Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

!ly Maureen Lee Being bike riders we're all individualists, and sometimes it seems like we start pulling against each other just for the sheer hell of it (me included) but right now, in the City of Torrance there's really something going on. People got together and are planning a Safety Program to take place later in the year, a one day event to introduce youngsters and older folks as to how to ride bikes safely: street, minis or racing. The city itself has been so co-operative with the group that it's amazing; we all tend to think that voices in govemmen t on any level don't listen; this is proving the point that they do, and the basic plan is being eyed by an even higher level. Maybe we really can communicate with each other. • • • Sure wish ( could have gone to Laguna Seca but the radio coverage was good, although not as good as on racing held in the big ovals. Laguna is a true road racing course and commen tators couldn't see the whole bag at one time. One thing for certaln, it rather showed that some of the boys found out abruptly that it wasn't Daytona! Cal Rayborn's win was great, he's been acknowledged by many as America's best road racer. No wonder, he cut some of his racing teeth at Prado Park and one day beat Billy Holcomb in the 250 AMORAL' FOR OUR TIMES By L. R. Ciupek He turned off the highway and the truck wound its way up the secondary road which even tually would take him to the cut:off into a wild, remote area that had been a favorite of bikers for at (east 40 years. As he drove, he went over some of the tralls in his mind - ones he'd gone over on his 175. He wondered how the 360 would behave on them, especially treacherous Bear Hollow Trall. God, that one was a real monster...his leg healed up just fine in two or thrt.e week.s, about the same time it took him to finish repairing the battered bike. Tbe turnoff already? The graveled road led down into the meadow where they always parked; and after five miles of bumping down and around the dusty surface, he caugh t sight of a familiar-loo~g pick-up. "Boy, it sure tak.es you married guys a long time to get somewhere, doesn't it?" "jim asked with a grin. "Why, it mus be at least eight o'clock!" "Five of". • • • Pa-tum-pa-tum...the engine turned over almost instantly, and immediately he knew it would be one helluva day for riding. While he settled down into the deep foam cushion, twisted the throttle and felt the vibrations under him, he knew how the bike would respond around curves, how the hills would seem to flatten out, and how it would accelerate. Jim had already split. His left hand reached for the clutch lever...and then he was being jogged to his senses by an intruding fmger gen tly tapping on his shoulder. He cu t the engine. The finger was attached to a uniformed figure; and somehow, he fell he just knew what the ranger was going to say. HI'm realy sorry, fella," he said quietly to Potter, "but you can't ride bikes around here, anymore." "This is crazy. We were riding in here just two months ago - nobody came LA HABRA YAMAHA Sales - Service - Parts Basqv..... a~ STREET-MOTOCROSS-DESERT 841 E. Whittier Blvd. La Habra (213) 691-8716 (714) 525-6200 down and chased us off then. Isn't this still governmen t land?" "Guess those conservation people finally got what they wanted. Now, they're the only ones who can enjoy this land." The ranger turned to watch Jim on the Husky, doing a wheelie halfway across the meadow. "You want to tell your buddy, or shall I?" "('II tell him," he muttered. • • • "It's still early - maybe we can find another place?" , "It must be 90...maybe al00 miles around to another area." "Crap. What a (ousy deal - we've been ridin' here for years. Hell, my father rode up in here!" His voice rose in bitterness and frustration. "Who do they think they are? This is supposed to be 'public' land, im't it? Aren't we the public, too? . "You got any idea how much in taxes I paid to this lousy state last year to be included as one of its 'public'? They really soak us single guys...like you wouldn't believe. And now this - an' we haven't even done anything! "I mean, this is my country, right? They can't just take it ~way, righ t? Wrong! Wonder how many other guys are as thickheaded as me?" "What gets me is that there's less than 150,000 of those backpackers, and 2~-million of us. So, guess who's winding up with all the land? That's really democracy, isn't it?" uA lot of this is our oWn fault," he in terrupted. USa, here we are." "You mean, ·Here we aren't,' don't you? Guess I was really wrong on this one. Some people always have to learn everything the hard way." uWell, there's one thing you were right about,Jim, m'boy." HYeah? What's that?" "We really haven't done anything." "Think it's too late to start doin' something?" "'We can't lose anymore than we have already, can we?" "You're on." The H"he" • In .. • class and if you ever wanted to see class going into a tum, it was Holcomb on a little Harley. Still, at Laguna Seca, I had my eye on Paul Smart because of his consistent background on true road courses,lt was still one hell of a race but who knows what migh t have happened if that header pipe hadn't come adrift. Does tend to cut the power a bit! The really great thing about road racing bikes is that you can sit back there for a few laps and then start picking 'em off, one by one and ('d like to b"et that Sunday night, in privacy, some of the early leaders wished they had. The one chap who is really coming on strong on the pavemen t is Gene Romero. (f you saw him charge at Ontario last year, you could see the writing on the wall. ('d like to see the day come when the AMA Grand National Championship gets broken down into separate divisions: dirt track, motocross and road racing as it is in the rest of the world. (t could ,happen as bike racing is growing in leaps and bounds. Almost falnted the other day when dropping in on Long Beach Triumph to see the English are actually getting out Qf their stodgy ways. They've come out with a "72~" 650. Lower seat height, etc. which gets one in much better position with the handlebars. Before, 1 PJink they had the impression that all Americans must be as tall as John Wayne but for a change the Americans were actually able to communicate with England and get something done. Wouldn't you like to see as much world coverage on World Championship motocrosses as we're getting on chess? Those two have been acting like a palr of little kids, while motocross riders just get on with it and do their job. But all that front page coverage on a chess game? Chess is a game of war, played on a board and in the old days William th.e Conqueror is said to have conked the Prince of France across the noggin with the board after loosing a game. Griffons Authorized dealer parts & services Draco's Motorcycles answers 1. c 2. c 3. d 4. d 5. d Bonus: Aug. 8, 1971, Livonia, Mich., IHap Mile National won by Cal Rayborn. Chuck Palmgren took second, Larry Palmgren finished lOth and Dennis Palmgren was 13th. It is the only time three brothers scored poin ts at one National. t~: Sport Cycle CUI- R. Louis (114) 893-1051 inYANNUTS CYCLE CARE PRODUCTS Open 7 days Mon/Thurs. 9·9 Frl. till 6, Sat. 7-5, Sun 7·2 14813 Oxnard St. 91401 FRELAN.INC. (213) 997-7301 WEDNESDAYATlSprn For Issue 32 On Sale Aug. 16 • " , ~~v., 7219 W~tminster Ave., Westminster. Ca. DEADLINE ,iiQM "~/ .... f1~~ J.~ .. f16 Greeves DISPLAY ADVERTISING "AUG. 9 Motorcycles Hodaka Montesa a'I~III.1 this story is you and a'I~11 DISPLAY ADVERTISING DEADLINE me... Ed. WEDNESDAY AT Sprn' AUG. 2 WantedlJ\/' For Issue 31 On Sale Aug. 9 A.embers To represent in government Motorcvcle Owners, Riders, and Enthusiasts PO Box 26062. Sacramento 95826 Designed, Manufactured, Tested and Proven to meet the needs of moto U

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