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/125536
S.f. H •, Law 'os".e~
•
By Geo.ce MarUD
A proposed mandatory belmet law for
San Francisco was delayed for two
months last week by a committee of the
city's board of supervisors.
The problem of enforcing the proposed
law was cited as tile reason. San Francisco Motorcycle dealers and Ted Long
of the International Sportcycle Foundation have been actively politicking againsl the proposal in the weeks since It
was advanced.
Long, along with Hap Jones of Hap
Jones Distributing and Yamaha dealer
Al Fergoda appeared at the public hearing.
Representatives from several rider's
organizations were also on hand,lncludIng 1beo Roumbanls, a member of the
Gypsy Jokers, a chopper-oriented "outlaw" grouP.
"Nothing could be more rl,diculous,"
said long-time rider, dealer and distrloutor Jones, "than forcing riders to
buy helmets when they come over the
Golden Gate Bridge."
Speaking for the bill was Its author,
Supervisor Peter Tamaras. He quoted
slatistics on motorcycle injury and death
rates, and told the committee that helmets would cut down both figures greatly.
The cyclists replied that It is a rider's
right to make his own helmet decision.
Roumbanls, speaking for the Jokers,
said "I appreciate the concern of the
city in saving us, but we'd like the right
to determine If we want to be saved."
After listening to the various points
of view, Supervisors Terry Francois and
Kevin O'Shea deeided to continue the
question until February.
Fresno closed out the '67 season ollicially last Sunday night and it was
the end of the line for hundreds of riders in the state. The many novice riders
/lOW move to Amateur and the few amateurs who were able to score at least
4Q points now get thrown into the Expert class, better known as the Lion's
Den.
The amount of activity will start payFresno also bas the distinction of
opening the new season on Sunday night,
January 7th. Then all of the lads who
have been waiting to become professlonal riders don their new green and white
number plates and take to the rough and
tough indoor track.
California closed out the season and It
was perhaps the busiest of them all with
every type of racing being run somewbere at somefune during the year.
Four Californians woo NationalCbamplonship events and no less than ten
Experts finished within the top twenty in
the final AMA National standings.
These twofiguresagainplace California bead and shoulders ahead ofallother
states for having the most outstanding
riders.
Next season? Well, It appears to be
beaded for even higger and better things,
not only right here in the old backyard
but all over the nation. Many new Nationals have been added with only a few
dropping by the wayside.
At this time DO top rider from the
area bas announced his retirement so
they will all be back plus at least a half
a dozen new aces from the amateur
ranks.
The Amateur class last year, beaded
by Jimmy Odom, broke from the starting
line to record many wins, not only !>ere
at home but all over the nation.
The Amateurs for next season can
well be as good as the recently departed
yellow plates. In many ways they can be
even better as at least a dozen have
much experience in all types of professiona! racing as Novice riders and
sportsmen racers.
Ing off for Californians In the next season
or two with the coming of indoor racing,
three times as much road racing and the
regular amount of half mile and TTracing. This formula tends to develop future
National champs and California had a
record amount of events in '67.
With more and more riders obtaining
professional cards it bas always been a
source of wondering why more out of
staters don't move to California to ply
the trade. The going may be easier in
the Midwest but the races are fewer and
the purses smaller for the etfort extended.
Sammy Tanner and Mert Lawwtll are
the only two that come to mind quickly
that have ever made the move to reap
the rewards of full time racing out this
way in recent years. Both became highly
regarded racers. Where are the rest?
ThIs column closes out its eight year
for the paper and each year continue to
top the one before. '68 will follow the
same pattern although for pure good raeing and top equipment the •67 season will
be hard to top.
• The Houston and Daytona events are
just around the corner so actually one
season never ends and another never
starts. It Is just one big go-around that
gets faster and faster with the passing of
every twelve months.
As usual there will be some brand
chiulges by some of the top riders. Most
of all there will be a few, and only a
very few, that will take their places with
the ranks of the champions.
A Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year to the most avid and loyal fans in
the world - cycle racing people.
llaslnle, r...,. Ciaif
By Judy McKeen
"Vngahwah, what's this younger generation COMING to?"
•
CHRISTMAS CHEER
and a
HAPPY NEW YEAR
from the makers of
~B~"
P ne (209) 838-1912
ADDZIP ADDITIVES
1433·~437 FIRST ST.
ESCALON, CALIFORNIA,
•
F & M REED MANIFOLD
'THE HOT SET-UP"
F & M Entlrprl SIS
5214 Lewison PI.
San Oligo, Cal.
92120
•
,. Robert M. Law
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HIGHEST TRADE"N
239 N. Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim, Cal.
Phone (714) 533-1309
...
The weekend of December 9th we
headed down south to Nashville,Tennesee
for an indoor short track. The track was
cement, with long straight aways and
tight corners. It looked liked a national
with all the naUona rIders there. Nell
Keen had the fastest time of the night, In
the first heal It was a hot and heavy race
between Keen on a Bultaco and Fred Nix
on a Harley-Davidson. Keen did a fine
job of winning this heat.
The second heat was Larry Dillon on
a Bullaco all the way for a win. Red
McKeen on a Bullaco, Charlie Southgate
riding a Honda and Dick sears aboard a
Triumph, really put on a show, with
plenty of wheel to wheel racing and lots
of passing. McKeen got a second. South~
gate a lb1rd and Sears a fourth. Gary
Nixon, our new 1968 national #1, wonthe
third heat. But It didn't look like too
easy a job. There was a fast amateur
hot on his tall all the way. Gary came
right back for a trophy dash win and
again with the first semi win. The second
semi James Floyd beat out Nell Keen for
a win.
The main event was a surprise to
everyone. James Floyd got the lead and
Nixon tried the whole twenty laps to
pass, with no luck at all. Floyd crossed
the line a wheel ahead of NIxon. Larry
Dillon, another fast amateur, held Neil
Keen off for a well-deserved third place.
From Nashville everyone loaded uP
and drove all night for another indoor
short track in Clncinattl, Ohio. When I
say short track I mean SHORT track.
They laid their motors on the cases and
never lifted them up till they fell o~ got
the checkered flag. The fastest time of
the day was Ronnie Rall's. He sure
didn't ride like be just had a broken
hand a few months ago.
In the first heat Ronnie. was really
gettin' with It when he crashed vigorously, Myron Nagorski and Darrel Dovel
took over the lead. When Rall got uP he
started picking off riders like there was
no one else there. He ended uP with a
third. The second heat was black !lagged,
and while waiting for the riders to line
up again, Gary N1J