Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

•• .•''''''''··""""'''''''-'·''''''iilO'~·'''''''''''''''' ~ w Z W ..J (J' >- (J "America's No, 1 weekly motorcycle newspaper. You'll always see it FIRST in Cycle News'" TIME SCHEDULES On Sunday, November 29th, 1970, an independent survey was conducted at Carlsbad to determine rider preference on division of the racing program into two parts: 1.) Expert and Intermediate program (in its entirety) in the morning. 2.) Junior program (in its entirety) including practice immediately after the Experts. Some of the benefits of this program include: 1.) Shorter time at the track for those that are concerned only with one of the classes: b.) Less congestion in the Pits; c.) Wives and children not exhausted from staying at the track for 10 hours; d.) Faster processing of sign-up as well as less congestion at the gate; and e.) Better and safer practice session, as there will be fewer riders on the track at one time. For those people who have riders in both classes this will, of course, be meaningless because they will have to put in a full day anyway. The actual changeover to this schedule will be easy since for the first few times all uninformed riders will still come early and no one will miss out on any racing. Generally, because of the relatively small number of Experts and Intermediates, their part of the program will be over in about two hours. The division of time can take form with practice for Experts & Intermediates from 8:00 to 8:45 a.m. with racing starting at 9:00 sharp. By 11:30 the track should be open for Junior practice_ At 12:00 the officials can take a much needed break for refreshments and at 12:30 the Junior Program can begin with the bulk of the day remaining. Of the riders surveyed 96% indicated they would prefer the new program and only 4% indicated they would not. MOTOCROSS RIDERS UNION COLOR THESE "FLAGS" Attention'all district 37 competition riders and clubs. Starting in February, 1971, it will be required that aU district clubs sponsoring races observe the new AMA flag color requirements. Green - Start the race. Yellow - CAUTION (does not mean hold position). White - One lap to go. Black w/l" white border Immediate individual disqualification. Red - Stops the race at the point displayed and must not be shown for any other reason. B&W Checkered - Finish. Please pay special attention to the new uses for the yellow, white, and red flag. Use according to the above is mandatory per new 1971 AMA rules. LARRY HALEY Dist. 37 Referee Pity the poor color-blind racer... Ed. WATCH OUT FOR BOMBS! Regarding Mr. Sanford's beautifully tempting idea that we could have part of the Mojave Desert for riding without worrying about bothering somebody, we would like to ask you to pull some strings too. We are writing our share of letters but those who speak with louder voices seem to get things done. Those of us who wish only a weekend of peace (I mean peace not quiet) where an open area is available that will not bring on the police or irate neighbors seem to feel the squeeze more than racers on tracks or road riders. The desert clubs should be especially interested in this Camp Irwin deal because they must feel the squeeze every year when they try to get their races on. They will be pushed farther and farther away as areas become inhabited and developed so rapdily. If we could say "this is ours from the: Publisher Editor Business Manager General Manager Assistant Editor Circulation Manager Circulation Ass't lab Technician. Advertising Asst Bookkeeper Bookkeeper Ass't Delivery Typographer Receptionist Charles Clayton Sharon Clayton · , Tom Culp · John Bethea · Rheba Smith · Marla Tarbet · Diane Sosnoski · .. Ed Randell · Dorothea lang · Eleanor D4ke · . larry Groves .Marion Hatashita . Barbara Richard federal government" we might be able to hold on to it. (If it goes to the state then it becomes a political thing and no guarantees will apply.) District 37 should put some pressure on their headquarters for support because they can speak with a loud voice in representing many riders who pay fees for just such assistance. We realize that Barstow and Camp Irwin are far away but having ridden in the area we know it to be good open, varied terrain and well worth an all-out effort to secure for bike riders. How about trying for China Lake or some obsolete testing areas? Maybe just on weekends when they don't use them anyway. We could sign a paper that we would not sue if we hit an unexploded . Cycle News Ea~t, Dixie Cycle News, and National Advertising information: Tom Culp, National Advertising Director. Cycle News (West), P.O. Box 49B, long Beach. California 90BOI. (213) 427-7433 - l.A. 636-8844. TELEX NO. 673-474 Subscription: One year 2nd class mail 2 years 2nd class mail 3 years 2nd class mail Single copy price . . .$9.00 · $15.00 · $18.00 · . $.30 ARE WE, REALLY? Your newspaper is the best thing that ever happened to us (my husband and myself). We both have motorcycles and have been riding for the past two years. Now we have become very interested in desert racing and have joined a motorcycle club and attend almost every race. We are interested in helping in your fight to obtain riding places for all motorcycle riders and will do our best to get people to write letters. We want to bring out a point that your newspaper is not only for racers but the average everyday rider who just plays at it. I work for a small firm which employs approximately fifteen employees and out of the fifteen ten of. ---------.. . - - - - - - - - - HOW 'BOUT THE NORTH? What is wrong with central Calif. (District 35 and 36) sportsman competition? You should name your paper "District 37 news". I realize this is an exaggeration but it is partly true. Although you do have good national's coverage and good editorials, that's not the main reason people buy papers like yours. They want to read about themselves. They can read about nationals in maga~ines. As you raised your price you lowered the quality of your paper. About a year ago you had very good local coverage, I wish it would continue. We have a number of hotshoes around here, also, that put on a good show. The quality of your paper used to be nothing short of outstanding, I wisb it would be restored. JEFF DOTZLER Visalia, Calif. Only a few races are covered by staff members, whereas, a vast majority of the race reports we receive are from free-lancers who have eventually become correspondents. We mu st rei y upon these people to send us race reports and results. If you get upset that your event was not mentioned in this paper, next time send us a report for publication consideration and results {which will be There is one thing you can do for us; don't take the paper to work on Thursday, let them buy their own copy... Ed. , It has come to my knowledge that another very fine competition club in Northern Calif. has contributed to the M.O.R.E. organization. The Polka Dot Motorcycle Club of Sacramento, Calif. contributed $1000.00 to Mr. Russ Sanford's efforts against misleading state .Iegislation. Let t:hJs be a challenge to all other California clubs to keep the ball rolling for our lobbyist, Mr. Sallford because it looks like 1971 will be a big up-hill battle all tbe way and it has already started out with a bang in Southern Calif. So let's help him as much as we can. BRUCE C. YOUNG, Pres. Dirt Diggers North M.C. Roseville, Calif. LET'S HEAR PROMOTERS IT FOR printed IF brand names are inciuded) ... Ed. MECHANIC COURSE Could you tell me of any other colleges, besides Los Angeles Trade-Technical CoUege that offer the Motorcycle Mechanics course? BRAD MARK Santa Rosa, Calif. Rio Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Rd., Whittier, Cal., 90608 has a two-semester course for $3 per semester. It is entitled Small Ergine Service 34 A and B. It is taught by David R. Lamourex, 16 years a racing engine builder. School phone is (213) 692-G921 ... Ed. BIG PAYOFF I would like to say that Robert Fuller is not the only one holding a rubber check received as pri'le money at the White Rock motocross on August 3 I, and Sept. I, 1970. I have 540 worth of bad checks that have also repeatedly bounced. Unless Willie Monroe, owner of White Rock Motorcycle Park (Red Hawk Enterprises Inc.) and signee of these checks, makeS good with some real money he can expect no support from me at any future races at White Rock Park. STEVE MARSH 910 S. Delaware San Mateo, Calif. 94402 First, let it be noted that the manufacturers influence on AMA decisions is counterbalanced by that of accessory distributors and the press, who also hold positions on the AMA board. Also, several of the manufacturers are not involved in racing, so their opinions should be considered neutral. The Santa Rosa National wasn't taken off the schedule solely at the request of the National Champion, but rather for a number of reasons. We agree that promoters should have representation in AMA policy meetings and we intend to try and make this investigative reporting on our part wilt answer that question better in the future... Ed. them have a motorcycle of some sort. None of them race, but each Thursday morning they wait for my arrival with a copy of Cycle New! Everyone reads it and have promised to help in your fight. H there is anything at all that we can do to be of help, remember we are with you 100%! MR. & MRS. RICHARD L. JOHNSON Long Beach, Calif. $1,000 M.O.R.E. Every event reported in Cycle News had a promoter of some sort (indeed. media and promoters are of near parallel importance). It would seem reasonable therefore that promoters and media should be a part of the councils of the mighty nobles of the AMA. A. L. CALDWELL Palo Alto, Calif. come about. As for who really IS the AMA? I like to think it is all of us. Perhaps some ~olceS bomb. Thanks for keeping us informed and we hope every bike rider will do what he or she can to make this a more hopeful year. MR. AND MRS. WOODY JOHNSON Los Angles, Cal. Published weekly except the first and last week of the calendar year by Cycle News, Inc., Post Office Box 49B, 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. Addressed stamped envelope assures return of editorial matter. Reprinting in whole or in part only by permission of the publishers. Advertising rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. The December 22 issue, page 4, under "Voices" carried a letter headed "Disgruntled Promoter" (sic). The reply of...ed misses the point. As indicated by th-e promoter, the recent purse was 5g,OOO. A one shot "good old fashioned 12 start" is not going to produce any such purse; it takes years of work by promoters to get purses of from 52500 to $9000. The letter asked, essentially, who or what is the AMA? ...ed handled that question by ignoring it. The statement that the race was cancelled at the request of the Grand National Champion who represents the riders just isn't true. Number One got , there by racing and winning. He was not elected spokesman by the membership nor any part of it. What it all comes down to is that the AMA administration is really a kind of vague and mysterious entity that is riding the crest of a tesurgent wave of motorcycling popularity. But, and this is of fundamental importance, what gives motorcycling its visibility across the land is not the AMA and its domination by manufacturers who want a shortened schedule, nor by the rider who sings his sponsor's song, but what pulls it all together are the promoters who take the gambles, guarantee purses, chance the weather, and nurse their ulcers. TO WHOM CONCERN, IT BETTER I am writing in regard to the closing of L.A., Riverside, Orange and San Bernardino counties to off-road riding. All though there is some prejudice against off-road riders, it is mostly the fault of the rider himself. For example, the guy who wants to see what a 4x18 .knobby would look like on private farm land. We all dig our competition exhausts but there are other people who don't. True, there are people who are just plain out and out prejudiced, ones that complain at the slightest disturbance, and believe that one uncourteous rider speaks for the rest of us. One solution would be that if we are anywhere, near people we should respect them and put on our silencers. But, if we are out in the tullies where the noise won't bother anybody, then, why not? We should be willing to give up a little and respect others as it is just as much their country as it is ours. JEFF BURRELL STEVE BROCKINGTON Costa Mesa, Calif. YET ANOTHER HEARD FROM COUNTRY Having spent the last two years in Ca. and competing in sportsman racing in Northern Ca. I had become spoiled by being able to walk into any cycle shop and pick up the latest CYCLE EWS for the current cycle racing results. Now I'm here in Asmara, Ethiopia, on active duty with the U.S. Army and am almost lost in trying to keep up on the latest in racing. I finally got your address from the states today so I can now write for a subscription. We have a motorcycle club here, the Blue Knights M.C., and have a monthly race on a scramble track built by the club. Having just been here for about 6 weeks 1 am new to the problems but have just been elected to the club Racing Committee and elected as Activities Chairman. At the present we are trying to get a non-speed event going every month too. RALPH MOTORON ASIl\.ara, Ethiopia SNAP-ON A few weeks ago you ran an article on cyclists' tools. One of them (that I'd be interested in, anyway) is made by the Snap-on people, and I'd buy it if I could get in touch with them. If you could send me their address I'd sure appreciate it. NEIL McANALLY San Bernardino, Cal. There are two branch offices for Snap-On Tool Corp. in this area. One is at 1521 N. Placentia, Anaheim, Ca., 92806, phone (714) 635-4550 and the other is at 20350 S. Figueroa, Carson, Cal., 90745, phone (213) (Please turn to pg. 22) 32t-6223... Ed.

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