Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

.... - en M > :; .., ~ w Z w ..J U > U IYIII I.w• "America's No. 1 weekly motorcycle newspaper. You'll always see it FIRST in Cycle News'" The following is the "blo.nket" answer to apparently all letters written to Atlo.ntic-Richfield protesting their closure of the Pt. Richmond Hills. Many readers have sent us copies of the letters they have received in response to their own letter and in each case, each response reads as follows: ARCO RESPONDS This is in response to your recent letter. objecting to the posting of our property near our bulk terminal in Richmond, California, to off-the-road motorcycling activities. We would like to assure you that this action was not taken as an objection to those who enjoy motorcycling as a recreation. However, s~nce some motorcyclists have taken legal steps in an effort to gain perpetual prescriptive rights over property adjacent to that owned by Atlantic Richifield Company, thus prohibiting the owners from exercising their rights in the complete development of that property, we feel that we have no alternative but to forestall any similar action that would jeopardize Atlantic Richfield's rights as to future development of its own prop"erty. While we can well understand your desire to participate in th e recreational activity of your choice, in this instance we feel that off-the-road motorcycling activities should be confined to land set aside for the use of the general public and not on private property. You might consider exploring this possibility with the federal government, which is the largest single landowner in the State of California. ROBERT E. GOOD, DIRECTOR Community Services Western Area A tlan tic-Richfield 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 Tech nician Larry Groves 400" and no 250 class in the "Baja 500" race. By these manufacturers advertising wins in these classes, they created their own race. It seems to me that it is not fair to the other motorcycles involved in their classes. My being a consumer, 1 .resent this false advertising; and although I respect their right to enter their smaller displacement machines against theJarger bikes, I feel that they should not advertise a win in the class unless there is a specified class with other makes represented. I realize that by printing this letter you could possibly be hurting your advertising accounts, but 1 thin k the motorcycle riding public should be alerted to these phony credits for race wins - especially in some of these off-the-road races. DOUG EVANS Encino, Calif. Your points have merit and in the case of an agency's ad about the Mint 400 race, you are right. As to the Baja 500 advertisement you are referring too, we can only state that it never appeared in this publication... Ed. Congratulations to Danny LaPorte for an outstanding performance in the 125 Jr. class, at the recent Mammoth Mountain Moto-Cross. However, let me say that your article on the event does not tell it quite exactly the way it was. Danny LaPorte did not win both of his division's heat motos, he took a first in one, and a fifth in the other, then won the final. The way in which the event was scored gave him a total of 1854 points. Now getting to Division III of the 125 Jr. class in which 1 rode, and won both of the division's heats, and took a fifth in the final, once again a total points score of 1854 points. So there seems to be, some what of a discrepancy in the .reporting of the event. As you can see from the point totals Danny and 1 tied for first place in the event. Had the race day continued on with the point system running as it had been explained at the rider's meeting in the morning, instead of being changed just before the final 125 Jr. moto, Danny's score would have left him about 275 points short of mine. This was my first run out on a brand new sponsored Penton, and I sort of hate to see Rickman get all of the credit, especially when it is not due them. R. BRYON FRENYEA No. 73, 125 Jr. Mammoth Mtn. M.C. FALSE ADS Cycle News (West), P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, California 90801. (213) 427·7433 - L.A. 636-8844. TELEX NO. 673-474 Subscription: One year 2nd class ma iI 2 years 2nd class mail 3 years 2nd class mail Single copy price . . · .$9.00 · $15.00 · $18.00 · . $.30 his first Expert race, led the pack for two laps. It was too much for both rider and bike when the front axle broke on the hig hill at Mammoth Mtn. Someone told me they have movies of the crash but I did not get their name in the confusion. I would like to pay for a copy of the film. Please let me hear from you if you have the ftlm. My address is 550 West Ivywood Drive, Ollard, CA 93030, or telephone coUect (805) 487-4974 (days) or 486·6777 (evenings). R.A. "BOB" BYERS Oxnard, Calif. ALOHA After reading your article in the June 8 thO edition, I was very impressed with your feelings and ideas concerning enduros, trail riding and other off-road motorcycle past times. Robert Hicks also seems to be right on with what he is doing for the Motorcycfe Industry Council. In Hawaii we have had many enduros, 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, phqtos, etc. are welcome. Addressed, stamped envelope assures return of editorial matter. Reprinting in Whole or in part only by permission of the publ ishers". Advertising rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. this crowd, undetected, there were such things as flagmen, ambulance drivers and ambulances, and motocross racers clipping along at between 30 and 70 mph - surprise! What happened at Indian Dunes was a disgrace to motorcycle racing".if this is management's way of allowing people to see the "action" then the course shouid be rearranged, not the spectators' bodies. As a competitor in Junior races I would hope that the Indian Dunes people come to their senses and get the fans and riders not competing in the specific race at hand out of the way and behind the new fences (by the way what are they for?). The only people on a motocross course should be the riders, flagmen and necessary officials. This would exclude the casual photographer, the groupie, the hot dogger helper, etc. Indian Dunes is a very progressive and well appointed track and in these areas it stands far ahead of its competition. I hope this criticism is heeded for the health of our sport. Good luck. T.W. THOMPSON Van Nuys, Calif. Your tirade against Indian Dunes' management, most of which was edited out be c au se of redundancy and space considerations, is admittedly justified. but itis also grossly exaggerated. Your estima.te of "2000 spectators" baffles us; are you sure you didn't accidentally include an extra zero? Besides, there is quite a difference between being "on the course" and "surrounding the course". True, the specs did get in the way of emergency vehicles, but you unfa.irly failed to mention that the inside was cleared with full cooperation immediately after the first VOICES OF THE WEST SILENCE KERKERS SIREN POINTS PROBLEM Cycle News East, Dixie Cycle News, and National Advertising information: Tom Culp, National Advertising Director. Imagine, you are racing down the straights on a 350cc lp-achine when some identity-seeking rider on a 750cc Norton comes speeding up from behi)"ld, his siren screaming. How would you react. My immediate teac'tion would be one of broken concentration, possibly leading to an accident. How can the safety-minded ,ACA condone the use of such devices knowing full well the dangers that may stem from its use. The natural hazards of Carlsbad Raceway are difficult enough to cope with, to be further hampered by some irresponsible rider playing games with others lives. RICHARD SEIFRIED No.81 H-E-L-P! My Federal court case challenging the constitutionality of the "helmet law" has been scheduled for trial on September 22 in Seattle. In order to have a chance of success, my lawyers have informed me that a minimum of $500 must be on hand within one month to pay for various legal expenses as depositions. Therefore, contributions will be appreciated. JACK ZEl<-TZI;:R 6308Y, 18th N.l'. Seattle, Wash. 98115 You've got $100 from us... Ed. REGARDING BAJA 500 We would like to extend our thanks to NORRA for a good race that was very well coordinated, and to all persons who assisted us during the race. Particularly the Webco people at Puertocitos and the Yamaha r<;presentative at Valle de' Trinidad. Anyone having photos of bike No. 20 please contact us. BOB SIZER & CORKY BEHRLE P.O. Box 1071 Reseda, Calif. 91335 I question the integrity of some of these distributors who have been advertising wins in off-the-road races. For example, in the. "Mint 400" race 1 noticed several full-page ads for a motorcycle claiming a win in the 125 class. Also, for the "Baja 500" race, full-page ads were devoted to another brand's win in the 250 class. If I hadn't attended both of these races and hadn't been involved, 1 would WANT MOVI ES . have believe the advertising; yet by my My son Ray Byers, No. 35 sponsored personally being there, I know that there-.was ..Do_1.2'5_.class in.th.e ".Mine _bJ(. <>.mil'S CyckSh.op ~ntura..x.unniQ~ hare & hounds, plus many acres of usable land. But this land has become really hard to get for us motorcycle riders. There is plenty of red tape to go through, people to persuade, and these people, or some of them anyway, have things that have happened in the past still strong on their minds. There are plenty of people here that can really help persuade them, but we also need help from people who have the facts needed to prove what,we say. There hasn't been a true hare & hound on the Island of Oah u in four years and that is a long time between races. We have bi-weekly motocross, but our only legally usable track has been restricted to one race a quarter. This track is located on a U.S. Marine base. Also we have a yearly hare & hound and motocross held on the Island of Kauai which has always been great. It will be Labor Day this year. But only one good hare & hound a year is not enough. There should be one on the Island of Oahu. KEVIN KASTORFF Kailua, Hawaii moto... Ed. SHOT DOWN In reading your reply to Mr. Weissenberger, with whom I agree, I noticed a glaring inaccuracy. The National Rifle Association is positively not subsidized by the U.S. Government. It should be, and I wish it were, but it is not. That myth began in the hysterical days and months following the political assassinations of a few years ago.Probably created by politicians trying to blame gun.s for all evils, much as some politicians would now like to blame motorcycles for all evils. The N .R.A. is the sanctioning body for all shooting events held in this country, much as the AMA is for motorcycle events. I t is also a clearing house for information on proposed legislation on a local and national basis. The AMA could well emulate the N.R.A., and do us all a favor. hunter, fisherman, and As a motocross competitor, I find myself in agreement with many of the arguments put forth by motorcyCle enthusiasts, the N.R.A. and the Sierra Club. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all work together for a common good? ART TRENKLE Dist. 37, No. 773 No RUNNING THE BULLS I have just left a motorcycle event (?) 10 miles north of the San Fernando Valley - Indian Dunes. The races had been. billed as a meeting between . Eur-ope's & America's best riders. What I sllw there was something totally different. What I saw was what should be advertised as the American version of "The Running of the Bulls" through the streets of Saville, Spain, the difference being that at Indian Dunes they use a motocross course for the streets and motorcycles for the bulls. A motorcycle race was started at 1:15 (15 minutes late) and as the riders roared up the starting hill into the first few turns 2000 (no less) spectators (?) roared righ t after them - on the course. "Boy we're all going to get a better view of the next turn wa tchoutforthatguyontheHusky!!" Zoom!! Right out on the course were 2000 people' - warm bodies and among comment... Actually, it's the shooting ranges that are subsidized ... Ed. LET'S GO RACING I would like to know how I w~uld go about getting a license to road race in the ACA and the AFM. I have been riding motorcycles for several years now. Although I am 16 years old, I believe I am capable of racing and doing well. Some of the young riders have been a great inspiration to me and give me courage to take the step. DONALD RYAN Garden Grove, Calif. First of all, tell the ACA and AFM everything you've told us: American Cycle Association, 106 N. Claudina, Suite 312, Anaheim, Ca. American Federation of Motorcyclists, Los Angeles Chapter, Box 213, North Hollywood, CA 91603. In the 92805. meantime, our resident road racer suggests you get parental approval and an extremely reliable machine. You can't learn to race with a wrench in your hand... Ed.

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