Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

the latest Don Brymer has his sights set on '72 with visions of some very interesting mile tracks for the Yamaha Gold Cup Series; can't mention any names as yet because the contracts haven't been inked but some horsemen may find they have something oth~r to contend with than flies ... * * * When we caught wind of Honda's little venture out to Indian Elunes recently, we checked into it further and guess what we found? It seems Honda will be purchasing its own little motorcycle park soon and opening it up to the public on weekends: during the week, however, it'll be off limits as they intend to .use it for their own little "practice" sessions.... * * * On the subject of parks, motobuffs will be happy to hear about the latest motorcycle park to hit Ma Earth, providing they live in Long Beach, Calif., (which most of the CoN staff does) ;.it'll be on privately-owned Lions Drag Strip and the Lions fellows initiated eight-grand to say it's gonna happen... * * * * Now that we have your E.T. attention, we just go,t word that a certain outfit is going all-out to stage the biggest drag meet ever right here in SoCal before the year is out...Things have yet to be put on paper but watch for this one - you'll know it when it comes... * * We're constantly hearinp' about people asking about mechanic 5 courses and such; we know of two exceptional ones at Orange Coast College and at Gold West College, both in Orange Co., Calif., but in checking into it, both are filled up as far as they can go; they can't take another student 50 we'll start checking around for others and let you know... * * * * * * Those big 500cc BSA MX'ers are beginning to show up around the country: Rollie Lawson was reported to be planning to sport the machine for the first time on a Texas motocross track this past, weekend but it isn't the first time Texans have seen the machine in action - Robi Holbert won the Manor Downs Half-Mile recently on this same spiffy motor... Riverside Raceway 300fed royally which caused ACA hea Wes Cooley a great deal of consternation; it seems way back when, the track somehow scheduled two events on the same day one for stock cars and the other for bikes - and the bikes lost out. * That's not all that's going on there at Lions: some weekly drags are occurring and some near record runs just about every weekend like the eight·cylinder "2x4" Honda two weeks ago which beat, by the way, Tim Mark and not Sonny Raslawski... * RvQ9P * * * Some quickies: Bob Bailey is looking to get together a conglomerate of machines for '72 so he can pursue "a higher National number"... Bruce Brown's "On Any Sunday" has already broken even and the rest is now profit•..The District 37 Competition Commi ttee is seriously considering allowing two-strokes to compete in Heavyweigh t competition; it is presently illegal by the rulebook."Sammy Tanner, who recently won his 400th official professional half·mile, has something big up his sleeve; watch for it soon on TV and/or radio ... * International .,Report ••• MV, makers of the incredible 350 and 500 Grand Prix road racers that Giacomo Agostini has campaigned for the past ten years with unprecedented success, had the crummiest day in a long time September 12 at Monza. B,oth of Ago's machines broke while newly·signed Alberto Pagini's 350 four crunched a clutch. The Italian spectators in the stands were speechless... Young Barry Sheene hangs on to the 125 World Championship lead by a thread as he goes into the last decisive round. He has a broken wrist, to contend with, among other things, as he meets Angel Nieto, the only man who can ace him, at the Spanish Grand Prix. At the same race, Rod Gould, also barely hanging on, will go up against Phil Read, a privateer who has held ~e lead all year until recently. West German Dieter Braun also has a good shot at the Championship if these two don't place well. John Banks will appear on the Trans-AMA circuit aboard a CZ. Banks rode BSA til they dumped motocross a few weeks back and rode Husqvarna until the Czechoslovakia factory signed him. if By Maureen Lee By reports coming out of the last desert enduro it was more than evident that a few of the troops got done in by the heat, so we'd like to comment a bit on that. Why anyone would risk, and I mean risk, the desert without water with them is beyond me unless they were a little bit addlepated. Now before half of the desert brigade gets out pens and paper and starts writing nasty letters to the paper declaring "What does she know about it? We've been riding desert for years and never had no trouble, etc." just think on this a bit. It wasn't too many moons ago when people didn't do much desert riding in the heat of the summer, it was dam near deserted but times have changed and racing continues when even snakes and lizards have the sense to keep under their rocks. The rider who can rejoice in the name of "desert rat" knows what he's doing out there from experience. Not only that, the front runners have their clubs 'and sponsors and hoards of friends keeping tabs on them should trouble arise and he knows what his physical condition must be. But now we have all the hundreds of novices having a go of it, some of them of tender years and a vast majority of them so new to racing they have no idea how to get started and are jumping in feet first. Fine, there's no teacher like experience but the experience of heat prostration is not one to be taken lightly. It happens so fast you, can't believe it. Should you be off the trail, lost and take a cropper you could very easily die, and without too much time wasted either. If you are lucky enough to just flame out, someone is going to be put to a lot of trouble to get you back in whether it be Rescue 3, the ambulance or the host club. A canteen could be the difference of between being hauled in or limping into the pit or next check under your own power. Statistics show that the armed forces end up accepting one in seven draftees because the youth of American is basically that physically unfit. Lovely, ain't it, when other countries on less money can produce healthier people. Americans just poop out too easily in too great a number. So going on the fact that most of us aren't in the shape we should be you know that heat is going to get to you faster. So when the desert does get a little hotter than usual, take. something with you, huh? It's just basic survival, not being a pantywaist. Wouldn't you rather be a happy pantywaist finishing your event than a vomiting, cramped up "hero" huddled under a bush praying someone will find you and maybe wishing the kangaroo rats would go off and hold their nightly barn dance somc:.where else ana let you die in peace? I would. A canteen doesn't take much mounting on a bike, and we've seen some on some desert sleds belonging to some big names when the weather called for it. Maybe a ruling to make canteens mandatory under certain conditions would do the trick for those who don't care enough to think a hit. But one thing we'll guarantee .. .if you ever get a taste of what heat prostration, you won't be out there again without !2.~!ting!... _ By Russ Sanford Z'BERG DECLARES WAR ON MOTORCYCLISTS From his most recent actions, it would appear that Assemblyman Z'berg has mounted an all-out campaign against motorcycles and other off-road vehicles. On Thursday, September 8, just four days before the scheduled hearing of AB 3069 by the Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee, Assemhlyman Z'berg's office fumished me with copies of his latest. amendments to the Bill. In what can be termed as an all-out effort to eliminate off-road vehicles, AB 3069 is being amended to prohibit off-road vehicles on state lands except where the Department of Parks and Recreation has established and designated areas and trails specifically {or off·road vehicles. Mr. Z'berg has also added other amendments including an additional category to AB 3069 which specifies areas to be considered for closure to off-road vehicles. This 25th category reads: "Areas requested to be closed to recreational use by off-highway motor vehicles hy an city, county, city and country special district, or state or federal agency." An additional amendment reads: "The Department of Parks and Recreation shall, in conjunction with the Department of Fish and Game and the United State Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service, study and inventory all state lands to determine which of such lands shall be recommended' as suitahle for recreational use by off-highway vehicles. State lands not recommended hy the Department of Parks and Recreation as suitable for recreational use by off-highway motor vehicles shall be closed to such vehicles." The.re are other less significant amendments and one which authorizes reimbursement to the Off-Highway Vehicle Fund from any matching funds received by the state from the federal govemmenL ACTION REQUIRED By the time you read this, the Committee will have heard AB 3069. I will be there offering testimoney in defense of our righ ts. We have reported on AB 3069 at least three times in the VOICES (Cont'd. from page 4) I$'eat part of the success of the movie (attendance) may have been due, we suspeCt, to the average rider who hopes to see himself thus depicted. Yes, Bruce Brown made a very good movie - but, we feel he mised out on making a great movie - by catering to the shop owners, and shop and factory-sponsored stars, and the millionaires who can afford a stable of bikes, and the professional people, in general. If this letter sound "sour-grapish" it is! - after all - I did plunk down $2.50 in hopes of spotting my kid in the picture, didn't you? ADELE SALINSKY p~~ recent past. However, from all indications not very many of you have written to your Senators protesting this Bill. There is a possibility that I can 'stop' AB 3069 in Committee, but if I am not successful, there is only one opportunity left. And, that is tQ have it voted down when it reaches the'Senate floor. If you haven't yet written to your Senator asking him to vote "NO" on AB 3069, you have just two courses of action: . I. Write a letter NOW! You only have about a week (at the most) after you read this before the Bill will be heard by the entire Senate. 2. Take a vacation, get your dirt-bike out and ride like hell before they shut us out entirely! ON ANOTHER SIDE In a recent MORE Newsletter, I wrote: "motorcyclists throughout the state are in the process of establishing a 'war chest' for the express purpose of defeating Assemblyman Z'berg at the polls by throwing all-out support behind any opponent who will work with the motorcyclists. " Since that newsletter was distributed, I have received numerous contributions, from clubs and individuals which are earmarked for the "Z'berg War Chest". ,What I have no objection to collecting and holding these funds for that purpose, I wish to make it quite clear that I neither started nor am heading such a campaign. I was merely reporting information which has been communicated to this office. In this respect, several large motorcycle associations representing several thousand persons who have actively and successfully engaged in politics of this nature in the past, h,ave volunteered to help spearhead such a campaign in Sacramento during the next elections. Their reasoning being that Mr. Z'berg has repeatedly shown his feelings against mo torcycling, and because he represents a portion of the Sacramento Area, he would serve as an example to other legislators that motorcyclists are organized, know "how" to use the system, and will not allow themselves to be treated as second-rate citizens. In my personal opinion, Mr. Z'berg will be a difficult man to beat at the polls. In spi~e of many prior adversities, he has always succeeded. However, there may be some solace in knowing something that Mr. Z'berg apparently does not know: that se\ U

• Cover