Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

" ... ".0; . ., Latest and firmest word from people wIIo should know is lhat the U.s. contingent for the Motocross des Nations in the Netherlands this September will consist of (in no particular order): Gary Jones and Jim Weinert on Yamahas, Brad Lackey on a Kawasalti and Jim Pomeroy on Bultaco. This, and the Trophee des Nations motocross are the big end of season events in Europe where all the guys on the GP circuit and the national heroes get together and go at it. Well, it's a . little more sophisticated than that but you get the idea. Lotta prestige in winning or placing well. * * ... f ... ... N - '" gi g; < ~ w Z W ..J U >U * Hang Ten has moved a long way from making surfer T-shirts. Besides calling themselves Hang Ten International (They have an office in Hawaii, maybe?) they have now announced that they are going to sponsor the Trans·AMA motocross at Cartsbad in November. Next Hang Ten leathers and perforated jerseys, no doubt. In '73, the Carlsbad GP will count toward the World 500cc Championship if all goes well this time. * * * * * * Speedway promoter Harry Oxley has promoted. a new promotional item, as well he should, being a promoter and all. To wit, speedway post cards with pictures of your favorite cinders stars, both at rest (So you can see what they look like with their helmets ofL) and in action (If you don't much like what you see when they take their helmets ofL). Your aunt in Keokuk that keeps asking you to write would really dig having one of these slipped in the mail to her. She'd either dig it or quit pestering you to write to her. Get 'em where they race. Been wondering what's been happening to the Bultaco dealer-distributor·partsbikes, etc. organization lately? No? Well, we have. It seems that some definite changes have been made in the way what things are. Cemoto American will import and distribute Bultaco mott;lrcycles themselves from a base in Northern California. This will be direct from Barcelona. Cemoto East will warehouse and distribute Bultaco parts direct to dealers from their current location on the East Coast. Bultaco does not have any immediate plans to set up a subsidiary or distributor in the Orange County area of California. That's the straight skinny as of this week. Now only one question remains: Whose going to handle getting the Buls homologated and approved by the AMA? . * * * We made passing reference to a new track/bike park some issues ago by the name of Oak Hill Wheel World. They are now open for business, catering primarily to the family that wants a weekend of riding or anybody that wants ·to cruise the hills without hassle. Featured goodies are water and electricity hookups for 150 campers, permanent toilets and hot water showers. They are currently putting in an MX course and a European Scrambles course. They're at the top of the Cajon pass, about 25 miles north of San Berdoo where it really is cooler than it is down lower. Clubs that might want to throw an event can call 7 14/244-2422 and somebody will answer and ask what you want and then you can tell them. Skinflints take note: It only costs a buck per bike per day. • * • Intercepted Mike Goodwin of Leisuietech (those friendly folks who brought you the Superbowl of Motocross in the Coliseum) on his way to Bonneville where he is driving a potential record-breaker. He allowed as how they now have an event in the wind that will make the Coliseum MX seem like a regular Sunday race. 'It could be no more than wind, as Mike admitted, but remember that a lot of people said that motocross in the LA Coliseum would never make it. It'll be interesting to see what happens. * * * Reg Pridmore, the o~tstandingroad racer and sidecar pilot of particular note, is in teres ted in starting a US Side car Association.·If you are interested in the three·wheel deal, you can write him at 2139 Gillespie Street in Santa Barbara, California 93101. * * * How do you get a Yamaha in the back of a Subaru that is set up to deliver Pizza? Ask Pizza Bill. * * * "This is a fine time to tell me you've never ridden monkey before!" around like the testers of that new 75cc Honda SL-ish thing that is going abou t its business here and there. The difference between it and the plain old down-home SL·70 is that it has a vertical engine instead of the one that lays down on the job in the current version. Also it packs the punch of five extra cc's. How long, we wonder, til' all of Honda's little dirt bikes turn into two-timing ringy-dings? Is there nothing that phases Number One? * * * OOPS AND APOLOGIES DEPARTMENT: Richard H. Creed was responsible for those truly nifty photos of the road racing on the street of Austin, Texas in the last issue of this pUblication. Creed, incidentally, is so committed to the sport that he lives on Enfield Road. Then there were the photographs taken by Dan Mahony for Ascot which got overlooked by ·the photo-credit department. Sorry, guys. * * * "Big Bike" magazine has taken on Dave ("I wouldn't touch a chopper with a ten foot pole") Hetzler as its Editor-in-Chief. He will also be another David ("I never met a bike I couldn't crash") Swift and act as occasional Feature Editor for dusty old "Dirt Bike". All this comes to pass on September the first, but liis name won't appear on the magazine for ages since they are only a monthly and have this several decade lag-time. BB's gain is another monthly's loss. Ah, the politics of the long-time big-time. * • * * * * According to one of the mechanics at CZ, our editor is "a mickey mouse mechanic". The editor explains it this way. "I bought my 400 CZ in the box, put it together, and it wouldn't run." More details if they become available. In the last issue on page 26 there was an AMA press release that announced the new phone and address effective August 21. Problem was that we left out a number in the zip code which should be 43081. The whole thing reads: 33 Collegeview Road, Westerville, Ohio, 43081, and the phone in the AMA's headquarters will ring if you dial 614/891.2425. Everybody's got something to hide 'cept Norton who readily admit that they are * * * working on a machine in the Further information on the neighborhood of 900cc. No folks, it above.mentioned "mickey mouse won't be a multi, just a good old twin. mechanic" has come to light. When the Like a berserk Commando it will go. But operating of the motorcycle was at-Ie'"an tllty'lldtrlit it"'Md"ltlJno1t' sneak> • ""l!xlnailfllt. 'ttle lIltitoc.·.......-ov.erlleard-. mutter, "Typical Communist trick!" They didn't say you had to put pre-mix in it...and them stirring up all that trouble in the Middle East when a CZ uses both gas and oil." Live and learn. * * * * • * * * * The folks out at Saddleback tell us that the various concerned govermental agencies are now handing out tickets valued at ahout $55 for all you turkeys who are riding around out where you shouldn't be without a spark arrestor. Contrary to a previous AMA announcement, the AMA Competition Congress will meet October 9·12 and not those In November. Applications for approval of motorcydes must be received by September 8. JARNO SAARINEN seems to be the new superman of road racing. Aboard his Yamahas absolutely trounced the opposition at the recent John Player International held at Silverstone in England. He wasn't up against unknowns, either. The competition included Paul Smart, John Cooper, Rod Gould and Phil Read among others. In the 250 eveilt he beat Rod Gould by 2.8 seconds, and they both posted a new lap record that was 3.4 seconds faster than Barry Sheene's old record. In the 350 event he was only able to knock a second off of Giacomo Agostini's old record in beating Mick Grant. Then Saarinen climbed back on his 350 Yamaha for the 1000cc event. He led for the entire distance and finished 12 seconds ahead of Percy Tait on a 750 Triumph and once again set a new lap record. The old record was held by Paul Smart. Someboday (either Yamaha or the promoters) definitely should see about getting the Flying Finn over here for On tario. It would be very interesting. Phil Read won the 500 event on an MV and broke Agostini's old record for the class. Saarinen wasn't entered in that class. He also has a superfox of a friend to keep his lap times for him. Hubba, hubba. * * * Hodaka (who is tested in this issue) has some bigger beasties coming along. They are working on a 250 that will have available a kit to take it out to about 356cc. The present 125 can be taken out to 175cc so Hodaka will have to be considered as having a full range of machine from 100 to 360. * * * . ~nelli ,;" ..mak~. '2aO.... N~ojt"'f;.. twin for the pavement. How about that? * • • We were talking with an executive of a well·known motorcycle firm who is a volunteer fireman in his spare time. Recently he was involved in a call where a bike rider (on a chopper as it happens) pulled out in front of an on-coming auto without looking. Neither the rider or his girl passenger were wearing helmets. Our motorcycle industry friend ended up riding in the ambulance with the girl who summarily died. There were no broken bones, and our friend is convinced that a helmet would have saved her. His feelings about Helmet legislation have undergone considerably re-thinklng. You yo·yo's who don't want to wear helmets might at least carry one for your passengers who don't care to die with you. * * * * • * A Norton in the capable hands of T.C. Christenson has set a new world drag racing record. He pushed his twin-engined fueler to a terminal speed of 180.13 mph at U.S. 30 drag strip in Gary, Indiana on July 29. lronicly, he lost the race. In a previous run against Joe Smith, Christenson went 179 mph. In the faster run against Boris Murray, Christenson got a bad start, but managed the faster speed. The latest word from Russ Penny, the BLM district manager, on desert use is a lot more encouraging than the initial draft of the land use regs. It boils down to the face that a performance bond up to the amount of $1000 may be requirea at the discretion of the district. This should work out that clubs and organizations with good reputations for cooperation and performance will have a small, or no, bond requirement. Sponsoring agencies will be required to repair road crossings, survey marks and the like along the course. Sanitary facilities, not necessarily chemical toilets, and first aid plus ambulance service will be required. The BLM is waiving the previous requirement for liability and personal injury insurance. The $ 2 per rider or 10% of the gross fee has also been dropped. However, the sponsoring club or organization must certify that land owners along the course were contacted or attempted to be contacted. No written permission is required. The Desert Fox toddled in with that capsule summary and it looks a lot better than the initial set of ~~u.if"Ip,-qy. •

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