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/125530
~
C'Il
CYCLE PROfILES
Cl..1 • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
"-
~
....
..
"WE COMPETE
l BECAUSE WE
~ LOVE IT!"
<1>
V)
-J
C,)
>.
C,)
By Delmer O. Gascbe
The puget Sound are of the pacrnc
Northwest Is an area just beginning to
come into Its own. It Is a growing area
and Uke all growing areas much of its
economic progress can be traced dlrecUy to Its small, Independent businessmen. Jack Enderson, owner of the
Burien Honda motorcycle sales In seatUe, Wasblngton, Is one of the Independent
businessmen very much Involved In helping the puget SOund area reach Its tull
economic potential.
A quiet, extremely casual man, Enderson Is an avid supporter of competitive
motorcycling. "Competition Is the lite
blood of the wlIole motorcycle Industry,"
be commented. "I competed for fifteen
years and wouldn't trade a moment of
that time for anything anyone could offer
me. During those tItteen years I made
friends all across the United states. I
have a son twenty years old - In the
Marines now and headed for Vietnamwho rode In competition events. The
things he learned In those events will
help him all his lite. I know that I
learned a lot aboul myself while sitting
on a competition hike."
In the Paci!1c Northwest area, Enderson and Burien Honda support over tItty
annual motorcycling events. Two top
riders In the seatUe area get their
rides from Burien Honda. In 1966, Dan
Holton won the number one rating In the
Novice class. ThIs year, moving up to
the Amateur class, Holton was the number one Amateur In the state of Washington. He placed third at the CasUe
Rock Nationals, and also won the indoor
championship at Woodenslde. Another
top rider for Burien Honda, Roger stanley, finished the 1967 season ranking
second In the Novice class In the state
of Washington.
"We compete because we love It,"
said Enderson. "Sure, it Is good advertising to back a stable of winning
bikes and riders but there Is no such
thing as coming out ahead financially
for a dealer. It takes a lot of time and
money to engage regularly in serious
competition. And we don't spend that
time and money because we think It Is
au, Investment. We spend It because we
love the sport. It Is an investment, of
course, In good will and the friends you
make. But Pm In the business because
I love the sport, not because I want to
get rich. I do wish more dealers would
actively support local competition events
and riders."
Enderson'S comments on legislation
directly concerned with motorcyclists
were brief and pointed. "The Image of
the motorcyclist has improved considerably since I first became involved in
this business. I personally feel that a
great deal of this Improvement can be
traced dlrecUy to the Honda company
and their excellent advertising programs. The Honda breakthrough with
their tlrst good, lightweight bikes
changed the whole Image of the motorcyclist. Motorcycles are for everyone
now, not Just the wild few who used to
ride. But even though things have
changed, there are still controls placed
upon us which seem unfair. safety equipment Is a prime e.1