Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

I PERRIS, CAL. Nov. IS, 1969 - In spite d all the rain that fell Perris stayed dry and fast. Steve TInsley bad his tlrst ride since his accident and proved he hasn't lost any of his zip. It seems that steve had a rlDl of bllck luck after his crash and bad to cure an lotected knee and a bout with his throat. He's bllck now so get ready for anything, troops. Rob Morrison, one of our Perris Amateurs was bllck after an absence and was a welcome sight as he always puts on a good show and is a strong compeUtor. Tom Shanahan has only heen riding Perris for a COuPle of months but he is starting to learn what it's all about. He was introduced to the sport the wrong way around when he rode a racing bike before he saw a race. Tom admitted he was very nervous and very scared the tlrst Urne he got on the line but1lS Urne goes on and he picks uP pointers from other riders he is ga1n1ng a lot more cOJlf1dence. Since he rides a 100cc 1<&wasak1 he keeps his eyes pretty close on Doug Mason and Richard Sweaney and would Ulce to adaPt tbetr styles to himself. Tom'S wife, Ruth gets a little worried but doesn't say too much. She mlgbt have a lot to say about Tom'S statment that their four month old daughter mlgbt he a future Powder Puff candtdate. The future holds hope for a 250cc bike since he feels he's too fat for the lOOcc. The Kline men were so impressed with the Point RIDI that they called Mom, who had intenUoos of cleaning house Sunday, and made her come out and have a look. She did and they stayed to the end. The Greenstreets had a tamtJy reunion Sunday with four generaUoos showing uP to _tch Bob take his class. Dottle Greenstreet's Grandmother sald she would ride that track with any of you guys which mlgbt give the side~ hacks the begInntng d. another team. She'S a fan from the word go as she came all the way from Missouri to see the races. That has to he some kind of record. Bruce Yoakum is either going to get an understanding with his Harley or total it trying. Hang In there dude. It hardly seems possible that one little paragraph could make as many _vesas the latest AMA rultng concerning the suteen year old age limit for riding speed events. Undoubtedly the reason heh1nd the rultng came out of concern for safety hut the question uPPermost in the minds of the sportsmen is its tatrness. All are in agreement that places such as Bonneville, Daytona and Ascot should have an age limit hut many of the finest and sharpest compeUtors at TT racing are not of age and what are they suppose to do - hang it uP for a cOuPle of years? Is tbts fair? A good 75% of the Novices competing today are uoder slJcteen and ride the ltghtwelgbt hikes. After a rider reaches slJcteen he more than Ulcely ~ a larger hike so where is his proving ground? If the ruling has to stand as It is written why couldn't a panel r4 referees be Set uP to judge the competence of a rider and if the rider can prove his ability then I for one say, let him rldel , Spee"wa, Europa ~ How If Woris Dave Lan'g An Amer1can speedway team is Ulcely to get an tnvttaUon to tour Brit1shSecood Division tracks in 1970. The prospect of the tlrst Yank side in Britain since 1952 is to be discussed by the Secood Division promoters at their h1g winter powwow in one of London'S plush hotels early In the New Year. The British Second Divisloo, lusty infant of European speed sport, was born only 18 months ago - around the same Ume as the great American revival. But the league has grown to 16 tracks, and many others are clamouring for adBy mtsston. This year, Division II devotees tasted champing to burn uP BriUsh tracks; the Hungarians, and the Danes. But Germans and HlDIg&rians are of the same mould as the Czechs - and the Danes mlgbt be a little too strong for Division II compeUUon. So America is a dtsUnct PQSS1billty and inter-conUnental speedway could be Div1s1on II's nen giant stride forward. It's all down to cost, and the possih1ltty d a return jaunt by a team of _Secood Dh1ston stars bearing a Young· British Woos tag. Such a team would surely stun Stateside patrons, for the Second Div1s1on can t1eld a representa- international speedway for the tlrst Urne - and Ulced what they saw. Well over 30.000 tans saw the visiting Czecboslovaldans when they rode at Kings Lynn. Reading, Canterbury. Romford, Doncaster, Crewe, Raylelgbt and Middlesbrough. Box oftIce-wise. they were a knockout, in several places doing better business than the hig-t1me Poles and Swedes on D1v1sion I bowls. Encouraged by tbts malden success . in the internaUonal scene, Divvyllbossmen are now looldng around for tresh talent to magnet custom through the turnstiles. The Czechs, a surefire winner, w1ll get a "please come again" note. And new inteJ:naUonal faces are urgently wanted. PossihiliUes are the East Germans. hit- Lynn), 19-year-oldsGraham M1les(Canterhury) and MalcoimShakespeare(Long ~ ~~). ~ How Do Speedway Tours of Britain Operate? G These BrIUsh whiz-kids could tltp at :I: a chance to ride in Cal1fornta. ~ Teams are air ltfted in for an extensive racing program. as many as elgbt meetings in ten days, covering the leneth and breadth -of Britain. Accommodatton and transport are provided, and prize money paid at a pre-arranged rate. Off1c1al consideraUon Is given to the type of track at which visitors would best perform. The East Europeans like •em h1g and fast, so usually end uP at Britain's pacier bowls: 470-yard Cre~, 400-yard Kings Lynn, 390-yard Canterbury. American tourists would probably be placed at the smaller bases: 270- yard Crayford, on the outskirts of Lonqon, 300-yard Ipswich - venues like these. Coosiderable presUge Is attached to internaUonal-level speedway in Britain: they are recognized at ambassadorial level, and gain eye-catchtng hesdUne-s and television coverage. Tourists are feted and dined, and frequently mobbed by Uve side comprised almost entirely of teenagers: 16-yeer-oid Dave Jessup (Eutbourne), 17-year-olds Barry Th0mas (Canterbury) and Ian Turner (Kings tans. Already BrIUsh tans have heard a lot about American speedway. It can onlyhe a matter r4 Ume before they see the Stateside solo stars for themselves. YOU. DON'T HA'VE TO BLOW $1400 TO WINI THE NEW ERA OF THE LIGHTWEIGHTS IS UPON US COX IS TOPS AT SO-CAL HARE & HOUND HARE & HOUND Red Rock CInyOll, Cal. NoY. 1&, 19&9 OVERALL 1. Jack Byers 2. Whitey Gregory 3. Randy 8lI'ak 4. PIlH Bew..s 5. Gene Dempsey &. Arlin Cox 1. TlIII Center 8. Dave Lewis 9. Keefer Flanner 10. Dlyle Fields 500cc liDce liDce 250ee &5lIee 125ce Sachs &50ee 3&Oee 40Dce &5lIee PACIfIC COAST HONDA 2013 W. Paclfte Coast Hwy. LOMITA Open '7 Days Nail Hanay Arvin COI finislle" 6tll OVEIALL an" 1st 125 EIPEIT at tile Dist. 37 Desert lace NOVa 16tll. Re was ri"ing a Saclls. r...... aul 326·3810 Walcomn You IHARLEY-DAVIDSON I Lomita of "...,~ 40 NIIWMotorcyclas in stock () Naw Sportstars I"""adata daliv8fJ 2212 Pac. Coast Hwy. (213) 534-5530 Hoci'fS iO',OICYCnS HODAKA YA~:S~E GREEYES COIIIPla. MacIIlaa SIIop Facllltlas 22025 So. Figueroa Torrance, Caliiornia(213) 321-1242 Dealer Inquiries Invited Importer and We~ern Distributor is: HERCULES DIST. LTD. 1112 Colorado 51. Santa Monica. Calif. 90404 PH: (213) 45t-8728 THE NEW EIA IS HEIE' d

• Cover