Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

~. ?; :IE !e w z W ..J U >- U IYIII I ••• ..America's No. 1 weekly motorcycle newspaper. You'll always see it FIRST in Cycle News!" ANYBODY MOSSMAN? SEEN PUTT Would some of your readers know the where abouts of Putt Mossman? He is an old family friend of ours, with whom we lost contact about 21 years ago. At that time, he was in business with his brother, Emmett, in a garage in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Mossman was a motorcycle stunt rider for a good number of years and toured the country with a troop usually, putting on shows. We like very much to resume our friendship. If anyone has information of how to contact him, would appreciate hearing from them. MRS. MARIE ANABLE 2374 Irvin Way Sacramento, Calif. 95822 Let Cycle News know if you find him. We'd like to interview Mr. Mossman who, from what we've hurd, must be the ...utest mlc stunt perfonner of aU time... Ed. Cycle News East. Dixie Cycle News, and National Advertising information: Tom Culp, National Advertising Director. Charles Clayton Publisher Sharon Clayton Business Manager . Tom Culp General Manager Managing Editor · John Bethea · David Swift Assistant Editor Circulation Manager · Rheba Smith Lab Technician . . . · Larry Groves Ed Randell Jr. Production Manager Production Assistant · Larry Morely . Marion Hatashita Typographer Receptionist . . . . . Barbara Richard 250cc class riders' entries had been accepted. This made two 15 minute dimination motos necessary, leaving several riders with 15 minutes of non point scoring competition in return for the miles and dollars to put a machine on the starting line. In the 250 Senior event after 20 minutes of the first moto through some gross misunderstanding the two leading riders left the track when the exit gate was opened. No black or checkered flag was shown to them. The remaining riders rode two more laps and were flagged off. Officials declared the race finished and awarded first and second place to the two riders who left the track. The fmal moto of this race was stopped at 20 minutes at which time the leader was losing ground rapidly due to a flat rear tire. When asked why the time was cut, the answer was that it was "too dark to race." This was just at sunset with excellent light. When reminded of this the official reason for Cycle News (West). P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, California 90801. (213) 427-7433 - L.A. 636~. 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 arrange for their friends and relatives to be there. The losers, on the other hand, could go slowly and cautiously and break down at their convenience. What the hell! To make it. really sporting why don't you have the racers each draw a playing card on every lap. Best poker hand wins the Elsinore Grand Prix overall. BRUCE G. CARVER Team COORS Riverside, Cal. WORTHY ACTION Congratulations on your coverage of M.O.R.E. and M.LC. and congratulations goes to those two associations for splendid work and a victory to our side. This was on the second page of the Time's San Fernando Valley section. I hope that other cities and people get the same idea and do it. People like J. Paul Getty and Edward Sudlow who own the land north of Granada Hills and A CHECK & A CHIDE Enclosed is our check in support of the American Motocross Team. I have a gripe which has been expressed to you many, many times. We receive almost no coverage on our fine northern California motocross races. Your pitiful excuse is that your reporters do not turn in stories to you... it seems that after the numerous complaints you have received from us Northerners that you would get wise and get some new reporters to solve this problem. Also your coverage of Bob Grossi is practically nil. Bob is one of the top motocross racers in the United States (if not THE top racer) and you have to use a magnifying glass in Cycle News to find any coverage concerning him. EVELYN NELSON Sonoma, Cal. Okay, Northern correspondents...be on the lookout for Bob Grossi. That is all... Ed. BAD GUY BARRY? I would like to voice my great dissatisfaction at th e recent choice of Barry Higgins as a representative for the A.M.X.T. If he is one of the three riders the A.M.X:r. chooses·to support, then I would like a 1/3 refund of my $5 contribution. It is a pleasure to help send people such as Bryan Kenney and Bob Grossi, but I don't feel that Mr. Higgins has earned the support of the A.M.X.T., and I certainly do not feel that his audacious attitude makes him worthy of being a representative of the United States. When Mr. Higgins rode the Inter·Am series in 1969, after gaining enough points to assure himself of top American, he blatantly advised the motorcycle media that "he didn't have to try anymore because he already had enough points to win." Now I ask you, is that the type of rider you want to represent you in Europe? Not me! DAVE BROWN A.M.A.M.X. No. 323 HANGTOWN MX At this time of year the track at Plymouth where the Dirt Diggers North Motocross was held April 4-5, is possibly the finest motocross course in the United States. The course ran through and around an old mine dump. Fine sand and silt made for good traction with no dust. Most of the track was wide and there were enough hills and mud to test the rider's ability. Camping near the track was excellent with green meadows and roT1ing hills such as we seldom see. This was a two day event and most of the riders camped here. I feel however that the sponsoring dub did not stage an event which would be remembered as a pleasant experience by many of the riders. Contestants carne from all over California and many from other states. The Sunday program started after eleven o'clock. This cut the three thirty minute motos promised down- to two motos. Over 40 SeRior 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. 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. something to eat. It made the day enjoyable for the whole family, not just for the participant. It is time that spectator comforts were taken seriously. If the Viewfinders put on races this well every time, all the other clubs better hang it up. MOE 500 Nov. VIEWFINDERS HACKED The Sidehack Assn. would like to thank the Viewfinders for one of the most challenging races we've had the pleasure to ride. We were especially impressed that you rendered us fIrSt class citizens by running us over the same course run by everyone else. We hope to live up to your treatment of us by putting on professional exhibitions that lift us out of the image of sideshow performers. Hurrah for serious racing! SIDEHACK ASSN. REPORT LIED VOICES OF THE WEST stopping the race was that the club members had many things to do and could not wait. First place money in any race on this program would not pay a rider to drive the average distance traveled and prepare a competitive machine. This proves that riders want a real motocross, three 25 or 30 minute motos. We need t1Ws kind of race on a course such as this. Every club and promoter has obligations to stage events which tend to develop the ability of American riders to a point where they are fit for world competition. After the last race of the day I talked to several of the officials. My reception by them ranged from cool to hostile. However, I think with time a point was made as I received a long distance call one week later from the President of the sponsoring club. He told me that though they had worked hard on this event they felt that mistakes in planning and scheduling had been made. At their future events he said a program will be presented as advertised. I feel that he is sincere and will bring this about. My only objective in presenting this letter is to improve th e sport of Motocross. Only through open sincere criticism combined with cooperation of riders and promoters can we do this. I feel sure that when we go back to race on that fine track at Plymouth again the Dirt Diggers North will present a fine event. FOREST WILSON Torrance, Cal. ELSINORE TABLULATIONS I feel that I have a scoring method that migh t be of interest to the Gripsters Motorcycle Club. If it is used at next year's Elsinore Grand Prix, it will probably speed up the tabulation of the race results and most certainly will vastly increase their accuracy. It does not involve the use of computors, cameras, helicopters or other expensive equipment. Next year place all the entries into a large hat. Then have a drawing to determine the order of finish and the troph y winners. In fact, a better idea migh t be to have the drawing before the race sa that the trophy winners eauld Northridge/Porter Ranch area. These places are open and with good trails and no one to be bothered, yet they are closed up by these two men. Why? At least we have some who wish to help us. Keep on Truckin'. DICK WEST Northridge, Cal. Accom~nyinl this letter w~s 3. short news item from the Los Anleles Times, April 18, . 1971, which reported that the Ventu", County Planninl Commission has approved a speci.al land use request establishina a 268..cre motorcycle park at the end of Tapo un yon Road just north of Simi VaUey. The site, to be opened in two months, is reported to future mlc and mini bike t"'Us, motocross ""ina, lo~art racinl, model airplane f1ilht areas and picnic facilitles... Ed. . , FOLLOW THE DOTTED LINE After reading WHERE YOU WON'T RIDE in the April 13th issue, I came upon the picture enclosed only two j>ages from the above mentioned article. (Pleture from our Honda 450 test showinl rider makina it between two lanes of traffic, close to the white line... Ed) .By following the example implied in this picture we might even be banned from the streets and highways soon. A motorcyclist belongs in the space normally required by a four wheeled vehicle and in his proper lane. That's where I keep myself. LUCIEN R. BIRON Oxnard, Calif. If you think that rider was In a danlerous spot, you should have seen the photoJlflpher's position! Seriously, the rider shown is rldinl in a perfectly lopl manner. The white lines are what the Hllhway Patrol call "advisory" lanes. You may cross at wiU. The rider violates no law until he becomes involved in an accidenL Whether the rider is safe is another question and it depends on relative speeds, road surface and most important, the rider's judlment and experience... Ed. VIEWFINDERS - BRAVOI Due to the poor racing conditions of many of the races, I have not been participating in organized racing for awhile. It was so gratifying to race a properly conditioned course and not have to worry if my wife and kids would get run over in the pits or that they would have to stand in a line 2 blocks 'onl(" to 115e ll' bathroom or to lI:et Regarding an article in the April 13, 1971, Cycle News West, titled "SCRAMBLES UPSET", Centralia, Wash. March 27,1971. We of the Twin City Motorcycle Club are very happy, at any time to accept constructive criticism on the mistakes we make while holding our events. This is our first year as a club and we try to provide safe and sane competitive riding. We paid 30% in trophies all year and advertised "High point trophies" for all classes, on our posters. We did not say 1- per class or 2- per class, or even 3- per class, as was reported in your article. In your results page the high points winners were listed under the caption. "NO TROPIDES". Your writer in this instance completely proved him or herself not trustworthy to have their articles printed in your fine paper.. (We hope you're not paying for such prejudice and out and out lies). We did pay High Point Trophies as follows: Mini Bike-I, 100cc·2, 125cc-2,200cc-l, 250cc·2, 360cc·l, Open class-I. Our championship throphics were close to 30 inches high and well made. We received little or no complaints from the riders during or after the championship race. Knowing riders as we do we feel that if we were not being fair they would have told us so, because they are a honest and straigh t forward group. The point system we used is a common system used by most tracks in our area. The point standings were posted at every race and all riders could see where they stood. The points tabulations were also posted at every race. They went as follows: lst-A Main-9 points, 2nd-A Main-7 points, 3rd-A Main-5, 4th-A Main-3, 5th-A Main-l-poin t In conclusion we feel that a complete retraction manadatory and the writer will not any longer be welcome at any of our future events. We only hope Cycle News can see the flaw in this person's character and remove him from future pages of Cycle News. LARRY BUTTERFIELD Pres., Twin City M.C. N.A. Williams was the reporter at your event and we have contacted her and relayed your comments. In rebutul, she states 'INa club official would answer any of my questions; they flat wouldn't talk to me. They never offered to explain the rusons for their actions even when lrumblinl bopn. They even ilnored riders who were askinl questions. I reported the event the way I saw it and hurd it from the riders. My husband wu doinl the announcinl for them and even he didn't know what was loinl on. G",nted, the day was bad aU the way around - weather and aU - but they rully have no place to complain about my report if they refused to help me at all while compilina it." As to makinl a ret"'etion, we stand firmly behind the report of N.A. Williams. She has proven in the past to be accu",te and since I was not there to witness the event, I cannot retract a Slatement made in print by a correspondent unless it is proven not to be RellaJ... Ed.

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