Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

M.E.S.C.A. COMMENTS .. C8M RESPONSES Re CBM Reconanends, your Dec. 22Jan. 11 issue: rather than submit to the 1967 legislature recommendations touching on only a few of the pro blems contributing to unsafe driving, I fervently hope the CBM is besieged by letters from fellow riders at the earliest possible moment, so that the committee may move for new and improved legislation armed with as complete a picture as possible of the issues. I note the CBM's "Southern Calif. Road Riders Committee" is listed in your own Club Directory, for those who care enough to try to take even a small part in the lawmaking of our cycle world, by jotting down their ideas for these folks to consider. I submit that all drivers in California, first of all, should be given more honest testing, under present laws. a. The written exams should be re-written to include situations involving both motorcycles and freeway traffic, such as crossovers, cycles passing between lanes. and so on. b. Immediate action, without any re-writing, should be taken to more honestly enforce the present test of vision, which now gives individual testers the right to (as in my own case) allow glasses wearing drivers to drive witbout any stipulation re their being practically blind without glasses on their licenses. Vision tests can easily be made more demanding, with depth perception, side vision, etc.. being incorporated into the tests. Japan does this, and they're not exactly uncrowded, people or time-wise. By the time I completed my eye test in Japan for a license to cycle while stationed there, the authorities knew I could see (with glasses,) and not just straight ahead. My reaction time was measured in many ways. This was over ten years ago, so let's look into what they are doing now! Meanwhile let's see more honest testing - .and flunking, where ne cessary . In passing, more stringent testing would, I believe, eliminate not just a few of the older generation who find it hard to react at 70 miles an hour when they need help getting in and out of their cars, but also others of lesser years, who over-react, have tunnel vision, emotionally panic when they hear a cycle or miss their turn-off on a: freeway, ride bumpers until they break the neck of the fellow in front of them, take the "right-of-way" Instead of taking time to intelligenUy judge each situation. as it evolves...sure, it will take longer to test people. and maybe seem to cost more to do so... but what is the purpose of licensing, to get the greatest number ofleast able drivers out onto the already crowded roadways, or to be selective, in the name of safe travel, be it cycle or automobile? ERNEST L. KRUMM Kerman In regard to your M.E.S.C.A. riding simulator, I feel that a test machine to evaluate the skill and experience of a street rider is an excellent idea in itself. But what I feel is more important is a machine to teach a person to ride a motorized 2-wheeler from scratch. So that a new rider would pick the machine of his choice, take it to the training place, firmly bolt it to a frame, over rollers front -and rear. Cool the motor with a powerful fan and thus safely initiate the ty r 0 to changing gears, starting, stopping etc. ALL without fear of a crash or fall. Perhaps every dealer should have a machine of this type. Also, thanks for your hospitality at your open house. I was sorry at not meeting your Office Cat. JOHN HEDIN Los Angeles (·What you describe already exists, John. It is called a center stand. Seriously, we tested and discarded rollers. It tool< so much skill to ride tbe rollers that tbere was little attentioo to spare for anytbing else. We are DOW constructing the MESCA Ma.... m teaching machine for intennediate student-riders. It could be progranuned for begiMers as you suggest. T.C. our Official Office cat avoids wild, boisterous parties.") ALL-IMPORTANT POINTS I think it would truly be unfair to deprive loners of points just because we do not belong to a club. I have always had the belief that a low number plate was earned by the competitor's ability to ride, and not by his ability to take entries, be a flagman or a starter at an event. I also feel that if a sponsoring club is not large enough to successfully hold an event they should not be granted a sanction, thereby making room for larger clubs which are capable of doing so. A loner should not have to suffer for the inability of a small clu b to solicit a larger membership. I personally know of Q.uite a few riders who do not wish to take time away from their families or other social activities such as school Or religious associations just to belong to a club. DON WILLIAMS #552x Huntington Beach (" Don, your arguments are sound. However, it is also unfair to discriminate against tbe man wbo belongs to a club and right DOW lJIat is how tbe rules are set up. Perhaps we should change tbe rules to permit worltiDg club members to add a number of points to their year's total for each race tbey helped put on. Give them tbe average number of points they earned per race that year. If it were DOt for the clubs nmning the races every Sunday, none of us would even DAVE an earned number. So this aspect must be tall.en into consideration too." -Maureen Lee) No Help (~)( Hun Rider As of now the DirtDiggers M.C. hasn't done a thing to help Roy or Arlene Chivington. (Note: Roy Chivington was seriously il\iured at the DirtDiggers' Grand Prix at Hopetown) At the time Don Kemp of the DirtDiggers said they were going to try and get the riders to take placques instead of trophies and give the dough they would have spent for trophies 70% to Roy and 30% to the other fellow that was hurt. Don also said that the club "lost a coupla hundred bucks on the race." Oh yeah?? Now I ain't too smart but at $5 per entry plus all the spectators, well ...? I remember them racing UP here and they seemed to have a bunch of good heads and as for the way they have bee n sQ.uawking about the AMA I was beginning to root for them. But if all they are is a bunch of jackasses that only know how to bray, I'm not going to feel sorry for them. Yours for the Mlc sport. HERBFnLL Las Vegas PLUG FOWLER & FRIENDS THE GREATEST' MY SOOPER. ~U£L EUREKA V DISCOVERY ~INCE I'VE DONE IT 0 TUMWATER! WILL SHOCK Tl't WOR.lD! I'LL 8E RICH AND f='AMOUS - I MAY EV£N BE. DECORATED 8Y T~E. A.M.A. AMSA TO THE RESCUE! Until a few weeks ago a road service organization like the AAA didn't exist for motorcycle users. If your machine pooped out or was damaged far from home, you were on your own, buddy, Either lock the bike, hoof it back and get a pickup truck. Or else try and fix it yourself (in the dark, when it's cold). You were lucky if some enterprising thief didn't help himself to yotlr scooter while you went for help. . If you belonged to the American Automobile Association - you could I' sometimes get a service man to agree to (EDITOR'S NOTE- We feel that lite pick you uP. But your motorcycle had to writer of tbe following opinions makes a stay behind, attractive bait for thieves. wUd point, that law enforcement ageDYou couldn't blame the AAA. Their des sbould sboulder some of tbe blame business is with cars, not motorcycles. wben lawlessness prevails. Certainly But as we said, that was how it was tbe disrq»tive elements are tbe guilty in the past. Now motorcycle riders have ones wben a riot occurs, but wben we ask "how could this have been prea "Triple-A" service association to call vented?" tbe finger of tiame points in in time of need. The name of it is many directions. The "bad guys" are not American Motorcycle Service Association, its address 8272 Sunset Blvd., strong enough all by tbemselves to disLos Angeles 90046. rupt a motorcycle event attended by thousands. They have had a lot of help THE STORY OF AMSA in tbe recent past from ~DOtbing police Recognizing the very rapid growth of officials, permissive promoters, bloo~ the motorcycling pUblic, it became apthirsty news media and race sanctioDiDC parent to a number of people that a bodies which have consistently failed service oriented organization for motorto require adequate law enforcement at cyclists is urgenUy needed. In March national championship events in tbe 1966 the American Motorcycle Service east.) Association was incorporated in CaliforLOST SHEEP AND THE LAW nia as a Motor Club to provide service for motorcyclists. Laconia. Springfield. Williams Grove. The law in California is such that and what location next drops by the wayMotor Clubs are licensed by the Insurside as a token trophy to the present ance Commissioner of the State, who day scum that unfortunately choose a demands that a number of rigorous revehicle representative of our fine sport Q.uirements be met by the corporation as a means to exploit their end? I do before issuing a Certificate of Authority not mean to be repititious, as I know to offer motor club services to the there have been innumerable articles public. written about this disgusting situation. Although AMSA (American Motorcycle I have made it a point to read and study Service Association) was incorporated all of them and arrived at tbe conclusion in March, it took until November, 1966 that everyone seems a little bit hesitant for the Insurance Commission to comto place the blame upon those who so plete its careful scrutiny of AMSA and richly deserve it. The blame rests issue a Certificate of Authority. sQ.uarely upon the law enforcement agenMotor Clubs are reQ.uired by law to cies in those areas where the disturpost a bond of $100.000. to -insure and bances occur. Look at it through their feeble explanations of why the situation guarantee that the service offered to the public will, in fact, be provided. In existed and I think you will find that addition, the forms of all contracts, only one obvious conclusion exists, both with members and emergency road -incompetence" • service operators must be approved by Don't shove it off on our sport gentlemen. Explain to the taxpayers that you the Insurance Commission to me.et the standards of the Insurance Code. may be capable of enforcing traffic All the American Motorcycle Service regulations. but when a situation arises Assn. promises its mem bers is that that reQ.uires just a minimum amount of they will have a serviceman and truck intelligence toward crowd control. you come to the aid of the member within a are lost sheep. Your philosophy at the reasonable time after the call for help moment seems to be that if you can not is received by AMSA. The AMSA man cope with it. just cancel it. It's so much will pick UP your motorcycle in a patless work and a heck of a lot simpler. ented sling and truck you and it to the Again it would be repititious to exnearest approved motorcycle shop or to plain that there were more arrests at a safe garage, if none are open. There the Rose Parade, the 500 Miler at Indiare other ways rescuing you and your anapolis, the Mardi Grasin New Orleans, motorcycle if you become stranded. But etc. Ridiculous isn't it? These folks are law enforcement officers, but they none are as convenient, and most end UP much more cosUy. forget the enforcement part when the bums roll into town. I personally have A one-year membership in AMSA costs only 15 dollars and, within certain witnessed these occurences far too limitations entitles the member to all freQ.uently in all parts of the country, the emergency road service he will ever and believe me when I say that all that need. was definitely needed was the slightest Although Amsa's geographical coverbit of red-blooded effort and action that age is presently limited to Southern the representatives of the law are paid to exercise. California, their service trucks range If it sounds like I'm mad, you're as far as Ensenada to the south, Las right, I am. I'm sick and tired of these Vegas to the East and Santa Barbara to public officials in the various areas the North. Those will not be the final limits of AMSA' s ambitions. They are dumping this problem in our laps. We the only club Wh03 e prime concern is pay taxes too. with two wheelers. Show me a good police department Prior to approval of AMSA's license, and I'll show you no disturbance at an Cycle News was contacted by Dr. Gerevent whatsoever. Perhaps a flattering and commending gesture to our own hart Summer and Eric Brown, the founders. They towed several disabled motorC.H.P. and local law agencies is the fact that California will pick UP an addicycles back from our Ensenada Poker Run in October, just for practice, and tional two national races this year. we can testify that they did a very good A friendly wager: I'll bet it does not job of it. happen here. Everything from vigilantes There are other benefits to AMSA to Lord-knows-what has been suggested, members besides 24-hour emergency to and by the AMA and associated and road service. Dealer-representatives interested parties. Forget it. If officers are being franchised now to sell the of the law can't handie these problems memberships. So see your friendly that are part of any civic organization, they are not worth the effort. motorcycle dealer for the rest of the -By Earl E. Rolon story. Guest a;u, r",·.on·a' By Herman ~ ;::. .. U

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