Orange County Area Roundup : Area Cyclists Can Ride With Tour de France Champion Saturday
Local cyclists will have the opportunity to ride with five-time Tour de France champion Eddy Merckx Saturday on a 15-mile bike ride through Newport Beach.
Merckx, a native of Belgium, has won 527 races, including three professional world championships. Those who wish to participate should register at Sea Schwinn, 420 E. 17th, Costa Mesa, before 7 a.m. The ride will begin at 7 in the Newporter Inn parking lot, 1107 Jamboree Rd.
Merckx will be available for questions and autographs after the ride. There will also be a drawing for one of Merckx’s handmade bicycle frames.
Georgie Garcia, the California bantamweight title holder, will fight Oscar Muniz for the vacant California super bantamweight title Jan. 20 as the main event on the Marriott fight card in Irvine.
Garcia, of Santa Ana, won the state bantamweight title last October at the Marriott. Muniz is a former USBA bantamweight champion. Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, and at Megan’s Service in Irvine.
Girls between 5-16 interested in signing up for Fountain Valley Little Miss Softball should go to the Fountain Valley Recreation Center on Jan. 18 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. A birth certificate and registration fee are required with the application. For more information call 839-9460.
Professional and amateur surfers will be competing at Huntington Beach Jan. 22-26 in the Katin Pro/Am Team Challenge. Surfing starts each morning at 7 at the Huntington Beach Pier. The pros will compete for more than $15,000 in cash and prizes, and the amateurs will be competing for trophies.
Time Machine USA, an Orange County youth track program, is looking for coaches and parents to volunteer their time on a constant basis between Feb. 3 and July 14.
There is an expressed need for hurdles and jump coaches. Practices are held Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with meets on the weekends.
Sign-ups for boys and girls, 7-17, will be on Friday, Jan 24., starting at 7:30 p.m. at Mercury Savings in Mission Viejo. USC cross-country Coach Larry Knuth will speak at the sign-ups.
For more information, call Vernon or Cheryl Smith, 951-7669 or 859-4273.
The Harlem Globetrotters, with female rookie Lynette Woodard, will appear at the Anaheim Convention Center on Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. In their 60th season, the Globetrotters come to town with the current cast including: Lou Dunbar, Billy Ray Hobbs, Osborne Lockhart and Twiggy Sanders.
The Washington Generals, owned and coached by Red Klotz, will be the opponents during all the Globetrotters’ Southern California appearences. Games are also scheduled at The Forum (Jan. 19), and the Long Beach Arena (Jan. 23).
Area Notes:
Orange Coast College fullback Chris Mendenhall was one of seven Pirates to receive full scholarships to continue playing football at four-year schools. Mendenhall will attend the University of the Pacific. James Young (cornerback) signed with the University of Louisville. The University of Nevada at Reno will get defensive tackle Jerry Smith. Safety Glenn Roman will play at Mesa University in Colorado. Delta State University (Miss.) will get quarterback Ken Laszlo and linebacker Mike Blake. Wide receiver Leon Phillips has received a track and field scholarship to the University of Oregon. OCC water polo goalie Mike Hinze received a full scholarship to Loyola of Chicago.