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FredC
Boulder climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Apr 30, 2013 - 05:17pm PT
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Speaking of cars...
Vern and I made a few trips to Consumnes River back in the very early 70s. We took his grandmother's Plymouth Fury. I remember he got a ticket one day on that drive, it was for 85 or something but during that run we got to 115 by the speedo. I used to call it "Clevenger's Fury", that would have been a decent name for a climb.We were off to try "The Struggler" and other stuff I can't remember.
The other memorable Indian Rock Car event was when Dale Bard got a Mini Cooper. He offered to show me how his car worked in a ride around the Indian Rock neighborhood. I had no idea what I was in for until we headed up toward Mortar rock up the street. The road turns about 90 degrees as it passes the rock but he did not seem to notice the turn as we approached. We just kept going faster. I remember looking at Dale and he had an exceptionally innocent look. My life passed before my eyes as we went around the turn at by far the highest speed I have ever done it.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Apr 30, 2013 - 05:40pm PT
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I, too, rode in that Fury more than once, Fred. I never rode in the Mini, although I still have very vivid memories of Dale and Allen riding away in it at a rather impressive speed. I wonder how Dale felt in the bread truck after experiencing the exhilaration of the Mini.
John
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splitter
Trad climber
SoCal Hodad, surfing the galactic plane
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RR had a climbing school (called Rockcraft, i believe) back in the 70's that utilized the Balloon Domes as a base. He also had a pair of tennies ( euro shoe specifically designed for playing tennis) that he popularized and promoted as an excellent shoe for climbing, etc & sold out of his store. It became an immediate trend among climbers (Valley/eastside, anyway) regardless of their efficiency (imo, worthless).
During the summers, Meyers worked for Royal as a guide at the school. He related a story to me of how RR had done an OSSFA of a multi-pitch route, which he rated at 5.9, at the area wearing said tennis shoe (i had a pair, but don't recall their name). Meyers wanted to do the SA (solo) and, after considering using the same type of tennies as RR, decided to go with his EB's instead. When he encountered the crux, several pitches up, he found it very tricky, thin and difficult (stout) and was glad that he hadn't went with the tennis shoes.
edit: "OSSFA" - onsight solo first ascent.
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jgill
Boulder climber
Colorado
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He also had a pair of tennies
Tricorns or something like that. They seem ridiculous now, but not then for some reason.
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