Steel Stampede 5/3/09
| The Steel Stampede is an AHRMA Regional Vintage MX&Trials, held once a year in the central Oregon community of Crooked River Ranch (near Terrebonne). This event is 3 years old, and is an event designed to bennefit the community. Pete Fisher, of Powroll Engineering, thought the whole thing up. One day while eating his lunch at the Country Store in Crooked River, he happened to look accross the street, and it came to mind "that would be a great place for an event". He was aware of the situation the local community was in, being short on funds for Fire & Park Dept. projects, so a fund raiser with Motorcycles was put together. The Steel Stampede |
I've wanted to do this event every year,
but wasn't able make the 490mi trip from
my home in Napa Calif. till this year. This
year things came together, the only real
concern I had was Rain. The week
leading up the Stampede, Bend Ore. T.V.
station KTZV channel 21 was reporting
rain for Sunday on their on-line weather
reports, but I took a big chance. Leaving
Napa with the windshield wipers on
Saturday mid-morning, my fear was a
1000mi trip to a Rained out event. All the
way to Mt. Shasta my fears grew. Hitting
Dorris the clouds were not letting up, but I
pressed on into Oregon.
but wasn't able make the 490mi trip from
my home in Napa Calif. till this year. This
year things came together, the only real
concern I had was Rain. The week
leading up the Stampede, Bend Ore. T.V.
station KTZV channel 21 was reporting
rain for Sunday on their on-line weather
reports, but I took a big chance. Leaving
Napa with the windshield wipers on
Saturday mid-morning, my fear was a
1000mi trip to a Rained out event. All the
way to Mt. Shasta my fears grew. Hitting
Dorris the clouds were not letting up, but I
pressed on into Oregon.
A little way into Oregon I could see blue
sky patches for the first time the whole trip.
I made good time to Klammath Falls and
remember thinking, while driving north on
Hwy 97,through the north end of town, I
only have 1/4 tank of gas I'll stop at the
next station I get to. I drove, and drove,
stopped at 3 or 4 closed down stations,
drove some more, northbound on 97 past
Klammath Lake, on into a long staight
stretch of " The Lands of No Gas "
sky patches for the first time the whole trip.
I made good time to Klammath Falls and
remember thinking, while driving north on
Hwy 97,through the north end of town, I
only have 1/4 tank of gas I'll stop at the
next station I get to. I drove, and drove,
stopped at 3 or 4 closed down stations,
drove some more, northbound on 97 past
Klammath Lake, on into a long staight
stretch of " The Lands of No Gas "
The Ford F-150
was begining to
run "funny" and
had been on "Low
Fuel Warning" as I
approached the
junction of Hwys
97&138, and there
it was. My" port in
the storm"
Diamond Lake
Junction Cafe&
Quick Mart. Black
Beauty, my F-150
has a 25 gallon
tank , 24.5 gallons
were required to
fill the almost dry
gas tank.
Remember this if
you are making
this trip north.
was begining to
run "funny" and
had been on "Low
Fuel Warning" as I
approached the
junction of Hwys
97&138, and there
it was. My" port in
the storm"
Diamond Lake
Junction Cafe&
Quick Mart. Black
Beauty, my F-150
has a 25 gallon
tank , 24.5 gallons
were required to
fill the almost dry
gas tank.
Remember this if
you are making
this trip north.
This Place was
so cool, aside
from having gas,
it was a great
place to eat, I am
very partial to
restaurants that
are set up to
where you can
keep an eye on
you're bikes while
you take a break
from the road and
eat or have a cup
of coffee. This is
such a place.
Steaks,burgers
biscuits and
gravey are all
here . I stopped
on the way back
for breakfast, got
a good deal and
was in and out
quickly.
so cool, aside
from having gas,
it was a great
place to eat, I am
very partial to
restaurants that
are set up to
where you can
keep an eye on
you're bikes while
you take a break
from the road and
eat or have a cup
of coffee. This is
such a place.
Steaks,burgers
biscuits and
gravey are all
here . I stopped
on the way back
for breakfast, got
a good deal and
was in and out
quickly.
A few hours later I end up at Crooked River. Above in the picture you can
see the pits coming together on the right and the Country Store on the left
where Pete Fisher, while eating his lunch there, saw this event in his mind.
The park in the triangular shaped grass area between the two, was one of
the recipients of proceeds from past Steel Stampedes. Getting a new
Restroom and other improvements.
see the pits coming together on the right and the Country Store on the left
where Pete Fisher, while eating his lunch there, saw this event in his mind.
The park in the triangular shaped grass area between the two, was one of
the recipients of proceeds from past Steel Stampedes. Getting a new
Restroom and other improvements.
| Above: This is the Gorge where the Community of Crooked River Ranch is located. The soil is a mixture of Volcanic sand clay and decomposing organic material. Translation "BITCHEN, LOAM" |