Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

· ********************** * .San Mateo Supervisors Hear,Plea For Bike Area REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. March 24,1970 - The street was llned with pick-ups and vans, all loaded with securely tied dirt bikes. And in front of the San Mateo County Hall of Justice, a long row of street machines were parked. People clustered in groups, discussing the possible outcome of the forthcoming confrontation. Nearly 300 strong, bike enthusiasts of San Mateo County had gathered to plea their case for off road facillties with the County Board of Supervisors. These were ordinary people: Businessmen, mechanics, lawyers, engineers, teachers, students, your next door neighbor. ' All there with one thing in mind. "WHERE DO WE RIDE?" , "UNFAm" , "KEEP US OFF THE STREET", "WE WANT A SAFE PLACE TO RIDE", the placards read. At 11: 10 a.m, the group walked into the Supervisors meeting room, where other business on the agenda was being discussed. The county offic1als looked Up, apparently startled to see so many people corning in at one time. In seconds, the seats and aisles were filled to capacity, and the overflow had to be satisfied with positions in the outside hallway. Alan Bygdnes was the group's first speaker. He explained that he is one of the two motorcycle enthusiasts on the 12 man San Mateo H1k1ng and Tra1ls com- . mittee. The other 10 members, he said, were all horsemen. Bygdnes told the supervisors that, although bike riders in the county outnumbered the horsey set by nearly ten to one, reportedly, 25,000 motorcycl1sts to 2,000 horse owners - ' pr opos als concerning motorcycle tra1ls were consistently voted down by the committee. This, he sald, was the reason the group was corning directly to the Board of Supervisors. The spokesman told the board that San Mateo County now has about 100 miles of horse trails, as well as county maintained horse area, used a total of six days last year. A color sllde, picturing a $3000 county bullt, highway underpass for horsemen was shown to the group. Bygdnes concluded his remarks by saying the 361 mtles of tax-constructed horse trails are now proposed, while nothing is being considered for the county's motorcyc11Sts. Dan Clapp, an attorney with the Melvin Be111 firm, was next to speak. He sald that bike enthuslasts are interested in obta1n1ng facillties away from the horse tra1ls, and away from homeowners who might object to the noise and dust. He suggested that Pescadero Watershed,presently unused land, and the site of a A & A &. A & A & A & A & proposed reservoir in another five years - would be ideal for such a facillty. He told the supervisors that his group was not asking for 'money, but rather for the use of county owned land. The attorney ' concluded bY saying that, if provided with land, motorcyc11sts would cut their own trails and pollee the area themselves. After the presentation, questions were asked by members of the board, and the status of off road vehicle registration was cIarilled. Mrs. Jean Fassler, chairman of the board, wanted the matter referred to the H1k1ng and Trails committee, but Clapp told her that this was exactly the problem bike riders had been having for the last four and one-half years. "We've tried that route for all this time, and we have not yet been recognized," the attorney said, Another board member, James Fitzgerald, suggested that a land avallabillty study be 1n1t1ated, while Supervisor WU!lam Werder sald that he " •••can practical1Y guarantee a publlc hearing on the use of land for motorcycle recreation." The only other supervisor present, ex49'er football palyer, Robert S. C1a1r, did not comment on either proposal. At that point, Fitzgerald moved to have county manager, M.D. Tarshes, confer with his staff about the problem and report back to the board. The motion was seconded and carried. Mrs.. Fassler then moved on to the next item on the agenda, while Clapp tried unsuccessfully to have a dea11ne set on the county manager's report. Most people attending the meeting were apparently dissatisfied, feeling that action only had been shelved, as had been the case many times in the past. But upon reassessment, one group 'spo kes man felt that motorcycl1sts were a step nearer their objective. The spokesman pointed out that it is standard procedure for government to study any new proposal. And since the major bottleneck - the H1k1ng and Trails committee - has been bypassed, the spokesman felt it was only a matter of time until the fac111tiesbecome available. Motorcycl1sts in the San Mateo area were urged to write to the Board of Supervisors about the need for a facll1ty. "These people (supervisors) would, without a doubt be astonished at the extent of motorcycl1ng in this area. Write or phone these people and express your views. After all, they are the keys to the land we need," the spokesman said, For further information about the campaign, readers were advised to call Alan Bygdnes (415) 368-6475, evenings, or Cycle News North (415) 934-1995. Pretty Bertha Selma Atkinson, one 01 the many theme ,Iris for the fortheomln, Cycl. '70, Is shawn he.. astrid. the 250cc Barbara Groupp. One of the f.w machines lut... ln, up-flowln, hair, the Barbara Groupp was dlSl,ned primarily for Scrambles and Enduro competition. Awards Galore For Cycle t70 Entrants In addition to the many fascinating exhibits in the CYCLE '70 show there will be one of the largest turnouts of privately entered show bikes ever seen in the United States. Competing in twelve classes, show entrants each receive a m1n1mum of a two feet high trophy as a participant. The "People's Choice" trophy, nearly five feet high willgototheofflcial entry receiving the largest number of votes by the patrons of CYCLE '70.Last year's winner was Frank Conley's 1937 Excelsior and won Frank a trip for two to Hawaii. A questionaire sent to the last year's entrants indicated that most owners would rather have a lesser award for the "People's Choice", and more prizes for the individual classes. CYCLE '70 show categories include Antique, Classic, Spec1alty, Full Dress Custom, Full Custom, Street Custom, Sidecars, DirtRacer, Drag Racer, Road Racer, M1n1-Bike and a Novelty class. Special awards will be given for Best Bike of Show, Best Display, Best Threewhee1er, BestPaint, an Engineering Award as well as the People's Choice. Unusual Cycles Highlight Cycle t70 Show CYCLE '70, the 4th annual San Francisco motorcycle show, opens next Wednesday for five days at Brooks Hall in the Civic Center. Among the hundreds of feature cycles that will be displayed will be a three wheeled cycle powered bY an OldsmobUe VB engine. Bullt at a cost of over $10,000.00, this hand built showpiece features a 1923 Model T passenger compartment while the driver sits on a special cowl1ngover the engine. Entitled "Horne Brew", this creation was the brainchild of Ron Ebert of Sacramento. Other special feature cycles will include the Harley Davidson of Michael Parks from the "Then Came Bronson" TV series. A special twin engined streaml1ned cycle bullt by Don Vesco of San Diego will also be on display. Vesco's machine was bullt for the 1969 Bonnev111e speed tr1als, however, due to the poor condition of the famous salt flats, he was only able to clock 227 mUes per hourI Of particular note 15 that Vesco never shifted into his final gear and that the total displacement of the two 2-cycle engines is only 750cc or approximately 45 cubic enginesI Vesco's strearnl1ner, which is off1cially the world's fastest two cycle, will be on display in the Motorcycle Weekly exhibit. The weekly newspaper has arranged for shipment of the hybrId racer to San Francisco for the CYCLE '70 show. A record number of entries from the Classic and Antique Motorcycle Association will hlghl1ght the CYCLE '70 show. Cycle dating back to 1910 will be on exhibit. NowextlnctIndlans, Vincents, Ariels, and Clevelands will hlghl1ght the C.A.M.A. display. A rare 1936 Simplex servi-cycle, a U.S; Army three wheel ut1l1ty cycle, will also be featured, as well as a 1923 Indian with the or1g1nal passenger sidecar. . Entries in the show competition portion of CYCLE '70 have been received from all parts of the west coast. The show bikes, an added feature in last year's CYCLE '69 show, was so well received, the producers are building this portion of the show to compliment the commercial exhibits. Tie ForCMC CZ Trophy Bob Grossi, a Senior riding a Husky at CMC motocross events and Steve Foster, a Junior mounted on a Bultaco are not tied for the CMC CZ series after 3 races. After the 6th series rac~ in AprU a new 250 CZ will be presented to the winner. Steve and Bob have both won the same number of motes, C ••rle, Irow. C,des ~ has Purchased AAn & en Rear Fend & DTl Rea;'j!ender ••• A & CLUSTER'S EXCLUSIVE " DEALER . . ..,.-CZ A &, for SANTA CRUZ & MONTEREY BAY Barum Tires, Pal Plugs, JawaI.S.D.T. A ' & A (415) 222·2044 FULL PARTS INVENTORY 4036 Dam Rd.El Sobrante, Cali f. Now at 221lJl/2 Soquel Dr. santa Cruz 95060 (408) 475 Located at the Raued Ed,., LTD. 09813 MAIL ORDER

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