Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Ib' RDlQ' 8Iidi cud HARLEV- DAVIDSON THE FINISH LINE It finally happened. After 18 TT's, 32 balf lIJi1es, five road races and six indoor short tracks - the 1966 season has come to an end. Over sixty races, 00 wonder So. Calif. is ri&lJtIy called the hotbed of professional cycle racing and tams out winDers like they were popcorn. There will be little or no rest for the pro's as roming up next month, which requires a brand new racing license, will be three indoor short tracks at Long Beach and one road race at Carlsbad - wllicb does not require a license. • INDOOI SHOIT TIACr DECg8E. 3rd - COW PALACE - Sa. frallCisco 'A' MAl" and BELLFLOWER FULLERTON BURBANK EL CAJON INGLEWOOD WNG BEACH LOS ANGELES 1st MElT LA WWlLL Harley-~aYidson PALMDALE PASADENA POMONA RIVERSIDE SAN BERNARDINO SAN DIEGO Sprint SANTA MARlA SANTA ANA SO. SAN GABRIEL TAFT VAN NUYS VENTURA IFHITTIER S•• t'er. Calif. H-D Dealer Ass.c. The last 'IT of the year finished the way many half miles do on Friday nights. More 'IT closers like that could help fill the stands as the talent is there, especially in the e~pert class. The finish last Sunday was the closest for the white plates since 1960 when Dick Hammer as an amateur, nipped Dick Dorresteyn by inches on the same back. Let's hope it won't he another su years before we get racing like that. A lot of riders were down at the track office after the race wanting applications for next year's license. They were out of luck as they were all gone. Now a rider must get on the ball and write to AMA GHQ and get the papers that will let him ride in '67. The Oood gates are now open for a new crop of novice riders who can and will invade Long Beach on Saturday, January 7th. This will be the first time for many new riders. The first race down there last J anoary, found the top two half milers in the nation sitting in tbe stands - they did not get their license in time to race. Again Long Beach will have an all afternoon practice session for any and all riders on the afternoon of the 7th. Just about every rider who took advantage of this first time affair at the last indoor, made money that night. Not too many riders will want to pass UP the purses that are payed for the "Toy Show· at Long Beach. They average well over $2,000 the six times tbey have been presented. Gene Romero won the latest indoor short track that was held in San Franc1&co last week. Two races and two differ-ent winners up there. They will run in the Cow Palace the rest of this month. Genial Gene and his flying machioe were shot down the following day at the Ascot 'IT. Not ~ the rest of the troops but ~ just plain bad luck that sometimes happens to top notch riders. Dan Haa~ ble.. his top so bad after falling off in the main that his helmet _nt f1ying off his head and through the air for a record distance. Last payday of the year, you know. That sPill by Bob Bailey will be shown on TV this Friday night. That alone should be ..orth seeing as you can't miss Bob, especially when he is upside down with the two out-riggers flying in the air. No, it was not planned for TV. A side note that John Di Simone, one of the ..eli known brothers from the east, bas bought out Culver City Honda from the Welleo bOys and has also added BSA to the line. John tuned for Jody Nicholas at many races in the east and ..ill be in the thick of things come next season. Norm Lee at Long Beach Triumph bas a sPanking fresh full works Yamaha 250cc road racer for sal e, all set to go for- Carlsbad and Daytona. This one came out of tbe same mold as the regolary "Team· machines tbat won evew thing but the door prize, and Carlsbad, last season. The price is right. Add ooe for ..ell known 'Shell Motors in Lynwood. They are nOW also Triumph dealers in the area along with Enfield and Yamaha. Will Goy Louis s..itch next year, rather than keep UP the fight???? The point fund checks for the national lOOney bas been sent out with Bart Markel taIring close to $3,000. Each national point to riders in the top ten ..as worth $3.80 as tar as tbe payoff was concerned. somedQ. maybe, the tenth place rider will pick up wbat MaIlle1 took bOme this year. '!be local pom fUDd money to the half mile riders and 'IT runners should be coming around, shortly. Get those ne.. licenses lads as the oe.. season is here, whether you know it or Dot. AlIA COIIPETITlOII BULLETlII 1. The following safety helmets were submitted" examined and tested by the AMA safety Committee and approved for By Wes Cooley Now that the 1966 season is officially closed for the ACA. we look back over the year as one of accomplishment. We were hoping to be able to state tbat it bas been a completely successful year. However, last Sunday's event at Riverside marred a personal record of ten years of officiating or running races without a fatality. We have been told by many of our friends that this kind of thing is inevitable. especially in racing, but it still comes as a shock to know someone who loses his life while par-ticipating in an event which you have something directly to do with, either as a participant or as an official. Naturally, we realize it is impossible to eliminate the human error ..hen participating in a race. We have tried to do everything we possibly can to protect the riders from one another in safety of their riding equipment and protective clothing which they wear. We try to allow the riders sufficient practice time in order to familiarize themselves with the course so the hazard will be cut to a minimum. However, sometimes in the competitive spirit to win, one over-extends his'ability or his equipment. and, in many cases, this causes an accidents. Such a tiling bappened Ibis weellend to Vikl.or Scbeiermann. Villtor ..115 in the first practice sessioo tor the licbtweight machines on a 115cc Ducati, came wide througb T1nl I lIIId bit the guard rail. He succmnbed to bead injuries at 11:00 LID. MCIDdoay at tile Rive... side C_munity Hospital. We di.-t IIDow Villtor weU, IIlIt I'.. ~ llis perl!IOD81 friends wiD miss bim, as we wiU, in tile comine events. We ....t to exteDd .... 8YlDPatbles, as we're l!IlIre 1DU all do, to his family and frias at the tmIe of their great loss. i Also, with regard to the condition of Ned Marandino, _ bave been informed that he is still in the bOspital, but is in satisfactory condition. He is running a slight temperature and .. ill be released as soon as the temperature returns to normal. Ned fell while leading the light..eight production event on the switchback from Turn 7 to tbe atraighta....,.. He, too, .. as by himself and no other riders ..ere involved in the mislaP. AMA competition under Group #l: H-A Model R-7 by Accessory Distributors of New York; BFG-l00 Full Jet and BFG07 Full Jet by Beck Distributing Cor-poration of Melville, L.I.; J. Edwards ComP8JIY of Los Angeles, California. 2. L. Wise, Cosmopolitan Company of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, submitted and advised the AMA Technical Committee that the Benelli 250cc is now a vailabl.e with a 5 speed transmission. 3. AMA sanctioned events are limited to motorcycles. It is against the rules to permit cars to COlllpete and, therefore, shall not be allowed. 4. During a recent Short Track Race Meet at sacramento, California, there were 42 spills but no illiuries. Perhaps lightweight machines are the answer. 5. Clubs that sponsor Class ·C· and Sportsman Road Race events should, through inspection. permit only machine s approved for AKA competition to be entered. In all other AMA events the machines do not need approval except that they be manufactured by a licensed mannfacturer. 6. Bouquets for the recent Ring City Road Romers Enduro report which was very neat and complete with scores and all 256 entries listed. Also, the-Webster City Motorcycle Club Enduro report that had 94 entries all listed ,uphabetically with their scores. 7. Tbe 1966 Competition Committee meeting is over leaving some new as _ll as changes in rules. For 1967, no IOOre prize money will be paid contestants in Sportsman events. Amateur and Novice competition license holders are no.. permitted to compete in all Sportsman events, however, Experts cannot compete. 8. For 1967. all district, state and assistant referees will receive ne.. referee shoulder patches, also, ne .. accredited appointment cards since all appoi ntments terminate December 31. 1966. 9. WhY the secrecy? When summary sheets are Wed out for a club event; don't be timid put down the attendance figure. Falr. good or poor is not very informatiYe. Also, be sure to sign the report, ..e like to know ..ho is doing the ..orll. 10. All 1966 competition license holders will be mailed 1967 license applicatillll farms. Tbat is. if we have your current lIddress, otherwise, you will lave to &IlP1.J. • • • " •

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