Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

- ~ CYCLE : ~ ~ 10;) PROfILES By KanOoJPD Welles Art By B.E.R. Service A motorcycle means many ditferent :i!: tb1Dp to cyclists. To some it is a med1um 10;) for the thrills of racing; to some It is a ..,J means of transportation; to others It is ~ a source of recreation and participation U In the outdoors. But, to Derald Erickson, fruit grower In the Lower Tieton area near Yakima, Wash., the motorcycle Is practically his staff of life. His Honda 90 makes possible the successful OPeration of his 40 acre orchard. Without his handy "bike" It is doubtful that he could make a liviugfrom his farm. His orchard Is located In a low area, often hit by frost that could destroy his crops. Frost protection is the first line of defense for him against disaster, where the temperature frequently drops as low as 19 degrees. DERALD ERICKSON "Lots of people don't believe you can raIse fruit under these conditions. The only way we manage Is by using fans to pull warm air down from the higher levels of the orchard,," Erickson explalns. He has two powerful wind machines In his fruit orchard. One Is a wind machine with a Ram-jet, which creates Its own heat through Its motors. The Honda is his means of getting to his machines quickly when their operations are needed to save the crops. Erickson has created numerous other devices and techniques which put profit Into his orchard. But these would be useless If he did not have Honda, which he calls his quick and economical means of getting around those 40 acres. He has developed the skill of operating his cycle with his right hand only, leaving his left hand free to tote tools and equipment. The lower acres of his small one-man (with the help of his wife) farm are plaDlled In Red Rome and WlDes8p apple trees; and the ~per acres in Red and GeldeD Delicious apples. in between he has from 30 to40feeder cattle, comprising a rare combination of fruit and cattle. To most people familiar with farming, they can't comprehend how Erickson can make a solid and comfortable living on his 40 acres• They would understand If they realized how Erickson uses his Honda to quickly attend to any OPerations that may be required. According to any textbook on farming, he shouldn't be succeeding; but he Is. He says his Honda makes his profit possible. It's the hired hand that does so much for him. TOTIN' THEM TEUTONS Adelanto TT "Thing Of Th"e Times" ADELANTO, CAL., May 4, 1969. So It rained Sunday, well the thing is to race anyway - and they did. The rain stopped at 10:30 a.m. The clay traekwas fiooded, there was no sun and no wind SO no chance of it drying. We moved all the ears Into the desert out front. Then limed the road and the trail all the way around the track around the pit - Into the parking lot aloog the spectator area and back to the side road. A ruff seramb1es- the sand packed from the rain - It was a blastl Jeff Sexton of Lightweights M.C. ran away from the others In the 50ec class. A new rider, W.D. Morgan of Lancaster with a pie-plate yet, really made a show by competing and staying In there against Bakersfield's fast Dave Sprayberry who took first place, both on KawasaIds In the 100ee class. Charles Haycork brought a gang of friends after riding here at the Scrambles M.C. race because there Is no other track like AdelaDto. Chuck, In the 200ec won on a Bul. Glen Bolenbaugh, Yamaha took second with Don Leal Yamaha, third place. We want to thank Mr. Sprayberry who kindly took Danell Jeffries to the hospital. The forty year young Jeffries broke his leg on only his second time out. 250ec rider Ron Powell, Kawasaki, won his class with Bill Hardin Suzuki, second and third Gary &hamel•.&hamel and Bill Futton, Bultaco, all have to be mentioned because they made an exciting race. Montesa too~ first four places In 500ec class, all from Don's Cycle shop. Ned Bixby first - Don Williams second- third Woody Schamel - Gary Woods fourth. When the races ended the race track had dried and now was perfect for riding so Mr. Redding said "Ride - do your thing :.. long as you want" and they did. After all that the women got to drive their cars home. Next race is May 25. (Results on page 20) Toll)' Denlus broadslldes .00000d a s_per at Adelanto Raceway. The claJ track was too wet to race on so a new course was limed In lbe hard sand around the clay. By Tommy Zweirader , To build a suitable hitch for a BMW, start with a piece of heavy iron stock about twenty Inches long. Cut off two four inch pieces and in one drill a hole the size of the left end of your front axle. in the other drill a·hole the size of the right end of your front axle. In the center of the twelve Inch piece over left over, drill a 5/8 inch hole. 'Now weld the two four inch sections (A) vertically to the long piece (8) equidistant from the center hole, so that your total width is just less than the space between your front fork swinging arms. Underneath weld two bits of right-an8Je stock (C) just the width of your trailer hitch tongue (D) so when il is all bolted down the bike hitch won't tum. Bolt it on, big axle hole to the left, put your BMW on its center stand, remove front wheel and brake, lift it up to the hitch by the fork anns (easier than you would think), and slide the axle through the holes and bolt up just as if you were mounting the wheel. You're ready to go, and it's cheap. CHEAP! CHEAP! CHEAP! I spent less than S5.00 on the example picture, and S3.50 of that went for welding and drilling. If you have your own torch and driJl.i>ress you've got it made for about 6 cents per pound. After abou t 2000 miles of hauling three different bikes, J've had no trouble. The bike follows nicely, works well on its own suspension, and there will be no wear on the front axJe if ellel}'thing is SIIug. Be sure to disconnect the speeciometer, and fO'l!et the whole idea if your BMW has ever shown a tendency to jump in or out of gear. With any other motorcycle you could simply disconnect the secondary chain, but with a BMW something would have to come unglued if it were to jump into low gear at 60 or 70 mph. The only thing wrong with this set-up is that you should never have to haul a BMW. That's why the people in Munich put out a contract for my life when f sent them drawings. But look at it this way, maybe you have a car you need to push? Abo..: The photo shows constructlon and attachment details. The author has' towed three different bikes with no trouble. Below: Dimensions are not elven In the drawlnCo They will vary depending on the motorcycle you want to tow. The whole project shouldn't cost more than $5, less If you have weldl ng equipment and a drill press.

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