Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

.. 1 o .... .. Cl) ~;:::~ ' N , ~ Z ~ C WS nr==- ~~.. w Z W ~~~ ...J U >U LJe I ~ "American's No. 1 weekly motorcycle newspaper. You'll always see it FI RST in Cycle News!" COWBELL MESS-UP The 24th Annual Cowbell must have been laid out with the thought in mind of reducing the number of entries on future Cowbells. (See article on page 20 ed.) I like a tough enduro, as I am sure many riders do, but to include 4 bottlenecked, very tough hills...some with room for only a couple of riders at a time when they had 1600 entries...EVEN in dry weather. ..just has to be ridiculous, and preposterous in rainy weather. I hope your newspaper can possibly be instrumen tal in setring some kind of common sense standards regarding enduro layouts. The fact that this particular run caused so much trouble with rescue by local sheriff, etc. could well mean that this are or possibly all our natibnal forests could be lost for future events, and all because of very poor p1anning by the Hayward M.C. This run should either have been advertised for experts only, or alternate routes provided around the many bottlenecks - so at least the later riders could have had a fighting chance to get Publisher . Business Manager . . General Manager . . Ad~rtising Manager Editor . Assistant Editor . ~~c~~:~~a~~~ Lab Technician .. Advertising Asst. . Bookkeeper Bookkeeper Receptionist Circu lation Asst. Delivery Charles Clayton Sharon Clayton · . Tom Culp · . Tom Walsh · Bob Sanford . · John Bethea · Rheba Smith · . Uli Lakich · Diane Sosnoski · .. Ed Randell · Dorothea Lang · Eleanor Duke · . . Chris Pratt . Dorothy Apple · . Larry Groves else and far more serious,)eft the course with at least four riders we know of still down and immobile in the midclIe of the Searchlight desert. It's just such dis-organization and unconcern as this, that has turned so many potential racers away from competition in this area and moved so many people to the point of passing legilation closing the desert ~o motorcycle riders. We feel it's high time that Las Vegas associations and clubs got their heads together and realized that such a reckless attitude as "who cares, we don't need anyone who won't get down on their pegs to our snobbish and falsely .superior ways," is only burting their own cause and turning off their best customers, the Southern Nevada riders. We hope that before they completely kill racing enthusiasm here, they will pay serious attention to what the AMA and in particular District 37 (of which they are an integral part, although they completely ignore its existence) have learned about racing and put into prac,tice every weekend to the tune of huge turnouts, and all the knowledge that makes their racing enjoyable and successful for riders and spectators Cycle News East, Dixie Cycle News, and National Advertising infonnation: Tom Gulp. National Advertising Dir. Cycle News (West). P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, California 90801. (213) 427-7433 - L.A. 636-8844. TELEX NO. 673-474 Subscription: One year 2nd class mail Single copy price , $7.50 $.25 Published weekly except the first and last week of the calendar year by Cycle News, Inc., Post Office Box 498, Long Beach, California, also publishers of Cycle News East, and Dixie Cycle News. Second Class Postage paid at Long Beach, Calif. Editorial stories, cartoons, photos, etc. are welcome. Write for information. Addressed, stamped envelope assures return of editorial matter. Reprinting in whole or in part only be permission of the publishers. and circulation Advertising rates information will be sent upon request. BSA Denies Charge LOS ANG.ELES, CALIF., Nov. 16, 1970 - It was charged in the British Motorcycle News this past week that Triumph's American organization was making an all out attempt to prevent British riders Mike Hailwood and Paul Smart from riding Daytona this coming y~ar. As a reson for seemingfy illogical move, it was suggested that the A.M.A. points standings provid.ed the motivation. If Daytona were won by Hailwood, rather than, say Nixon, the resultant loss of points could throw the championship into the hands of one of the better dirt-track racers. Daytona is worth four times as many points as some of the smaller dirt track events. From another point of view, any rider who wins Daytona has taken a giant step toward a A.M.A. championship, and the British triples are in a particularly good position to win Daytona. Pete Coleman, Racing Director of B.S.A. Inc. flatly denied that B.S.A. has put any pressure on the parent company to prevent Hailwood's racing. In addition, Peter • Thornton, president of B.S.A. Inc. said, "The Birmingham Small Arms Co. Inc. welcomes the presence of international motorcycle racing champions in all races in the U.S.._. We feel that in the U.S. our BSA and Triumph racing teams in particular, include many of the world's finest professional racers, we would welcome the opportunity to prove it." Neither Coleman nor Thornton made reference to the points situation. • Inter-ADl Finale Merger ORANGE, CALIF., Nov. 15, 1970 - Suzuki and BSA stars, including Joel Robert and John Banks, who are now competing in the Trans-AMA series, have agreed to participate in the December 6 Inter-Am here at SadclIeback Park, according to Joe Parkhurst, publisher of Cycle World Magazine and promoter of the event. By that time the Trans-AMA series will be over, and Parkhurst said that the necessary negotiations have already been completed. With the Suzuki and BSA stars on hand, and SaddJeback the only Inter-Am scheduled for that date, more than 20 Europeans should be on hand to contest the motocross. Mail Fraud In Texas over these hills. I hope the Hayward M.C. will, without delay, send apologies to the Sheriff and other rescue personnel, and the many riders stranded overnigh t, and try to do something to better the motorcyclist image. They took in about $8,000.00 on this run_..perhaps they should spend it to promo te some good will! KEN ROGERS, No. 407 Santa Cruz, Calif. SCRAMBLERS SCRAMBLED Right now we're in the pits of what should have been the Nevada State Championship Hare Scrambles, presented by the Groundshaker's MIC, Las Vegas. Just before this fiasco started we were discussing the sorry fact that in the midst of such groovy desert there are so few riders who participate in the Las Vegas area events. Now we know why for sure. This is supposedly the end of the first of four 25 mile loops, and riders are coming into the pits from three very different directions, and leaving in two other directions (the guys at the home check keep waving their arms the same way, no matter which way their body is facing). It's like several races going on with one communal pit. Pit crews have spotters sighted in opposite directions, and beaven help anyone who's trying to keep track of who's running in what place. We gave up after what we assumed to be the 12th man through, traveling on what we assumed to be die proper course. After that it looked like everyone for bimself. We must assume that enough lime to properly mark the course was just too big an expense, and danger marks must be out of season (but then, who could have figured out a way to mark that cow that one of our riders almost made steak out on) But what's to be expected {rom a group that can't even get organized enough to provide one portable toilet for a crowd of over 100 racers and close to 200 spectators (that's heavy for Las Vegas), or won't refund a $5.00 entry fee to at least two riders whose bikes didn't even get within sight of the starting line. And worse than anything • alike. In the meantime we'll encourage all our friends and acquain tances to be more assertive and vocal in their demands for high quality Las Vegas racing and join us in our more than fair requests. But it looks like when it gets down to the basics, California here we come...We've been to the races every Saturday for the past two years, some of us longer, and the added traveling will be worth it to once again enjoy happy racing. DIANE SMITH Las Vegas,Nev. LESS SOUND - MORE GROUND Your campaign against unnecessary noise has given the riders and citizeqa in San Diego new hope for riding areas. and quiet for the neighbors. To this point the city fathers and non participating public have felt alienated. They could not see anyone in the cycle industry who gave a damn about their rights. You have proven that you do care. Now in San Diego there is O.R.V.I., Off Road Vehicle Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a better relationship between the public and the Off-Road enthusiast, and to further promote the overall motorcycle image through programs of education and safety. The program is directed to the youthful rider and non participating rt ublic • The organization is not only fighting proposed legislation to further ban the cycle but is conducting a campaign to quiet down the unnecessarily ,:,oisey cycle. . O.R.V.I. 's slogan is "Less Sound More Ground". More stickers will be available in the San Diego cycle shops soon. A donation for this sticker is hoped for but not necessary. O.R.V.I. has also prepared a pamphlet with do's and dont's and laws now in effect in San Diego. O.R.V.!"s private session with the S.D. city council will be Thursday, November 19. Keep up the Rood work. VICTOR CONAWAY Vice Chaiman Off Road Vchicle Institute DALLAS, TEX., Nov. 16, 1970 - Foul play was afoot prior to this month's Trans-AMA meet at Dallas International Motor Speedway. Persons on the Trans-AMA mailing list received a fraudulent letter on a counterfeit letterhead bearing the emblems of Dallas International and the Trans-AMA Series. The letter advised recipients that the races had been postponed from Nov. 8 to Nov. L5. It further advised that advance ticket sellers continue to sell tickets and to inform all others of the change. There was, of course, no such change planned. This incident comes concurrent with Texas International troubles with the Lewisville, Texas, city government. The trouble began with the advent of the rock festival on the speedway grounds last year which scandalized the locals and rece.ived nation-wide attention. Operating under restrictive city ordinances, the multi-million dollar racing facility has been losing money and goes to the auction block Tuesday, Nov. 17. Dallas International was tbe site of the cancelled 150-mile national championship road race this year. Apparently, promoter M. I. Watkins and the FBI know who the perpetrator is, and word is that someone is going to jail Mail fraud is a punishable charge. Trans-AMA Post Entries LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - Both AMA and FIM professional licenses will be acceptable at next Sunday's (Nov. 22) Trans-AMA motocross at Carlsbad, according to Tom Clark, AMA director of professional racing. The event will feature lightweight competition, with beavyweight bikes scheduled for the Support Class. The feature event is by mail entry only, but post enty will be accepted for the support race. AMA licenses will be available prior to race time Sunday for those that have a doctor's certificate of good health and $22. COMMENT Guest Editorial The foUowing was written by Richa.rd G. Ahlefeld and presented on behalf of the Orange County M.C. AhlefeM, who is secretary of the organization, said in a preface letter that his club "has taken a hard look at the desert issue and, feel (that) we must express our view, points and findings. " This article is offered as a Guest Editorial and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the paper or its management... ed. MOTORCYCLES: THE DESERTS AND NATURES BALANCE We hear a great deal about upsetting the balance of nature and that man's survival hangs on the preservation of this balance. There are some self appointed e'lper.ts who put the blame for this imbalance on motorcycles. These experts enjoy seeing their names in print with articles saying that because motorcycles are destructive, we are in danger of destroying our deserts and contaminating the environment we live in. There is probably nothing further from the truth, as in most cases these statements are based on emotionalism and not scientific facts. Surveys made during the 1960's showed conclusively that motorcycles are not endangering the deserts. When these arguments fall flat, these so called "experts" shift their emphasis to other environmental phases, such as wild life, claiming that motorcycles disturb the solitude and place wildlife in danger of extermination. Here they know it would be harder to prove them wrong and get documentary evidence. How do they explain the high concentration of wildlife in this wilderness area where the motorcycles play? Just about every bike rider sees rabbits, squirrels, fox, coyote, desert tortoise, and a my rid of birds each time he retuns to the desert. There's not one scientifically documented incidence of motorcycles ruining eilher the environment or upsetting the ecology of the deserts. 1\11 motorcycle pcople. inclucting the Orange County Motorcyclc Club, are proud or that ract. • Motorcycles and their riders are not judged by these so ailed expcrts on the same basis as horses, sheep, and other livestock which effect the desert environment far more seriously. Many people tllink that if one motorcycle causes damage. disturbs their (Please liLTII to pg. 30)

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