1,.,., ....... a...
...
'"
...
N
a.
"A
menca s o.
wee y mo
R T
newspaper. You'll always see it FI S
U
inCycleNew~"
Publisher Editor
Business Manager
General Manager
Assistant Editor
Circulation Manager
lab Technician. ..
Charles Clayton
Sharon Clayton
.. Tom Culp
.. John Bethea
. Rheba Smith
. David Swift
""d."
Prod""';oo M"••"
Ed
J,.
Bookkeeper
. Dorothea lang
Bookkeeper Ass't.
Eleanor Duke
Production Assistant
.. larry Groves
2nd Prod. Asst.
. . larry Morely
Typographer
. Marion Hatashita
Receptionist
Barbara Richard
Cycle News East, Dixie Cycle News, and
National Advertising information: Tom
Culp, National Advertising Director.
Cycle News (West), P.O. Box 498, long
Beach, California 90801. (213)
42].7433 - L.A. 636''''''
TELEX NO. 673-474
~
"
Subscription:
One year 2nd class mail
2 years 2nd class mail
3 years 2nd class mail
., .
..$9.00
. $15.00
Published weekly except the fil'lt and
last week of the calendar year by Cycle
News, Inc., Post Office Box 498, long
Beach, California, also publishers of
Cycle News East, and Dixie Cycle News.
Second Class Postage paid at long
Beach, Calif. Editorial stories, cartoons,
photos, etc. are welcome. Addressed,
stamped envelope assures return of
editorial matter. Reprinting in whole or
in part only by permission of the
publishers. Advertising rates and
circulation information will be sent
1~~)==:S:ta:ff=w:r:it:e:r====.=R:o:n=s:c:h:ne:i:d:~==:S:in:g:le=w=~=p:r:ic:e=.:.====:::~:18:$:~:g=:u:p:o:n:r:~=u:es:t:.:s:ee=s:.R=.D:.:S:.=====
JUST FINISHIN'
Don't you think that a desert rider
who goes 40 to 50 miles across rough
and dangerous terrain and puts all he
has into it is deserving of a finisher pin
when he comes through the finish line?
I think it should be an AMA rule,
every club is to give a finisher pin. When
I watch these riders come through the
fmish line I admire everyone of them
for their stamina and I am sure that pin
would help some of the aches and pains.
A big percentage of the riders have only
the finisher pin to show for their
achievemenL It is a small percentage
that come home with the beautiful
trophy. The last two races have not
given pins. There have been many in the
past that did not give them.
Let's see if something can be done
about it.
V.HOGAN
Littlerock, Ca.
WHO PROFITS?
Today I picked up a trophy fram the
Bushmasters European Scrambles held
on D.ec. IS, 1970. It measured exactly
three by ten inches; if it cost over 52
they were robbed. This evening I sat
down and from the results page figured
approximately what they hauled in that
day.
Including all classes there were 749
riders, @ $S.25 per rider it comes to
$2,434.00. Now chopping off the
$434.00 for an ambulance, posters,
entry blanks etc. leaves around $2000.
They gave 9 S trophies, and if my figures
are correct this equals $21.50 per
trophy, but how many did they pay
521.50 for?? I'll bet none!
I would dare guess they cleared at
leas\ 1000 and possibly 1500 dollars on
this race, plus being a dual scrambles the
Prospectors did ·the same thing. The.
main thing I would like to know though
is, do the profits from our shafting go to
people fighting for our desert for for a
greedy club's.yearly drunken brawl?
GLADE GOODRICH
La Puente, Calif.
EMULATE EVANS
On March 21, I watched a road race
at Carlsbad put on by the A.C.A. I
no'ticed a certain team in particular who
had no chance of winning, try to foul
up a young racer to the point where it
was dangerous. They were trying to
terrorize him in to crashing.
Some say "He is out there with the
'big' boys and should learn what to
expect." I say intentional dirty racing is
not for the race track. The officials were
warned of this situation but ignored it.
Anyone who knows Pat Evans knows he
does indeed ride like a man - he uses
CLEAN TACTICS to win. The "big"
boys, a couple in particular who team
race like juveniles, are so desperate to
win they will try anything. Pat not only
rides like a man, but like a champion
and has since the first day he threw his
leg over a motorcycle. It may be to the
advantage of some others to try to
emulate Pat's riding style. And while
you are at it emulate his gentlemanly
character - then you may even learn·
how to be a gracious loser.
DONALD RYAN
Garden Grove, Cal.
THE RIDER IN MIND
For the first time in several years of
dirt racing, I feel compelled to write a
letter praising a group for really working
at making enjoyable races. I took my
two sons (ilges 11 & 14) to the SRA/RV
Enterprises European Scrambles March
14 and I found things to be really
unexpected at a race. Things like easy,
quick sign-up; course p'ractice; EVERY
race on schedule; officials going out
after downed riders AND their scooters;
really nice T-shirts for finishers; friendly
people, etc.
Then to top it o.£f, when my
youngest son waS mistakenly left off the
results, SRA president Ron Vincellette
called him to explain it, wrote him a
real nice letter and even sent him a
FREE entry for their next race. You
can bet we'll be there. Anyone who
organizes and tries that hard deserves
support.
FRED PIERCE
Inglewood, Cal.
STREET LEGAL ENDUROS
I have just finished reading the letter
from Tom Marshall (a "real" enduro
rider). Obviously, this guy is somewhat
misinformed about this year's
Greenhorn, but this is to be expected
from a "Sunday only" rider.
This is the Greenhorn's 25·th
anniversay and the Pasadena M.C. wants
POINT
RICHMOND
HILLS-"OFF LIMITS"
I know how frustrating it can be
when you can't get enough support
from fellow cyclists. My husband and I
are members of the Richmond
Ramblers' M.C. Point Richmond, Calif.
Some surrounding property owners and
the city of Richmond are trying to take
our hills from us, hills we have been
riding on and enjoying for over 30 years
(the club has been in existence for 27
years) and we aren't getting the support
we should from our fellow riders. Other
than the local bike shops and a few
concerned' riders (non club members)
the club is footing the whole bill,
lawyer's fees, court costs, publicity, yet
there are hundreds of riders on those
VOICES OF THE WEST
to make the run as much like the old
Horn as possible. Most "great" endurs
Uack Pine, ISDT, Berkshire, etc.) are
for legal bikes only and up until a few
years ago the Horn started in Pasadena.
Making a bike legal is no big thing. If
the "real" enduro rider had ridden the
Prospectors' night enduro last summer
he would have seen more than a few
400 Huskys with lights. The'Vehicle
Code requires only a horn, (a bicycle
horn·will do) stop light, license plate, a
rear-view mirror, and an effective
muffler. Most of these items can be
improvised.
The Pasadena M.C. works 6 months a
year on the Horn. It wouldn't take too
many dumb snivelers to make them say
"forget it" and the Horn would be gone
forever. They deserve our praise and
thanks and not poin tl~ss 'ridicule.
By the way, "real" enduro riden
don't ride CTI-C's.
DAN KNOUS, Ref.
Checkpoint M.C.
WANTS TO HELP
I am writing in reference to your
"M.O.R.E. from the Capitol" articles. I
am very interested in learning how to
fight this thing, and I have about
dozen or so friends all with bikes, and
I'm sure they know even more people
who are totally with the stand that your
newspaper has taken against these bills.
I was wondering if there were any
meetings that we could attend, or
anything we could do to further bring
out our feelings. I would appreciate any
information on which way would be the
best to go to get right down to the point
and see if we couldn't get a few things
changed up at the capitol.
Yau men lianed a moratorium
commi ttee in last 'week's article. All of
these pel,lple are willing to join, if one is
started.
I would appreciate it if you could
send me the above requested material.
, MARK BROWNER
Baldwin Park, Cal.
a
We've forwarded your address to M.O.R.E.
Any important hearings, meetings, etc. that
we get wind of are anno'unced in Cycle News.
That's not . . a "moratorium committee"
M.O.R.E. ,proposed, but rather a moratorium
on jailing riders until areas can be designated
for them to legally ride... Ed.
SHOCKING STORY
On Saturday, April 3rd, the day
before C.E.R.A. Enduro n, I bent the
shocks on my Yamaha. A quick trip to
Barstow and t1)e local dealer S & J Cycle
Sales revealed they were out of stock.
Jerry Petrotta, one of the owners,
saved the weekend by loaning me the
shocks off of his desert bike, refusing to
!'ike a deposit when I left or any fohn
of pay when I returned them Sunday.
Never in my life have I known
anyone to be so generous and trusing. I
shall always remember this and I wish
Jerry and his partner Jim Lovelady the
best of everything.
W.T. DOYLE
Los Angeles, Cal.
hills each weekend, andOnly a small
portion are club members. But they
won't dig in their pockets and
contribute a penny for the years of
pleasure and enjoyment this small piece
of property has given them. I'm sl\re
you have heard the old (but still true)
saying "You can't fight city hall".
Despite our undying efforts we will
probably lose our hills, which to most
of us means more than a very old, very
worn, but still very challenging group of
hillS.
How can we make these riders
understand that when even one
mo torcvclist 's rillhts are abused ALL
motorcyclists lose. STAY ALERT they
are closing in on us, if we don't stand
our ground, we are going to lose it.
Motorcycles will be a thing of the past.
KARON SEXSON
Richmond Ramblers M.C.
MORE ABOUT PT. RICHMOND
HILLS
The Richfield Oil Company (ARCO)
- "The mileage Makers" - has flied a
trespassing complaint, after 20 + years,
that has closed the Point Richmond
Hill. Police are issuing citations. When
questioned,ARCO said it was a question
of liability - and, also, that if that
problem could be solved, it would not
re·open the area.
PI:DL DARLING
Richmond, Cal.
RACER TESTS?
How come you never have any road
tests on competition bikes? Many more
people would buy your publication if
you did. Why do you think so many
magazines are sold? People want to get a
rough idea on which bike to buy, what
their own bike is all about, or what the
other bikes are like that they're racing
against. You guys should have a test
about every other week or so. Do it and
you'll make a million. You'll even cause
magazines to fold. Thank you for
listening.
MIKE (BELLY) KELLY
MIKE (SHADOW) SMITH
San Pedro, Calif.
We'd hate to see any magazine fold... Ed.
W ritin' A round
By Chuck Claytonn
THE HOUNDS OF SPRING ARE ON WINTER'S TRACES
Chet Winter is a with-it dude hired to handle legislation matters for AMA
members. In a recent visit to Cycle News' offices, Chet impressed us with his
forthrigh t understanding of motorcycling's needs in its relationship to the
authorities.
Basically a street rider, starting with a 74 in '53, Chet's youth in upstate New
York and Illinois can still be heard in his "Chicago'" accent. He's a spiffy dresser in
3-piece suits and bears a slight resemblance to Tyrone Power. Chet gives the strong
impresseion that he's not easily fooled - altogether ideal qualiflCations for
motorcycling's national lobbyist.
Comparing my own legislative findings with Winter's, I discovered he is way ahead
of me. I confessed my current puzzlement over the question "which way to go?"
Recent experiences with the authorities have convinced me that they are trying to
meet us to death. Runarounds and closed doors are all we get.
Chet admitted that he too had found
this. But he had also found the
remedies: massive letter.writing
campaigns and, as a last resort,
"protest" demonstrations." Wow, dirty
words! He said it, not me. I have
consistently rejected all suggestions of
demonstrating, stopping traffic, the bad
vibes that go with situations so extreme
that only organized marches can express
them. Motorcycle enthusiasts have
power in their numbers, and power
means responsibility, whether it is
political p ower or engine power.
However, I've reached the point where nearly all avenues of reason have been
followed to their end and still, every day, respectable citizens and their children are
breaking the law merely by riding their bikes, not hurting a damned thing. While
procrastinating politicians hold meetings to try and prove that motorcycle riding is
just a fad.
Impressed as I am that Chet Winter speaks from successful experience (he was in
on the, Illinois helmet law repeal, for instance), still I am not ready to unleash the
"ultimate weapon" of organized defiance. We've had great success preventing
unreasonable legislation through letter-writing campaigns. Perhaps this tool can also
pry the legislation we WANT out of their pigeonholes.
Motorcycling, both on the road and off is here to stay. It has been a. highly
ignored part of American history for over three generations. It is not a fad. We have
been using certain public lands and trails long enough over an uninterrupted time to
claim them against all counterclaims, if we desired. The authorities know this. It
helps explain why they are so reluctant to allow us to officially exist. The time if
1870 and we are the Indians. The only difference is, we can read and write... and
vote.
Whether we get shoved onto reservations or choose where we want 'to ride
depends on convincing the politicans and political appojntees that we won't beburied or bullied so easily. The attempt to make motorcycles illegal has already
backfired as sales continue to soar. Trying to make a thing illegal without actually
doing so seems to make it only more attractive.
Chet Winter holds the reins of political horsepower for the motorcycle movement,
and he's not afraid to use it in our best interests. The hounds of springs are on
Win ter's traces.
