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/125508
Annual BMW Club Picnic ~ r.:z ~ r.:z story & Photos by Jim Mann ..,J saturday and Sunday. May 20 and 21, the BMW Club of Southern California held its 6th Annual Picnic at Griffith Park, Los Angeles. The affair was lengthened to two days in order to accommodate riders who came from far away. U ::... U Movies & Prizes Saturday's events consisted mainly of registering, setting up camps, and visiting with congenial BMW riders. After dusk, everyone was treated to movies of BMW history and a slide show of some of the trips taken by club members during the year. Sunday began with continued registration, and reached a total of over 200 BMW's. Every motorcycle registered automatically made its owner eligible for a .drawing for which the grand prize was a choice of several Wicksam accessories, including a two-piece fairing, pannier box, and a set of saddle hags. The lucky winner was Norma Richards, who chose the saddle-bags. Rare 8MWs Before the events began, four unusual motorcycles were placed on display for admiration. Probably the most prominent of these was the club owned BMW R-12 - a 1936 model flat-head with 750cc displacement. It is in perfect running condition and develops 24 horses. It was the first motorcycle to ever come out with hydraulic forks. This motorcycle has gone on permanent display at Brown's Motor Works (BMW) in Pomona, where the original restoration work was done. It is now maintained as a club committee project. Also displayed were a beautifully faired and customed R-69S, a Volkswagen conversion, and a somewhat rare R-25/3. Tune-Up Display The first event of the day was a demonstration of BMW tune-up procedures by Bob Brown of Brown's Motor Works with Earl Flanders narrating. Bob demonstrated the use of the strobe light, tuning of the acceleration jets, and synchronization of the carburetors. After the introduction by club president Charles Fincher, came a display of motorcycle sportswear developed ex'clusively for motorcycle riders by Parr of Arizona. The formal events were concluded by the drawings where many people, were made happier by the surprise of smaller gifts such as BMW tie clasps and gift certificates for tune-ups and accessories. After the whole tbing was over, many people left, with a warm feeling for having been able to visit with other friendly people who shared the common bond of not only the same sport, but of owning the same kind of machine as well. Everyone was also afforded the opportunity to inspect the ideas of others and so to obtain ideas for their own machines. DAYTONA I N'B~" Hundreds of III. own.... and enthuslasl. flocked to ....danl Griffith Park for the Sixth Annual Picnic of the BMW Club of Soutbern California. Amonethe personalUe. allendlnethe two day evenl was Mrs. MarlJ, wife of a promlnenl So. Cal. III. dealer, shown be.. wIth an oulstandlne example olthe marque. Tropby Corruption THE TASTE OF ASHES by Robert O. Fee For the past seven years. the City of Hope Spring Tour has been something special for United States road riders. That primary something has been the trophy; the distinctive. unique, Torch of Hope - so exclusive that its very design is copyrighted. Games of fun, games of skill, and the downright hard work of dress competition have been the mediums Torch of Hope through whIch the has been earned and that is the reason for it's outstanding prestige value. Wby Not Work For It? Mel Heininger, Executive Coordinator of the City of Hope was horrified at the give aways which reversed the "earned trophy· policy originally instituted by the City of Hope. Several arguments are advanced to rationalize the corruption of the Torch of Hope, and all are based on fallacious thinking: 1. "Every entrant who pays his entry fee is entitled to the chance to win a trophy without any further effort or skill.· Even if this argument were valid, would it be acceptable reason to destroy the prestige of the torch? Why weren't the standard "worthless gold· trophies presented? 2. "The average rider does not have to spend $8000 on his motorcycle in PROVEN THE 32 TO 40 TO 1 LUBE RACING CASTOR. and SUPER FILM &'''''..AI_AII'' £\fremely de,m burning ~~ IIf1I UNEQUALLED fDr INJECTOR or GAS-OIL MIX At 11 :20 a.m.. April 30th, the famed Torch of Hope was pushed from it's pedestal and joined the thousands of other road riding trophies classed as ·worthless gold." It was at that moment, when all the earned trophies had heen awarded, that the referee reached into the box, drew a registration form and gave to the "lucky· winner, a Torch of Hope. The momentous decision to g1 ve away the Torch of Hope was made at the RRC Executive Board meeting, April 26th and was reported to be unanimous. That action evidently became top secret, for no hint of it escaped until the first of six gi ve aways were made Sunday morning. ADDZIP ADDITIVES 1433-1437 FIRST ST. ESCALON. CALIFORNIA. order to compete in the dress competition and earn atrophy.· This argument, carried to it's logical conclusion, would maintain that as it takes a certain amount of money to maintain a motorcycle in an operable condition, any cycle owner, by paying his entry fee should be able to remain at home and be eligible for his trophy ·award.· 3. "Many riders do not have the skill to compete in the field meet events and earn atrophy.· Awarding to this, the same trophy (a Torch of Hope) as is awarded to the cyclist who develops his cycling skills makes as much sense as rewarding an grade school drop-out with the same rate of pay as a highly skilled surgeon. 4. ·We've got to do something or this run is going to die.· And the easiest way out is to give away the Torch of Hope. No thought required. That it happens to devastate a very worthwhile and treasured symbol is not even considered. After all, wllo wants to spend th e time and effort to seek out more interesting activities and entertainment; or even secure some ·worthless gold" to give away? The torch Is tarnished! May those responsible long be proud or their glorious and Irresponsible actions. For those motorcyclists who have put much time and effort into their motorcycles, who have developed their cycling skills, who earned and treasured their Torch of Hope strong must be the taste or ashes. •••••••••••••• ISAVE . . . • : HONDA rARTS: I I • Wilmington Discount Cycle Center 1505 Avalon, Wi Imington, Calif. PHONE: TE 4-0558 I I • CANOGA PARK ~ 7233 CANOGA AVE. 346-3700