Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

, .... ....,. tlO '" YOlI'II '" Q., ... II 0> .q: II) :: r.J :c: r.J ...::J U ~ U Wee~ly nus ine ss Man a t:er ••Sharon Ctay ton C ircu la ti m ~1gr ••• Ga,l'(O T ho mason Editor•• • • ••• • •.•• Caroi Sims Adv"rtising MI:I"• • • • • • Tom C u tp 6411 N, Long Beach Blvd. Long Beach, Calif, 90805 Or: Box 498, Long Beach, Calif. Phane: 423-0431 (Area Code 213) From L.A. Phones: 636-8844 8 i Motorcycle Newspaper' Publisher•••• •Cha rll's C. Cla.¥lon FIRST In co se '" ~ America's Only W I Photo Editor••• • • ()(onnis Grrene Lab Tedl nician • • •• BiII I' e tti l:l"e w llookk"..p SUsan \\b ilf'la w Receptionist. ••• ••• Judie Bailey P u bli s hed wPekly exce pt th e fi rs t a nd la s t week of the cale nda r year by C&S P ubli s hing Co. , P os t Offi c e Box 498. L ong Beach , California . Se cond Class postage paid a t Long 8 o O o Ed itorial s tories, ca rtoo ns . photos • e tc . ar e wel comed a nd wi ll be pa id for upon pu bl ica tion (exce pt press relea s e s a nd " Vo ice" Iette rs .) Addr essed , s tam pe d enve lope ass u res re turn . Sinde COP)" pr ice ••••••••• • 25e Subscription : One J",. r 2nd class . Mail. ••••• •• • • •• •••• • $7.50 A dv er t i s tn g ra t es and ci rcula lio n informa ti on wi 11 be se nt upon reque s t. ," § o o 0 OCX'liOCX'liOCX'liOC)oiOC)oOC)oOC)()OC)()OC)()OC)()OC)()OC)()OCOO~~IOCX'liOC)oiOC)oOC)()OC)()OC)()OC)()OC)()OOiOCOOiOC)oiOC)o8 VOICES OF THE WEST COMPRESSION RELEASES In response to Ray Abrams le tter ex pla1n1ng that a compression release on two- strokes pu ts them on a equal basis with fo ur-strokes when decelerating, I beli ev e that my explanation will show that two-s trokes equipped with a compression release still have an advantage over four-stroke s . . According to Mr. Abrams the twostroke with a compr ession r elease is pumping air out of the release with every compression s troke. On the other hand the fo ur- s troke only pumps air ou t on the e xhaust stroke and not the com pr e s s ion stroke. Thus the two-stroke with a co mpres sion release is expend1ng twi ce as mu ch ene rgy as a four- stroke for the s ame num ber of strokes. ThI s slows the two- stroke down twice as fast as the four- s troke (theoreti cally) . I feel that the r uli ng should be changed then to allow two-strokes to run a com pr ession r elease that only opens every other compr e s sion stroke (lmpractical) or allow both two-and four-strokes to run a compr ession release. Th1s would make both e ngines equal in deceleration. OONALD R. GREEN Green Enterprises Long Beach, Calif. PROBLEM IN TORRANCE Did you know that it is against the law to ride a motorcycle or drive a car in a vacant !ield in the cUy or Torrance, California.? The city ordinance does not refer to noise, public nuisance or any other factor, just don't operate a motor vehicle in an open !ield in Torrance. It is my opinion, and the opinion or many others who have signed a petition against this ordinance, that this law is unreasonable and discriminatory. Apparently the city fathers also think so because they have yet to prosecute anybody. However, the local police are using this ordinance to harass anyone who is rid1ng a motorcycle or even the most sedate trallbike imaginable in an open field. W.J. JONES Torrance, Calif. CHERRIES, CHERRIES EVERYWHERE I don't know what your opinion on the subject is, but I want to pui in my two bl ts worth concerning the letter in your July 4 issue from Vielde Lamar. I'm all for clean-up campaigns , but let's get serious! By wanting to change the names of streets that have "cherry" in them, Miss Lamar is the same as suggesting that people stop eating cherry pies and c ut down every cherry tree for fear they are suggestive. I just don't see anything lustrul about a street called Cherry Hill Lane. I'm sure whoever named the street was thinking of. an hill covered with a cherry orchard. Also, what in sam hill is wrong with "Dick's M.C. Salvage" ? No telling how many men in the world bave the name or Richard and use the common nickname or Dick. I'm sure people don't lake of!ense when someone says "Hello, I'm Dick So & So." Many, manywords,phrasesandobjecis can be suggestive to one person and suggest nothing but the dictionary definition to everyone else. It merely depends on where a person keeps their mind! I've never had anything published in my life but I hope you will publish this in hopes Miss Lamar will have occasion to read it. Oh, in reference to another phraSe she mentioned, I wonder what her opinion or screw drivers Is ? Perhaps she thinks they should be called something more refined like "threaded nail turners." I think her evaluation of things is a little ridiculous. I'm sure she can put her clean-up talents to m uch more useful purpose. Well, Vickie Lamar, must I say more? RAY L . KiLROY San Jon, New Mexico ("She was jus t KIDDI N G, Ray . Miss Lamar's satirical refer enc es were prompte d by an earlie r le tter from a male reader who look ottense at the term ' che rry' bein g used 1.0 describe the con di tion of a for-sale bike .- ORE ON COMPRESSION RELEASES As a professional motorcycle r i der (or a ccord1ng to the AMA a "sport" rider), I feel the rule banning co mpres sion r eleases , especially for short track riders , is an unfair rule of the AMA. I was racing a s hort track event at Asco t Park race track in F ebruary 1967 when I was involved in a serious acciden t. The accident happened when I was passed by a Harley - Olvidson (4 - stroke) going in to the north turn. As we both shut off, the other r ider' s machine slowed down imm edi a t e ly where my (2-str oke) Yamaha seemed to go faster and the result, I center-punchedh1m. I was knocked unconscious and bospitalizedwItha fractured shoulder. I know more about 2-stroke motorcycles than the person or persons who make the rules for the AMA. lamrather curious to know if they have ever ridden a 2-stroke compared to a 4-stroke in any motorcycle race. And how they would feel now regard1ng the out-lawIng or compression releases, if they were Involved in an accident? After my accident I bought compression releases for my 2-stroke and have r idden several short track and indoor races with the safety factor and benefit or compression releases. After the out-lawIng or compression releases by the AMA I sold my 2-stroke Yamaha rather than take a chance without this safety factor, and bave gi ven up racing any short track or indoor track races. I I believe in a very short time most riders will be doing the same rather than take a chance on baving any accidents. It appears to me that the AMA does not seem to realize, or care, that without this safety device there will be more accidents and consequently they will be paying out more insurance claims for these riders. The end resuit being insurance rates go up and the i ncr ease will undoubtedly, somebow, be passed on as an expense to the riders. Possibly the AMA is not the least bit concerned with the safety or their members, as they should be , by not baving a safety device such as a compression release on any 2-stroke motorcycle. RONAL D L . LASTRA Gardena, Calif. ELLIS, SOUZA TOP PONDEROSA ACTION By Jack Ross PONDEROSA, Calif., July 4 For summer races, the Greyhounds M.C . ini tiated a new 9- mtle hare scrambles loop. ThIs course ellminates the deep sand dunes and the torturous climb up " h e a r t b r e a k ridge" by skirting the mountain 00 fire roads. Sixty Open Class entries followed Tom Brooks for two loops and heagain100ked unhealahle. But Tom unloaded OIl the third loop within sight of the fini sh and fast-improving Darryl Ellis swept by to take the win as Brooks remounted an d brought his bent machi ne in second ahead or Lanny Lehigh, Tom Muto and Gary Westergaard. A battle or youth versus age for med in the TraIl Class as 12- year-old Tom Brooks Jr. led 59 entries t!irough most of the race. Years of desert experience paid of! for 52-year-old Gene Souza, however, as he made all the right moves to pass Brooks Jr. to take the win . Bob Lewis copped third ahead of Lee Harrmgton, T h i r tee n - year - old Cordis Brooks finished f1fth and mother Mary Brooks, took eighteenth to complete a very successful day for the racing Brooks family , all or whom trophied. On Sunday, July 28, the Greyhounds M.C. will hold another three-loop hare scrambles on this course at the Ponderosa Ranch. Larger trophies to 50% or the entrants will again be featured. Novi ce riders are urged to take adVantage of this feature as the Greyhounds bave announced that they will be suspend1ng operati ons a t the Ponderosa in the near future due to the planned creation of a rid1ng slahle at the ranch. (Results on page 20) HARD-fOUGHT flRECRA CKER RACES By Linda Bigham CRESCENT CITY, Calif. July 4 - There was great enthusiasm shown asapproximately 75 riders showed up for the day's racing events. To start things orf with a bang there was a kid's Trophy rash and John Roniro proudly carried of! the first place trophy. In the 100 class, Ron Poole fought long and hard to get to the win. Dan Ginther was happy to take the 250 class trophy. As the riders in the Open Class battled closely, Bob Vaughn roared over the finish line. The Kid's Main Event was started of! after intermission with John Ron!ro again taking a first, and Walt Williams grabbing second. . In the 100 class a lot or bikes were warming up and as the !lag went down each r ider fought his hardest. But Rick Bliss inched his way forward and was a warded first place with Ri ck Ziegler claiming second. In the 250 A Main Event Dan Ginther again won first place honors. Gerry Berquist and Rob NeUson were close behind for second and third. Th e 250 B Main Event trophies went to winner Del Mayhoral an d runnerup Tony Danztman. Last hot event or the day was the 500 A Main Event with Bob Vaughn again collecting a first place trophy. Skip Baldwin followed for second place and Steve Bigham held third across the line. As the announcer said over the speaker, " It' s races like these that make our good riders." NEW WIXOM FAIRING The Fatrwind 300 Windshield Fairing is the latest addition to the Wixom Bros. Compan y product line, priced at a modest $37.50. Construction is of hi-impact ABS Plastic (white only), on the !airing body , with the windshield made of optically clear plexiglass meeting federal safety standard Z26.1.Adjuslahle mounts fit the Fairwlnd 300 to most 15llcc thru 500cc Japanese bikes as well as many others. Dealer Inquiries are invi ted and the company address for further information Is: Wixom Bros. Co., 1955-57 Temple Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90804, (213) 433-7409. L«J'414twe~ , Ill " Ba rbara Adams Dah ms SACRAMENTO REPORT AB 289, once known as the " hel me t bill " by Assemblyman John F. Foran and others, is nearing final passage primarily as a licensing law. All r efer ences to he lmets and eye prot ection bave been de leted from the bill. Th e remaining sections which do not r ef er to licenses concern safety glazing. passenger seals and pegs, and handlebar heigh t. Any motorcycle manufactured or sold after January I, 1969 which bas a winds hield must meet CHP standards for windshield material. Passenger seatand foo tpeg r equ ir em e nts remain the same. Passenge r han dgrip requiremenis are removed. (Al though nothing is said about i t one way or the other, the legislature now r ecognizes that it may be better if the passenger holds on to the r i der. it's now a ma tter of pe r sonal choice.) However , the passenger is now required by law to keep hi s feet on the pegs while the machine is in motion. Handlebar height r e mains a t 15 inches above the portion or the seat occupied by the rider when depressed by his weight. No provisions for setting standards for helmets or requiring helmets sold in " the state to meet certain standards were left in the bill after wearing requirements were amended out. Licensing License provisions permit a person 15-1/2 years old who bas completed approved courses In automobile driver education and training, or a person 171/2 who basn't, to obtain an instruction permit which allows the operation of a motorcycle on the public roads during dayligbt hours but not upon any freeway (con trolled access road). A Class 4 license is established for driving two-wheeled vehicles.Appropriate examinations for this license will be developed by the DMV. No doubt they will include the " rule s of the road" test now used for automobile licenses or something similar plus a demonstration or reasonable ability to operate a motorcycle. Unill expiration of the present license, bolders or Class 3 (passenger cars and trucks), Class 2 (three-axle vehicles and busses) and Class 1 (combination of vehicles) licenses will be permitted to r ide motorcycles without endorsement. We will have more speclai information from the DMV be fore the effective date of these provtsions, Training One of the most potentially i mportant bits or motorcycle legislation may well be HR 258 (Foran). Almost unnoticed, this resolution by the Assembiy asks the Department of Education to study the feasibility of including motorcycle instruction in the operation of motorcycles in the driver training courses in the public schools. Results or the study are to be reported to the Assembly at the beginning of next session. In this haUpage resolution we ma y well bave the beginning of rider training which is available to every young person in the state. We will bave further information on this study as It progresses. SPEED - - :;~ ~D»E . ..-..as --:7-

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