1971 Tour of California Photographs, August - September 1971

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Summary

Abstract:
93 images depicting the First Tour of California in 1971 a bike race put together by Peter Rich. The pictures document the first tour of California over the course of eight days from August 28th to September 1971.
Extent:
0.2 linear feet
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], 1971 Tour of California Photographs, MC373, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.

Background

Scope and content:

93 images depicting the First Tour of California, 1971 a bike race put together by Peter Rich. The pictures document the first tour of California over the course of eight days from August 28th to September 1971. There are images of cyclists lined up just before the start of the race. There are images of people assisting cyclists and tending to them. There are images of cyclists, friends, and family eating, and fueling up. There is an image of most of the officials with names (including Peter Rich himself): Dave Staub, Ed Steffani, Keith Kingsly, Bob Hansing, Paul Brinkley, Peter Rich, Bob Hates, Bill Ziegler, Peter Hoffman, Tom Beal, and John King.

Biographical / historical:

Peter Rich put together the First Tour of California in 1971. He was elected into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 2023. The race had ten stages over 885 miles, a round trip starting in Bear Valley where there was "no oxygen". The race started at a high elevation.

Rich organized this race with the help of Raleigh Bicycles and Bear Valley Resort. Naturally, this race facilitated tourism. This race was staged for the prowess of sport and spectator, and to bring awareness and appreciation to the state of California. A note on the recto of one image indicates: "Before the start of Stage 8 at Camptonville. September 2nd 1971." Camptonville is an old gold mining town with a population about 500 people.

Ebbett's Pass, a climb of 9,000 ft., was the biggest feat (stage 9 of the race on September 3rd). The winner of the race, Augustin Alcantra of Mexico is pictured climbing to the crest. Sabas Cervantes of Mexico, three-time winner of the Tour of Mexico, was deemed "King of the Mountain". He was the first to ascend Ebbetts Pass.

Information provided by the bookseller, House of Mirth Photos.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from House of Mirth Photos in October 2024.
Processing information:

Vanessa Cardona-Ocegueda created this finding aid with information provided by House of Mirth Photos.

Physical location:
Researchers should contact Archives and Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored off site.
Physical description:
93 images, each measure 5 x 3 1/2 inches. Ten photographs have written context on verso, four are color images.
Physical facet:
93 photographs
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code. Requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], 1971 Tour of California Photographs, MC373, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library
100 NW Quad
Davis, CA 95616-5292, US
Contact:
(530) 752-1621
speccoll@ucdavis.edu
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