Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

LOOK FOR A GOOD TURN TO DO DAILY. S b Spend five minutes a week the right way and you can erase a lifetime of hard feelings. by Knight Errant The usual lOad rider is just an avenge guy or couple (married or not) that enjoys riding a motorcycle. They enjoy riding for about as many relSOns as there are riden, for it is an individual thing and for many. it is their "Thing:' They may enjoy the open air, the scenery, the close relationship between man and motor, or the relaxation that one can experience riding a motorcycle that an automobile can not give you, but also the mljority of them do have some things in common. One, of coune, is their devotion to their hobby or avocation but another is their dislike for the title that they must assume every time that they climb on their bike to go down the street, to work, or ont on the open lOad. "A Motorcyclist" can mean many things, depending upon who is saying it, and unfort)lnately when the majority of the general public says it it refen to something distasteful. Regardless of who you are, there have been times when you have lowered your voice or eyes when you told someone that you rode a motorcycle. We all know why we have this labe1 and we know that we do not deserve it but we are at a loss as to what to do about it. It is incredible that Ill> of the people can create such a lasting impression on "John Q," but incredable or not it is a fact. So with the few working constantly against you, adding constantly to the unfavorable impressions, it soon becomes evident that if we, the 99ll>en, are going to ever pin our rilhteous place in society we are going to have to work Halder to overcome the two strikes that we have against us. I realize that at times it seems hopeless as the Iq:islators and the leader, seem inclined to join the I%en, in effect, and pitch curves at the norml1, avence lOad rider, but the answer is not to give up and go out of your way to show your.comtempt by annoying the public just because they do not understand. I find it just as rewarding to _ the startled look on peoples faces when I go out of my way to be helpful or courteous. I wollId like to suggest that as a lOad rider you adopt an old moto, one that we have heard many times ~efore. I'D revise it a little and say "Look for a good turn to do daily:' You wiD be surprised Jk,'!l' many times you wiD find opportunities to perform some small favor or service that can have DO other effect upon the public than make them stop and reconsider what they have alWays ilelieved about "Thote motorcycle riders". I have tried this out and find it worth the effort' and you wiD be surprised how little effort it takes. I am not setting myself up as anyone extra special but I wollId like to cite just a couple of examples of what I mean aDd how things worked out. On my way from work I noticed a disable' car with the two occupants standing looking under the hood with an obvious helpless attitude as I passed them. I slowed, geared down, turned around and went back to them and ask: them if there was anything I could do to help. The surprised look on their f~es as I offered to help was reward enough rilht there. They were broken down, and they ask if I could send back some help and J said I would do what I could and proceeded up the road to the nearest filling station where I puDed in and ask: the attendent if he could send someone out-he cou!dn't-on to the next with the same result, the third said they had two calls ahead of them and the fourth coukln't leave his station. I did all this without ever getting off my bik" OT "'utting down, but I worried that the stranded motorist would think that I had abandoned' them, and so I turned around and went back to them (a distance of about a mile and a half) and experiencdhe situation and olIered to take one of them to a telephone or one of the stations, but I explained that according to the law that they could not legally go with me because I did not have a helmet for them to wear. I don't know how they felt about the "Helmet Law" before, but they quickly voiced their disapplOval of a law that impose~ such restrictions on people and especially since they had been out there for an hour or more a1Iudy and not one car would even slow down to help them. AD in all I spent maybe five minutes of my time and I know that I struck a blow at the "Helmet Law", and made a hit for the motorcyclist. In future discussion I know of two people that wiD be inclined to be on our side. Another daY-l8JIIe lOad-COming home from work I passed two couples standing beside their car. They were obviously having tire touble as I could see the jack and another tire lying behind the car. I turned aDd went back. The people were weD dressed and I was dressed in riding cloths and quick glances were exchanged between the women as I made the tum and pulled up behind them, shut down, and walked up to them and ask: if I colIId help. It turned out that they had l1ready changed the tire and were just letting the jack down, so I put the flat in the trunk for them, a chcm chat easily could have soiled the suits of the men. I was on my way in a couple of minvtes with their smiles and genuine thanks. No big thing but there are four more people that know that aD motorcyclists are not arrogant and thoughtless. Coming out of a nearby town one day I noticed some confusion up ahead and thought that there were some street repain....,n. So, watching the traffic in flOnt, beside and behind me, I proceeded cautiously by the disruption and almost missed seeing what was causing the trouble. A man hauling a load of Junk had turned the comer and part of his load had fallen off onto the street and he wu trying to drag it off the road but the motorists were making it very difficult, and blowing of their horns didn't help the man any. As soon as possible I turned, went back and parked and went to his aid and only then did I notice that the man was struggling under another handicap, he had only one arm. In about three minutes we were able to clear the intersection and although we could not load the SC"ap back on his truck, he said that he could come back and let it as soon as he lot his load 01I. Needless to say he was thankful, and as he observed, those p< )ple in the can don't have time for anyone e\se. Other times I have stopped to find that help was already on its way ... that the driver was just resting-sometimes they are consulting a map and I can help get them oriented and on their. way. One time I only drove a block out of my way to lead a car fun of confused ladies back onto their proper route. What I am trying to say is that you don't have to be a super Eagle Scout to do your sma11 part to overcome the unfavorable impression that we are saddled with. I have 1IIl0ther suggestion and I will hasten to add that I have not done this myself because the opportunity has not presented itself under the rilht circumstances. I also know that I am going to get some disagreement on this, but for those of you that care to I want to suggest that the next time you are going on a road trip, whether it is with a group OJ by younelf, going to a nearby event, you plan ahead and allow enough time to 10 to church. I know that a lot of you are going to say that you are not dressed for church, but I contend that most of the time you are dressed as neatly as possible and I have been to churches nearby camping areas where the . church has extended "come as you are" invitations to the campen, and we went and were warmly accepted. I know that it might prove a valuable lession to everyone involved if instead of roaring by and disrupting the services you coast in and spend an hour observing Sunday as it should be. Motorcyclistaare a f.";endly bunch and always making friends where ever they go and I can't think of a better place to meet and make a bunch of new friends. It is unfortunate that most motorcycle events take place on Sunday, shortly after noon, so that we must eat on the road in the morning and miss going to our local church, but we can..do the n~."t best thing and pian our trip so that we got a good portion of the ride behind us by 10: 30 or 11:00 and stop so that you can observe your soul and still have your day of rest in the manner that you have chosen. Those of you that are road captains might seriously consider this in planning your next trip. The stop, just before lunch time, in a town on your lOu~e, wiD not inconvenience anyone. It is inconceivable to me that if we really wanted to we could not erase the blemish from our name. If only SOl(, of the 99roers were to actively participate in a camp. of this sort it would pit 495 riders apinst 10 out of every 1,000 bikes on the highways and streets. 495 helping hands olIered per week would amount to 25,740 such acts per year. Project this IJgUre into the 2,000,000 registered motorcycles in the U.S. today and we get 990,000 riden ~ntributingrIVe minutes of their time per week and performing 51,480,000 acts that would certainly go along way towards offsetting the damage that can be done by 20,000 outlaws. Wouldn't it be nice to see the day when a motorcyclist would be welcomed instead of the signs that appear occasionally stating "No Motorcycles". IT COULD BE DONE, and all for only fIve minutes per week. T T SCRAMBLES Perris, Callf. Nov. I, 1969 By Elaine Jones • C r I b • To c~ D 1 • •W • N 1 MOTO CROSS HWltlngton Beach, Ca. Nov. 2, 1969 lOOcc NOV. I Jeff Sexton Jess James Jr. Mike Leighton Eric Arras l00cc NOV. 1J Rick Draudt Mark Reve1s SkiP Gallagher Tom Manok 100Cc AM/EX Bill Dobbs Doug Mason Bob Sanders Richard Sweeney 125cc NOV. I Jyn Kline Paul Lambert Jr Kay Kanald Jon Mudd 125cc NOV. IT Rodney Parsons Geo. Gillespie Greg White Chuck Bybee 250cc NOV. I Bob Greenstreet Ed Hudson Tim Abshier Larry Stapleton 250Cc NOV. 1J Jim McKay Hugh Long Mike Myers Chuck Davis 250Cc AM/EX Doug Mason Bob Kline Dennis Creason James Baker NOV.MOTO Charles Tidwell Bruce Prior Bruce Yoakam LaRoy Davis OPEN MOTO Vince Graves Andy Skeel Chuck Wheat Jr. C. H. Wheat SWEEPSTAKES Bill Dobbs Rick Draudt Paul Lambert Jr. Chuck Wheat Jr. Kaw Kaw Yam Hod Suz Kaw Hon Hod Kaw Kaw Kaw Kaw Yam Yam Yam Yam Bul Yam Yam Yam Bul Suz Yam Yam Kaw Bul Yam Suz Yam Oss Bul Kaw Mat . H-D H-D Mon Mat H-D Mal Mat 125 JUNIOR R. SappingtonYam Mike OsprlngYam Mike KennaSac Dave BoydstunYam Jessee SlatonSac Richard Bellamy All Jim Hobbs Yam Mike Garrett Hod Tom Culp Bul Dennis Chandler Yam 250 JUNIOR John ParichYam Charles Dunlap- CZ George EarlBul Richard Trai tOss Arnold Velasco- Bul James Henry Mal Ernie Pascua Bul Willard Fletcher Hus Tom Mack Kaw John Carcia Yam Jerry Valkenborsh Kaw CZ Tony Brickel Jim Rutter Gre 500 SENIOR J. SiebrandtGre CZ M. Balosld 125 SENIOR Mike PayseBul Yam Frank Morgan* Yam Roy Barnet Andre St. Orge Yam Yam Lloyd Quentaro Suz Alfred Gusman David Brooks Bu1 250 SENIOR Oss Dan CarltonYam Rick HobbsYam D. Melelsh Mon Bruce De Soto 500 JUNIOR Joe La Porte* Mat Man Earl Ragan* Lee HaaseMal Hus Curt Horst Mal Denby Dalley Mon Ned Bixby G.C. Leach Bu1 Al Smith i3SA Ray Maxey flul (*Trophy Winner) Kaw Suz Yam Mat REVISED AMERICAN STANDINGS MID-STA l'ES INTER-AM Larue, Ohio october 26, 1969 First nine place to Europeans Hus Glenn Vincent C-Z Barry HigginS Gre' Gary Bailey Mon Tim Hart Oss Bob Thompson Bill Thomas Hus Charley Vincent Che Johnny Lee .Oss SPEEDWAY Costa Mesa, Callf. oct. 31, 1969 1st CLASS B EVENT Larry Shaw JAP Dick Arandt JAP Joe Anderson Jaw 1st CLASS C EVENT Bill Rogers JAP Brian Crawford JAP Gordie Wlll1ams JAP 2nd CLASS B EVENT JIm Ashworth Jaw JIm Anderson Jaw Les Chanky Jaw 1st INTL. MATCH B, Briggs (NZ) Jaw S. Bast (USA) Jaw 2nd INTL. MATCH I. Mauger (NZ) Jaw D. Keeter (USA) Jaw INTL. MATCH FINAL I. Mauger (NZ) Jaw B. Briggs (NZ) Jaw HANDICAP MAIN EVT. Barry Briggs Jaw Ivan Mauger Jaw Steve Bast Jaw Jim Anderson Jaw Bill CodY Jaw Jim Gresham Jaw SCRATCH MAIN EVT. Barry Briggs Jaw Ivan Mauger Jaw Mike Konle Jaw Terry Graham Jaw AMERICAN MOTOCROSS TEAM DONORS- october 14, 1969 to october 14, 1969 to october 23, 1969: Charley Stefan, Callfornia Dan Enright, Callfornia Louts D. Heavenrich, Pennsylvania Steve Smith, Oklahoma Richard O. Harvey, Callfornia Steve Robinson, Michigan C. Walter Hess, Ohio Ronald Wesolak, California Merry C. Dale, Indiana Harold E. Strader, Colorado Nicholas P. Brahy, Jr., Delaware Cleante T. Caryofilles, Massachusetts Pat Caselli, Callfornia James E. Galland, Missouri Donald Houseman, Michigan Steven K. Kaage, Illinois Timothy B. Lees, New York Clarence Penninger, ll11noi5 Alfred Riftlard, Jr., Pennsylvania Mike Stockman, California 333 3 3j - 33 - 33- 33 - 33- 33- 33 - 33 Maico ~ ~ Bob Bai ley' 5 Service Center SpeCial tuning for Sachs & Penton 3 ~ 17124 S. Western Ave. i6 Gardena, Cal. 90247 (213) 327-aS38 ~ ~ ~ 3 33 - 33 - 33 - 33 - 33 - 33 - l? - 33 - 3.1

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