The Woodson recently received a small but exquisite collection of Rice related materials from Gerald Moorhead ’69 ’71. Among the treasures is a box of 8×10 photographic prints, most taken around campus. The natural assumption is that Moorhead took them but I don’t know that for sure. I’ll show you more beauties later but for today here are several scenes from Beer Bike, 1967. It’s hard to pick a favorite but if forced, I believe this is it. He looks almost noble, doesn’t he?
Tea Trike was a thing back then:
I love this guy. He’s my runner up for favorite picture:
Every batch of beer bike images I’ve ever looked at has something in it that I can’t explain and this one is no different. Anyone have thoughts on this next one? He looks a tad bit out of place.
Bonus: With Beer Bike upon us once again a loyal reader sends this image, which he correctly labeled Calm Before The Storm.
Extra Bonus: Here’s my own shot from yesterday. I don’t even know what they do in there but whatever it is it apparently requires them to be fenced in.
Fenced in for the water balloon fight, right?!
That’s what I recall from the first few transitions to that format from my time about 10 years ago.
I remember Beer-Bike being held on the inner loop that goes around campus from Lovett Hall to the Student Center. When was it moved to the stadium parking lot?
My recollection is that the last race on the inner loop was in 1966 when I was a senior and a proud member of the Hanszen beer drinking team. I think these pictures, in 1967, are from the first year the race was on the stadium parking lot
The first Beer-Bike held in the stadium parking lot was in 1968.
Here are links to the beginning of the 1967 Campanile’s article on that year’s race — https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51978417218_f2b76e68f5_k.jpg — and to the 1968 Campanile’s report: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51978417158_d4744e1657_c.jpg
Also, in the 2nd photo above, it appears that some guys are wearing shirts that have letters that look like “SID”, as in Sid Richardson college. Sid Rich was established in 1971 (https://sidrich.rice.edu/about), so it’s team’s first Beer-Bike would have been in Spring 1972.
The Rice Peoples Calendar item about the upcoming Beer-Bike race in the April 20, 1972, Thresher concluded with “(This year girls too)”, which matches this list, which indicates that women rode bikes, not trikes, in 1972. (https://beerbike.info/#portfolio)
Might several of these photos been taken in different years … and in years other than 1967?
I was Baker bike captain in 67, the last year around the quad. And race chairman in 68&69. In 68, I surveyed a half mile, two lap track on the near side of the stadium. In 69 I surveyed a third mile, three lap track on the far side of the stadium, still in use. Repainted many times I’m sure and now with a fine asphalt topping, we had the old lumpy shell aggregate asphalt (just don’t take a fall!!!).
Gerald Moorhead ‘69, ‘71.
I don’t quite understand the Ford tractor in the first photo.
Probably driving in one of the teams in the trailer that looks to be attached.
Back in the 60’s at one of the races I seem to recall the Will Rice team arriving in a garbage truck.
I suspect the guy with the camera on his shoulder looks like he might be part of a local news crew.
The fellow with the movie camera is David Gerth of the media center.
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