Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125649
TncU,n "'dltl1't;s peered at me out of tile green sbowroom wtDdows as I roUDded .&tile froot of Floyd Clymer's Moliol'eycle ColllJllUlY in Los Aueeles. Abrams, a former Cycle editor, IIOW owner at Racecrafters InternaUona)' and Within the store, I .... greetlld by the 74-year-old Clymer, a large, maD ill a John Gordon President of General MOtors ccmsenaUve wool suit.. He tIIen led me into b1s otr1ce cubical wIIere be sat, crossed Corp. Clymer said he "takes creatpl"1de bls lees, and began the story of bls We and bls success In the motorcycle busiDess. ill the accomplishments and the successStartlne b1s career as a car dealer at age 11, Clymer decided he wanted to sell motorcycles, too, At 16 he was racing Ind1ans; by 21 he set a world's record of 83 m1les ill the Photo by Don WoodS Story By Gael Buchanan first hour rld1ng a Harley-Da'l'1dson ill the 300 MUe NaUonal Championship at Dodge City, Kansas, Clymer's influence in business spread 11ke wild fire as b1s enthusiasm for motorcycles seemed to bring opportunity after opportunity to blm, By 1919 he became a ftYe-states distributer for Ind1an, Excelsior, and Henderson. When World War n reduced the S\IIlPly ot motorcycles, Clymer went into the publlsblnc busiDess. SiDee then he bas published over 400 Utles on cars and motorcycles. In 1966 he re-entered the bike business, financing Freidel Munch or Germany. Soon afterwards he desired to get into small motorcycles and started building Indians with Tartar1n1 ill Italy. Now as president of the Floyd Clymer Motorcycle Co., he conUnues publlsblnc books, and promoUng Indian motorcycles with bls a.ma.zlng sales ab11lty.In the last five months. for example, be bas sold and delivered over 1000 small Indians and 100 larger models. Clymer says that be eJlP8Cts to sell 5000 small bikes, 400 IncUan Velos, and 600 Indian Enfields in 1970. Years aren't slow1nc this maD down! Clymer took the name Indian tor b1s bikes because be*wanted to see the old name rmved." It bad established an excellent reput&Uoo and was fam1llar to everyone wbo rode motorcycles. Over the years, Clymer bas put b1s mark on the motorcycl1nc field. He was first ill the United States to bandle Trlumpb VerUcal Twins; he was instrumental In popularizing short track racing; he owned and operated Cycle Magazine for thlrteen years; be Imported the first crash helmets to the U.S. But that's IIOt all. Today be's every bit as acUve and be bas 110 pliuls to retire. Clymer said, "I'm In good bealth,l enjoy my work and I get a great saUsfacUon from doing some th1ncs that some people thoulbt were impossible." Toucblll Clymer even sUll rides motorcycles. Althougb be doesn't race, he keeps an Indian Papoose at borne tor pleasure rldine. He also promotes the 110 Mile A.M.A. National Road Racing Championship at Indianapolis Park each August. And beFloyd Clymer to_s ovor one of hls'smallor improWd billas. Tho plet... WAS lakon It tho Ind, tween all bls other acU'I'1Ues, he flies National ROId,aco p'OIlIolod b, CI,mo,. back and forth from Italy every six weeks to keeP In toucb with producUon there. nancing," Clymer said. ful careers of these former employees." On the side 11ne, Clymer sUll receives He feels that b1s greatest personal "The motorcycle business bas been a large annual retainer from Cycle gain from bls baslness bas been bls acvery good to me," be went on. Clymer, Mapzlne for being a consultant, but be quaintance and frlendsblp with famous wbo didn' t even graduate from the ellbth admitted, "I do noth1nc." . automoUve persona1lUes througbout the graile, considers blmself quite a sucessHis success, he conUnued, was acworld. ful drop out. He learned from the scbool compllsbed without the belp of anyone Among the successful people wbo have of experience. Clymer attributes b1s except b1s starr. "I oPerate as an Indigone throulb the Clymer school of hard success to bls OPUmlsUc aUtude. 'I'1dual with 110 stock bolders or board of knocks are Cycle News Publlsber, "1boulbts are things," be said, "and 11 directors (and so I give quick answers to Charles Clayton; Don Brown, now Viceyou set your miDd to a project and work most quesUons). Also, I use my own President of Triumph Corp.; Pete Colbard enoup at It, notb1ng Is impossible. money and have required 110 bank f1man, Vice-President of BSA, Inc.; Lyn But you have to have the will to 00." fLOYD (LY.£I- going stronger at 74 _-e-rical PIIttl.,.by by DENNIS GREENE Specializing In AdvertisiDg '" ComlIIerciaJ PbolDs STUDIO Phle 423-4707 "A' o. ION6 'UU 'IVD. lONG IUC" Cillf. 90'05 .1( .. pbolD Is wortb a 1000 words, aDd you CIUI't thl..... of wbat to say, let pboto&I'&Pby by DeDnis Green do the talkillg for you!· flgvp!mO Jaa.4 ~ C.E.RA ENDURO T " . .0 MIllS .. START THE NEWYEAR RIGHTI ~. ~CT3"'''OS9 Wheelie into 1970 with a Barnett Clutch . ~OC;ft~ ~O BY ~ STUMP JUMPEILS M.C. AT FAMOUS Sattfite4a-d Pad ~AN.21S'h Sign-up: 8-9 10m. $2 mai I entry $& post entry $2.50 pte fee {per rider) ~i~ ••'.''.'- ~'''I..' e15 Pacific Blvd., Vernon, cali....ia, P....e: 515-5418 Mall to- 1606 Portola Ave., Santa Ana, Ca. 92701. Mall entry closes Jan. 18th. 3# PLATES - 3 CLASSES ARMS MUST BE COVERED 3# PLATES - 3 CLASSES ARIIS MUST BE COVERED