Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

~ OBSEIVED TRIALS land 1I0w '0 en;oy ,lIem ~ same score the number of ·cleans· is used to determine the winner. The average motorcycle newcomer will prombly find that riding an Englisb Trials event fascinating in its very exacting demands. speed is of absolutely no importance -speed is never a requirement in any way. Each competitor gives a solo performance...tbere is just one rider in action at a given time. This way, even newcomers can experience the thrill of being a "HOllywood star" for a few priceless minutes by being the object of everyone's complete attention. There is prombly a in8.te desire within all of us to get out in front of otbers and offer a performance of some kind. Bob Hope has made the remark many times that "Even after a lifetime in show business I am still such a complete ham that I sleep hanging on a hook." In many ways, Trials riding might be compared with dancing. Each rider has a bike for a partner, and oftentimes there is no finer exhibition of, mlance, rythm, co-ordination and physical grace. A newcomer to motorcycling will learn more about riding a motorcycle in English Trials than he ordinarily would in a year hy himself. Many experienced competition irders have improved their skills with the precise teChniques learned in observed trials. This interestfug phase of motorcycle fun will afford a fine opportunity for you to improve your riding skills. It will also allow you to give vent to your competitive spirit without the expense and danger of racing. Ray Warner, above, writer of this article, Is an avid trails participant. An English Trial (Observed Trial) is held over rough ground that has been marked to create sections 'or 'traps· (very descriptive, that word). These sections make use of natural obstacles wherever possible but it is often necessary to help nature with tape and lime markings. It is over this near-impassable terrain that a trials competitor demonstrates his skill. From the time the riders front axle enters the section until his rear axle leaves he is observed. Every "mistake" is noticed and marked on his score card. The marks that a rider gets are subtracted from the one thousand given him at the start. The winner is the man with the best score •••the man with the least marks. Marks are earned in various ways. Touch a foot to the ground (dab) and you have one mark. After the third dab you are footing and earn the maximum number of marks for that offense. If you leave the section, stop, fall, stall the engine without stopping, or touch an obstacle with any part of your body or the bike (except the tires' the marks keep coming. If you ride a section with no marks lost you have • cleaned· the section.•. which can be a great help in winning. If, as sometimes happens, more than one rider has the t/'t4le PRADO PARK CLOS'NG • fACT 01 flCT'ON? By Maureen Lee For some lime now,rumors have been that Prado Park will soon be DO more, so we decided to co to the President or the CalHoroia Gophers, Darwin Ballard, and get some information on the status of the track. The Gophers are in charge of Prado. At this writing, the future for Prado is not good. No races are being scheduled past July 1967, when, if the situalioo basc't improved, there will be no more track. Tbe tale that it will be Dooded isn't exactly the troth or the whole story. The proposed Tri-Siate Park will be coine in very close to the track, and will involve the Dooding"f a section near the Dam ror a lake, but the track itself will not be involved. In fact, the creation of the Park should beoeUt Prado. New roads will be built, making the area more accessible. Since tbe enforcing of that ramous (or infamous?) pro-amateur rule by the A. M. A. , pte attendance at Prado has rallen between 35 to 40% over preceding years. Moneywise, that 35 to 40% sounds like a Int, but it's not SO much wben you figure admission at only $1.25. Tbat $1.25 is charged for purely operatine expenses and when noo-protit club lose some of that, they!are actually losing IIIlIney on each event. The solBld system has had to be discontinued at Prado because the Gophers just couldn't arrord it any more. Recently, some clubs have lost money on their Prado events, and in one instance there was a mis-uode~ standine wben a club was quoted the price ror insurance only and thought it included the ambulance (we'll eet around to that iater). In an endeavor to keep the track caine and to belp the clubs out, the California Gophers worked out a new schedule of charges and are making a c1laDce in the ambulance se~ vice to cut costs. DOGGONE MOTOICYCLE RlDEIS Below: Inside Ihe box Is a pampered pooch, The canine carrier below seems well constructed and is in keeping with the size of the machine to which it is fitted. The jacket that the dog is wearing appears to have a club emblem on its back. That helmet! It is quite appropriate and sho ws a healthy respect fot the passenger's safety. Thanks and a tip of the Cycle News helmet to John Shedd for sending us these pictures. SptJ-'tt '.POIT MOTOIS HOLDER OF TWO \4-MILE WORLD RECORDS • ONTESA NOITON DUCAT' .. Road Racing & Drag Tuning ...Our Specialties· 19525 EAST ARROW HIWAY GLENDORA, CALIFORNIA (213) 963·5333 T,~.No-nda e-z .(t. Hwqvarna Complete Service, Parts. .'~thlin MO'tOR5 2422 E. HUNTINGTON DRIVE DUARTE, CALIFORNIA T~Oft. 359·4541 Is motorcycling going to tbe dogs? Mucb evidence to that effect bas been seen in tbe past and bere is just a little bit more. These pbotograpbs were snapped at recent road runs and sbow just one of the many ways tbat IIIOtorcyclists ta k e their pets with them on their journeys. ' lEACH CYCU CflTEI ...11 U.e III !"arta . . Acce-'.. far ALL IRANDS Specllllal., ,. II. . . N .... ' " UOItY~UJALIIEACH r114' 423-1311 GO SUPER FAST willi CYCLE CITY OSSA - BUELLI - SUZUKI Complelellachlne SIlo, 2142 Lone Buch Boulev.d Loae Beach - 591-1319 In the past, track insurance was $155 per day and the ambulance cost 90. The ambulance ree will remain the same $90. but they have managed to get the insurance charged dropped to 110, making a total cost to the clubs or $200 ror a Sunday. The gate receipts have also undergone a shake-up. The Gophers used to get 12¢ on the dollar. ow they are asking nothing. The gate ree is $1.25, half or which will go to Chuck Islin who owns the track and halr to the promoting club. 20% or the concession stand (food, cokes, etc.,) will also go to the promoting club. The beer stand is now tbe only source or Gopher income, but as they own it and went through tbe trouble of setting up that license, this seems rair. It may not be common knowledge that Prado stands on Government property and Islin leases the land. That Is wby the road leading directly into Prado has never been paved. Tbe U.S. Anny Engineers would have to do the work. The track stands right in the middle of the Dood control channel, so tbere will be no races there in November lUId December as the Engineers bave ordered the removal of all sanitary facillties before the rains cOOle. Last year in the Dood, some of the beads Doaled down to the dam and blocked it, makine the Enclneers a little unhappy. • c .. AMBULANCE SERVICE AmbuilUlce service has been cause for complaint lately, with some riders no t liking the bus that bas been making some events. The oricinal ambulance service moved its beadquarters and the Gophers had to die aIOlIIlId for a new one. At that time, there was notblne else, aDd altboucb the bus had a radio in it, and a full ambulance was called for wben needed, it wasn't completely sati!\,factory• A regular -ambulance showed up from Clark Ambulance service for the Simi Valley I'UII, and the ~ ver promplly weot home at five o'clock, leavine a lot of hie hore ev.eRts stilI to be ruo. Sioce the deal is for the ambulance to staad by for the full day of racine, the Gophers have put a ~eot on their cbeck to CIaJ1L, and Simi Valley did not have to pay the $90, only the insurance fee. From now on there will be another se~ vice there, Ballard told us, with two ambulances at all times, alone with extra ald men, so we can all bope DOW for better emereency coveraee. • INSURANCE Looking hack some months, all the local tracks were suddeniy hit with a bomb tossed at them rrom the back-East company wbo had been providine all the insurance for years. If you remember, ODe of the ,tenns was that they wlUlled the tracks fenced with either brick or steel, along with a few other little goodies. Financially speaking; this requirement. could have wiped out all the scrambles tracks, 'not to mention wiping out the riders when they bit that wall! Cbuck Islio was perhaps the one owner who could bave stood the tinancial bite along with the belp or the Gopbers, but they chose not to comply and got to work rinding another insurance company. This they have done, but the cost is beavy. The Gopbers have to pay insurance on five races in advance, and if a club cancels a run, the premium is not refunded. The new ruling of having to keep vehicles out of the pit area is ODe that the new company requests. This creates a bit of a hassle with momma and the kids with the trock in ooe sectipn and you and your scooter in another. But when you're unhappy with this, you have one mlUl to blame• He must remain anonymous because of his connections within the industry, but be apparently set out to ruin local scrambles by sayine our tracks were unsafe. Prado is the safest noo-professional track in the country. It was built specifically to maintain the hieb standards of our Callfornia riders by cl ving them a chance to mature on a track very similar to Ascot Park• Yet Prado may close next July. The lo-year lease expired this past July and with gate receipts and eeneral costs makine it seem that no worthwblle, Cbuck Islin did not renew. It costs bim $230 per race for mainteaaoce with the clean-up, cradine, watedoe, etc. On the had days lately wben there has been a $500 pte and be eets balf of that, be ends up with $20 in his pocket. No business mao will operate like that.. Now if a better tum-out cOllIes back and things change, be will still have the option to re-oew that lease next July. If he doeso't, it expires, and Prado Park, ·Home of Cbampioos·, expires with it.. District 37 will have to belp. Clubs will have to make the best of the situation. And we sportsmen fervently hope that the professiooal promoters aDd their lackeys will sooo eet over their mistaken idea that 110O professiooal racioC is costine them money at the box oruce. ... • 9 I:

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