the peace — and his terms were still the withdrawal of all of Hanoi's troops, and no coalition government.By then, of course, it was too late. Most Americans were happily awaiting the word that it was fin all v over. The tide of public opinion was optimistic* despite the gutsystand of Pres. Thieu. The Election, onlv six days off, was in the bag for Nixon.Senator McGovern, bravelv lending a losing campaign, said he would welcome penm lo hr* sure. But there were now plenty of signs that we weren't seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, after all. The IJ.S. was rushing millions of dollars worth of military supplies to the Souih, and the North was fiercely seizing new ground. Mi Govern, two days before the election, said he thought the war would go on.And so it has. The bombing, the struggle for slrnlegic iosi-lions. the accumulation nf supplies, the forced march ofpast the finish line. Third lo finish the race was Marc Ellis of 1450 K. Palo Verde who was sponsored by Lee’s Cycle. Ellis’ time was 40minutes.First place in the women's competition went to Christine Osborn, 401 S. 24th Avenue. Both Wilkcns and Mrs. Osborn won H)«speed bicycles for their victories. The bicycles were donated by Yamaha of Yuma and The Yuma Daily Sun.The bicycle race is a part of the Active 20-30 Club Olympics which were held yesterday.Approximately 50 cyclists began the race on «Hh Avenue Extension just east of I he Sears parking lot. They were escorted north on 4th Avenue by City Police until they reached 1st Street. During the first leg of the race the cyclists were kept in n group and held to a speed of slightly more than iOmph.When the cyclists headed west on 1st Street, the pack began to spread as each rider set his own pace. By the time the leading riders turned south on Avenue C. a half dozen cyclists were lighting for the lead.Only Wilkins and Wimberly were in contention when they turned east cm #nd Street. They battled it out until just before Avenue A when Wimberly's hike developed sear shift linkage problems.Wilkins then took a commanding lead and coasted to the finish line located just south of Sears on the 32nd Street access road.Only a few cyclists dropped out during the race. Thev quiL at 4th Avenue ami 16th St reel.One rider got hungry while riding along Avenue C so he stopped, picked some fruit and continued in the race.Class winners are: 2t)-ln-10-year-old men sane group — 1st place, Wilkins. 2nd place, Wimberly, and third, Kennv LcRov who raced for Lees Cycle; 20-to-40 women’s group - 1st place, Mrs. Osborn, ‘2nd place, Linda Lav from Lees Cycle, and third, Jean Davis of ihe Valiev National Rank: men's under 20 group - 1st pincc. Ellis; and women's under 20 group - 1st place, Tawti Ogram of the Valley National Rank.
Newspaper Details
Yuma Daily Sun
Yuma, Arizona, US
Sun, Nov 19, 1972
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Yuma C.
AZ, USA 07 Jul 2020
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