Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

"' .... Ol Q. « ~ w Z W ...J (.) >(.) IJI~I I ••• "America's No. 1 weekly motorcycle newspaper. You'll always see it FIRST inC~leNews!" GREENHORN ALREADY Publisher Editor Business Manager General Manager Assistant Editor Circulation Manager Circulation Ass't .. Lab Technician. .. Production Manager Bookkeeper Bookkeeper Ass't Delivery Charles Clayton Sharon Clayton .. Tom Culp . John Bethea . RhebaSmith . Marla Tarbet . David Swift Ed Randell Jr. . Dorothea Lang . Eleanor Duke .. Larry Groves .. ... Cycle News East, Dixie Cycle News, and National Advertising information: Tom Culp, National Advertising Director. ¥ Cycle News (West), P.O. Box 49B, Long Beach, California 90B01. (213) 427·7433 - L.A. 636-8844. TELEX NO. 673-474 .. Subscription: One year 2nd class mail 2 years 2nd class mail ..$9.00 . $15.00 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 MII-.., Receptionist . Barbara Richard Single copy price . . . . $.30 upon request. See S.R.D.S. f~JI==:T:y=p:o:~:a:p:h:e:r====.:M:a:r:io:n=H:a:t:as:h:i:ta==3=Y:ea:r:s:2:nd=:C:~:s:s:m:a:i:I====:.:$:1:B:~:0=:c:i:~:U:I:n:i:o:n=i:n:fu:r:ma=t:i:o:n=w=il:l=b:e=s:~:t: GRIPE Last year I rode the Greenhorn 500 (Sunday only) and was really impressed. It WAS 11 hours of out-of-site trailing, everybody I've talked to really dug on it. I was the only trailbike to finish the 'Sunday only' class, so naturally 1 won my class. So this year 1 was gonna ride the Greenhorn, both days, new scooter and all. So what happens? Quote, "This year the Greenhorn is going to be for street legal machines only!" end of quote, from CYCLE NEWS, April 6. How dumb can they get? This is a National Championship Enduro, and it's going to be a very unfair one! If they think a good percentage of us enduro riders are going to run down, to the D.M.V., get Class 4 licenses, make our bikes street legal (tum signals and motocross course., even in Europe, is peanuts to Snowflake. When she catches me taking a slow line through a comer, she doesn't hesitate to lay into the old boy with some of her snooty intuition. From now on Snowflake, with a mixture of arrogance and intuition, will be officially covering my activities with the American Moto·Cross Team in Europe in her own private column in CYCLE NEWS. I like to refer to this year's campaign in Europe as "AMXT PROJECT 1971". It amounts to a plan with definition that become official as recently as Daytona on the morning of the ZOO miler. Key officials, supporters and devotees of the whole idea of the AMXT happened to be in the neighborhood for Speed Week. It was a natural consequence to have a meeting, as we did, and set down a ,plan. The VOICES OF THE WEST the whole shot), and then license our bikes, all for one enduro, they must be quite naive! Have any of you readers out there ever tried to license a Sachs, Penton, or Bultaco half-way set up for dirt lately? Those particular bikes were class winners last year. Or better yet, try to license a Husky, Greeves, Maico, Ossa, Hodaka, or Harley·Baja; all these bikes finished both day~ last year. But what about Yamaha? I'll ten you what about those nice people at Yamaha. It's no secret that Yamaha sponsors the Greenhorn, and in all probability it wasn't The Pasadena M.C. who decided to restrict it to street legal bikes only, it was Yamaha! How underhanded and dirty can they get? Face it, 75% of the bikes in this year's Greenhorn will be Yamaha. And after the results have been figured Yamaha will buy up 2 whole Pages of Cycle News with a headline of, "YAMAHA SWEEPS THE GREENHORN", or something to that affect. This really shouldn't bother me because I've got a new Yamaha CTl-e, but this is totany unfair! Well I hope Yamaha has a heart and lets us real enduro riders have our Greenhorn back, the way we would prefer to remember it, in 1972; if not, it looks like we've lost the best enduro this side of the Mississippi River. Sincerely Sniveling Yours, TOM MARSHALL (16) Torrance, Calif. Face it, Tom, street legal enduros are the coming thing. Most championship enduros are for street legal machines. And Yamaha International has no official hand in the Horn. It just happens that some of their employees are members of the sponsoring club. Pasadena M.C. doesn't need Yamah.. to put on the Greenhorn and Yamaha doesn't need the Greenhorn to sell bikes. Honest...Ed. FOOTHILL HAWKS SILENCERED After much. discussion within our club, it was passed unanaimously that it become mandatory for all members to equip their bikes with silencers. We feel noise is th e biggest threat to motorcycling today. The clubs which have done this already are to be congratulated and we hope others will follow. JOHN POMO Sec. Foothill Hawks MC. Montebello, Cal. Congratulations, Hawks. And thanks... Ed .. AMXT REPORT We're heading for Europe today. Snowflake, who will be taking care of subsequent coverage of the AMXT in Europe, is in the driveway testing out the crate which is to carry her to Luxembourg. She's quite a whiz when it comes to motocross, as you will see during the next few months. Her prowess on the subject has something to do with her Afgb,an heritage; a breed of hound reputed to be the fastest in the world over rough natural terrain. A idea, of coune, is to promote American involvement in motocross on a World Championship level. We're out to produce an American World Champion; something we'll never do drifting around exclusively on home.grown tracks. The plan calls for a well organized sp-earhead -on the Grand Prix's in Europe, and the fenows chosen to head it up are Barry Higgins, Bob Grossi, and myself. In order to simplify logistics and keep down expenses, we are limiting the main offensive to a period of seven weeks in August and September, during which we will compete in the Belgian" Luxembourg, Dutch and Swiss Grand Prix's, the Moto-Cross des Nations and several International meetinlls. In the meantime I am going over with my wife, Laurie and our reporter, Snowflake, to make arrangements for August and September. While get~g us set up with a van, the machinery, tools, equipment and confirmed race contracts, I'll be spending the weekends doing as many Grand Prix's prior to August as possible, as well as International motocross meetings much as I have been doing over here during the past three seasons. Much of the impetus behind "AMXT PROJECT 197.1" comes from a recent surge of enthusiasm and backing from individuals and from firms connected with the motorcycle industry. Husqvarna has offered to supply the machines, the parts and a mechanic for the Team in Europe. Champion Spark Plugs recently gave us a contribution that helps substantially with getting us airborne for Europe. Other groups, such as my home state (Ohio) sponsors, have really been rallying to the plan to help in any way they can to see that we succeed. Be watching for us. Snowflake will be devoting her first column to news that begins where ,the action is going to be; in Europe, when we arrive and start setting up headquarters. Best for now, BRYAN KENNEY LET'S HEAR IT FOR MAX We here in Las Vegas do not think that Sharon Clayton reported quite fairly on the performance of Max Switzer in the Mint Race. Max turned as good a time as J.N. Roberts and rode the last lap in the dark with no lights. He did not get off and rode the desert like the true champion he is, motorcycle and man as one. Please give credit to Max too - even if he isn't from California. TOM, LARRY, BOB & TOMMY Tom's Cycle Center Las Vegas, Nevadaa P.S. We are not a sales and service of Husky either, just people who think Max is about the greatest desert rider there is. Even us Prune Pickers agree with th...t... Ed. TV: HOORAYI HOORAYI CAUGHT DOING WHAT? Channel 9 and Yamaha really showed motorcycling like it is. This kind of program showed on Thursday night March 18 can only better our sport. Wouldn't it be great if the other manufacturers would sponsor some more programs like this one? I got so excited I went out into my garage and started my Triumph just to hear the (quiet) noise. LEROY MILLER S.P.O.R.T. M.C. Huraington Beach, Cal. I have fonowed your "Bean Canyon Bust" story and it was informative and interesting. Myself and many others were also caugh t in that area, so we stayed out of that area and went down west about 10 miles, we have been riding there for sometime now. This Saturday, Mar. ZZ, we went riding there only to fmd a sign "no motorcycles allowed". So we stayed away from that area and drove in and rode our bikes Saturday with no trouble, and then Sunday came, about 2:30; a police car rolled, in and gave everybody who was there a ticket for riding 'on private property. Then all cycle riders were rushed out. This was our closest desert and where a lot of people rode, so now we have to go 70 miles farther to get to the desert. Seems like we just can't ride anymore! PATRICK JOHNSON Santa Susana, Cal. The feeling that "If you get a ticket, you are LETTERS NEEDED Having attended most of the meetings pertaining to the Angeles Nat'1. Forest, and aU of the meetings on the Oxnard Recreation Park (which we lost), I thought I had better drop you a line and ask that the Cycle News readers be brough~ aware of the April 20th lieadline for the receiving of letters by the 'Forest Supervisor, Angeles National Forest, 1015 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, California 91004. These letters (pro or con) are to voice the feelings of the users and future users of this forest for off-road vehicle use. As it now stands, there are only four choices to select from. It is not a matter of should they give us our areas to ride, but rather how much to take-away. So now we will see how many of th e 'snivelers' will get off of their butts and write to the above·mentioned people with their feelings about areas to ride and drive. I noticed that you had people from your staff at the meetings, and perhaps I am telling you something that you are already aware of, but rather than take a chance 1 thought it best to WTite you and hope that this is brought to your many readers attentions. E. BRUCE JOCIDM (alias "Elmer's Boy") Los Angeles, Cal. We recommend Proposal No. 4 whereby the whole forest would remain open to recrution vehicle use except certain experimental agricultural zones and hiking trails. Motorcyclists need MORE places to ride now...not less!... Ed. SILENCER BUSINESS In the past month I purc"ased a Maico 360 X4A and have started racing motocross. On Feb. 21 I was at the motocross held at Dunlap Cycle Park. At the riders meeting they offered $5.00 to anyone who won while using a silencer. Because of the great racket going on about noise and sound pollution, I thought this was a very good move. If more races had this $5.00 prize and people started winning with silencers people would realize you can go fast and be quiet at the same time. I have been reading Cycle News since Spt. of '70, and have seen and read your many articles on Noise (both Pro & Con). I have also seen your comparison tests between silenced and unsilenced bikes. This is where I would like your help. Do you have any information or access to information on silencers that would work on my bike. I go to Cal Poly, at San Luis Obispo and there is no place to tune my bike except about 10 miles out of town; because of noise regulations (or rocks from windows). And I would like to put a silencer on my bike but I don't have the money to buy two or three before I find one that silences and still leaves the bike with power. I would appreciate any help you can give. Dunlap is coming up and I would like to win$5.00! WALTER MENGE San Luis Obispo, Cal. Bailey makes .. good silencer. It costs ..bout $9.95 and if your dealer doesn't have one, BJliley is listed under "Exhaust Systems" in CN's Dealer & Service Directory. Bassani and J&Rsilencers are also good. AIS has one that m..y be adapted. Note: Mount the sjJencer with an extra strap around the body, fastened to the bike, so it won't b......k or fall off!...Ed. in the wrong," is corrently being exploited. Most people will pay the fine without much protest. We have found, however, that in a vast majority of the cases in which persons have pleaded not guilty as to allegedly riding on closed, off·road property have' had their cases dismissed. The government officials are apparently attempting to avoid a "test case" in which the ordinances and state laws in existence could be declared unconstitutional. Keep plugging away at it... Ed. THEY PROVED THEIR POINT We read with interest your account of our teams effort in the 400 mile Mint 400 desert race. Thanks for the coverage, but we were' surprised at your reference to our riders, quote: "Comic start of the show was the team of Richard Sieman and James Connolly (Tri) who were attempting to finish the race on a reaL live chopper complete with foot pegs up front and a sissy bar. They were determined to finish at least six laps in spite of a flat tire. It was a gallant effort." These two men entered the machine to prove a very valuable point, ,and in the process beat three-fourths of the bikes entered. For a long time there has been much misinformation put forth that choppers, and specifically long chopper front ends, are unsafe and sho.uld be banned. Our custom forks, six inches longer than stock, showed no signs of bending or breaking after 12 hours of severe. pounding. One of the interesting sidelights of the event was that Jim Connolly turned a lap in the astrounding time of one hour and thirty·six minutes, faster than many of the sponsored go-fast, super machines entered. When the race was completed, the Sunset Tripper chopper was still rurming, even though much time was lost by riding 22 miles with a flat rear tire. We finished out of the money, but it was a beautiful experience, and we feel a worthwhile one. By the way, the Mint 400 chopper can be seen on display at Triumph of Burbank complete with the Vegas dirt and dust. HAROLD STRAUBING Hi·Torque Publications Encino, Cal. ENGLISH & EUROPEAN NEWS I would like to know if you could tell me where I could obtain a weekly or monthly publication of English .and European Motorcycle events, coverage. I've heard of a newspaper called British Motorcycle News, but don't know if it is true or where to get a subscription of it. Could you please send me this information. MONTY BROWN' Woodland Hills, Calif. Probably the leading British Wee~ly is Motor Cycle News. Subscription via surf..ce m..il i. $ 7.80 for one year. Address is 117 Park ROlld, Peterborough, England... Ed.

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