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/125503
; ROAD RACE ... '" SCHOOL we barbored were soon allayed after meeting oar lDstructors, wbo although beina: very proficient racers, did not approacb us with a -boller than thou· attitude but sbowed a genuine interest in seeing tbeir students achieve the same degree of riding excellence they possessed. Befole being allowed on the track, the fifteen students who attended (including one girl) assembled in a classroom and were taught the rudiments of course safety and proper line by Braver-man and Hetzler. By the time the gaggle of riders scrambled out to the course to practice what they had been taught, the low clouds which ominously hovered over the track, began to release light sprinkles. which later increased to a goodsized shower. ·You mean you're going to let us out on the course while it's raining?· we asked Braverman with some uneasiness. He replied, -How are you going to be a dedicated racer if you don't learn how to ride in the rain. If yOU remember, I told you in the classroom that the two most important things about racing are smoothness and THINKING every second you're out there. If you're not smooth and you're not thinking when you are riding in the rain, you're going to crash. That's all there is to it. Now get out there and ride I· And ride we did. The wary eyes of botb instructors watched us at every turn and also made certain we were getting tbe job done by following us around on their own motorcycles. Wbenever a student made a mistake, be was called in and shown bow to avoid making tbat mistake the next 'time before being allowed to resume practice. It sbould be added here that criticism did not come in the form of chastisement but was made in a kind and explanatory mann er. After the riding period came another classroom session, followed by another riding period and this is tbe pattern tbe scbool followed all day. • Toward tbe end of the session. when everyone had attained tbe sufficient degree of smoothness desired, tbe instructors called two five lap practice races for all students. We entered the first race and found ourselves amazed at tbe progress we made during the scbool session. Our observations were supported by watching tbe second race in which we found every· one going unbelievably smootb and qui te fast. Tbe next scbool session will be beld at Whiteman this Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. Whetber you are already racing or Q" .... .... In structor Braverman points out prop... lin. \luaueh Whlt8Un'1 flat I_p.... Believe it or not. in this day of inIJationary living there art still bargains to be bad. One of the best CYCLE NEWS knows of is tbe bi-monthly road racing scbool, held at Whiteman Air Park in Pacoima. Cost: 510.00. Benefits: Concentrated track experience equalled only by several years of actual competition. CYCLE NEWS recently attended one uf the all-day Saturday 6ession. taught by top-notcb AFM riders Bob Braverman and Dave Hetzler. With a queasy feelillg in our stomacb and a good deal of trepidation we approached tbe short and twisty banked course on which we were going to be taught the ropes of road racing. Any fears r;;;riiiiisiiuir' 1 .J ByRollyRockwood The biggest weekend ever in the local area is coming up with three straigbt days and nights of racing. The half-mile at Ascot, the indoor short track at San Diego and the late flash, an outdoor short track at Ascot on Sunday afternoon. Three races and three paydays for the top riders. These are also professional point fund races that count toward the top ten at the end of the season. where and it looks like road racing may Rain bas cancelled Ascot two of the finally make the grade - if politics can stay away. three weeks but. witb any luck - it has to stop sometime. That's tbe nice thing The Tulare promoters called this about indoor races, tbe only way the week to say that entry blanks for the 5race could be called is if the roof leaks. Mile National there will be available They're looking for a big crowd down soon. TbIs will be the first National on in san Diego SatuJday night. SOme are the west coast this year and will run on predicting that it will be tbe largest to Saturday night. July 1st. Time trials will ever see an indoor race. It could well run the night before, along with a Novice haPpen as they have never drawn less race program. R A Fl' than 7,000 people for any event, and tbat includes trade sbows, pigeon racing D~OrS . re ylog and kite flying. A rumor 15 fioatmg around that tbere An added attraction to make the may be a professional AMA road race weekend more worthwhile rinds another down in the Bemuda area before the sbort track race at Ascot on Sunday year is out. One way or the other they may get the American riders to some afternoon, APril 30. This will be the third time tbe riders bave tried tbe inother parts of the world - even if it is field quarte......ile oval. only minutes away from Florida, Jets, you know. · T o P avemeD t F rom DU t Look for tbe Portland mile NatioDa! Dowu at Carlsbad last Sunday tbe this year in Mid-Juiy to be tile bta:a:est sportsman races found many more dirt and best thina: that ever b_ened to trackers· trying the pavement, after they cycle racing. The acIvauced planning is found out how much those tropby races well underway anll tIIey will bave frills belped Gene Romero climb into tbe top attached to tIIat event tbat bave never ten at Daytona. before been beard of in any type of Adding their names to the fast-growing racing. Ust were Dusty Coppage, Clyde Litch, If we have no more rain we may get Rich Thorwaldson, John Carter and hack to normal racing, If not forget it as Butcb Landguth. You bave to start sometbere is always next year. not, neophyte or accomplished racer. bring your bike and ten bucks out to the track and find out how much you don't know, Some Do's aDd Don'ts Do bring a street bike ratber tban a racing machine. Do make certain that your machine is safe enough to ride. Do bring an approved helmet, goggles and leatbers. Do listen to everything tbe instructor tells you. Don't race around and pass other riders until you are told to do 50. Don't come unprepared. You'll be watching instead of riding. DoD't approach tbe scbool with tbe attitude that you know all about rood racing. In that event the school won't benefit you one bit. Interested individuals sbould contac< Braverman at(213)785-2421 for additional information. p ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • • • : 0 GEt : \'~ yo E~ERYI i S i : \\\\\ NE- foRA'E : : ·· • yCLE \\ IN......-' : CEe. II \. .,~ \.",.,.,,\" ~'''\' : . . • fI. .",. 0,6 : ~ • • • • • • • I enclose cheCk : Please send me Cycle News for one year via 2nd class man 0 $1,50, : • Please send me Cycle News for one y.ar via first class mail 0 $l4.. • • Please send me Cycle News for one year via Air Mail, • , $2lI,. • Of money order 0 (Dr) Please bill me laterD • • • ,0 Is a lew Slncrt,t1n 0 rbis is a 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • : • (Pllasl chIck onl) This • r.ewal Mail tI: CYCLE NEws, Blx 498. Line Beacb, Calif, 9.1 lB. sur. and Includ. Zip cod..) : • • Nae • • AlI*ess • • City . • State Zi • • MOTORCYCLE ArID SCOOTER IIIDUSTRY GROUP ANIIOUNCES CO...ITTEES FOR 19&7-68 Operating committees for tbe Motor-•cycle, Scooter & Allied Trades Association's 1967-68 program were announced today by William E. Kennedy, President. The MS&ATA, composed of approximately 40 companles engaged in various aspects of tbe motorcycle and scooter industry, bas two major activities of Governmental Relations and Public Relations. The Association also maintains committees for Membership, Code of Regulations. Operation of American Motorcycling Magazine and a Su~ Committee on Safety. Robert H. Remensperger of San Francisco. Calif. (Western Scooter Distributors) has been named Chairman of the Public Relations Committee. serving on the PR Committee will be Michael F. Bondy, Vice Chairman. of New York (Butler & Smith. Inc.) T.A. Hodgdon of Nutley, New Jersey (BSA, Inc.), Andrew Rocco of New York (Lambretta Di vision of Innocenti Corporation). William J. Harley of Milwaukee. Wisc. :Harley-Davidson Motor Co.), and William T. Berry. Jr., ex officio member, Executive Director of tbe MS&ATA in Columbus, Obio. Walter C. Davidson of Milwaukee, Wise. (Harley-Davidson Motor Co.) will again serve as ChairmAn of tbe Governmental Relations Commi ttee. Accepting membership on the Governmental Relations Committee are Walter Fulton of santa Fe Springs, Calif, (U.S. Suzuki Motor Corporation), and Lawrence E. Wise of Philadelphia, Pa.(Cosmopolitan Motors). Serving on the Safety SulX)ommittee will be CbJistopher Spexarth of Milwaukee (Harley-Davidson), Helmut M. Kern of New York (Butler & Smith), Rod Coates of Baltimore, Md. (Triumpb cor-poration), Jack Hoel of Los Angeles (Yamaha International Corporation), and Paul McCrillis, Director of Governmental Relations fOT tbe MS&ATA. Andrew Rocco will head the Code of Regulations Committee, with William H. D a vids 0 n of Milwaukee (HarleyDavidson), Earl J. Miller of Baltimore (Triumph Corporation), and Frank Heacox of Long Beach, Calif. (Bell-Toptex, Inc.) as Committee members. Tbe Membership Committee will consist of Earl J. Miller, Cbairman, plus William Bagnall of Sierra Madre, Calif. (Motorcyclist Magazine), and Lawrence E. Wise. Tbe Magazine Committee will consist of William T. Berry, Jr., as Cbair-man, witb T,A. Hodgdon, John Eckler, legal counsel, and Dallas Bolon. Certified Public Accountant.