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A WHIZZER ODYSSEY
In the course of collectting Whizzers you hear all kinds of stories, like "I never could keep the thing running" or "it was always broke down", "they never were any good" and more of the same. I believe that the Whizzer engine was basically a good machine, but like any machine, it requires good maintenance. A lot of the problems we caused ourselves by neglect or by endless tinkering. Here’s a tribute to the durability of the bikes, thanks to Bob Baker’s newsletter number 16.
Whizzer News Service.............August 10, 1948
350 South Sanford St.
Pontiac 20, Mich
Paul Heidelbaugh, Ray Boyer, and Joe Roth- all of York, Pa. |
8000 MILES IN EIGHT WEEKS
ON MOTORBIKE TOUR
25 STATES, CANADA AND MEXICO VISITED IN THIS EIGHT WEEK CROSS COUNTRY JUNKET BY THREE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS FROM YORK, PA. EQUIPPED WITH GOVERNMENT SURPLUS CAMPING EQUIPMENT, THE BOYS SLEPT 46 OF THE PAST 56 NIGHTS AT "BILLBOARD HOTELS" AND OTHER "UNDER THE STARS SPAS". INSPECTION OF THEIR MOTOR BIKES BY THE WHIZZER MOTOR COMPANY IN PONTIAC REVEALED TIP- TOP PERFORMANCE DESPITE THE MOST SEVERE USEAGE EVER REPORTED.
When asked what they had learned: Joe replied that he had learned how to meet people- that he never knew how many kinds there were before they made the trip. Paul learned that you can swim in the middle of the desert if the Navajos will show you. But it was Ray, the instigator of the trip who learned the importance of determination and patience...
With only about $450 total assets, it took grim fearless determination to start out on such an adventure. Although most of the scoffers said they couldn’t make it on motor bikes, the only actual difficulties came at meal time. Eating when they were hungry to start with, the boys came to know hunger before reaching Michigan. One day their diet consisted of green apples...another day they ate raw cabbage...even for breakfast. But those days were few in number. They would do it all over again - ON THE SAME MOTOR BIKES- but would be a bit more careful about eating.
Leaving York, Pennsylvania on the 13th of June, Paul Heidelbaugh, 17, Ray Boyer, 18, and Joe Roth, 18, traveled through ten days of rain through Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma where they just missed being trapped in a flash flood in Oklahoma City. Continuing along Route 66 the boys went through Texas and New Mexico to Arizona where they took time off to visit the Navajo Indian Reservation in Lupton. Other sites included the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. Then on to the Grand Canyon where they more of mountain climbing. As the temperature reached 115 in the shade a few days later, the boys turned from mountain climbing to swimming in Lake Mead.
They arrived in San Diego July 1st and stayed four days- visiting friends and sleeping in beds for the first time since departing from York. On the 2nd, they took off for Mexico for a days sight- seeing. Back in san Diego, they watched the launghing of the Scarlett Queen, world’s largest tuna fisherman, toured a submarine and mine- sweeper in the bay and also the Star of India, an old sailing ship converted into a historic marine museum. Then More of the call of the wild and Los Angeles was next: July 5,6,7, and 8 with more friends in the City of the Angels. The bisness of sleeping indoors didn’t last, however, and the boys started the return trip, stopping in Sequoia and Yosimite where they reported excellent motor operation 10,000 feet above sea level. After two days there, on to Nevada and the famous "Ghost Town" of Virginia City with its "Last Chance Saloon", the "Bucket of Blood" and all.
July 17th found them in Salt Lake City, visiting the Mormon Temples and other sights- including the unforgettable sensation of floating around effortlessly in Salt Lake. Then to Yellowstone for four days of fishing, sight seeing, and shutter- snapping.
Going across Nebraska and Iowa the York threesome began to long for home.
It was so flat and so dry" they said after crossing three deserts!
When talking about Chicago, where they arrived august 5th, they said,"everybody’s in a hurry going no place- we were glad to get on the road again." This is no complaint of the reception they got there- it’s their general feeling about ALL large cities.
The boys came to Pontiac to see the home of the Whizzer Motor Company- manufacturer of thir bike motors. Here the trio were feted to the rewards due conquering heroed- including D&C boat tickets from Detriot to Buffalo so their tour might include an unscheduled stop at Niagara Falls and Canada.
Happy to be going home- none of the boys have had a hair cut for eight weeks and Ray refuses to shave until he gets back to York. The York trio are anxious to discuss their travels with the friends and relatives to whom they sent more than 700 post cards.
ADDENDUM
No one had front wheel brakes
One bike completed the trip on the same tires
All the bikes had small spokes and no front springers
There were no belt problems
Two of the bikes were SHELBY’s
One bike was towed several hundred miles with a bad crankshaft before parts could be located
Ray Boyer says: "Joe was a good mechanic"
Ray still has a WHIZZER March 1999 (not the same one though)
