Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

~AIRPORT : ~ g ... ~ ~ _ ~ '" :k ~ ~ ..:l L) t; CYCLE AND "INDIAN JOE" By Delmer O. Gascbe George D. steele, a pleli.sant man who feels more comfortable behind a work hench than a sales counter, Is the owner/operator of the Airport Cycle Shop In seattle, Wasbington. The shop handles Norton, Dncati, Brldgestone and Kawasaki mar que s. Besides selling bikes, Airport Cycle also does a thriving rental business. Steele is an ex-machinist turned small businessman. Originally lrom St. Paul, MInnesota, he has been In the puget Sound area for the last fourteen years. Two years ago he decided to Invest his savings and go Into his own business. "Before that, I worked for a lIving" he said, leaning on the sales counter eyeing the new bikes In his showroom. Then he added with a smile, "Now I worry for a lIving." The lather of three boys and two girls, he is presently Involved in teaching his oldest son - thirteen - to ride. He expressed the desire to see his son ride In competition someday," ... if he wants to and shows any real talentfor It!' Steele rides for pleasure primarily, occasionally entering a sportsman or scrambles event. "However," he said, "1 firmly belIeve that every shop should sponsor a rider In as much competition as possible. I don't know how It Is over the rest of the country but the shops in the Puget Sound area are very keen on competition. I think this Is to their advantage one hundred percent. DurIng the racing season, we bave events in this area every weekend. Well publIc1zedand well attended events sell bikes. I sponsor Jon Kaidera and know for a fact that the shop gets a lot of good advertising from It. It costs money to be sure, buta lot of people who are interested In motorcycles see him and know that he's rld1ng for Airport Cycle. .. A point that Is overlooked by some people Is that adVertlslng works best when it reaches an audience already Interested In the product you're trying to sell. Backing a pro rlder Is exacUy that kind of advertising. "Another point often overlooked, or misunderstood, is the feelIng that a shop must bave a rider going for them who will constantly win races. It's true, of course, that everyone notices a winner. ·But lans who ride and follow the sport also notice a rider who runs a dependable bike. A good running bike tells every fan watching that it was set up in a good shop. A rider who finishes even without Indian Joe w1nnlng all the time Is still helping advertise his shop. The bike alone, just by Its performance, can be excellentadvertlsing for a shop. Alter all, the average Ian isn't going to try and win any races. The average fan Is Interested in taklng his business to a shop that will keep his bike in dependahle running sbape. Competition Is good business. It's advertising of the best kind directed righi at your specif1c market!' After a short pause, he added, "Besides, as long as Jon Is rlding for me, I can sit in the stands with my familY and enjoy the races." Jon Kaidera, the pro rlder for Airport Cycle Is thirty years old and a very personable young man. In addition toridlng, he works as a part-time mechanic for the shop and a full-time airplane mechan- Ic lor West Coast Air11Des In seattle. He Is married and the latber at three girls. Known as "Indian Joe" In the ra.cIng fraternity, he begaD riding In 1958. The nickname was earned as a result at many experiences with the sadly-missed Indian marque. "Bikes are much better now," Kaidera commented, remembering his early races. "But it was more fun when /first started, maybe just because I was young and full of hot blood. My lirst lIcensed bike was a 1946 Indian Chief. My first race was on a 1930 Indian 101. I made it to the C-main event and was really feeling my' oals that night. The race got underway and I really wound that old Indian up. Then the front tire blew off the rim and the tube jammed In the spokes. I didn't even see the tire go, just suddenly realIzed I was standing on my head on the track. Being young and eager and In my first race, I horsed the old Indian back up and tried to get back in the race. When I poured the coal to her the bike didn't move an inch forward, just slIthered out from under me with the back tire burning up the track. Then I begaD to notice a lot of people in the crowd laughing and pointing. I looked at the front. tire all twisted through the spokes and decided to retire for the evening. And that was my fir st night in competition!' When asked if he considered giving it all up after Ianding,..on his head the very first night, he replIed, "Never, but I did buy better tires after thatl" Kaidera rides a Norton 750 now and competes state-wide lor Airport Cycle. 10 1964, he was the high point Amateur at Graham Speedway, Graham, Washington. 'Ibat same year be was also the Class A short track champion at the :acoma Sports Arena, Tacoma, Washmgton. In 1962, he placed fourth in the El cajon Speedway TT Scrambles near san Diego, Ca1IIornia. In recent years, he has racedprtmarily In the Northwest, running a lot of races In the SeatUe-Tacoma area with occasiooal trips to Spokane and western Idaho. A member of the Blue Barons Motorcycle Club of Tacoma, it is rumored that Kaidera used to ride with a leather taped to his helmet. When asked about this piece of folklore, Indian Joe answered, "Not true, bike riders speak with forked tongue." '" 15:c I ~ ",u ...... > OU Z'" -0 "' "':e '"t:", < w zQ.

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