Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

WE MEET THE BROTHERS RICKMA Pboto by Deanis Greene By Maureen Lee We had the pleasure of meeting Don and Derek Riclanan at the press conference held by John steen at his bome last Thursday atternoon, Oct. 12. WUh various models of the Metisse displayed in the lovely setting of the steen patio and garden, the two brothers met the Southern Calilornia press to answer questions and to chat. The brothers are here for one purpose, to see first hand and to ride the type of terrain that we have in Calilornla wi th an eye towards possiblY adapting their machines for it. The Metisse ls built for fast riding over rough ground and the ones competing in the desert are dOing well, such as the one ridden by Lonnie Petersen. But we haven't seen many In our scrambles mainlY because the European type of scrambles and our local TT scrambles are completelY different. Now if Don and Derek were to build a frame that could hold a two- earb 650 engine! During the casual part of the meeting we were able to get some information we found to be quite interesting when it came down to explanations between riding in 111. Brol!lers Rleluua al EncIand, maters 01 l!Ie lieU sse Ira.... are beft! to lake a fi rst· 11_ loak at U.So-type rae! nJ. TIley 1..1 our scQII/bl.s ~s are not demandlac enouch, bat relWbd ••t tb. Ascot II.II-mll. Is --_.-. NKG SPARK :::;0"$1.10 PLUGS =:- $2.50 "too blolMll' lut." 0N0r ....... . - E __---I ... --. -y- -----P.!.C!'!.E~~~!.. ~ .. _ ",aL••,. fib IIODAIlA., ~ $12.80 ~~..:c FLYWHEEL PULLER 1--------------------1 0 - .... $1.80 ... $2.75 2_ __.." . MOTO CROSS PIPE _ 2500c . . . . ." - . . n CHROME a....... ., ~••y" TANK NPl00 - . - . . ... _ IIOIaAICA . . . $1.95 ~ MOTO-LOY HUBS & ,PARTS , ... AZ 100 $17.95 HODAKA RED TOUCH-UP =..~ SPRAY PAINT and PRIMER _ ..... ... =:.;.... RR7 ,.. .- F7 ~ .3 <;) 0 "J s ~ ~ ~ Co> ;:.., Co> miles and no houses." "You mean someone owns all that?" "And they go so fast and don't know where they're going!" Like we said, it's obvious that we are not going to have the European type racing here or they go to our type of scrambles tracks. "Why sbould they? The riders wouldn't keep going back. They have to keep developing." Ourldea of explaining that is that in Europe they have a strong sense of national pride in the competition between countries and everyone tries to beat the other at moto-cross, whether with riders or machines. There's a "thing" about a Frenchman being able to beat an Englishman or for either of them to blow off the Germans, plus having the German machines like C-Z bettering the Greeves. And, it's for money. not trophies. Soon the brothers will be back at their factory turning out Mel!!! frames a week to be fitted out into one of the finest most specialized competition bikes we have around. After three years in business they run full production all the time and we wish them continued success. 1I's quite a product that they build and race! • •••••••••••••••••• .. Filtroo Air Filters, Judsoa Prods. .. Francisco Castoroil, Dri-slide, F1.. glass tanks & seats, Jolm Cooper & .. Big JoIm 1loots. All Avallabl. FIIllII .. .. .. .. .. &llPSON MOTORS 4210 $ . F. . .do Rei. G1_daI.. Callf.912D4 .. .. ... (213\ 247-3nAA .. • .. .. *****~*'*********** 16------- VILLERS -.- _ ... .. ' E GINES .... --. - .. ct.tdi .... ~ STU.ADR sat.... FS 22..,/ __ e.ta. .... $47.97 AIR FILTER - YC41 , -J STU.AKa PIIODUC11ON RACING ENGINE ~Y2", ~~"- ... _ _ ....e.ta._."' ..._ $609A7 STAII.AICEIt DIALS __ ... .-U/.,_ 2005/'." - MIooIoI~ ._L2S-.. -$441.34 $1.00 ORDER ~ ... . ..... _ ' ..... ..-e........... - $402.47 .... ~ $75.28o----e::::-- 1!nIIt ................ « t-:-:=-=-=--==-=--------'--..:;.;'~.-~ .-a/..... _ ~ $56.00 F6:-::- : - - . $40.70 $1.40 _ - ~ ~:-- -:- '.0.. e.. $2.20 .o..e.. _.- ...... $35.15 X500 . . . . . . " Ie SPARK PLUG CLEANER '%". p1pa I Europe and over here. We are now trying harder than ever to develop some motocross riders for the onslaught to come from Europe but the differences are great however hard we try. "East is east and West Is west" as Kipling said and that we can't change. In England alone on a single weekend there could be from 25 to 40 races UP and down the country and entries are sent in two weeks in advance so that the NovIces (JUnIors) often lose out for a starting place unless it's a Juniors-only meet. Every race is for money which could be around $'75 for a win. However, Derek Rlclanan said It would be hard for a rider to make a living solelY as a rider although some are trying, as he conld perhaps make only 30 or 40 pounds a week if he won every race (about $100 average) and that's not enough to supPOrt yourself and an expensive motor cross machine. The purse is paid back to 6th or 8th places, all seniors receiving starting money. Moving into the realm of the International moto-cross riders, they are different than the regular scramblers. Just a few are lucky enough to be on a factory retalner as they always have money coming in, and to the name riders startng money Is always patd. Belgium'S Joel Robert would receive more starting money than England's Dave Bickers at an E,glish event as Robert would have to travel more miles to enter. In the big International moio-crosses a man could get as much as $300 starting money wbile he would win perhaps $150. All racing in Europe ls F .1.M. sanctioned and in France a whole village will get together and throw a moto-cross with the butcher, baker, local constable and all getting in and worll:ing, and the attendance will run around 8000 people! Derek was asked about EDglaDd Uld he said that there the people who come to watch scrambles are otten not motorcycle owners and the majority of the readers of the top weekly motorcycle newspapers are the same way. Scrambling Is considered a great spectator sport and they come by the undreds In cars with the famIlY, going through the gate for around 5 bob a car-full. (7o¢!) More money is made on the program sales. Road riders usuallY attend road races. Both brothers remarked that our local scrambles courses (Don took borne a 2nd place trophY from night racing at Perris) wouldn't do too well In England. The riders would get tired of riding them and they are just not challenging 'enough. A scrambles there is started when you approach a farmer, rent his land, mark out the course and throw your race. Two weeks later the land is back planted with beetroots or hay. They just couldn't dig the idea of our graded courses, grading being something that is never done over there. said Don, "How can the riders develop if they ride the same place every week? Our riders have to keep progressing." About one of our local top riders at Perris, "Yes, he's very fast but he'd stand no chance at all in a regular European scrambles." A partial explanation of thi s may be that over here we all know what big winners such as Triumphs are in scrambles but "no one uses a TR frame in motocross." Here, we sacrlflce handllng for speed on our present circuits. The two went out and tried the Checl

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