Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

,... .,.' - en ~ w Z W ..J U >- U "America's No. 1 weekly motorcycle newspaper. You'll always see it FIRST in Cycle News!" 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 FREEMONT THANKS THE WHOLE STORY I want to say thank you to all the Southern riders that came up for the C.M.C. North Benefit for Bob Grossi. Without tfiem there would have been no race. They came hundreds of miles when a lot of our own North guys didn't even show. Because the turnout was so poor, no one received the full amount of money for their wins as advertised. Under all the conditions it was amazing it came through at all. I hope if there's a next time that all those long traveled miles can be rightfully repaid. DEBBIE SANDERS San Rafael, Calif. I just read Ron Schneiders account of the Plonkers trials at EIf'm Forest August 15th. It sounds like it was great. Why didn't he tell it all. The Plonkers were told not to come back. Elfin Forest campground has a 5 MPH speed limit. 45 MPH through camp was common. My family and I have been" camping and riding in the area for a year. This area is good for family type riding. Since August 15th about half of Cycle Ne'NS East, Dixie Cycle News, and National Advertising information: Tom Culp, National Advertising Director. Cycle Ne'NS (West), P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, California 90801. (2131 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 insurance agent informed me that I had an accident that might cause some problems. I've never dropped or creamed a bike, or crashed my car, so I screamed like when the cat got its tail caugh t in the icebox. The papers had no details, 0 ther than that I had been in an accident with a licensed motor vehicle. It took me a while, burl finally figured it out. Seven years ago.... 20 miles from the nearest road....crunched by a trailbike rider.... FREMONT AFTERMATH What is happening to motorcycle racing? Why are so many of the races poorly organized, so many tracks dangerous and so many promoters crooked? And why do we keep going to them? After the fiasco at Fremont on Sunday, 29 August, a lot of people won't be going to the races; at least not until their broken bodies heal, and they can repair their almost unsalvageable motorcycles and recoup their losses. With the promise of a $2,500 cash purse riders came from all parts of California, including a good number of top name riders from down south. And what did they find when they reached Fremont? They found an unsafe track, among other things. Dusty, rutted and extremely hard. The track bent wheels, driving the spokes right out of their sockets. It sent seats flying, destroyed shock absorbers, and probably broke more frames than any track in history. The two available water trucks were rarely used and even th en only dampened the short stretch near the starting line. With no water to keep it down, the dust blinded and choked riders and spectators alike. As a result of the condition of the track there were far too man y accidents, and to add to th e general turmoil the flagmen often did not pay enough attention to flag riders around a fallen racer or even to slow them down. A t one especially dangerous turn there was no flagman a t all! The announcer repeatedly asked spectators to stay off the track, but due to the lack of enforcement by officials. people constantly ran back and forth across the track, adding to a situation that was already far too dangerous. And despite all of this, the riders kept racing. They tolerated the terrible conditions because of the promise of the $2,500 cash purse. At the end of the race the few riders who had managed to limp across the finish line on their twisted motors gathered around Jim Perry, CMC North President (and the only one of the promoters to stay until the end!) and demanded their rightful share of the adv"rtised prize money. Where were Harold Mierell and Bob Barkhimer who, we -were told by unofficial sources, was behind this promotion? Motorcycle racers have more than their share of poor tracks, bad organization and underhanded promoters. It's about time we stopped stumbling around like cattle waiting for the slaughter and did something! Isn't it about time we stopped letting these people ta ke advantage 0 f us? NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST You point out the problem but fail to supply a solution - something ~II professiorQl racen are looking for. Dick Mann said it nicely while describina something else, but it is still valid: "Some people are talkers, others are doers." Complaining will not open up some promoters' wallets, but actions will. The riders are open and waiting for some plan of action. And only they can supply it and carry it through effectively. Until then, the problem will remain and all the talkers will have something to say ... Ed. riding area has been posted due to trials. It looks like the whole area be posted before long; one more in the motorcycle coffin. JACK BATSON Downey, Calif. MX IS BOSS•..BUT Motocross is boss and I'm there on any Sunday, it's been that way for nearly five years. The main reason I take to moto-x more than tracking half-miles, scrambles, T.T. and nationals, etc. is because girls have to sit in the stands out of the pits and get a numb butt. I've been hearing rumors that these same con'ditions may come to moID-x. Not only against women (a point for woman's lib, perhaps?) but I also hear that a mechanic's license will be required for anyone to get in the pits at Inter-Ams. I don't think this is fair; is the A.M.A. only interested in getting more money for these licenses (which go for $10 eac1t)? To get close to the actual racing is th e best part. To walk around the course, be near those you know as they fly by in f'lfSt place, or last. It makes you feel that much more a part of it. If these "rumors" become rules it'll succeed in making people less enthusiastic about participating. Then the fast climb moto·x has started in this country will quickly come to a standstill and start back down. B.F.A.W. California Off the subject, but what does "B.F.A.W." st~nd for? Th~t's how this letter was signed, no name, just a postmark from San Rafael. Could that be you, D.S.? .. Ed. LETTER FROM Q Seven years ago, I was centerpunched out in the' desert by a rider aboard a Iigh tweigh t. Both the rider and myself suffered a few aching spots, and a few bones that made crackling sounds in the middle of the night. As neither one of us were in that good of shape, we were driven to a hospital in Palmdale that has helped out 'many an aching motorcyclist. Other than getting a little nasty when I refused to part with my pants, these nice folks put me back together, and sent me on my not so merry way after a few hours. Here's where the hanger comes in.... Because the other motorcyclist had a license plate on his motorcycle, and told the nurses so, the police were called in to make a report. This was all done while I lay there clutching my pants. I thought this was the end of it. Seven years later, when getting some special motorcycle insurance to test the bikes that provide my livelihood, my made to have the mo tocross co'urse's lights completed; thank you for your patience. DONALD and HOPE ENGLAND 395 Cycle Park Adelanto, Calif. QUICK RESPONSE We are in receipt of information regarding Mr. Anas' subscription to Cycle magazine. Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused. We feel that satisfted subscribers are our most valuable asset "lUld will make every effort to correct the problem as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it often takes as much as six weeks in order for an adjustment to reach you. Please bear with us, and thank you for your interest in our magazine. PAULA MAGLIACANO Subscription Dept. Cycle FIRST WOMAN LICENSED AS PROFESSIONAL MOTORCYCLE RACER VOICES OF THE WEST the the will nail Published weekly except the first and last week of the calendar year by Cycle News, Inc., Post Office Sox 498. tong Beach, California, also publishers of Cycle Ne'NS 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. What I'm getting to is, if you decide to ride an enduro that requires street legal equipmen t and license plates, give it another thought. U ,you do have an accident, it might be on your driving and insurance record forever! JIM DAVIS Burbank, Calif. Sounds like another worthwhile project for M.O.R.E., to get a separate category established for off·ro~accidents. Does the same record apply even for non·licensed ORV's? .. Ed. LIGHTS OUT We would like to apologize for the ligh ts on the motocross course Saturday night Aug. 28 and to thank the riders for their co-operation and sportsmanship. Although the 400 amp service had been installed and new lights added, one leg was off-balance causing the ligh ts to go out. ' The rainchecks given the riders will be honored at the next motocross this Sunday Sept. 12. Electricians have been called back and every effort will b" Kerry KIeid, 21, of Rye, N.Y., has become the fint woman to be licensed as a professional motorcycle racer. Kerry received her license An~i2 after the AMA certified her q . cations through a letter from her District Competition Congressman. Congressman Don Pink wrote in a letter dated Aug. 20, "In regard to an application by Ken:y Kleid for a professional racing license, I believe that she is qualified in ability for this rating." Congressman Pink's written recommendation was one of the several means of achieving professional certification that is provided for in the AMA's 1971 professional Competition Rule Book. As a license holder, Miss Kleid is quaIified to en ter professional motorcycle events sanctioned by the AMA, making ber one of the first women in America to be accepted into motor racing by a major motor sports sanctioning body. Similarly, the AMA first licensed and admitted women mechanics into race track pit areas two years ago. This also set precedent in motor racing. By Maureen Lee I've been waiting for the ISDT to be held in Britain for years and planned to go this year, even practiced the language a bit (you'd have to be English to really u,nderstand that one) but my plans got shot down. Still, I wish the whole team, as I m sure you do, all the luck but it's a shame some of our troops got shunted due to the large number of entries. I still get a bit mystified as to how some of the teams were chosen, some qualified in an Enduro held back East in a District that split with the AMA some time ago and some of the chaps, while their riding records are impeccable, haven't much experience in this type of riding. But we'll see what happens, I'm trying not to be too irreverent, especially of sacred cows, 'specially now MeW's Hap Spoons has total irreverence to anything bless his heart. He can borrow my soap box any time, it's been too lonely up there at times! Had a few calls about the qualifying for the support classes for the AMA motocross series. Wish I could help, but it's all mysterious to me so I suggest that if you want to have a go, contact Worthington for the skinny, but I sure .. heck wouldn't cough up the bread for a pro license with all the trimmings until you find out if you can ride or not_ Can't wait for Carlsbad, and for a change, bless the AMA for getting rid of the circus atmosphere we've all seen too much of and let everyone have a good go at each other for the purse. The visitors will be more serious this time folks, with money at the finish flag! _ Got back to Ascot for just a short while the other night, it's been too long since ~'ve heard th~ roar of flat-trackers. Ascot has become 50 much a part of my life that It seemed fitting to make my re·appearance on the scene there, even if I did hide out in the south .forty so no one would see me! Racing wouldn't be the same without Ascot and being able to hear those big bores in full cry, gives you the flat shivers. That reminds me to make another irreverent observation, maybe BSA wouldn't be in the pinch it is now if they hadn't discontinued the Goldstars, and if you think I'm ~eing funny, I'm not. Beezer lovers understand it, and you young 'uns who grew up m the age of the motocross ring-dings missed a lot of joy in owning a big thumper, of which the Goldie was a fantastic machine. Ride it on the track, road race it scramble on it or ride the street, it was an honest-to-God motorcycle, complete with' a bit of a temperament as anything worth its salt is. Betcha people who dig bikes would still buy them too if they re-issued the old faithful Goldies. Maybe we could pass petitions around and send them to Birmingham! . ,

• Cover