Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

. ... Cl> l: " •....ca' I 011, I.lkl, lII..cycle NeWIIIIII"PuIIli_er•••••C1Iarlea C. CIayID. Editorial s tories , cartoons. photos BlIsilless Maaacer• .IilIaroII Clay_ _ etc. are welcomed and will be paid' CirealaliOll Mer•••Gaye Editor•••••••••••• C ol SiIBS for upon publication (except press AdverlisinC Mer•••••• TORI Culp releases and -Voice- letters.) Addressed. stamped envelope assures Photo Editor••••• Dennis Gret!IIe 1411 N. L_C Incllll,i Lab Technil;ian•••• Bill Petl.i..-ew return. Sinde copy price•••••••••• 25¢ BooklLeeper. ~o • • • SUSllft Whitelaw lIlC Cllif•••6 Receptjomst. •••••• JlMly Bailey SUbscriPtion: One year 2811 class Dr: Itx _, LIIlC I • • CIIif. Publi shed weekly except the first Mail ••••••••••••••••• $7.50 and last week of the calendar year P"'e:42HW (Subscribers please a II w three by c&s Publishing Co., Post Office week", for addleSs change.) (Am CHeUa> Box 498. Long Beach, .California. Advertising rates and circulation second Class postage paid at Long Fa. L.A. P....s: ....844 information will be sen t upon request. Beach. Calif. lei. <. ° would see to it, for their own benefit as well as ours, that we vrere paid enough to attract more and better riders, because they could afiord to travel on the win nings. AMEN AND BRAVO - ELLIOTT SCHULTZ JR. . I just read your article in Cycle News and I want to tell you I wish I could have written It myself. I am a motorcycle dealer here In a smaIl town just north of sacramento, that's where the great motorcycle law dictators have their big get together and think of all kinds of groovy th1ngs for us motorcyclists to do or not to do and to wear or not to wear.) I became really interested in motorcycles around 1960 when I acquired my first one, a 124cc Japanese 4-stroker. It was successful around here In ' 63, ' 64 and ' 65. then it was outclassed and so was I. I bummed a few r ides on other scooters for quite some time and was lucky enough to get .introduced to one of the nicest guys In the trade - John Martin trom Fairfield, through whom I was introduced tirst hand to the Wonderful World of Professional Racing. I love Itt I just wish I were 10 years younger and knew what I know now. Altbough I had never competed In any large scale with the pro's before, I had been introduced to several and had enjoyed .talk1ng to them. Most are Just ordinary guys, doing what they want and getting paid (poorly) for it, some like myself shouldn't be risking Injury for what we get. I have a lovely wife and four of the greatest kids in the world who think I'm the only guy that knows how to" ride a motorcycle. So - what do wives and kids know? Well, my t1rst halt-mile at Tulare last year I started learning to ride all over again on a never before seen, by me, fast 250 two-stroker. Why , I tell you, I looked at the Amateurs and Experts practicing and thought to myself, well you wanted to be a pro, make big money, let's see what you can do wise guy. Practice was short, and so was I - in tile heat race, transferring trom the heat to tile truck In one fell swoop. Well I got my Amateur plate th1s year by some stroke of luck, and I'm not about to stop now. No sir, I'm going to stay in there now for some of the really big money. HA! HAl Some of the guys that finish jalopy races around bere make more money than t1rst place pays to an Amateur at a National. Granted, Novice money is like getting paid to practice but after he earns his Amateur, then Expert plate he has to keep racing every week to stay In shape or go back to tra1l riding. But in this area, When he makes Expert he has had it. Sure, Dan Haaby can tell you whattun It is to drive from Sacramento to Los Angeles. To ride Ascot then make $10.00 or nothing, that's part of the profession. But - How about it he wants to ride around here? NO! says the ' ·Great dictators somewhere In Ohio." Well said, Elliott! This would be harmful to the pro side of the sport. It he rides that well make him spend $100.00 and come to L.A. where he can ride once a week in the summer, providing he doesn't break his neck when he gets off In the corner around 90 mph. How about that25-mller here in Sacramento where the winner rides like the end is near and receives his Just reward. 'Ibe ENTIRE purse, Incidentally, one of the biggest in the country, is about oneth1rd that of just the winners share, not including fringe benefits, of the big car race which follows about a month later and I thought not nearly as excitingI When you think about it we really don't have much in the way of fire power from the Ohio brigade do we? Or else they I think motorcycling requires more in the way of common sense, quickrefiexes, and prolonged skill than any of the motorized sports going, yet ; it is also to my knowledge the poorest paid. How about It pro's and pro's sponsors and promoters and even you unreallstlc Uctators in Ohio. Let's makeproracing someth1ng to be more proud of. The riders ride hard on money-sponsored rigs, how about seeing some more $5,000 and $10,000 purses and some $50 000 Nationals. " ' I've got too many responsibilities to keep racing professionally much longer but the kids coming up in the future would sure be gratefuI for it it it were th~re when they got their hopes up to be part of the Wonderful World of Professional Racing. GEORGE T. CARTER, JR . Amateur 1/242 North H1ghlands, Calif. ATTN: MAUREEN LEE& POWDER PUFF GIRLS I was very happy to tlag for your race at Perris on May 12, and on that date I received the RED GARTER I was very impressed with the showing of the Powder Putts and I am sure ot one thing, that you did make some mistakes, as I learned trom your column, since I could not see the start of any race. But th1s was your first race and I have seen many other clubs have more races but also more mistakes. So take heart and throw more than one a year. As you saw, most everyone will try to help you. Thanks for the garter, and for the one girl who thought enough to come and ask the tlagmen it they needed something. With that kind of consideration you can get all the tlagmen you need. CHUCK HANSON Fullerton, caur, AN OREGON REBEL All I have to say Is th1s: don't sell your motorcycles, ftght for your rights. This is one man's appeal and fight In Oregon against two state laws, 1. Safety helmets, 2. Headlights on at all times. Motorcyclists in Oregon won'Ulgbt these laws. I have received tickets on these laws. So tar it got me nowhere because tile policeman didn't come to court against me so it was dtsmtssed; I have no money to, but "I will ftght these laws because they are against my rights. The men who wtllU' helmets are against me in my tirht but who cares. I will not wear a safety helmet because the one I have almost killed me when the wind got hold of It. It took me oft my cycle by checking me and I will not turn my headlight untll dark. JAMES WEDERSKI, JR. McMinnville, Ore. IT'S • THAT' WORD AGAIN , I believe the word (cherry) is not offensive. . I also think that it it Is ottenslve to anyone, their mind must be In the gutter. J.OOMAY Eagle Rock, Cal. P .S. My wife also believes thts, WHAT NEXT? While reading "Voices" in the June 6th Number 19 Issue, someone wrote about why it costs more to get In to Ascot on Friday nights. I was not really happy about having to pay another buck but they do have a good show, SO maybe I can hack It. But what blows my mind is thatJast Friday night I rode my bike for tile first time since last season and they raiSed the parking, too. The tirst time I rode my bike last season I though that 50~ was high for a bike but 75~ is too much! When does the beer go to 75~ too, or how about pay toilets? BRUCE CALDWELL RICK HASLETI' Torrance, Calif. THANKS FOR THE HELP I'd like to thank tile members of Rescue #3 for their quick and ettlclent manner in assisting me when I sustained a fractured collarbone at the . Simi Valley Hare Scrambles My 19. It's a feeling of security to know they are readY and able to help a fellow rider when necessary. ROBERT DUNCAN invaders M.C. Fullerton, Cal. SUPPORTER FOR SCHWARTZ Regarding the "cherry" article which appeared in your Voices column I agree with Mr. Schwartz in his opinion. This distasteful term or191nated and is still being used by uncouth -people in their attitude of evaiuating women and is a carryover into the hot rod and cycle and used car world. The three people who wrote in and voiced their stupid opinions in the June 13 issue know that Mr. Schwartz Is right but they don't have the guts to admit that he Is right, all due to their low cultural background. GEORGE MINTER Culver City, Cal. WILL THE GUARANTEE STAY UP? In reference to the answer that Mr. Don Basile (Program Director) gave, th1s letter Is in rebuttal to his statement In your paper dated June 6, 1968 about why it costs more at Ascot. I will agree with Mr. Basile 100% that you can't see a better show and the very best of riders, but about tile track conditions, I've seen holes big enough. to drive a Mack truck into .at times. Better prepared track, bull. As for the purses, since when Is a $2100 purse considered of the h1gbest callber? In my opinion with an average Friday night attendance of 5000 (probably a lot less now), 40% is a lot better than $2100. but you had to raise the admission to meet that big guarantee. What's going to happen when you only have 500 or 600 in attendance on a Friday night? Are you going to give tile riders that big guarantee? That's probably when you will want to give the 40%. I wouldn't mind that increase in admission if It went to the racers and not in the Ascot management's pockets. This is what professional motorcycle racing needs now, a greedy track management and promoter. TOM W. WiLLSON Another Ex-Friday Night Fan Huntington Beach, Cal. IS HE KIDDING? Congrats to Bob Schwartz! Weenjoyed his letter in Cycle News _ re "fruity" motorcycles I It is refreshing to tind there are still cycle riders who have a sharp wit and keen sense of humor. KeeP up the good work, Bob. T. IRETON J . SCHULZ Portland, Ore. P .S. He is kldding isn't he? (- Ascot .track management, in an eUort to alleviate the Friday nllllJ t cash layou t. has announced that from now on, all motorc-vcles wl1l be parked free in a special protected display area. Each .week the best-looking street bike Is to be selected ~ Cycle News columnis t BI1l PeUigrew and a trophy will be awarded at Trophy Dash time, courtesy of Ascot Park . No one can win more than once a s eason, so shine up your bikes an d ride to the laces!") ~~~ By Barbara Adams Dahms " SAFETY IS KNOWING HOW One of the favorite banners of recent years it "safety" and a great battering ram It has become ••.perhaps a little too much so. But "safety" is not just an empty word. WhIle we have argued loud and long for our Inherent right to take risks, the taking of a calculated risk by a sldlled person Is quite d1tferent trom the novice who stumbles into disaster simply because he doesn't know It is there or how to avoid it. Riding a motorcycle is a sldll and when done by people who have NOT acquired that sldll it can be dangerous. This doesn't condemn motorcycles, instead it indicates the need for knowledge and practice before venturing onto the battletleld called our public roads. Obviously a lot of friends are competent teachers. Quite a few people are riding today and a1most all of them learned from rrtends, But the percentage Isn 't quite good enough. There is a statistic often repeated about the seventy or so percent of the fatal accidents that occurred within the t1rst year of riding, frequently on the first attempt. Motorcycle riders, like automobile drivers, pilots and scuba divers, need the opportunity to acquire their sldll In a protected sitUation using the best instructional techniques which can be developed. We should have motorcycle rider tralning In the public schools. The motorcyclist uses the public roadway. He has the same right to be properly taught as the automobile driver has. Everyone benetlts trom a training program. The public benefits because the competence of all users of the public roads lessens the traffic hassle. 'Ibe Industry benefits because tile trained rider has a new enthusiasm and respect for motorcycling. The other riders benet1t because the improved safety picture lessens the barrage of "~r the tact of accident" sa f e t y legislation. The trainee benefits because he has a better chance of staying around to enjoy riding. The appeal of the motorcycle Is widespread. It will not be lessened (as some people apparently believe) by the lack of training tac1l1t1es. The experience of the Los Angeles Motorcycle Safety Rider Training Program is that many of the students are adults, otten In the parent and grandparent class. Manyhaverldden before to some extent and want to Improve their ability. . The motorcycle has an importantplace in the future traft1c picture. The ava1lab1l1ty of adequate training Is the key to this place. Yet tra1ning programs have been few and far between, and usually lacking in the kind of determined suPPQrt required to make them a part of the permanent picture. The most solidly based ettort is the current program of the L.A. Adult School. But th1s program must have our support if it Is not to become just another "experiment." Motorcycle rider training can become a part of our educational picture, or it can be another twenty-t1ve years and thousands of accidents (as it was with automobiles) before the right of the motorcycle rider is recognized. What are we going to do? It's our bag .••the motorcycle. We can 't expect the public (the part that doesn 't like motorcycles anyway) to see that they are going to benefit from training cyclists, it we don't see It and do someth1ng about It, We can put real meaning into the idea of " safety " by making it possible for new r iders to learn how to be safe. ,

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