Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125414
Thursday, October 21, 1965 - - PAGE NINE CYCL E NEWS THE FINISH LINE By ROXY ROCKWOOD In less than two w ee ks , the annual meeting of the AM.A competition committee takes place in San Diego. It could be just another meeting with few m inor changes, but it's not. Last year it wa s vo ted to open the gates in 1966 to any motor up to 45 cubic inches with overhead valves. In the next breath it was also voted to have another look at this important r u 1e change at the '65 meeting. It may be a bit confusing if you have no t been following along regarding this possible change. Briefly, the change would allow Harley - Davidson to go wit h the same engine they are now running on the ovals and road races, only add overhead valves. It would also allow the present 4O-inch Triumphs and BSA's to run on the half mile. miles and road race courses. In other .w or ds, machines that are now allowed only in TT events could run them all. An unofficial poll finds the possible change not meeting with general a p proval by the men now connected with racing. Most of the private sponsors I have talked with are happy to leave the rule the way it is. They feel the 500cc BSA's, Triumphs and Enfields are more than holding their own against the CC gap that now exists. They may be right if one is t o use the '65 national results as a yardstick. H-D wo n five of the big bi ke events, Matchless four, Triumph four and BSA, two. This is the best brand balance ever. Much consideration has to be given to the private sponsors. These men make up the vast majority of sponsors from any level you c.a r e to choose. H- D actually backed only one ri der 100 per cen t this past season. The rest of the H-D's were private stock with varied amount of backing from the factory. One advantage to changing the present rule is that a rider would only have to bu y two machines instead of three if he is to ride them all. Right now it is a 250cc for novice year, a 40-incher for TT's and a 500cc for ovals when he moves up to amateur and expert. The new rule would change this to using a 250cc and a 40-incher or a 45-incher. Whatever way you are inclined to think, you should let the AMA and the national committeemen know about it. A few times in tlie past a proposed change has come up and gone through, or been defeated, by the adage "silence is consent". It has taken some top tuners many years to develop their present winning machines. Many have done it all on their own-no factory support. They ace not looking forward to starting all over. Then again what if the -m ajor distributors were to go along with the change and go all out with support to tried and proven tuners and sponsors? Say a dozen Triumphs. BSA's and H- D's to w innin g tuners. Ya maha has already proven that all out fa ctory su pport w ill produce winners . It has also helped upgrade the sport of cycle racing. A factory team is much more impressive than a' rider and a mechanic that just happen to ge t together. It beco mes m ore and more evid ent that the two-stroke bombs w ith the tuning fo r k emblems are the fastest 15-inch ers on the long courses. If H-D, Ducati and the other present four strokers are going to m ake a bid to catch them then it appears that d ou ble overhead cams are the only answer. Why not? The . e .spo rt of cycling is undergoing a major awakening. U we can think about raising the cubic inch limit then what is wrong wit h throwing in another overhead cam? Racing was close this year. let's make it m or e competive next year. Let's let them all run - as long as they are safe. S pe aki ng of running, how about Neil Keen last week at Ascot? A few years ago he was known as the hottest rider at Da ytona due to his bike going up in flames. Now he will have a new title "the big wind from Pasadena" . Neil was right at home as he has ri dden at least a half a dozen tracks just like last week's dust bowl. He knows of tracks back in Kansas that no one else has ever heard of. After the races last week, they had to move the parking lot out of the track and back to the parking lot. They found the surface of the track out on Vermont and the H arb 0 r Freeway, Ne ver a dull moment at Ascot. The las t time we got blown out w as back in '60 fo r a daytime TT event. In past years we have also had a li ttle rain and fog. If it would snow . . . w ell K een has pr obabl y ri dden a track that has featured snowbanks so it w ould be all over for the troops again. Come to think of it. wasn't K een the Al askan di rt track cham pio n about ten years ag o w hen he missed the turn to Cali forni a on h is way out from Ge orgia ? • • : CALIFORNIA GOPHERS I Moto rcycle Club I I I INVITES I All Clubs That Are Using o r I Have Eve r Used I I PRADO PARK I I To Send A Representative To A I SPECIAL MEETING I I I At The J ackra bbit Club House I I 9 135 E. Compt on Blvd. I I Bellflower, Ca lif. I I TUESDAY EVENING I I OCTOBER 26 I FAIRINGS S EA T S RACING FAIRINGS Best Made Anywhere GUARANTEED FLAT TRACK, T.T. & ROAD RACE SEATS Phone (714) 633-1627 Brown Fairing Co. 1304~:~:~:. HARRY FOSTER MOTORCYCLES 10425 S. VERMONT AVE., LOS ANGELES 754-2811 FOClo"! Autltorize