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/125457
HOURS, NOT SECONDS TIME ERRS It has been said that Claire Booth Luce's husband publishes two maga:zines: Life--for people who can't read, and Time, for those who cannot think. The picture book, Life, is becoming quite readable but the ·weekly newsmagazine· is falling down somewhat on its laurels as an opinion-maker. In the July 29 issue, Time quotes a Kentucky surgeon as saying "The motorbike is fun to ride, convenient and cheap, but is it worth the inevitable mayhem, death and economic loss? If you think so, get your son a motorbike for his 'last bilthday" If this sounds bitter, it is because I was operating on that boy when he died." My attorney has warned me not to give legal advic~ in these columns, but one cannot help wondering if the surgeon's erronious assumption of "inevitable ... death" is not grounds for a charge of malpractice? After all, tne patient died. Taking his admittedly bitter remarks one by one, I am inclined even to disbelieve the man's contention that the motorbike is fun, convenient and cheap. But this is the grain of truth that sugars the big lie Time's editors wish to have us swallow. WhY would a national news magazine spread the lie that motorcycle riding is the road to "inevitable ... loss?" when the National Safety Council insists that "cycles and scooters are not inherently dangerous." Perhaps it is because U.S. automobile sales are sliding in the wake of alarming disclos ures that cars are "Unsafe At Any Speed." Well, Time's Detroit advertisers will have t'? look for some other industry to accuse of being worse than they are. I have written to the Editnrs offering the full facilities of Cycle News to aid their research and understanding of the motorcycle phenomenon, so there should be no reason for erronious reporting of the two-wheel trend in future issues of Time. The only valid point brought out in the artic Ie was the National Safety Council's statement that two-wheeled power bikes, when operated by inexperienced riders, were ·very dangerous indeed." Cycle News would like to encourage the growth of rider training schools to teach new cyclists how to survive in the asphalt jungle. In future weeks we shall outline some wayS in which "Cycle Riding Academies" can be established. By the way, our Safety Brainstorm Suggestion contest is going into its sixth month with still no really great ideas forthcoming. The prize will be a cash a ward based on the su ggestion's value in reducing motorbike accidents, and a handsomely engraved wall placque. Suggestions should be typewritten, double-spaced and answer the question, "What can be done to improve the safety statistics of motorcycling?" CANCELLED SOme months ago, C y c I e Action Theater, a subsidiary of C&S Publishing Company, thought it would be a good idea to show a program of "racing thrills and comedy films" at a military installation. With the help of Lt. Bill White, president of the EI Toro Marine Motorcycle Club, Cycle Action Theater o~ tained permission to do a show at the EI Toro Marine Base on August 6. At that time, the Base Commander thought it might be a good idea to have a kind of "open house" and let the public come onto the base, see the Marines at work and watch the movies. It was a good public relations gambit for both the military and the motorcyclists, so we at Cycle News decided to sponsor a poker run to the base and really pack 'em in there. As you will notice in the Calendar on page two, the poker run to EI Toro Marine Base has been cancelled. Owing to a directive from the high command, the Base Commander had to withdraw permission to admit the motorcycling public. It seems a barbaric gang known by their initials as HA has been sporting U.S. naval officers' insignla on their costumes, among the swastikas and LSD buttons. The HA-gang has a far more effective public relations campaign going than we dis-organized motorcycle enthusiasts ha ve. They have become the "image-makers" of the motorcycle scene, by default. So rather than risk losing the opportunity to show base personnel our films of motorcycling as it really is, we reluctantly cancelled the public poker run. If you want to go to C y c I e Action Theater August 6, see your Marine recruiter. TIME-LV JOKE Did you hear about the Kentocky Surgeon who tried to murder his wife by buying her a motorbike for her birthday? He was psychlepathic. While I am in this negative vein, please bear with the following public message: TO WHOM IT MAY CO CERN Reference: "Technical Tip" Cycle ews July 28, 1966, page 27. "It is the considered opinion of this Newspaper that all products dispensed by Yamaha International Corp. including pianos, guitars, skis and motorcycles are marvels of mechanical perfection that could only be improved by the direct intervention of divine providence." (Signed) C. Clayton, Editor Yamaha runnlnc with clutch tied down- no problem. Seriously, we seem to have beeo guilty of an inaccurate technical tip in last week's issue. The tip advised that Yamaha Autolube-eQulpped machines should not be run for more than a few "seconds" with the clutch disengaged. The advice only applies to YDS series oil-injection units and should have read minutes, not seconds. Tests performed by the distributors have proved that the YDS twins with Autolube can be run for an hour at fast idle with the clutch lever taped to the handlebar with no measurable damage to the engine. The Technical Tip was not an attempt to discredit the product of a sometime Cycle News advertiser. Our current series of Tech- nica! Tips is part of a program to educate the new riders among our readers to some proven safety and maintenance disciplines Qy relating these to specific brands. Shifting into neutral and releasing the clutch when stopping for any length of time is good practice whatever motorcycle you ride. The Yamaha Autolube system must be okay, because noted tun e r Bob Braverman is fitting one to his TDI-B road racer. How he does it will be the subject of a future Cycle News Technical Bonus article. If we dare. '" '" .... '" O'l • LABOR DAY IS BGSRPE BGSPRE, as every Loner knows. stands for BiG SUR PriZE, the annual . unorganized motorcycle enthusiast ridein happening and camping trip at the geographical center of the California coast, Big Sur. Coming up this Labor Day weekend will be the second annual non-meeting of the Loners Motorcycle Club. which claims to be the leastorganized motorcycle association in existence. Called BiG SuR PrizE for no apparent reason, the annual get-together is not to be confused with a club-meeting in the usual sense of the term. Loners are simply invited to bring their friends and cycles and look for the Cycle News sign on Highway 1 south of Big Sur (just north of Nacimiento road). The Loners M.C. doesn't have a sign, so Cycle News is lending ours. At our last year's BGSRPE, no admission to the campsite was charged for those riding motorcycles. Cars had to pay $1.25 per night to camp. Only 9 Loners attended last year. This year 900 are expected. so the landowners may want a fee. Pay whatever they ask. There are beaches, streams, mountains and forest within the campgrounds and bitchin road and trail riding all around. Hotshoes are cautioned to approach Nacimiento's dirt corners with caution... there may be Loners coming the other way. Everyone reading this is a Loner in good standing as long as you like to ride motorcycles and have fun. Therefore you are eligible to attend the BGSRPE. The time is Labor Day Weekend, the place is Big Sur on the California coast. So come on, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Eureka, San Diego, let's gas up and go. Bring your sleeping bags. musical instruments families and dogs. You're on your own. Loner. FINISH THE FUNNY CONTEST WON BY ED GlMSE Five dollars and. the original draWing of Herman's • unfinished funny" goes to Ed Gimse of Van Nuys, Calif. for supplying the funniest joke line out of 33 entries received in the contest announced two weeks ago. Gimse's winning entry was postmarked just within the deadline of July 29. It appears under the cartoon on this page. Congratulations, Ed Gimse! Your prizes are on their way to you. And to all the readers who helped us finish the funny, thank you very mucb. Some of the runner-up joke lines were: "In five minutes you won't even be able to tell where that dent was in your tank!" - - Galen Sand wisch "Well: sir. while Happy is working over your machine, you can be looking over our new modelsY" - - Richard Mucci "He's never failed to bring in a reposession yetY" - - Mickey Herod "Our mechanic will help you just as soon as he gets his tool box open!" - - Herman You'll 31wavs • see it FIRST in &471 N. Long Beaclt Blvd, Long Beach, Calif. 90805 Or: Box 498, Long Beaclt, Calif, Phone: 423-0431 CArea Code '2131 From L.A. Phones: 63&-8844 Published weekly except the first and last week of the calendar year by C&S Publishing Company. P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, California. • • Charles Clayton Editor Sharon Clayton Business Manager C. Clay Managing Editor Gil Brown Advertising Manager D.B. (Dutch) Fielder.. ~sst. Ad. Mgr. Denn is Greene Photo Editor Gay Thomason ..Circulation Manager CONTRIBUTORS: Carl BarUett, Dale Boller, Annette Camp, Wes Cooley. Mike Crowley, Bub Ebeling, Robert O. Fee, Larry Haley, Herman, Maureen Lee, Joe Lopez. Walt Mahony. George Maness, Bill Pet. tigrew, John Ramos, Dan Reynolds, RoxY Rockwood. Earl Roeseler. Carol Sims Second Class. Postage Paid at Long Beach, Calif. Any part of this newspaper may be used without permission as long as credit is given. Editorial contributions. cartoons. photos are welcomed and will be paid for upon publicati·on. Self-addressed. stamped envelope assures return. 1~¢ Single Copy Price Subscriptions: One year 2nd class mail $7.~O Advertising rates will be sent on request. '66 DEATH VALLEY TOUR TO BE "THE EVENT OF A LIFETIME" It's almost here again-The 12tb Annual Death Valley Motorcycle Tour. So set aside October 29th and 30th, for the biggest and most outstanding motorcycle tour of them all. Don't miss these two fun-packed days with 5,000 or more cyclists from all over the Western Hemisphere, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, South America and Hawaii. You name the State or Country and they'll be there. A few of the highlights of this year's tour will be 100 Death Valley custom trophies. A field meet by one of Southern California's outstanding motorcycle cIubs. Motorcycle stunt riding by the World Champions, Victor McLaglen Motor Corp Drill Team. EJtclusive motorcycle motion picture show to run continuously Saturday afternoon' til Saturday evening. Special entries and parade for old time antique motorcycles with. custom trophies for their di vision. Each official entry will receive a beautiful wind-proof cigarette lighter, shOWing they participated in the' 66 Tour. In addition you will receive the 1966 Death Valley official Frying Pan Tour pin along with other "goodies." The American Motorcycle Association will be there and to sign up new members and pass out 1966 AMA Tour Award Patches to members. Beautiful color brochures, entry blanks and posters will be in the mail to motorcycle dealers by Deptember I, 1966. Be sure to pick up yours or write "Motorcycle Tours Incorporated". Dept. CN, 12738 South Paramount Bl vd., Downey, Calif. 90242. • • • '. , •