Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

~ w Z w -' (J >- (J IYIII I ••• "America's No. 1 weekly motorcycle newspaper. You'll always see it FIRST in Cycle News'" CUTTING OUR THROATS I have just lmished watching a T.V. program which is supposed to show the police as they really are. (Ha!) Among the daring deeds the two policemen do is to chase down two suspected burglars on motorcycles. The two bikers were supposed to iook like dirt riders as their bikes had down pipes, high mount fenders, knobbies and the usual paraphernalia of dirt bikers. I figure that the riders in that program were members of Stunts Unlimited or the Viewfinders which are reputable clubs and have many dirt riders such as J.N. Roberts, Duffy Hambleton, etc., acting as stunt men in films. I don't see why they didn't use Hells Angel types that already have this sort of reputation. I don't know what the director has against dirt bikers but it doesn't seem very fair. DA VID HEFTERICH Hollywood, Calif. Are you suggesting that these motorcycle stunt riders refuse to fill in parts that give the 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 Advertising Assistant .. Barbara Richard Bookkeeper Dorothea Lang Bookkeeper Ass't. . Eleanor Duke Lab Technician Larry Groves Stanislaus National Forest and they are currently making a study of off road vehicle operation. They were very receptive to us and we have agreed to cooperate with them in this study. Our first project is to prepare maps showing the trails and areas which we use and to compile a list of rules for trail bike operation within the National Forest. We need your cooperation in this study and any organization which contacts us will receive a set of maps so that they can indicate the trails and areas which they have used. JERRY IRONS Stanislaus Trail Bike Association P.O. Box 4604 Modesto, Calif. 95352 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. 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 CHANGING WITH FILM I would like to thank the owners of Bay Mare, Indian Dunes Park, Santa Maria's Spillway Park (motocross track), Golden State Racing Co., and all the motocross and desert motorcycle clubs who have been most cooperative in the portions of a dirt bike documentary f1lmed to date. Many clubs and their m~mbers, too numerous to mention, have been extremely cooperative and helpful in the mmlng, which has been and will be taking place at various. events in Southern California over the next six months. Although the filming schedule is confidential, only occasionally will we pre-announce our arrival. sport a false image? If so, you've got an interesting proposition for them to think over... Ed. HELP! We are in the process of forming the Stanislaus Trail Bike Association. This Association intends to represent the interests of all bike riders which use public property in our area. Our primary area of influence is Stanislaus County and the Stanislaus National Forest. We had over 190 people attend our first meeting, at which Russ Sanford was our guest speaker. The Association seems to be off to a good start, however there are three things which we desperately need. 1.) We need to correspond with all clubs or associations in Central California which have members that use public land in our area. Please send us your name, address and number of members. 2.) We need copies of your charters and by·laws to aid us in preparing ours. 3.) We have met with the officials of the and carburetor cables replaced at no charge to the customer. If any owner did not get this service then it is the fault of the dealer where he purchsed the motorcycle and not the fault of American Honda. As for it costing $200 to $400 to repair the bike if chain breakage did occur, I can recall an incident that occurred at our shop. A man had over 6,000 miles on his CB750 and was off warranty. His chain broke and destroyed both center cases and we fixed it for him. American Honda picked up the tab. As for CB750's costing $2,000, if you paid that much for your bike, I would say someone saw you coming. CB750's retailed for $1,495 and this year they are only $1,595. Not bad for a four-cylinder overhead-cam-disc·braked 67-HP electric-starting double-cradle-framed superb ike! RICK WHITEACUS Service Mgr. Denny's Honda Auburn, Calif. HOORAY FOR HONDA, PT. II CARRY A LIFESAVER Following the very unfortunate fa tali ty during the Antelope Ramblers-Invaders Scrambles July 18 at Hi Vista, a few of us dedicated desert rats came up with a couple of ideas we hope could become which universally accepted, if not mandatory, for all competition riders. In case of injury where the rider is dazed or unconscious, those samaritans like Rescue 3, LR.R.C., or other ambulance-doctor units have very little information to work with, except for bike number and club affiliation, so it takes precious time to find out necessary details if hospitalization is required. We all wear helmets, right? So why not have a plastic encased card taped inside each hat, with the following data: (1.1 Name, address, phone, age, etc., etc. (2. EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER OF CLOSE RELATIVE. (3.) MEDICAL INFORMATION: a.. Blood type (VERY IMPORTANT) . b. Allergies (penicillin, sulpha dlUgs, etc.) c. Medical history (previous fractures, susceptibility to disease, anti-tetanus and other shots, etc.) d. Family doctor, medical plan, insurance, etc. If a rider cannot show this card at signup, he should be refused entry until he complies. If the "MediCard" idea sounds good to you individuals and clubs, let me kriow and we'll see about getting some printed, with waterproof' plastic envelopes. SHAY ROMPELL (01' "Patrol") 9250 Del Arroyo Dr. ~un Valley, Calif. 91352 Published weekly exc~t 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 publ ishers. Advertising rates and circulation ffiformation will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. VOICES OF THE WEST SILENCERS NECESSARY?, I can see the reason for a muffled bike in an area near houses where the noise could disturb somebody_ But why do I have to silence my bike at a race track or a location zoned for dirt bikes, as a motorcycle club sponsoring a race or a motorcycle factory/distributor would have me do? Have you ever been to your local drag strip or automobile race track? Now that's what I call noise! .When 4-wheel racers start corking up their turbo-charged Offenhauser and full-blown dragsters, then I will agree that it's time for us to silence our. bikes. GARY GELSON Encino, Calif. Four-wheelers have the public's acceptance because this is an automobile-orientated society. Cycles are still waging a fight for its right to exist. Complainers "overlook" the car noise and point out the cycles' rumbling from Corona ~aceway to the most desolate regions of the desert. We've come a long way since the mid-SO's, but we've still got a long way to go. Quieter machines, everywhere, silently get us where we want to go... Ed. may The purpose of this documentary is to educate, in large numbers, the public as to the legitimate sport of dirt bikes, including the athletic and competitive aspects of the sport. With all the false, adverse, and bigoted anti-motorcycle publicity which the media is persistent and wrongful in publishing, we hope that this TV docurnen tary will enable the average citizen to see our sport and recreational activity as it really is. The documentary will be scheduled for national TV by Spring, 1972. ALBUCK GRAF /COM Productions Goleta, Calif. HOORAY FOR HONDA, PT. I Re: your article titled "Four Owners Assn. ask DOT to Recall Early Defective Honda Models" July 27, 1971. I am afraid there has been a lack of information to owners of early CB750's. All Honda dealers were sent notices to contact all owners of CB750's that they had sold and have th ese defective chains WHAT IS THE CMIC? What is C.M.I.C.? What is M.LC.? Only one word can answer these questions that word is GREAT. Now you want to know why they are great. That takes more words. M.l.C. is "Motorcycle Industry Council" and press - headquartered in Washington, D.C. at 1001 Connecticut Avenue, 20036. Committees are under 12 directors who have at least one committee each. M.I.C. is staffed by six full time, paid employees plus a task of ten top men from member companies, all expenses and salaries paid by their own companies, not M.LC. This task force is charged with the responsibility of organizing the state dealer organizations of which C.M.I.C. or California Motorcycle Industry Council is one. C.M.LC. is more or less typical of other state dealer organizations, although much larger and with more problems. Legislation, . land use, education, safety, equipment, and public relations difficulties are more pressing in California by virtue of the simple fact that we have more motorcycles. Two directors were elected from each of five zones into which the state was broken down for organization purposes. Offices are located at 13353 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90066, (213) 390-4147 with a part time staff of President Ted Evans, Executive Director Wes Perry, a Public Relations-Land Use-Statistical man and a secretary, with only the Executive Director and secretary paid. This office coordinates the efforts of all Committees from each zone in cooperation with the Directors who chair these Committees. The M.I.C. and the C.M.l.C. are the first efforts to tie together manufacturers, dealers and the motorcycling individual in a common organization than can present a united front against those who would unwisely or unfairly limit the scope of motorcycling activity. We have an organization but we still need you, the individual. Support dealers who are M.I.C. members and encourage those who are not to join the M.l.C. HARRY WHALEN Public Relations Representative C.M.I.C. I recently experienced the common chain difficulty with my Honda Four that resulted in the destruction of upper and lower cases and an estimate of $450 to repair from Long Beach Honda. As the machine is only a year old and the warranty long since expired, I felt I had no recourse. When I approached Mr. Bill J ohnsol\ Sales Manager for one of the Long Beach Honda shops, who sold me the machine, 1 was asked to wait two days while the shop contacted, American Honda. When I checked back, I was informed the entire damage would be corrected at no charge to me. I want it known that I have talked to other Honda Four owners and I am not alone in having received prompt and courteous service by the Honda Organization and their dealers. M. W. SHATTUCK Pasadena. Calif. B.B. BOFFO FLICK WITH SICKLE Bruce Brown's movie "On Any Sunday" has already smashed house records in Los Angeles and is slowly gaining momentum throughout the country. Bob Bagley, Brown's associate, reported that publicity was hurt by the two-week delay but now that the usual East Coast tours are underway things look tidy, indeed. MeanwhjJe, a spokesman for Variety, filmdom's daily trade publication, said the film was undoubtedly "very big", having grossed $25,000 in its lITst week in L.A. alone. F R E MONT SCRAMBLES TRACK REOPENS FREMONT, CAL., July 21, 1971 After nearly a year layoff the Fremont Raceway motorcycle facility will reopen on Friday nigh t, July 30. A completely new track with four-foot banked turns, a three-foot jump and 60-foot wide turns with 50-foot wide comers has been constructed. No other scrambles track h'as such wide turns and straights, enabling the riders to pass at their leisure. ' The track will host apporximately nine nigh t scrambles and will be the only scrambles track in the South Bay area to run on Friday nights. While other events are tentative, professional racing is planned for th e very near future. A point run for· each division of motorcycle will lead to an award at the end of the year for the overall high point men and then high point in each division. This will give'the Novice class riders a chance to run against the other classes and still stay in their respective classes.

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