Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

... . 1 o ",' .; u ~ w Z W ..J U > U IYIII I •• "America's No. 1 weekly motorcycle newspaper. You'll always see it FIRST in Cycle News'" TWO STROKES OF BAD LUCK I read your column on page 19 of Cycle News, dated 28 Sept. 1971, which state "The District 37 Competition Committee is seriously considering allowing two strokes to compete in the Heavyweigh t Competition; it is pTesently illegal by the rule book". I have checked with Mr. Mike Vancil, Director of Sportsman Competition for AMA, and have found that it never was illegal to run two strokes in the Heavyweight Division, provided the piston displacement matched the class. Further, Mr. C.R. Wheat and his rider, Jeff Sexton, are currently in the District 37 Scrambles point lead riding 400 and 501cc Maicos. Mr. Wheat has presented the Dirt Diggers the interpretation of the rules as given by Mr. Vancil so that no hassles come about for the annual Hopetown Dirt Diggers event. BRIAN FABRE General Manager 'Cooper Motors 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 LeH uray Production Assistant ., Ed Drechsler Advertisi ng Assistant .. Barbara Richard Bookkeeper Dorothea Lang Bookkeeper Ass't. . Eleanor Duke Lab Technician Larry Groves spend two days trying to locate by phone over 120 riders from here to Las . Vegas, Nev., to let them know of this cancellation; however, there were many people for whom we were unable to obtain any phone number, either it was not on their ACA application or they had moved, etc. This is the type of situation which arises once in a while that shows how important it is that a rider keep. the association he belongs to up·to-date as far as address and phone number are concerned. WESCOOLEY ACA Pres. WAY TO GO, FANIS Concerning the happenings at Carlsbad on the weekend of September 18 and 19; 1 was there. The problems I 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 '(ears 2nd class mail Single copy price . . ~ .. ,~ · .$9.00 · $15.00 · $18.00 · . $.30 anyone really smashed, continued consumption of the brew places an extreme hardship on the kidneys and bladder. Several of the brighter spectators who wouldn't, or at least didn't, try to make it to the restrooms between motos, decided that a nearby clump of trees would suffice and watered the earth in the shade of the noon day sun. This act was appreciated least by the ladies nearby; about three feet in one instance. At least these gentlemen turned their back to the ladies. These mental giants' cunning and resourcefulness was appreciated by a great many as the afternoon breeze began to waft the stench around the area. Everyone seems concerned about how much the American riders have You fell into our trap! It is a well known fact that 2-strokes are not equipped with Over Head Valves. Because of this and the phrase " ...illegal by the rule book," which was contained in the original statement, we direct your attention to the following quote taken from the 1971 District 37 Sports Committee Rulebook, Competition Rules Supplement, Page 6, Article 1, Section 11. "Heavyweight machines (sic) classes shall be: 251·350, 351 OHV - 500 OHV (and up to 750cc SV), 501 OHV and over (and 751cc SV and over)." As you can see, 2·strokes were just plain left out. The rule is an old one, written before the advent of the 2·stroke, and just never got changed. Since the oversight is unenforceable, a rule change is in the mill. By the way, ALL - not just scrambles - District 37 events are under the same rule; that means desert, endurosand motocross... P.W. MY FALL(T) I would like to publicly thank the Prospectors M.C. for the help and kindness they gave me when I unloaded in front of their campsite after the Cactus Cats Hare Scrambles. Their generous attitude was especially noteworthy considering that my crash resulted from a collision with a Prospector and was primarily due to excessive speed on my part. Thanks Prospectors - you can crash . in my camp anytimel "PORTLY" NICHOLSON S.G.V.M.C. By the way, Bob, did you get accepted by the Mickey Mouse M.C., huh, huh? ... Ed. THANKS FOR THE LIFT May I use your column to thank each and every member of the Can-Am group, who went north, for the wonderful treatment they accorded my son, Terry Bilton, who shattered his rt/collarbone. Terry diced with a Northern Husky rider and crashed just , short of the finish line. At this point he became air-borne and crossed the line in the air to take the checkered flag. Knowing he could not stand the 48 hour .drive home, the entire group chipped in and purchased a plane ticket so he could get to Southern Calif. and receive medical atten tion. This typical generous act only substantiates what a great bunch we have in the off-road cycle group. Terry is healing fine and say "Thanks" to everyone. JAY BILTON Woodland Hills, Calif. SHORT NOTICE The American Cycle Association would like to extend its apologies to any riders or fans who might have been inconvenienced by the cancellation of the ACA's road race scheduled at Riverside Raceway on September 19th. The ACA did not know until Friday noon prior to the event that a mixup had occurred in the scheduling of races at Riverside; they had apparently also scheduled a two-day car event. We did VOICES OF THE WEST noted (long lines, not enough restrooms, dusty track in some spots, poor PA system, inexperienced flagmen at so.me corners, etc.) weren't really problems, just nuisances. If 1 had it to do all over again, I'd go again. The promoters did a fair job for an. even t of this size. Although it seems they could nave been a little better prepared. This was the first really big one, so they have a good excuse. The real trouble is not in the'1001 details the promoters must ring out, but in the behavior of the spectators. I don't know what wen t on around the full length of the course, but I do know what went on by us near the mud chutes and water hole. First, few people there apparently" wanted the whole thing to start because it took at least half an hour to get enough people off the course to start practice. The flagmen and the announcer yelled themselves blue in the face telling people to get back and stay off the track; that practice was about to start. Well, anyway, after numerous fence skirtings, jumpings, and crunchings, a couple of brave riders made it around for a lap and I guess people began to remember why they caine. After this disregard for order and authority was flaunted, the destruction of the fences (in four places that ['couldsee) began. [ saw one flagman valiantly try to reestablish the boundary only to have it flattened moments later. Was the flagman trying to keep someone from having fun? Obviously, of course not! He was just trying to do his job and more importantly, keep someone from getting killed. Which brings us to a third point. If it were up to me, once a moto has started, anyone caugh t on the track would be thrown out of the park. But some (Ha! many!) people seemed to deJight in strolling across the course in the middle of each of the motos and not even necessarily in a lull, if there is such a thing as a lull. [ personally witnessed seeing a young man of perhaps 10 or 11 years of age literally come within inches of being creamed by someone in one of the International motos. Now to the most disgusting part. I can only assume that a great many spectators can only enjoy a race while consuming more beer than they should. Although I didn't see any signs of improved from year to year and how they compare with the European riders. The American riders are doing OK. I can only hope that come December 5 at Saddleback, the American spectator will have improved as much. GENE SMARTE Cucamonga, Calif. REQUESTING INFORMATION I would greatly appreciate your printing a note in your publication requesting information 011 the whereabouts of a Bell & Howell Super Eigh t Movie Camera, carrying case and exposed film (2 rolls of great shots!), all or which was last seen flying through the air when myself and five friends were struck by a Husky rider who lost it on the back downhill at Carlsbad, Sept. 19. I would certainly feel bad having to come away from such a fine day of racing with nothing to show for it but a broken ankle and the loss of equipment which has provided many hours of pleasan t reminiscing and further exposure of the great spectator sport of dirt racing to my uninitiated friends. MICHAELJ. TOLEN 714/645-4278 1,000,000 THANX That Rescue 3 is a fantastic group of people - one can't realize how amazing they are until you need them like I did at the Cactus Cats race on Sept. 19th. A million thanks to them. BOB RETTKE Antelope Ramblers M.C. HEY, I WON In your Sept. 28 issue, Oscar Terrazas was in error in his reporting of the' races in Tamaulipas, Mexi"o. In the Open class, 1 led from the fourth lap to the finish. Sam Galvan 'Vas running second when he fell. The United States would have, won" the team trophy, but a rider from McAllen, Texas gave· his points to Mexico. HOWARD WINCHESTER Corpus Christi, Tex. M.O.R.E. ON ACCIDENTS The Sept, 14 issue of Cycle News contained a letter from Jim Davis stating his experience with ·an insurance company seven years following a 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, 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. two·bike accident in the desert. I mailed the Cycle News article to the CHP requesting comment. Mr. Elmer A . Brown, Assistant Chief /?ivision of Driver's Licenses (P.O. Box 2431, Sacramento, 95811) has replied: "While Section 1806 of the Vehicle Code requires the Department to file all accident reports and abstracts of court records of conviction received, only maj,or abstracts of conviction, such as drunk or reckless driving, etc., are reported for ten years. Accidents records and minor abstracts are not reported from driving records after 37 months." ..Acciden ts which occur on private property are not reportable under requirements of the Security Following Accident Law. The case in point indicates that a law enforcement report was made because of the personal injury involved. " "If the bike rider will write to me, I will I)e glad to furnish a copy of his dTiving record showing all accident reports older than 37 months have been removed." ~ I would suggest that Mr. Davis, or anyone else who is interested, contact Mr. Brown at the above address. Of course, this in no way alters the true fact which Mr. Davis reported concerning the eff,eet of an off-road crash on your insurance pr~mium if the accident is reported. RUSS SANFORD M.O.R.E. P.O. Box 26062 Sacramento, Calif. 95826 Here's what's coming up: ·..An interview with John Penton, conducted by our own enduro-freak, Ron Schneiders. Ron visited John in Ohio during the recent Jack Pine Enduro and came back with a revealing essay on the man behind those marvelous machines. Ron says, "Creative force is a rare commodity these day." Why did he say that? . * ---The postponed AMA National at Nazareth; the big mile. With the race for Grand National Championship getting so tight, anything could happen. Gene Romero fell at Ascot and everyone thought he was psyched and then he turned around and won at Oklahoma City ... so what will Buggs and Jim Rice do? A full report, as usual, on the next-to-last National that might very well decide the Grand National Championship. * ---And if it doesn't, then Ontario will. More information designed to get you pumped up on the biggest motorcycle race in the history of the universe. You'll knew everything before the race starts after reading part II of an indepth preview. Impress your friends. * ---The Trans-AMA at Unadilla. Now that Maico has arrived, will Suzook get beat again? What does the fates have in.store for the two flne teenagers, Tim Hart and Doug Grant, who are currently cutting up the Support class? Find out. * ---And 'the usual stuff: MORE, Maureen, 'swell ads, pretty pictures, good taste, maybe a typo or two. and good 01' Papa Wealey will be everywhere again.

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