Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

... I!i, '" Chal'les Clayton Sharon Clayton Cl. N .... 0'> N N C> ~ « ~ w Z w -' U > U aJI~1 Tom Culp General Manager John Bethea .......••••••......Managing Editor John Huener ., ...•.................... Editor Art Friedman .....•............ Assistant Editor Ed Drechsler .......• Advertising Manager Kate Thorpe .......•....... Advertising Assistant Circulation Manager Rheba Smith Marla Tarbet .......•....... Circulation Assistant Circulation Assistant Larry Diamond .....• Paul Boudreau .....•........ Production Manager Howie Fowler .......•...... Production Assistant Larry Groves .......•........... lab Technician Marion Hatashita ....•.............Typographer Bobi Culp . . .. .....•.... Assistant Typographer Randy Dietzel ......•............. Bookkeeper Number 1 weekly Barbara Bebeck .....•..... Bookkeeping Assistant newspaper. You'll Squeeky Haynes General Secretary first in Cycle News. Computer Technician Hector Aguilera Mcmbe(,--=~~~ Beverly Townsend Receptionist 4 MOTORCYCLe INDUSTRY COUNCIL ••••••• 4 11111. America's motorcycle always see it National Advertising Director (Cycle News West, Cycle News East, Cycle News Dixie): Tom Culp. Publisher _. _.•....... Business Manager 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, second class mail 2 years, second class mail 3 years, second class mail Single copy price MfiC I SMALL TIME? I was greatly impressed with Ron Schneiders' well-thought-out and infonnative critique of the ISDT selection in the August 8 Cycle News. It was possibly inadvertent., but Mr. Schneiders poin ted up very well the AMA's general incompetence and lack of feeling for the cycling sport, just about what one would expect from an industry owned and operated bunch of small-time businessmen. And the AMA has a positive genius for picking people who bring very little experience to their job - perhaps they do it because people with little experience tend to work cheap. The AMA is to motorcycling as the Photognphic Society of America is to photography - only a very small percen tage of cyclists belong to AMA just as a miniscule percen tage of photogs belong to the PSA. Perhaps it is because neither group has much to of(er their respective prospective members ... Think on it. DOUG RICHMOND Oakland, Calif. 510 $17 $21 S.35 Major Inside Reports COLUMN: LATEST POOP .........• . ........•................... 7 10 EDITORIAL AND OPiNION 12 FEATURE: STREET RACIN' IN TEXAS ................•...........16 TEST: MONARK 125 ENDURO 18 SECTION: CENTR'AL .: .............................•...........24 SECTION: NORTH ......................•......•... '•...........26 NATIONAL: PEORIA TT 32 MOT-C>CROSS: CMC CARLSBAD 36 INDIAN DUNES PRO MX BAYMARE JUNIOR MX INTERVIEW: JACK KNEBEL 44 RESULTS : 46 CALENDAR .....•...................................... : 52 MX CAT 58 TEST~DOUBLE DKW 125s 1250A I am writing in correction of the article on the Vipers Hare Scrambles at Lucerne Valley, California on July 23. In the article it was stated that Tom Brooks rode to first overall, and that, it was the first time a 125 has ever won overall in the desert. Your article is in error because, on March 5, 1972, the River Valley MC put on a 100 mile Hare Scrambles just south of the California State line, near Searchlight, Nevada. In this particular race, JackJohnson on a'I25 Penton led from the first lap to the last. Thus he was first overall. One month later, April 9, 1972, at the same place, but a different course, Jack Johnson held a five minute lead over Max Switzer on a 400 Husky. On the last lap, however, Jack (still way abead of everybody else, broke down about 10 miles back in the desert, with ignition troubles. ROBERT GABRIEL Las Vegas, Nevada LIONS Y5. CHRISTIANS I have a question concerning H.G. Hardy's article "Suicide Splashdown". Didn't that kind of sport go out of style with the Christian/lion games? LAKE I RlDER O KEVIN W. WHITAKER Pomona, Calif. CHEAP A t the place I go to race, I have never seen 100 Intennediates or 100 Experts. I think they should make a third class because I race 100 juniors and when we get better we have no place to move up into except in size of bikes. So, don't we deserve a little credit? After all, we try too. MIKE DePHlLIPS West Covina, Calif. HORNY TOADS THRIVE L- VOICES OF THE WEST get oack on our own. jeffersonian democracy always functions well among the people who know its value. If there are six or seven of your readers who would like to try our style of organization, they can phone (213) 349·1001 or (805) 4954228. CHUCK TALBOTI, Sec'y. Horny Toads M.G. A JOB FOR THE ASKING Reply to Maico Cathi's inquiry about how she can get a job as a motorcycle mechanic. Try applying! If this gal is serious, knows anything about motorcycles, and is willing to relocate, I'll hire her. LINDA M. SENNOTI Yamaha of Sierra Vista Sierra Vista, Ariz. WIPE IT OFF· While reading the letters column in the July 18, 1972 edition of Cycle News, 1 stumbled across the letter by a man (If that's the proper tenn for him), against an article written by Alice Rhea, concerning the off.road vehicle registration. First, though I've only met Alice one time at a Sled-Riders meeting, I get the feeling from the rest of the club that she is doing her darndest to preserve desert racing in So. Cal. So keep your mouth shut until you get the facts straight. Second, I feel that any payload dumb enough to give the gov't. any more money to pu t desert racers ou t of business should have his head in for a rebore. Also if you care anything abou t desert riding, cowtrailing included, put your can of brew (In DeSoto's case, your pineapple juice.) down, get off your fat - and get into gear and write your Congressman, your Senator, and "Uncle Ronnie", and urge them to wipe the law off the books. STEVE KUEHL Anaheim, Galif. A few months ago you published a letter under the head "Desert Anarchy Club." It was an open offer to mature, self-sufficient District 37 riders to join with a group of similar-minded guys iii the formation of a new desert club. The Horny Toads M.G. now thrives, and we're looking for a few more members. We have ten active riders ranging in age from 16 to 48 years. The plurality -starts in the Ex/Am line-up bu t we always have our fledglings. Each man respects the other, rides when he can and not because he has to, and likes the THE MOUTH THAT ROARED dollar-a-year dues arrangement. We also Re. last week's letter from Rich appreciate the surety that a .H"Of!,ll[" ,. ,,f/\1ffql.atl. _GGmIl"fiilg team, SpecpwlOY:o Toad will be there to help us if we can't racing to roller derby and "even Larry .. HuffJ:Ilan is beginning to sound like Dick Lane." Strangely enough I pulled a stint as a roller derby announcer in Honolulu in 1964-65 and let me clue you in, Rich, what's happening on that track ain't nothing like roller derby. To even suggest that team racing has anything in common with the roller games is completely out of line. Sure, team racing puts more pressure on the riders to ride harder - but it also forces them to work as a team - to give their teammate a hand against the other two guys on the track. A t this poin t it's an experiment by the promoters. Some of the fans like it, some don't. But as this is how it's done in Great Britain, the rest of Europ·e, Australia, New Zealand, etc, let's give it a chance. As far as my announcing goes, if it sounds like f'm trying to hype the crowd, my apology - because f'm nol. As you know, Rich, I do tend to get a little excited occasionally. But the only person to ever complain was an out-of-town car racer announcer who told me a couple of years ago to slow down, that the crowd wouldn't get excited anyway. I thanked him for his advice. Let's give team speedway racing a chance. LARRY HU.FFMAN Anabeim, Calif. GIVE TEAMS A CHANCE In reply to Rich Hoffman's letter to Cycle 'News, Aug, 8, concerning speedway team racing at Costa Mesa, Rich, what you saw may have resembled an episocle of "roller derby", but what you actually saw on the track was l~inexperience" . You say this was ~our first experience with team racJng; don't forget that many of the riders are as new to it as you arc. They haven't had the experience needed to refine the tactics and techniques of expert team racing. Europeans they are nol. Until the rider's skill and understanding of team racing is improved, injuries will occur. This is evident in all types of spons. But I would like to clarify a few inciden ts cited. Ed Williams, an excellent rider, :. ) . J . ' t J • l • 1. l~ " Pu 6lished weekly except the first and last week of th1! 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. Copyright€i Cycle News, Inc. 1972 all ri9hts reserved was injured after a tangle with his OWN teammate, Danny Becker. Also, a rough, high traction area in the first turn caused many riders to eat dirt; this attributed to the majority of restarts. Don't condemn team racing before you give it a chance to get started. Let it grow a bit before you judge. Anyway, what's so bad about Dick Lane? BRAD NEWELL Brea, Calif. SCREAMERS! During the last six months, your desert trailbike coverage just hasn't been anything at all. The reports on big bikes have been pretty good, but the average lrailbike report consists of a two line paragnph. _ At the july 30, "Cats/Links" Dual European Scrambles, a total of three lines summed the whole thing up, a1thou~ it did not mention who won either Am/Ex race. It's also nice to read about some racing, not just how they finished. When you look at it, in a way the Trailbikes really have the roughest chore: Riding the smallest bike, and working against lack of recognition. After all, third overall ain't bad. They're gonna get first one of these days; maybe then they'll get coverage. Some of these guys have some good sponsors too, and they like to let people know how their riders are doing. The name "TRA1LBIKES" really doesn't do this class justice; maybe it should be changed to "SCREAMERS". So how about a Httle less "Round the Campfire" and a little more HScreamers" . A DISCONTENTED TRAIL BIKE FAN Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. The Number One Privateer I'm not too sure about the accuracy in your editorials. I have noticed lately they seem to be less and less accurate. Not necessarily wrong but not right either. Example: The National Papers of August 8, 1972 issue. Gary Scott will not be the first private en try to become Number One. My father was No. I in 195 I, riding for Tom Sifton. My adopted brother, Joe Leonard, was also No. 1 as a privateer. He was riding for my father and Tom Sifton, then got a factory ride. Dick Mann was also No.1 as a private entry, the year he rode for himself and Tom Sifton. That year he· rode a Matchless and a BSA.I'm not sure but I think Roger Reiman and Brad Andres were riding ou t of their father's Harley shops when they were No. 1. • Also the last Half-mile National (in the Southeast) wasn't 1948. It was the 14-mile National in September 1950. My father won, Buck Bergance was second and Little joe Weatherly was third, all on Harleys. I'm not trying to' get smart. I just think someone ain't doing enough research. DAN HEADRICK Garden Grove, Cal. HEY KID You, the one with the toy Honda SL70, motocross leathers, full coverage helmet, and dark sweatshirt. Oh ya! One other thing, you have my District 37 numbers! (893c) I think your name is Mark, because something like that is written on the sides of you helmet. When I sent for my picture I got you, SOB. The picture was taken of you at an S.R.A. event,july 2 and mounted on the front of your toy is good ole 893c. I don't expect you to return my lost plates, but don't race with my numbers anymore! MIKE THATCHER -..1 •• 1(, ,,-,; .... ••... S"C~QJ The Real 893c Desert

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