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/125698
- ... - _._--_.._----_._------_._-----, ..-_._--------~~ LITTLI . ~ .......... DBlWlnlBSS ~ z ~ w Z W .J o >- o Your AltA Congress in action By Charles Clayton 1970 COMPETITION CONGRESS , _ 'With only a few urgent items on the agenda, the Third Competition Congress met quietly Nov. 3-5 in Columbus, Ohio, near the headquarters of the mighty American Motorcycle Association. There to write the rules as they understood them were 60-odd motorcycle enthusiasts from all parts of the United States. The AMA had just been named the sole representative of . this country for international racing deals, but it hasn't quite sunk in yet. Only one of the new rules concerned international racing. Silencers? Yes, except... The most urgent problem before the Co ngr es 5 was a u nanim ous recommendation that a requirement be adopted whereby in all events machines are required to run with silencers which meet an established rating standard. The only exceptions were to be machines used in track, road races and record attempts. On first consideration the Congress crossed out the exceptions and America's first quiet racing rule passed by a resounding vote. "Well, you can't make Bonneville bikes run with mufflers," Congressman Dutcher pointed out. Then -the exceptions erupted as amendments flooded the floor. The rule that was finally adopted reads: "All events are required to be run with machines having a muffler meeting an established case rating standard. The only exceptions to this are machines used in road races, dirt tracks, outdoor short track, hilldimbs, scrambles, motocross, ice race, drag race, and record trials. Clubs have the choice ·to advertise anq sanction muffled races at any of the above listed races." About the only races silencers are required at are indoor short track races and it isn't clear whether the rule applies to professional races or not. The third Competition Congress is remarkable for such bravery. Call them Juniors. A lot of little matters occupied the Congress this year; most of the major ones had been ironed out in the two previous conventions, and the international problems are not widely known. * An indoor championship series was. referred to the staff for study. * The question of AMA getting into professional dJ:ag racing was avoided for another year. * No more will middle-grade professional racers be confusingly designated "amateurs". They are to be called Juniors henceforth. The designations for both pro and sportsmen now are Expert, Junior, and Novice. * A brave attempt to make next year's sportsman national championship calendar bogged down on the trail. "East met West", an Eastern enduroist cracked, "and they couldn't agree less". They deadlocked on the question of bow many nationals can dance on the red days of a calendar. They turned the problem over to the grown-ups, in this case the AMA staff, for a solution. Hopefully a 'soon-ta-be hired sportsman competition director (anybody want a job?) will sort out a calendar by sometime in 1971 and we will then publish the schedule. Meanwhile, the new job will not be limited by any actions on the part of this congress.. "I'm a road racer now" While other congress committees were busily hammering out clumsy rules defining acceptable pit attire for press photographers, the high rollers were meeting in the boiler room. The sign read "Professional National Championship Committee", but the shirtsleeve scene around the green-topped table looked more like a Monte Carlo movie scene. "40,900," croaked Bill France. "I make it $50,000" stated Rodger Ward. Onatrio Speedway was willing to stake 50 big ones on the motorcycle racc;s. Faded, but not by much, was France's venerable Daytona Speedway. On hearing the size of the pavement purses Neil Keen (National 10) seemed impressed. uy ou 're not a road racer. Neil," kidded a friend. "1 am now" replied Keen. Afterwards, car champion Rodger guessed the'bikes would attrack from 75 to 100 thousand spectators to Ontario's new 25 million dollar plant in four days of racing spectacle combined with a trade show. So far, this is motorcycle promotion's largest gamble, but purses were upped across the board in a total of 37 professional racing days in 1971 (see calendar this ~sue). Racing purses were upped about 100,000 dollars by the committee. Whether all the promo~ers- will ante·up remains to be seen. AMA Back in Speedway Biz Responding to the international challenge, at the behest of the west the AMA agreed to get back into sanctioning the fast reviving speedway (class A dirt track) shows. The staff will make up a program based on the FIM rulebook in time for the 1971 season. A national championship hillclimb series is also being studied. And a new class of stock-production motorcycle speed record rules will be presented by Earl Flanders for Bonneville 1971. The Incompetent Congress In summary, the third Competition Congress should be called the "Incompetent Congress" for failing its responsibility to motorcycling in many ways. Compared to the previous two congresses tbis one was, except for certain vital committees} immature. When statesmanship was called for, the matter was tabled, avoided or dumped on the AMA staff. I hope that staff can rise to its new responsibilities with all those weighty problems in its lap, but if we don't like their way of doing it, motorcyclists have only their elected representatives to blame. DATE WHERE TYPE Jan. 29 Jan. 30 March 8-13 April 25 May 2 May 8 May 9 May 16 May 23 May 30 June 6 June 12 June 13 June 19 June 25 Jime 27 July 5 JulY'9 July 10 July 11 July 16& 17 July 24 July 31 August 8 August 8 August 13 August 15 August 23 August 29 AM September 4 September 5 September 12 September 18 September 26 October 3 October 10 'October 16 October 17 Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Daytona, Fla. Palmetto, Ga. Cumberland, Md. Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta, Ga. Jennerstown, Pa. Warren, Ohio Reading, Pa. Terre Haute, Ind. Loudon, N.H. Loudon, N.H. Louisville, Ky. Santa Fe, Ill. Columbus, Ohio San Jose, Cal. Graham, Wash. Kent, Wash. Kent, Wash. Castle Rock, Wash. Ascot, Cal. Corona, Cal. Santa Rosa, Cal. Muskegon, Mich. Santa Fe, 111. Peoria, Ill. Pocono, Pa. Sedalia, Mo. Talladega, Ala. Talladega, Ala. Nazareth, Pa_ Ascot, Cal. Sacramento, Cal. Oklahoma City, Okla. Oklahoma City, Okla. Ontario, Cal. Ontario, Cal TT 10M Short Track 10M 250 Road Race 32M Half Mile 7,500 Half Mile 15M 250 Road Race 125 Mi. Road Race 15 Total Half Mile 7,500 Half Mile 7,500 Half Mile 8,500 Half MIle 7,500 50 Mi. Road Race 250 RR 100 Mi. Road Race 20M Half Mile 10M TT 8M Half Mile 12M Half Mile 8M Short Track 6M 50 Mi. Road Race ) 100 Mi. Road Race) 15M Comb. IT 10M 10M Half Mile Half Mile 8M 9M 1 Mile 20 Laps Hillclimb 4,600 Short Track 7M TT 9M 100 Road Race 15M 1 Mile 40 Pet. 10M 250 Road Race IBM Road Race 1&1/8 Mile 12M Half Mile 10M 40 Pet. or 16M Mile Half Mile 7.5 250 PURSE 50M