Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Publisher. Chuck Clayton Editor. .. Arnrrira's \\'eeldy ......'lfolorcycle Newspaper" 7 Calendar EdItor. .. .. Terry Prall Business Manager•• Sharon Clayton :- -::'~~';J-----_ .. 7 I Office Manager. . Ga,llene Thomason \l) C'irculauOIl 7 7 _ .. Ene natts .. _ _ 7 HOW ABOUT A HEMET TRACK? I have 160 acres of mountain land near San Jacinto (Hemet area) and wish to contact motorcycle clubs which are in· terested in establishing a racetrack. The lay of the land will possibly permit both a rugged cross country track of several miles and also a smaller track. An excellent undeveloped campsite with a one-acre lake stocked with fish is also located on the property. I have the construction equipment needed for development, and will consider all propositions. Your advice will be appreciated. Please contact the undersigned. kenneth h. siedelman 1349 W. l35th Str·~et Gardena, Call1ornia 90247 COMMENT: Many good motofCycle clubs are interested in establishing race !rack Your property sounds as if it may be suitable for a motocross course. Motocross is the most popular fonm of (acing now. CLubs. please contact Mr. Siedelman direct. BIKE LIKING BROTHERS I am writing to ask for your help. Recently, two of us Franciscans have tried to solve the transportation probiem at the Seminary by asking for donations of motorcycles. We have contacted two willing donors but are awaiting final penmission from our Superiors to receive the bikes. This is where the problem begins. One of the main objections the superiors have to motorcycles is that they feel that bikes are not safe. The two of us working on this project hold to a different opinion. We believe that the street·riding of bikes is not inheren tly dangerous, provided that the machine is in good working order and that the ridcr is willing to learn properly, be properly licensed, uses good sense (not attempting to win the fame of a Gary Nixon on his rust time out), and wears a helmet and faceshield. I ·have also gone to Motorcycle Underwriter's lnsu.rance Company in Chicago for some statistics. We have also tried to collect as much infonmation as we could from other sources and from the practical experience of bikers themselves. We have presented all of this to the Superiors but it has left them unconvinced. We need statistical help. We are presently working on a theory to present to the Superiors. We propose that the rate of serious accidents in the age group of 16 to 21 is proportionately higher involving motorcycles than cars; thc age group of 21 and over has proportionately fewer serious accidents involving cycles than cars. The problem is, however. 1113t we have no statistical proof to back up our theory. Would you, sir, be willing to fwnish us with some statistics from which we can demonstrate the validity of our theory? I realize that this is putting you to a lot of time and trouble. Any statistics with which you couid furnish us would be greatly appreciated. Once again, thanking you for your time Mallager~ .' Ilruce Fash."y Production Manager•• Dennis Greene Production As;;t•• Dcan Cunninl(ham 7 7 77/ 7 population. they had less than their fair share of accidents. .e But let's look specifically. You Franciscan considered at your case more not statistics, you are Friws. As such, you can be responsible. c"areful. and reasonable individuals. This reflects upon your ability to handle a motorcycle, just as it does your abaity to dicipline every aspect of your lives. Motorcycles are not inherently dangerous! This is a fact, and with all respect to your supenors. it is a fact they must recognize above their negative sentiments and attitudes as non-experts in the field of motorcyd ing. A motorcycle is as safe • its operator. so unless your superiors have misgivings about your emotional stability and manual dexterity. worries about they your should have no operation of a motorcycle. So they can put aside the safety _mant. Once this arvument is dispensed with. it is time to look at the positive _ects. A motorcycle is SlllaJi. mMing it convenient to ~k. It is economical. and this is a store and fact that should impress any non-profit orpnization. It is r-=ble, just as those who ride are respectable. And it is healthy. Above and beyond the motorcycle's tr..-asportational value. there is nothing more invigorating and inspiring than a short ride on • summer evening or brisk autumn morning. Only those who have never ridden Bookkeeper•••••• Susan Whitelaw Lab Technician•••••• Lili Lakich Want Ads•••••••••• Irene Keith Published weekly except the first and last week of the calendar year by Cycle News, Inc., Post Office Box 498, Long Beach, California, a Iso publishers of Cycle ews East. Second Class Postage paid at Long Beach, Calif. Editorial stories, cartoons, photos, etc. are welcome. Write for information. Addressed, stamped envelope assures return of editorial matter. Reprinting in whole or in part only by permission of the publishers, Advertisiog rates and circulation information will be sent upon reQuest. a motorcycle .,. unaw. . of its contribution to a sound body and tranquil mind. BENCH RACE REPORT? It is rather hard for me to believe that your reporteI'S even attended the Jack Rabbits' European Scrambles on August 5th. Sounds to me like they just listened in to someone's bench racing. First of all, regarding the lOOcc Novice event; The last statement reads, "Coming into the finish, these three riders retained their positions." The riders mentioned were, Bob Fisher(who dropped from 1st to 4th position, because of an unexpected sandwash; we assume everyone else expected the sand- 7 waSh, and took to the freeway? He then came in from the third loop in 6th place you have left us in suspense, offering no excuse for this loss. We also don't know who finished last, and what their excuse was!) and Terry Gagnon who took over the lead by the end of the first laP. Our family mathematician has only counted 2 riders mentioned - not 3, the rider who won the race and 6th place finisher. I think probably 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th place finishers were trying just as hard as 6th place. Why weren't they even mentioned? In the 250cc Novice event, not even the winner was mentioned. Or 2nd place man. Only the 3rd rider into the llnish was reported. Sixteen year old David Tribb won that race on his 250 Husky that he had raced 3 other times. He had been riding.the lOOcc class on aHodaka. The other 3 races, included one win, one 2nd place and one DNF because of a crash, but his achievements, have yet to be in print in your newspaper. He just won the 250cc Novice race at Hi- Vlsta today. Maybe you could find a little white space somewhere in your paper this week, to put this kid'S name. SHIRLEY LEWIS Baldwin Park JIM DAMRON DISQUALIFICATION! There have been a lot of rumors nying around since the ACA newsletter ap· peared which stated that Jim Damron and Bob Speier who had won the 250cc class in the 2nd annual ACA production Grand Prix, had been disqualified because of illegal exhaust system. I was invited by Wes Cooley to come to Willow Springs on June 28th and 29th to measure the engines of all winning machines and to check them over in general for possible violations of production rules. This also included having the riders remove one of the exhaust baffles to see II it had been cutoff. WIlen I checked Mr. Damrons bafne, I noted that it was straight througb the center with no appearant blockage at all. When I mentioned this to Jim and his father, they stated that it was a new model and this is the way the baffle is made. Not being familiar with this particular baffle, I made a note on my report sheetlor Mr. Cooley to check this with U.S. Suzuki and finish The funny Winnerl r---~ "The non-approved helmet exceeds the reo quirements so we can accept that; but, the pole cannot extend more than one fourth the wh8l!1 base of the motorcycle beyond the fI... • " o • most part of the same motorcycle on which it ra> is carried; and, the banner is the wrong color '1"' for this class of event:' and remembering you in my prayers, I remain Gratefully yours, FR. BRIAN PRZYBOROWSKI, O.F.M. CHRIST THE KING SEMfNARY WEST CHICAGO, ILL. ED NOTE: lloughly, your theory is correct. Accidents tend to decnlase for the higher age groups, but it seems that people continue to be accident prone up to the age of 25. This includes all vehicle operators, and not just motorcydists. The National Safety Council in Chicago informs us that the majority of the motorcydists involved in accidents are under the age of 25, and in 1968 over 50% of all motorcydists involved in accidents were undet' 20. And contrlWY to the popu.... belief. motorcycles show good experience IS compored to ars. In 1968 motorcycles comprised 2.1% of the total vehicles registered in the nation. Yat they comprised only 1% of the total vehicles involved in accidents. That mllllns that, when compared with other categories of the vehicular Lodi, Call1ornia's E. Ehrhardt took time from his Mimeo·Mail Service to compose this months winning entry in our Finish The Funny contest. Five Dollars and a hearty congratulations will be on the way to you shortly, E. Consolation prizes of absolutely nothing but our thanks go to: Bell's Motorcycle Sales, Ft. Worth, Tex., "Hold it right there till I call Columbus." Pat Dailey, Palos Verdes Estates, Cal. said, "Sorry Jack, Section 36-A states-·Johnson passing sticks shall be used in desert events only." The Springer family from El Segundo, Cal., were the only ones to tie the number plate and caption together. They said, "Sorry Gary, that helmet isn't Z-90 approved." Chuck Martin, of Whittier, Cal., Said, "But gee, all the damsels in distress are BEHIND the stands." Single copy price. . . . . . . .. ~5¢ SubSCriptIOn: one year 2nd class mail_ $7.50 NATIONAL AD DIRECTOR ••••••••.•• Thomas R. Culp Cycle News (Westl, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, Calif. 908D! Tel. (213) 427-7433 L.A. Line 636-8844 EASTERN ADVERTISING Paul Cosner Cycle News East P.O. Box 13, Amherst, Ohio 44001 Tel. (216) 984·2433 7 7 7 thought no more about it. Immediately alter the news letter was printed, I received a call from Mr. Damron wanting to know why I disqualified him. I knew nothing of the disqualification, but I assured Jim 1 would look into the matter as I have known both Dave and Jim Damron and their father since they started Road Racing and they are tough competitors but they are honest competitors and to be blunt about it, as good as those two boys ride, they don't need an edge. Apparently what happened is that Wes had asked his Technical c6mmittee to check on my notation so they had called U.S. Suzuki and asked II the 250cc X6R had a straight-through exhaust, and naturally they replied in the negative, believing him to mean no baffles at all, thus the disqualification. With the co-operation of a number of Suzuki dealers, U.S. Suzuki, all of which let me go into their parts department and check baffles at random as well as check machines on the floor, I satlslied myself that it was indeed a matter of 'lack of communication' and alter notifying Wes of this fact (he himself had also checked into this and obtained the same results) the sUspension was immediately lilted. I should like to apologize to Jim and to Bob Speir, the owner of the machine II I inadvertently caused them any embarrasment and to U,S, Suzuki for any discredit which may have been cast upon thetr fine product. I personally do not accept the biame for the disqual1lication, but I fear that I did set the wheels in motion as my ~on was to be objective and if there is one thing 1 can be, it's objective. 'FIle next ACA newsletter will clear up the. matter, but I would like for you to print this so that any and all who have heard the rumors will have the facts. MIKE CAPALITE Huntington Beach, Cal. DEFENDS HIS 'SAKI" Just finished your latest issue containing the "Monster Bikes" and generally I must compliment your writers. However, I am compelled to take pen in hand and defend my own (and others) Kawasaki III!! Your second sentence was the most descriptive and noteworthy; "ltlsalmost in a class by itself." Your second paragraph states it "accelerates with the others." Well I SHOULD HOPE TO SHOUT IT DOES!!! And it goes right on by with ease! Are you sure one of those Triumph loving writers didn't stuff a potato up one of the pipes on that test bike you had?? Those drag times were terrible!! You did admit it had 8000 miles on it before testing so this might account for some loss of power although 1 know of some that run better with the more miles the guys put on them. I drag race mine constantly and go out of my way to track down big mouths and their Sportsters, Triumpbs, etc. I know (as anyone who has ridden a Saki) it is the quickest production vehicle aviable today! I've run 12.83, 12.85, 12.89, E.T ,s at Lions Drag Strip on three separate occasions and II that isn't fast and consistent, what is? And then as I was just beginning to feel like king of the roost at Lions, along came Tony Nicosia and blew me in the weeds with a 12.40 and III mph!! This was on July 4th at the all bike meet. And by the way, there were 14 other 500' s there that day and they ·were all turning mu<~b better than your damn test bike. Most of them rode their wives and girl friendS down to the track, hopped straight to the line and turned 99-100 in 13.1 or 13.2. I should mention also that Tony Nicosia promptly pulled all three heads to show everyone that it was strictly Box Stock! In fact the ports looked rougher than mine by far. Now how long are those cheatin' four stroke faces that still can't get into the l2s??? In the handling department you gave it an "A" which it certainly deserves. I'm Continued on page six

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