Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125732
.... '" ~ " :> .., I: ~ w Z W ...J (J >(J IYIII I.w• "America's No. 1 weekly motorcycle newspaper. You'll always see it FIRST in Cycle News'" ~ !'n~ '·ll···.. ' ••• ,· ·l;l".o(·"..!.~ SOUND RETURN Publisher Charles Clayton Business Manager Sharon Clayton General Manager Tom Culp Managing Editor John Bethea Assistant Editor David Swift Circulation Manager Rheba Smith Circulation Ass't Marla Tarbet Production Manager Steve LeHuray Production Assistant Ed Drechsler Advertisi ng Assistant .. Barbara Richard Bookkeeper Dorothea Lang Bookkeeper Ass't. . Eleanor Duke Lab Technician Larry Groves 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) 427·7433 - L.A. 636-8844. TELEX NO. 613-474 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 ~::C:================= competition. Many of us don't enjoy races twice per mon th year round. We cold, losing sleep or missing a day of As founder and spokesman for the AMXT, I was most interested in the comments concerning AMXT by Ted Moore and Stan Cerny of American jawa. In answer to their recap: (a) When Bryan, Barry & Bob re,turn they naturally wil\ be competing against the best in American in the Inter·Am fall series. If they are beaten repeatedly by anyone rider or riders, these riders would of course be the prime choice for the team for 1972, this has been our plan for some time. (b) After john DeSoto, Ron Nelson, Russ Darnell and Bryan Kenney, had been to Europe racing, it was their joint opinion that the first year in Europe should be spent attending local races, which pay fair money, and attending as many Grand Prix as possible. This plan is working well. Bryan, Barry & Bob will be racing at the following Grand Prix in Europe: Belgium Luxemburg and Netherlands. riding our last moto in the dark nor do we enjoy fighting the weekend campers for a space on the Sunday evening freeways. Of course, the implications of all this selling are far more dangerous to us than a traffic jam. These early, sometimes crude incursions by commerical interests will ultimately wrest control of mo tocross out of the hands of the rider and place it squarely in the bank - their bank. Many of the old familiar problems as well as the new threats were apparent at the Side Hack Association's last motocross effort at Bay Mare. I arrived early so I could enjoy some practice. The track was wet and reasonably smooth'. Many of us foolishly assumed the track would be maintained in a similar fashion throughout the day. Not would like to extend an invitation to all West Coast riders to come to smog·free and friendly San ta Maria for races or recreational riding. LARRY BROOKS EUGENE DUNNE CHARLES SCHNELLER Santa Maria.MotoTCross Enterprises, Inc. What happens if nobody "spills?"... Ed. LASSEN TOPPER Congratulations to all the members of the Lassen M.C. for a job well done on the Diamond Back Enduro, june 6th. The course was well laid out and very well marked all the way. This is one area that the club did an excellent job, considering that the course had to be changed a couple of days before the race due to bad weather the week before the race. Every check was very (C) AMXT agrees we need tougher training and longer mo tos. This is another reason why it is foolish to waste AMXT members' money having Bryan Kenney or anyone start racing in Grand Prix until they are physically fit. CREEPING MONEYTHEISM SANDBAGGING , It occurred to me that perhaps the problem of riders "sandbagging" in unsanctioned or "Junior Day" events could be greatly reduced if all entrants were required to produce a competition card from one of the recognized competition associations such as District 37, C.M.C., A.C.A., etc. This might also help the promoters of these events feel more secure with the knowledge that most, if not all, of the riders under the age of 21 have the required affidavit from their parent or guardian on file somewhere. ART TRENKLE Thousand Oaks, Calif. Better yet, they coud apply for a 1 star professional sanction from the AMA - WE CAN WIN VOICES OF THE WEST so. The AMXT is certainly watching Brad Lackey's progress in' Europe, we know him to be a fine rider. We are following a definite plan with the AMXT and feel it is progressing strongly. KIM KIMBALL work. Good samaritans can still be found. A compassionate stranger named Ed Fitzgerald stayed all night keeping a fire lit in hopes the boy would see it. In the future, every time we see a Rescue 3 cadet we'll give a smile and say "God Bless You". FRED & PAT KING Rowland Heights, Calif. limited to novices only... Ed. (C) We agree exactly with your commen ts that the race should be split since large turnouts and short races are a prime reason why scrambles have died in Sou th ern Californ ia. Four hours later we found ourselves staging on a hard, rutted dust bowl with a single well·worn groove. Remember the old follow·the·leader game? Our pre·race request for a little water on the track was met with indifference. Apparently the track was scheduled to receive water only once during the program. That was righ t after our race. So the little bikes swam in mud and the big bikes play road·racer in the dust, all Collowing one well'proven groove. The reasons for the four·hour wait to race were numerous, including shutting down all racing while someone kept urging us all to drop in and see the "good guys" at selected bike shops over the P.A. system, Ralph Williams style. The prospect of sitting through an additional four hours of this pablum was too much. I left, disappointed in what motocross threatens to become and I remain pessimistic about the future of motocross, as a rider·oriented sport. DENNIS MIDDLETON Thousand Oaks, Calif. As an active participant, the present status of Southern California motocross concerns me. Until recently, I considered motocross one of the Cew remaining sports controlled largely by its participants. We riders often enjoyed the opportunity to alter the sport to suit our needs. The curren t starting technique is a good example. Pressures exerted on local track officials by the riders led to the new method which prolongs the life of transmissions and clutches. No more endless slipping of the clutch or suddenly jamming the thing in gear. The riders spoke and they were heard. Today, however, sense the emergence of a u new motocross". Guided by commercialism, our familar sport makes its way into 1971 and it 4X4=16 PIX looks to be a profitable year. We are interested in any pictures But what about the rider, the guy from the "Baja 500" of "Number 16" who ultimately makes the race? Today that any of your readers or you might we're often confronted by insensitive have taken. track officials whose ears are tuned only If you have any pictures we would to the sound of the dollar. The money appreciate it if you would contact us. used for such services as keeping the DEBBIE & SHEELIE HILDEBRAND track wet for all classes or grading out 378 Osborne Street rough and dangerous spots is often not Vista, Calif. 92083 being applied in the rider's behalf. Hey, this sounds like a want ad to us... Ed. These are familiar problems; we've all ridden "Mickey Mouse" races before and we'll probahly get stuck again. The LEVEE A NAME "new motocross", however, brings with T"" new motocross track located in it its own bag of ills which, w!len tile Santa Maria riverbed has been combined with the old familiar named in our recent track-naming problems, threatens motocross a contest. Jay Getchel, Lompoc, Calif., rider·oriented sport. was the winner of the contest for One of the most ominous new suggesting the name, "Spillway Park", problems includes extensive delays iri and wil receive one yea.'s free pass to ~e racing program while the prolUP~ the park. Mr. Getchel reported tltA! his idl ~. theii jams and jellies, Iro~ .:,~. suggestion:' bas .doub~ \ ~e'. lIike shop O'V~. tlae.. -i'.A. . iipi~ce: the metorqcJe pi,rk.: is ... _ .aWsteRl.. AU of. the''lelling, &r-c~-; .. ~~ by a river le «, an4'~'be '~~~'j a Ilasi~e SllJ:l\ in el~ tile ~ of maRy plotCN'tyde iptlJs. ~~ ~:.~ 0\' favors but, onee ~~ jf ii '~. ah.cl thank ~. Geteb,el c'.' .. : d«*ei,t.t\!:e.rid~''l.(Xpense. MolDy·fates ·~lOgfttlon. .' - ..... . ...... "'P ~..kiS, often requiring as _cia... ~itkytly P'ark will b~ opeQ daiJ"J('lor , • 8 llG.lll'S at the track with ~ recreational 'Tiding during d;le SQrtMmr oilly 46 ininutes of this spelll in 'actual mo"'s. and will spoNor mot/ilCToss as ''"': " . : - 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. Jof.ms efficient and the gas stop half way was run with very little delay to the riders. Water was provided at each check and it was greatly appreciated. There was ample camping area with a beautiful view of the High Sierras. There were approximately 320 riders running and everything went off very smoothly. To any riders whom missed the Enduro, you missed one of the very best run event held in Northern Calif. this year. BRUCE C. YOUNG Pres., Dirt Diggers North M.C. LIFE: THEY SAVE IT Hats off to Rescue 3... they are right there when you need them. They s.tay until their job is finished - even if it takes all night. A 15·year·old boy in our group broke down on the second loop of the Spokehenders race May 16. By the time we learned his whereabouts it was almost dark and we were unahle to find him. Rescue 3 organized a search party and contin ued the search until 3 a.m. The search resumed at daybreak and the boy was found at 7 Monday morning safe and sound. Fortunately he had the intelligence to stay with his bike. These dedicated people gave us faith and lifted our morale. Never once did we hear a complaint about being I hope the results of the Yorba Linda vote by the Orange County Board of Supervisors will show that when the dealers and clubs get behind something in a big way instead of sitting around crying about losing our riding spaces, that something can be done. I only hope the dealers and clubs in other areas will see what can be done if you get out and hustle a little. A special thanks should go to the Orange County M.C., Sled RiderS M.C., Stump jumpers M.C., Gripsters M.C. and Huntington BeachM.C. TOM JOHNSON Anaheim, Calif. ORDER YOUR TICKETS NOW Thought you'd like to know that we are having Short Track Races during the Talladega 200 Motorcycle Race at Talladega, Alabama, night races. Advance tickets are on sale at this time and will be mailed on July 15th, as you know these will be sell outs. There are only 2000 tickets (advance seating), so we'd like to have some Western fans in the stands and not just Dixie fans. On Sept. 4th the purse will be $1800 (6 Star) and the advance seating is $5 each. On the 5th of September the purse will be $1200 (4 Star) and the advance seating is $4. They can order now. ERTlS FREEMAN, Owner Freeman's International Short Track Thanks for the word and we'll pass it on, noting that the address is P.O. Box 308, Bynum, Ala., 36253 ... Ed.