Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

VOICES (Corttinued from page 4) who wrote to Mr. Vancil with an offer of thousands of dollars worth of machines, parts, and support for this year's I.S.D.T. He was not even contacted by' the A.M.A. until it was much too late to instigate any action and was finally forced to withdraw his offer. I think it is high time we take an'other look at our motorcycle Olympic committee. Above all, we need an I.S.D.T. fund similar to what is b'eing done for the American Motocross Team. As in any other sport, if we want to win, we must be prepared to subsidize riders and workers. As AI Eames of Berkshire fame so aptly put it, "If you pay your workers, you don't have to ask them to do anything, just tell them!" THOMAS K. McGEACIDN San ta Monica, Calif. OAK CREEK HANGING ON 'Several motorcycle distributors and some new faces showed up including nearly all the regulars to support and help Oak Creek's dilemma. Many riders approached me and said this can't be the last race. you just gotta keep the place open, it's a great lrider's course, and the spectators can see everything. Some new riders were unhappy with the dusty conditions, but they didn't realize that every race more pipe and sprinklers are being added, nor did they notice the reservoir half completed at the top of the hill. This reservoir will ,hold 200,000 gals. of water, enough to make t,he muddiest one mile course in existance. Until this can be completed I have made arrangements for a water truck to cover the areas not under sprinklers for the next race, Aug. 29th. At 5,000 ft. you don't have the exhausting heat to cope with. and you can take a deep breath without choking because there's not a trace of smog, and with continued support the winter could even bring another snow Moto-X. Eighty-seven riders and families turned out and I would personally like to thank each and everyone of them for their sincere in terest. With this type of support I feel compelled to try and keep Oak Cree k alive. KEN BEACH OCRA HARDL Y OBJECTIVE Some of Ron Schneiders' remarks regarding the enduro committee's rule changes were hardly objective. He grouses that the enduros are laid out for the sled riders. WRONG. The fact that many enduros are won by the "old pros" on their sleds is because they are desert-seasoned enduro riders and expert timekeepers. They could win on a Iigh tweigh t. The courses have actually become much more lightweight oriented over the past five years and it to these old pros' credit that they are ever consistent and continue to sprakle. Let's don~t detract from their ability or from the special nature of our desert enduros. JERRY JONNUM Palmdale, Calif. ISA Denies Financial Problem in America The following is a statement made by Denis McCormack, President of the Birmingham Small Arms Company, Inc., to the mo torcycle press at a meeting in Los Angeles on the evening of. August 17, 1971, concerning the current financial position of the American and British Birmingham Small Arms Companies. A BSA STATEMENT Reports that have appeared in the motorcycling press in the United States are largely exaggerated. incorrect, or misleading. The American parent company. The Birmingham Small Arms Company, Incorporated, and its operating subsidiary companies Triumph Motorcycle Corporation, BSA Motorcycle Corporation, and Top Gear Accessories, Inc. - are in good financial order. Their successful U.S. operations are financed in America, and their market prospects for the coming season are very good. They have no particular financial or other problems. The British parent company currently has financial problems arising from a series of delays, lack of supplies, strikes, and other problems, that took place in England in the winter of 1969-70, and which resulted in serious delays in the delivery of quantity productions of motorcycles needed to fill the pipeline and the spring seasonal sales demand. Thus, much business was lost, and the total business accomplished fell appreciably below the budgeted expectations. Consequently, the parent company in England lost a considerable amount of money during the fiscal year just completed. Numerous proposals and plans to bring matters again into proper balance and to provide the additional working capital needed to rectify last season's losses are in progress - the latest position being as follows: On Thursday, August 12th, a partner of Lazard Bros.• our merchant bankers (whose associates are Lazard Freres in Wall Street) said t9 the press that he' "wished to emphasize that the absence of a bid from Dr. McDonald did not in any way endanger the continued existence of B.S.A. There are other proposals in consideration and this was only one of the possible ways of dealing with the situation." On Friday, after a Board meeting of the parent company in England, the Board issued a statement that it had been advised that "Other parties have certain proposals under consideration Y{hich could lead to a bid being made. Meanwhile. the Board is proceeding with its own plans to improve liquidity and carry through a substantial reorganization. " I am aware of the substantial reorganization which is already in progress in England and which Mr. Eric Turner, the Chairman, is confident will lead to a restoration of profitable trading in the 1971-2 fiscal year. Is somebody made a successful bid for the company, naturally it is impossible to say what changes. if any. they would make in relation to the Motorcycle Division. Nevertheless, it would be inconceivable that Triumph and BSA machines would not continue to be available for sale in the 1972 season, and 0 f course the plans to improve liquidity are aimed to insure just that. Shipment of 1972 models to the U.S.A. has already started, and will continue. BSA TO RICKMANS. o ISTR IBUTE LOS ANGELES. CAL., Aug. 17,1971 - Denis McCormack. president of BSA has announced that the firm will become the exclusive U.S. distributor of Rickman Metisse motorcycles effective Sept. I. By Maureen Lee Well, guess who's back, bloody but unbowed although a little frayed around the edges? Me. And let me tell you, if you ever think you're exposed to hepatitis or jaundice, get yourselves off to your favorite doctor and get a shot. I don't know where I caught mine but ended up with both plus lots of complications of the liver and did a lot of silly things like a coma and lots of swelling and 1 wouldn't w';'t to wish it on my worst enemy. Well... no, not even them. I wan't to use part of this column to say thank you for the flowers and mountains oE cards that arrived, some from folks I thought would be all too delighted to see me out of the running and with the soap box stashed. But all kidding aside, the response ground a few tears out of me old 'eart. of joy, that is! Still haven't been to a race yet, so I'll be scarce for a while but at least I'm gettinl( to work again and starting to think about that new scooter I have that all 1 had time to ride was around th e front yard before starting to ride - . Write Cycle News, what else? Heyde" publisher Tom Sargent will forward your name on to a circulation expediter. Hopefully, this will clear up in the very near future... Ed. PASSIN' IT ON I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Desert Turtles M.C. for the fine MX they put.on in July. It was well organized and ran smoothly. Enclosed is a '$10.00 ,gift certificate which I was awarded from D.T.M.C. for finishing highest in my class equipped with a silencer. The award was issued from Hawthorne and since I live in the 'S.F. Valley, it would be very hard for me to use it. 1 have been unable to locate "The Radio Crew," therefore I would appreciate it if you, would please forward the certificate to them. They are a fme group and they work very hard to help those in troubk at races, so I hope they can pu t it to good use. LINUS R. BEALL Dist. 37 MX Expert No.7 It's on its way ... Ed. n ~:'P l , ',n 1'\. by Jlrnmy lloyd Rains Makes Boo Boo.... like two and a half weeks now the drag bike action has. come to a screaming halt along the entm.. eastern 'seaboard. Even at that a few strips seem to squeeze in a race or two so we'll drop the hammer on the results! ATCO NATIONALS .... Motorcycles received top billing of the day at this super sensational whing-ding being blasted as the Eastern Regional NatIOnals. The top Eliminator saw two Western bikes, Dave Campos from Albuquerque, New Mexico and Joe SmIth from San Gabriel, Cal. race for the money. Joe Smith lost to the foul Iigh t and a big red eye as Dave Campos soloed down for the win. Competition Eliminator went to Wesley Nyce riding for 0 & A Kawasaki in Trevose, Pa. Wesley toured the quarter in 11.35 seconds at 117.64 mph. Runner up position went to the Kocha Bros. from VIP Honda of North Plainfield, New Jersey. Jerry Kocha turn'ed a 12.77-102.86. Street Eliminator went to James Lombardo from Atco. N.J. James smoked the quarter with a time of 13.40-97.08 mph to put down Skip Nlszczak from Glenside Honda of Glenside, Pa.. who recorded a 12.72-102.27 mph. Sunday night dction also boasted the appearance of E.J. Potter, the mad man from Michigan on \tis.Chelly.powere.dJIlotaray.cle.. E.].. 'b-.,-, ~'"r ~n; ci c ·riiJ m(1I oJ" OWN A PIECE OF THE BIG "0" In addition to the $53,100 purse provided by the Champion Spark Plug Company for the 250 mile Road Race National Championship to be held at Ontario Motor Speedway, Oct. 17, additional money will be paid out to top riders at the rate of $100 per lap. The AMA sanctioned event, entitled the Champion Spark Plug Motorcycle Classic, will be 78 laps over Ontario's demanding road course, and manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and publications in the motorcycle industry will be paying the winner of each lap a hundred dollars, adding almost another $8000 to the prizes and contingencies available. ALI parties in teres ted in purchasing a lap ,at Ontario may contact the Department of Professional Racing, AMA, P.O. Box 231, Worthington, Ohio 43085. Lap purchases will be publicized before an anticipated crowd of over 100,000 spectators at the event. scramlDn'arounif WHADAYADO? What are these magazines doing? I paid for a full subscription of Cycle Magazine almost a year ago and have only received two issues. I keep sending Cycle, letters asking why but have never received a reply. What do you have to do to get what you paid for? JERRY ANAS Grafton, Mass. The move will give the Rickman Metisse brand nation-wide marketing exposure. The selected dealerships are expected to substantially increase the volume of Rickman sal~s during the first year of expansion. The line to be distributed in the U.S. will consist of three models. Heading the line will be the Rickman Metisse 250cc Moto Cross, powered by a Montesa engine. A 125cc Enduro and a 125cc Moto Cross. both powered by Zundapp engines, complete the line. went down the quarter mile at 9.93 seconds with 158.'17 miles per hour. THINGS GO BEITER....report is just in on a brand new racing complex to be located near Bradenton, Fla. Plans call for the new facility to open in early 1972 on Florida's West ·Coast. A dream will come true and a long hard battle culminated with the opening of the DeSoto M, norial Speedway. Ground has been broken and construction is now underway after a year's battle to gain the special exception required by local officials open in early 1972 on Florida's West Coast. A dream will come true and a long hard battle culminated with the opening of the DeSoto Memorial Speedway. Next, the plans call for the immediate construction of a motorcycle Moto-Cross course, to be incorporated as part of the 90 acre facility. Later plans call for the addition of a 3/8 mile asphalt high-banked oval track. The speedway is located on State Road 64 in Manatee County, Florida, East of Bradenton. SUITABLE FOR FRAMING....Iatest info from Eastside Speedway, Waynesboro, Va. shows drag bikes are having a field day with the fancy purse being laid down. Craig Shiflet of, Charlottesville, Va.. took Top Bike Eliminator money with his BIB while turning 14.45 seconds. After the mptQr"ycLes ~Wl)pletJ:(l. #!e.c;!ragp.9Jti91'l., !.!::~.... "A," t'L! i.:L 3: "-• •l) ::n:~,~. "1 ~ TO Gurney carts around hospital corridors. The soap box is more than dusty and I really don't h'lve the strength to climb up on it, buf we'll pretend it's there, so watch out Ron Schneiders! Ron, as you know, wri tes for Cycle News and is an Enduro rider. He took the Enduro Committee to task last week and the functioning of District 37 in no uncertain terms, but I'd like to point out a few little things to him he's obviously unaware of. Committeemen are usually not men of letters and do get first drafts goofed up, but there's always someone who comes along and straightens things out. On the Enduro Committee one Dave Holeman is a magazine editor so certainly has a way with words. As to rule changes being hard to get revoked, I know you haven't been attending District meetings because only this year we had a rule voted in and chucked out the following month! All it takes is some letters from interested parties and some explanations as to why the rule isn't fair or not working, etc. And as a parting shot, there are still mucbo riders who consider anything less than a 650 a kiddie bike and our greatest Enduro riders have ridden the big bores. To each his own. of the program they competed in an American Motorcycle Assn. race on the clay ovaL.ELDORADO RACEWAY, FAIRMONT. W. VA. Sally Robrook won the ladies Powder Puff event, while Doug Salisbury won the top dollar for Motorcycle Eliminator.... Old Dominion Dragway, Manassas, Va., Lanny Walton led the contingent of cycles from Eastern Drag Specialties on his AAIGD Harley with several mid and low 10 second runs in the 120's COLONIAL BEACH DRAGWAY, VA The DIFuei Drag Bike of Tom Rhoades running out of R&R Speed and Cycles snatc.hed Bike Eliminator with a super tough 7.01 leaving the runner-up award to Dave Park on his EISS Bike. THEY SEND STUFF .... that·s what it's all about. At the c1osinl( of each issue of National Drag Scene, we encourage you to keep usinformed and man 0' man you are doing exactly that. Received a nice Speed-oram from James Brooke, Sales Promotion Department of Triumph Div, of Birmingham Small Arms Co., Inc. Mr. Brooke and Triumph are in an ecstatic mood over their. fantastic showing at Castle Rock, and they should be. Triumph riders displayed awesome strength as they. captured 9 of the first 12 places at the Castle Rock IT. Only six oon-Triumph riders even made it to th e main event. Sonny Burres of Portland~ Oregon fought his way into the lead to win by inches over hard·charging John Hateley, also on a Triumph ....Nuff said? That's nuff, send stuff to, 40 Kirkwood Lane, Greenville, S.C. 29607 or &all..llQt.c.9llt:c~$03/232,1 :ZJl.O.~ . .. 'L't&i~ (" ~Jl.S ..t.)- ~ ,... - '" COl ci> " - U

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