Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

en ~ ; ENDUPtC 5LCNN[; t; !N JJ)!NUTf5 NCT JJ)CNTW5 By l'1arty Reynold rScoring racing tY}i'e events with a computer is not really new. To this authors knowledge, IBM was the fIrst to try it with the Monte Carlo auto rally in 1968. GE then scored the Vanderbuilt Cup sailboat races early in 1969. By the fall of 1969, the Enduro motorcyclists had Imally gotten their cut, a slice sorely needed in an event which, compared to these other two instances, packs much more action, participants, and numbers into a 10t more brief .span of time. A G'E' 430 time·shared computer was used to score the results of three Atlanta, Georgia Enduro. Our story begins about a week before 'the Witch's enduro last fall. The author and several others were involved in the lay·out and preparation for this particular event. Shortly· before pre·registration closed, it had become apparent that there would be in excess of 300 riders in attendance (342 actually signed up). None of us had any program is given a fixed time·length turn at the machines guts, the central processor. If the program can't finish in one turn, then it is kicked out and put at the back of the line of user programs waiting to be executed upon. This process continues until the program has had enough turns to go to completion. Connection to the computer is made via ordinary phone lines and the background with the scor,ing of a run of such magnitude and the task loomed as • a formidable experience. However, a beginner can often be an asset in any field. Unbiased by exposure to the usual scheme of things, fresh approaches are more readily dreampt up. This was certamly the case here. Several manual scoring systems were eIther invented or proposed by other helpful sources. While all had their saving featux:es, each suffered from the same three failures: Marshalling the manpower, human error and human error. Merely collecting enough people to staff the checks can frequently be frustrating. But stuffing twelve or fourteen people in a room for a lengthy non· stop bout with numbers at the end of a week·end...need I say more? The errors encountered are also virtually self.explanatory. So we went out on a limb and decided to attemp t computerize the job. A request for free computer usage was quickly granted by an independent local vendor of a GE 430 time·shared computer. Time sharing is a type of computer organization (system programming) wherein a number of users programs appear to be running simultaneously. In actuality, each users 'All the bike you'll ever Deed. Hodak. 100 'B' , . "In the history of motorcycling, no single motorcycle has influenced trail riding more than the Hodaka. The 100 'B' is the latest chapter in this exciting history of traiihike champions." input·output device is a simple teletype (twk) machine. Users programs and data mes can be stored at the computC1" site on a gizmo called a magnetic disc. 'Keyboard ' commands give" from a remote teletype can start' various programs, modify them, manipulate data mes, etc. '"Time·sharing lets you have the full power of a computer anywhere you can put a teletype machine and a telephone line. So, youn truly set about writing a set of four programs that would score an enduro. Two of the programs are used in the actual scoring and the other two are employed in error checking data mes used by the scoring programs. There is a data me for each check point which gives rider numbers and arrival times. There 'is another data me which acts as a class directory. giving a class number for each rider number. And there is a general information data me which. gives the range of rider numbers (101-186, 201-283, etc.), the arrival time of the first rider at each check and the names of the classes (0-100cc, etc.). The general information and class directory files are entered and saved at the computer from a teletype just after the run starts. The class directory file is error checked by a program to make sure there are no out of range rider or class numbe!S. This program also determines the number of riders in each class. As each set of check sheets arrive from the field, the rider number, arrival time data for all entrants making the check is entered and saved in a me from the teletype. Then another program is called and run which analyses the checlf. point me for errors in out of range rider numbers and absurd arrival times. Also, a list of all riders who did not make the check is printed for cross refer.encing with the check sheets. After the run is over and all data is as "ship-shape" as is possible through correcting goofs detected by the error sniflmg programs, the Imt scoring program is called and run. This program actually performs the brunt of the work in that the scores from all checks are computed, totaled, sorted into classes, and then the scores of each class are sorted in ascending order. Finally this program stores a very llJrlte me which (Continued on page 37) Dodd. 100 '8'. This newest trailbike includes many performance features designed and lested on earlier Ace 90 and Ace 100 models. Hodaka has maintained it's position as the number 1 National Trailbike Champion and intends to widen that position with the 100 'B'. 70o/c of all Hodaka riders pre- designers. Today, you can practicaHy custom- design your Hodaka to fit your individual viously owped another make. taste and purpose. Here are three reasons why s. Re.ale "a"ue one 0/ indu••rie,' the sophUticated rider chooses IUIl""at. Design stability and parts interchangeHodaka. ability has kept the value of previous Hodaka models high. (This very same advantage has made one particular German economy car' the 1. We apeeiaJiH in Ir.ilbilcea. Since the Hodaka was first <\esigned in 1964, all efforts have been concentrated on building one basic model. Our first, the Ace 90, with its full down-tube frame, revolutionized the industry. Eventually, the Ace 100 was introduced with increased displacement and the first five-speed transmission to be offered as standard eguipmenl on a quantity production trailbike. This, too, met with imm'ediate success. In a single California trailbike event, 54 01 the 74 finishers in the contest were Hodaka mounted. The 100 'B' is an even more potent and reliable performer than these previous models. • 2. More .e"",aaone. are de.i. . . . lor llae Dodalca tIuua an,. ou.- .inpe molor· single most popular import in America). Hodaka is worth more when you buy it ... and if you sell it. Thi. ill the baaie eoneept behind the new Hodaka 100 '8'. Why not see your dealer or write today Cor eomplete in· Conualion. Dodd. malce. ,.,...., from llae ..",rd 'OO'! H@DAKA New 101' 1970 ..................................................... For a copy of •'The Hodaka Story." send the coupon and 2~c to PABATeO's address below. .".<;11'. Hodaka engineers have intentionally designed parts and accessories, when possible, to interchange from one model year to the next. Emphasis is on component improvement rather than styling changes for 8lyle alone. Such design stability has not only improved the availability of Hodaka parts, but has attracted the att""tion of numerous accessory Name _ _ _.. ; ~ Street City ~ _ _ : Stat•.............................._ : Phone _ _ L _ _ ~~:~.~~.~.:~~ PAUTCO. lox 327. AtIa--. 0 . _ 17113 _ i : i .ztp _ _ : : . __ _ : j . The telephone rang in our office a few weeRs ago. This alone is not unusual. We often get as many as three or four calls a day. But the message was the most exciting announcement we've heard since a fellow named Edison Dye said he was bringing a team of European motocross champions here to sell Husqvarnas. The AMA is creating, a U.S. motocross series for .American and world champion riders this year. Call it Trans-,AMA. Glamorous Joel Robert and rare, mysterious John Banks will headline the show •.•with factory teams from BSA and Suzuki for sure and maybe Yamaha, Jawa, Bultaco. Ossa and even mighty Honda to hang in there. _ .A year ago I'd have 'thought the bearer of such tidings had been into the Mexican laughing tobacco. But now there is a new ,AMA. ,And anything seems possible. It's time to reach ,for the Moon again. I published the announcement in the papers and, they marvelled at ,AMA headquarters last week, ••.•National stars and professional racers wanting to sign up to compete in the NW new series of eight races, each with a minimum purse of $4,000 and points toward a national motocross championship for the top American. 1 jetted to' AMA headquarters in Ohio a short time I ater where a meeting called by new AMA head, Russ March and Competition Directm, Tom Clark got together all the promoters they'd selected for the series. It was the first such meeting in motorcycle history. Between the .AMA staff, the promoters and the newspapers, a whole circus was agreed on in a day. Starting at Larue, Ohio on the 11th of October with a 250cc Internation al and Open National Class, the circuit moves to Undilla, New York October 25· with the same program, then back to Delta, Ohio on October 25 with a Heavyweight International program and Lightweight National Class. Atlanta, Georgia hosts the circus the follOWing week, November first, with the same lirogram, then off to Dallas. Texas for a Lightweight International November 8, and to 1:.os Angeles Nov. 15 for a Heavyweight International, thence down to Carlsbad, California November 22 for a Lightweight International, winding up at sacramento, California with a Heavyweight International and of course a Lightweight National. ' The minimum purse at all eight meetings will be a healthy $4,000 and at the end we will have in ,America a fairly weel-to-do U.S. National Motocross (Continued on page 37)

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