Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

4 i1 r-;iiiiiiiifiiDir-' ..I ByRoxyRock:wooc! Forcb'ce (Rlvefllide) IIIOtorc:;rcle dealerships before co1ne to the event. All their addreaaes are listed in the cYcle News Dealer Directory ooo't miss out on this unusual experience, 'order your tickets right away. Then you can tell your triends what the noble buffalo tastes like. DAYTONA DATE: Have watched a lot of road racing talent over the years but the rides turned in by NiXDn and Hammer on the lightweights and the big jobs left no doubts in my mind who the two best road racers are on these shores. NiXDn won both days but it could have easily been Hammer in front both times. It was a very thin line between the two and I would rate them dead even for ability. helmets. used NGK and Champion spark Tbanks to Nixon [rom this column as we plcked him to win them both in last week's issue. same goes ror Walt Fulton Jr. A near miss for young Dave Smith. The finest looking racing cycles to ever enter an event in the USA were brought to Daytona by Bob Hansen ot the well known Team-Hansen entry from Racine, Wisconsin. He's the guy that duels factory stuff [rom his bllckyard and bllsement. He has a couple or real winners coming up in Swede savage and Jim Odom. Swede had the tach tall off on the second lap of the 2oo-miler and then rode the last 100 miles without a rear brake and still finished in 10th place over the finest field ever to run at Daytona. U.welcome Change Many many Triumpb people, especially dealers, ""icing COlIIPlaiDts about the decisioa by die AMA to mop to the 35ecc limit come '69. They say that it t.ooll since 1936 to really wild a winner Mel now there is a clIange just aro_d llIe COllIer. Cliff Guild and the rest of the Balti· more Triumph crew again really having the right combination. The most potent in Daytona history. Hamme r finally coming UP with a big job that held together. They said it couldn't be done. During the practice week through the quarter mile time traDs, Mert Lawwill was consistently the rastest at just over 136 mph nine out of ten times. When they get around to dropping the limit to 350cc, look for Yamaha to be a runaway winner. They were the first to try the 350s against the big jobs and will do the same next year to give them a two year h.ead start. The rest of the brands are still just talking or are still on the drawing boards. BOth Yamahas showed UP extra well with Dut! putting one or them in the second row [rom time trials and running through the time traps at over 132 mpb Just about every time through. Much interest shown in the new Kawasakis by the record crowd on hand. They had to go through the first year jitters and confusion that all previous teams have experienced. Y:unaha and Honda team garages were run like a well-oiled machine. The same for H-D. That much sought after flare for proressionalism is really cat__ ing on. 011 ne Air Webco sponsored a haIr-!lour radio show the entire week and it was my pleasure to play host on the mike. Top riders were on every night as were many other racing celebs. Reports are that the show was well received and will become an annual event. The entire show every night was strictly informal. The many top riders that took part did a great job" especially Gary Nixon. For the reader who likes to know what the winners used: they wore Bell By Robert O. Fee ONLY WC RIDERS GET TO EAT BUFFALO The 9th Annual Frontier Day and Buffalo Feed will take place at Calico Ghost Town, 12 miles east of Barstow, on April 2. It is the only event or its kfDd in the country and will probllbly attract over 700 people, who want a chance to dine on ootralo steaks. Besides a ticket, the only other quaUIlcaUnn tor the burtalo reast is you ba ve lID ~ 011 a _torcycle-aay bnmd will do. Spoaanrine Tn..... IIIlICorcycle deal- plugs and Goodyear tires. Nixon took home over $1,000 in extra money from these companies for this twin win. Can't go into it now in depth but look for Nixon and Hammer to compete in at least one Grand Prix overseas before the year is out. Look also for Yamaha to get the jump once again on the rest of the field as they are starting to build already for next year with some new riders in addition to the ones they already have. Tbey are going to do it like the Green Bay Packers and keep the flow of rookies coming up to replace the veterans when they go over the hill. Had the pleasureor spending a couple of evening with Mille Durr and bere is a. real great guy and a true cbampjOll road raeer. He really added an extra touch. The same goes ror Walt Fulton Jr. A real credit to th.e sport and could become H-D's ace in the bole in future events. Fulton and Jimmy Odom are going to tum a lot of heads in the next couple of years. Walt and Jimmy each made only one single mistake during the entire running or the amateur 100 Odorn's was far more costl,y oot he got the chance to show what he can do with the rill:ht weapons. In Fulton, H-D has a strictl,y road racing specialist who is going to pay orr ten-fold in the next few years.. It was Walt's first ride on anything bigger than a 250cc job and we wonder bow Suzuki ever let bim get away rrom them. A good move by Milwaukee. Sf- aM More s,e. That time trial e!fort by Fred Nix at over 140 mph was fantastic. Six riders broke the old record set last year by Rayborn. Odom was the only rider to top the amateur mark and that screaming Honda dam near tore us right out ot the press tower. Jim had to actually go on the clocks tour times instead ot one due to a faulty timing light. Two watches caught him at well over 134 mph bis first time through. Give a lot of credit to the sam CoronaDick Newell team that was entered on a private basis. Dick did a tremendous job both days. He rode a 305 Yamaha on Sunday against the big jobs and had the smallest machine entered. Many people may have missed the two rides turned in hy Art Bauman who is UP to big-time racing from the AFM and ACA ranks, oot it did not go unnoticed by many ot us. He's as smootb as glass and is only an anateur road racer by classification. Watch ror this modest gentleman to be one of the front - runners in coming events. Will have more on Daytona from time to time but right now just too many things that happened are slipping by. It was a great week and all California riders can be justly proud as can the tuners and backers, since people from all over the motorcycle world were on hand to view this time. ers are Ed Kretz or Monlerey Pari<, Da ve Ma-. or Pasadena and Skip Fordyce or Riverllide. The menu features barbecued ooffalo obtained from the government preserve in Lawton, Oklahoma. It is prepared in the real old-fashioned style IlY the ramous chef Joe Lopez who rules over the Calico Kitchen and adds zest to the meat with a special " Buftalo sauce" made just ror this occasion. Calico Gbost Town is an appropriate setting for the Buffalo Feed because its old buildings and authentic board walks are reminiscent of the days wben the buftalo roamed the plains and many people lived on a regular diet ot oorralo meat. There are rustic stores to visit and a mine shaft that recalls the days when people lived and worked here. Some riders will come UP the night berore and camp outin the small canyons adjacent to Ghost Town. There will be scores of prizes awarded to lucky ticket holders and tickets must be purchased (ror $1.50) at either Ed Kretz, (Eastern L.A.), Dave Mason (Pasadena) or Skip POSTPERRIS PREVIEW By Manreea Lee AlI Cycles To Get Trophy All motorcycles disPlayed at the Westernationals Motorcycle Show APril 7, 8, and 9th will receive a handsome, three-foot participation trophy, John Stoner told the SO. Calif. Road Riders Committee at their recent meeting. Stoney and his club, the Pacific COa1iters Motorcycle Club, are bosting the special show to be held at the Great WestE\ln Exhibit Center. The dress motorcycle exhibition will be separate from the Hot Rod and Custom Cars and Chopper cycles that will be showing at the same time. Special emphasis is being placed 011 motorcycle club displays and the _ aeement is douating $10 to the UeaSIIIY or each club partldpatiJl&. nus is in addition to any tropll.les the groups may ......e. Entry blanks and further information can be obtained from Stoney by phone at (714) 474-4372 or write to: John Stoner, President, Pacific Coasters Motorcycle Club, 1418 E. 7th Street, National City, California. There is no entry fee. Take Your Pick Yet another custom bike show. the International SPort Cycle Exposition, will force riders to choose between it and the aforementioned Westernationals event. Scheduled ror APril 6th through 9th at the Shrine Exposition Hall, the 1.s.C.E. offers tropbies and p1acQues in three classes - Competition, custom and Antique. With all the local interest iD SIIows and sbow blkes, there sbould be plenty or entrants tor each eveat, and 1nteresied spectalors could conceivably attend both sbows tor gI Utering "ClIslomized" weekend. Deadline tor entries in the international sport Cycle Exposition in March 31. For information and entry torms call or write: A.M.S.A .. 8272 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, phone (213) 656-6440. Good Groups Needed Three individuals, duos, trios, or Quartets are needed to round out the APril 29th program tor the City of Hope spring Tour, to be held at 29 Palms, California. The tour is for the benefit or the City of Hope National Medical Center and the program will last {rom 11 a.m. till 10 p.rn. with time out rrom 12:15 till 2:15. No one perfonner or group need play for longer tban 45 minutes and a partial repeat or reshuffle or the group's repertoire at a later perrormance is acceptable. One person or group should be Qualified to conduct a songfest saturday evening between 8 and 10 p.m. As this is a clIadtable benefit, llIere is no casb available. However, the DC win provide tree snacks tor the ar~ and a barbecae dinner tor eacb person. The City or HoPe provides an ackno. . ledgement 011 their leuerllead civlDg each performer a tax deduction lor their travei and out-ofopocket expenses. The participants and local spectalors will contribute a lot of applause and appreciation. Any person or group interested in assisting this very worthwhile endeavor on the hi gh desert is urged to contact Robert O. Fee or tbe so. Calif. Road Riders Committee, 395 S. White Ave., Pomona, or call one of the rollowing numbers for more information: Mr. BOb Adsit, Coordinator, (714) LYcoming 56220: Mrs. Beverl,y Byrd, RRC Sec., (213) 324-8457: Mrs. Lee Harrison., Committee for Better Motorcycling, (714) 897-3309. FUNERAL TODAY FOR DANNY BEST Yo..,g Danny Best, son of local m/c dealer Norm Best died in a treaIl accident at the Colorado River s-day ..tIen be tumbled from a dune bucgy and rell beneath the wbeels. Fuaera1 will be at Renaker ChaPei, 76:11 COIIIDIOowealth, Rueua Part at! p.m. Tbursday Marcb 23. - =' ==SPEED Z -m.6 That was sure a neat scrambles at Perris on Sunday, and as scrambles columnist I reel entitled to band out some llIl ts on the back to all and sundry who were there as this was the event covered by the Heral~Examiner. It was the first time some or their people had ever SEEN a motorcycle race let alone a scrambles event. Tbey went home completely happy and tickled to death that these things exist and that they are such fun! We might even have one or tbem on a bike soon! Anyway, I want to say a tbank-you to track owner Jerry Burton and to the spoGsmen M.C., who handled the day's events real smoothly and sbowed our guests a well-dressed, well-behaved group of club members. Thanks also go to the competition riders who rode the guests around the traek so they could see it trom a rider's viewPoint. When the Sideback Association arrived from what was apparently a hairy morning or racing at Prado Park. they played bost and took us around the track again in hacks. YuP, me too but I'll go on record as saying I'd rather watch' em than ride 'em, thanks all the same! It was tun though and a real secsation, but Grace Burley can still reign as Queen o[ the passengers with no competition rrom me! The experience scored a tremendous number or points with our guests though, and BOb Andrews, who will be doing the actual wrlting ot the article, borrowed a helmet and was act..lly observed hanging ott the side in Mike Parti's back, trying the whole idea on ror size! Bob was also iDtroduced to a ulllllber or riders liI

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