Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Fiesta 0 Two heels Unless you have small ch1Jdrea wIIu ::: wtll enjoy It, forget the magIe sbow. It's '" prett;y "blah" for adults. The mar!(II- :: Story & Photos by Robert O. Fee Strolliac mariachis Copper WOrllirs start wi'" a hunk of copper and sledcehammers to beat out "'lSe ums. The glory, color, and tradItions of Old Mexico are now within the reach ofevery road rider In the Southland witli the openiog of "Fiesta 200" In San Diego. Areal adventure on two wheels, it's a "l1ttle World's Fair" at Meldcan arts crafts culture, and !ash1ons. " Working artisans (from deep In Meldco's Interior) are demonstrating their sld1ls In glass blowing, weaVing, woodcarvlng, painting, and much more. Better yet, it's all free _ there Is no admission charge to the fairgrounds and if you wish to purchase the products, there'snoduty to pay, no border to cross, or Insurance worries, etc. It's all part of the year long celebration of San Diego's 200th birthday. The fair opened May 1 and will run non-stop unW November 2 In the section of San Diego known as Old Town. Old It Is _ historically It's the spot wbere Ca11fornia was born and site at the first settlement estab11shed 200 years ago. So call uP your cycle mates and point the b~s south on 101 (Interstate 5). U you go inland via 395, jog west 011 old 80 (18), pick uP 5 and turn south. Your turnoff Is the first at! ramp below the Inter_ change (5 & 8), clearly marked Old Town. Turn east to San Diego Street and from there on it's simply follow the crowd north. WIth a llttle gall and consideration (l1ke not blocklng the driveways) you can fIt the machines Into some obviously unused space on Calhoun street close enough to the action to be eyeballed occaslonally. The groundS open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday (noon da11Y) and the festivities ccntinue to 10 p.m. "LeeUe Meldco" is three blocks long and is four distinct areas all connected by' Aven1da Los 200". At the very north end Is BA2AR PICO· a charming enclosed patio with it's oWJi "cantina" offering refreshments, entertalnment, curio shops and art exhibits. It's a good place to relax and rest the feet while you llsten to one of the two Mariachi Bands which perform there when not str01llog uP and down the Avenida. The Pink PLAZA ROSA sectioo has a forty foot stage for entertalnment such as bull-t1ghting techniques and lariat exhibitions by famous charros of Meldco. An enclosed theatre, seating 350 offers alternating marionette and magic performances. Here, too, Is recreated an .e rterywbere. authentic Mexican ootdoor "cantina" a glass-blowing factory with a stand-uP viewing area for 300 and myriad of colorful coocession stands and shops. All the excitement and action of a busy Meldcan marketplace such as you might find In Morella (Michoacan) is In the MERCADO MEXICANO with the products of artisans and painters on display and for sale. Each stall is a kaleidoscope of the finest Mexican handicrafts. You can watch native urns take shape from an ugly hunk of copper worked at first with 20 lb. sledge hammers and fIna1ly delicate mallets as skilled hands beat In the decorative pattern. One wood-worker turns his lathe by hand and uses his toes to guide his chisel. Everything In these three areas is authentic. HaVing visited a glass factory In Tiaquepaque, Jalisco (on the motorcycle of course), I was amazed at just how authentic the builders were able to recreate the appearance andatmospbere without actualIy dlsmant110g and transporting the orlglnaL The southerumost section, FERIA SAN DIEGO would ruin the entire setting if it was not so distinctly set apart. It is mostly gaming concessions of the familiar type; darts, penny pitch (only now it's a dime), shooting galleries complete with loud hawking, not In Spanish but Eng11sh. Here also is the Arena seating 3500 where the famous "Flying indians of PapanU" and a ballet Folkloricofrom Meldco alternate performances. Theactual dive and dance (done on an eighteen Inch platform atop a 100 foot pole) can be seen from anywhere 00 or near the groundS, but it' s only a small part of the act. Don't miss the entire performance and catch it if possible after dark under the colored l1ghts. It's spectacular. ettes, however, are someth1og else _ excellent and fascinating. DelIcious authentic (not hot) Mexican food Is available at the cantlnas and restaurants. Fiesta 200 is the real thing. Most d the artisans and entertainers are new to the U.S. and don't yet sr.eak Eng11sh. ThIs onlY accentuates the color and tradltions of Fiesta. "B1envenldos, Motorcic11sta - Welcome to Fiesta! reefer Can'f Ride World C.a.pionsltip By Peter WhIte LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 27: DeWayne Keeter, the sole American currently campaignlog in British Speedway league racing, has been prohlbltied from competing In the Speedway Championship of the World. All British riders are required to compete In three qua11fYing rounds on EngliSh tracks. From there they go through to the semi finals, British final, European flnal and ultimately the World Final Itself. It was anticipated Keeter would have been permitted to contest the three qualifying rounds. However he Is classified as a foreigner In Eogland because he needs a work per mit to ride. ThIs places him In the same category as the Swedes Norwegians and other such nationall t1~ who have to return to their natiVe countries ¥> contest e11mlnatlon rounds. Unfortunately this leaves Keeter right out In the cold because no e11mlnatiOll rounds are held In America. He is the first American rider for many years to join British speedway and the F .I.M. (the controlling body of European motor sport) had not made any proVIsion for U.S.A. riders to compete for the World Crown. DeWayne's promoter, Leicester boss Ron Wilson, pressed to have him Included In the British rounds but without success Wilson said "I w1ll not be lettting ~ matter rest. I w1ll continue to put his case to the higher-ups, so that Keeter, like an! other rider In the world of proven cability, will be given the chance to participate In this great event." a.. ~ to;'j :i!: to;'j -.J ~ t.l

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