Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

CYCLE PROfiLES By BU1 DuDcan lllustratlon by B.E.R. Wes Cooley, president 01 tbe MotDrcyel1ng InterDational Committee. United Slates, and tbe pbarmaceutlcal entre- preneur wbo became a mUltona1reat36, bas set out to heal old _ d s in United states motorcycl1ng circles. Oooley's goal: To bring tbe American Motorcycle Association lnto MlCUS and lnto tbe Federation 01 International Motorcycltng to promote sanctioned events under FIM rules 10 the United States wtfilAMA ~t. Thay may sound like a tall order 10 view 01 past experience, but not for Cooley. He is a cool man botb on tbe track and at file negotiation table. It was bis efforts that untangled till! mess 01 previous FIM efforts 10 file United States and to form MICUS. Wes Cooley. "I'U go anywhere, to any meettng that AMA calls to explaln our viewpolnt as to why AMA sbould joln MlCUS," be said. "Wbat is diViding us now ·Is actuallY details on scoring, equipment, lrldlng gear - all minor fblngs.1 believe stneerely that we can overcome these d:ltferences. Today FIM rules and AMA rules aren't too far apart." Cooley said enoug'h American motorcycllsts want to compete In lnternatlonal events to merit AMA' s consideration 01 liis offer to join MICUS. "I'mmaldngtbe offer 10 good faltb. We don" want to cbange or control AMA rules< for tbe United States races, but we do wantAMA to join FIM sanctioned events botb bere and 10 otber countries," be said. Professionalism Wbat be'd llke to see is one unltedorganization 10 tbe United States to promote lnternatlonal raclng bere. So tar, be said, be bas found no one w1lllng to discuss tbe proposition. "It is frequently said that my organization is WESCO I NC. is the leader in the field of fine motorcycle accessories ... specia liz ins in high performance com· ponents for both competition and sports enthusiasts. SOLO AT BETTER MOTORCYCLE OEALERS EVERYWHERE 88 PAGES 1868 CATAlOG cII The all /WIW 1968 Webco caliiol bosttle to AMA," be polnted out. "I want tbat corrected. We are not bosttle. I say fills for the FIM people 10 Europe as wen as for myself." Tbe AMA, be said, bas dOlle mucb to promote professlODaltsm 10 motorcycl1ng 10 tbe United States. He be11eves it Is a good organtzatiOll wttb good peQple running it. But be also beUeves file United Stal8s bas mucb to offer In lnternational competition. .. Tbe United States bas some 01 the best desert riders as anywbere In !be world," be contended. .. We've got a lot to learn 011 the speedway, but fbts can be overcome." . He would l1ke to see motorcycllng in file United States become as popular as it is 10 Europe... We are not as prolessional' as European riders, mainly because motorcycl1ng 10 tbe United States Is almost limited to a weekend sport," be added. "In Europe motorcycltng is promoted by goyernments as a sport. But our equipment Is comparable, as good as any they bave in Europe." Cooley owns e1gbt cycles, botb U.S. and foreign made macblnes. He bad never even ridden a motor unttl 1948 wben be bought a Harley-Davidson tor street use. Altbough be admits to taking a few turns arolllld an old, abBndoned golf course off file street, be didn't become lnterested 10 racing unttl 1956 when a friend talked bim lnto scoring a race at W1ll0wsprlngs. S1nce filen it bas been a cOlltinuous love atraIr. His Interest led bim to a ten-year crusade to bring International status to American motorcycltng. He bas anotber crusade, whlcb be beUeves is just as important - to improve tbe tmage of cycllng 10 America. "We've got to police ourselves to live down tbe HeU's Angels image that file general publlc bas 01 cycltng," be stressed. "And, we are going to bave trouble wtfil file public as long as barefooted, belmet1ess young cyclists continue to pile up accident records. It Is up to tbe cycllsts to promote safety. We bave a babit of getting on file soapbox everyttme a law is proposed that migbt restrict our activities, lnstead of promoting good laws ourselves." Cooley, who lives in Placentia, Caltt., says be doesn't get any income from motorcycling. "It's my bobby. Some people llke to golf on Sunday. I like to ride motors," be said. l Slick Hill and Swamp Unseat Pack, Mann takes Mud Caper story and Pbotos by George Scbatfer (Results on page 16) CHINA CAMP, Cal., Jan. I - The entry was 205 for tbe New Year's Day fbreebour race. First oVerall was Dick Mann on a 360 Greeves; be completed 11 laps. Second overall was expert Jobn Nelson on' a 360 Husky, 10 laps. Tblrd overall and first 250 expert was Dan Davies on a Ka wasakl, nine laps. The course is about five miles In lengtb. Starting from tbe main cbeckpoint it runs fbrougb a swamp _ wttb lots 01 water - up and over a ridge, tben fbrougb anotber swamp. It continues up and down bllls; just before tbe last cbeckpoint tbere is a biU that only a few riders are able to cllmb wttbout baYing to pusb. U's even bard to pusb beca~ it's so slick. The racers bad to plow tbrougb tbe swamp alter tbe main cbeck. Wben a rider lett tbe first ditcb it looked llke be was trying to ride a cloud 01 steam tbrougb tbe .rest 01 tbe bog. After tbe first few laps tbere were a lot of tired and muddy riders strewn along tbe course. * TfCIf.ICAUTfZf TIlls Is the clos....' aclian 00 lIIe bill _ _ below. * Watch out before you speed money to ·a1ter your belmet, it you ride tbe streets In states wttb compulsory helmet laws. Many states use tbe "Z90" standards set by file Safety Helmet Oouncil to d.etermine legality. One of tbe stipulations of Z90 is tbat no external projections greater tban 3/16" are allowed, except goggle clips. imichrome Shines Suddenly .Simichrom. is a honey Cleans quick Cl'S a bunny ( OMPETITION Tube 85¢ CH EMICALS C.an S2.95 704 Washincton Ave•• Iowa Falls Iowa See our 1968 catalog for the latest custom and racing parts, in· eluding a full line of speed equipment for Hodaka and Yamaha. Catalog $1.00. is the most comprehenslYl! in the motorcycle KCeUor;" industr,. 88 ~i6. hundreds 01 iIIl/$lrllions. ofl~ most wanted motou:y<:le accessories and hiih performence components. Also includes inlot~tion 01 interest to ell motorcycle enthusiasts. ~Ic. $1.011 .•. illCludts Wliltl rach. M0 n.r dim. 317 N. Victory Blvd.· Burbank, Calif. 91502 Telephone (213) 849·4921 842·4847 RECycle Racers Use "-Cte.dt att" RACING CASTOR Than Any Other Brand On The Market. C H EC K The Records For Proofl District 37 Trailbike oivision JACK MORGAN -1l0DAKA • For a first-hand demonstration of ::cN···········_················_········..; Send me your booklet, "Th. Hodalta Story," , HODAKABILlTY, visit your : I'm enclosing 25c: to c~ver posto•• and handling. : _ __ : nearest dealer for a FREE test : Name : Street __ : ride. ·City ._._ , : _ _ _ : · · · \'lId. By Addzip Additives 1433 First Sl,eet Escalon, Calif. 95320 : Stote....•.......... __ t - _.•.._ ..2.ip....•..••...... __ _ .. ~ "'''''CO • Forthed_ler '-I~ nearestyou,write: ~""":U ."....... . . . _ : _ • •• P.O. lOX a-~7 ATMNA. OIIOON 97Il3 1I0D\Io.' 1I0D'" , 1I0D'''' 1I0D'''' 1I01l\" , 1I0D''', IIIlIl\" , 11011\'"

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