Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125802
... choosing the teams, lain 't gonna say no more as I've said it before. Still, one thing I poin ted ou t that a good motocrosser or desert rider makes good ISDT material was born out by three gold medals who went to Gene Cannady, Dirt Diggers North member Carl Cranke, and Lars' Larsson. CongratuJations gen tlemen and to all you others who brough t something home with you, be it gold, silver or bronze. If it's one thing columnists like to get occasionaiy, it's a letter from a reader. Sometimes they are pro and sometimes con and sometimes written by someone who missed the point entirely of what you are saying. Got one last week from a Trials rider in San Diego named Craig Hunter. He objected quite strongly to my use of the term "plopping" around in observed trials. Apparen tly he's also been getting lots of static from people who say Trials riders are over the hill and that his field of motorcycling is constan tly being pu t down by the press and the glamor boys of racing. Not so, and certainly not by me" even he does think I don't know much about Trials, heh heh. I don't ride 'em, not yet anyway, but did score at one of the very first Trials ever held in Southern California, watching with deligb t the riding of the Brokaws on .their Matchless thumpers. J grew up in the cou,ntry tnat originated the sport and own what could b'e the finest Trials machine in the country, a 186 lb. (wet) Special built by Triss Sharp for his own use. Triss used one of his own WASP frames, Eric Bikoni Announces Money Schedule 1973 Prize Consistent with their efforts to support the sport of motorcycling in'the United States, Bikoni Ltd., importers of Koni shock absorbers, announces their support of the 1973 AMA road race series of National events with a schedule of totaling $1,500.00 A II the class winners of the nationally' scheduled races of all the AMA sanctioned road races will share the announced purse. . Natlona" Championship Race Wl.nner 250' Combined Junior/Expert Winner Junior Winner Novice Winner $100. 50. 40. 25. In addition to the cash awards Bikoni will offer trackside technical assistance and suspension information and recommendations at all events. _-- ... - .-... (") ~ Cheney built him the tank and Sammy Miller helped out with the exhaust system. It was a quarter turn throttle that gives one quite an experience when the 250 modified Villiers comes on, runs under water almost up to tank level and goes like hell as Trials in England are much faster than the ones here, a bit more deadly and usually feature, in South of England anyway, an impossible looking hill to get up. To the use of word "popping", what else do you do on a Trials machine? Being a test of skill, one can't charge through boulders. You pick your way delicately, not dial it on. I think the Trials club with the name "The Plonkers M.e." came up with a darn good name for themselves as plonking is the name of the game. When Craig's acquaintences get to giving him a bad time I suggest he asks them if they consider Mi\;e Andrews or Sammy Miller over the hjll. In Europe, the top motocross stars ride Trials every, winter to develop more skill in bike handling and to keep in sbape. Is Jim Wilson over tbe hill? Not on yow' Nellie! Trials master par excellence, I've . seen Jim climb trees on his ...er. ..begins with a G. Then there's a couple of bods named Gary Bailey who could do the imp ssible of a stationary machine and Danny Hockie who was a Master before he started off riding sportsman even ts, and that's only three riders fot starters. And to sec road race slar Tony Murphy ride Trials is a sight to,behild. Nope, I think Craig is letting h is buddies get to him, so just grin at 'em and work for that Master place. It's worth it.'Come up and say "Hi." if you fi'nd I'm at a Trials. A closing tbought,- after seeing the works learns really cash in at the ISDT. I have a little dream. For a 100% American bike with a fully fielded team a la European style, a bike prepared here by Americans for Americans so they wouldn't have to compete against the "works" versions of the same brand tl,ey have to tide which are often stockers and sometimes worse than thar, and I betcha we would knock the socks off some of the olher coun tries_ If some thought was put into it, we have the talent here in this country, if anyone is in terested. Look at the excellent frames being produced here, such as Red I.ine and Trackmaster. They could come up with a good frame and so could Dallas Baker or Dick Mann. Then surely Mercury, Evinrude or Johnson outboard companies could design one howler of a two·stroke. Mere has used reed valves for years, and all the companies have tremendous racing plants for boa.ts. Why nOl bikes? 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