WRITING AROUND
by Chuck Clayton
The price of freed om
On September 8, 1972 Charles
Simon paid the $3,400 filing fee and
presen ted his case' against mandatory
helmet laws for consideration of hearing
by the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Simon
is pressing the case not only for himself,
but on behalf of all the motorcyclists in
America.
In the 14 months that it has taken to
climb the legal ladder, the helmet case
has cost Charles Simon about 27,000.
Over $15,000 was Simon's own money,
and he is not a rich man. He believes so
strongly in American justice that he sold
his home for the cause. Other
motorcyclists have contributed
generously. The AMA Executive
Committee voted $2,500 and Hap Jones
Distributing Co. gives one dollar for
every Hap Jones helmet sold - the
checks arrive regularly, every mon th.
This newspaper contributed $200 cash
and a couple of thousand dollars worth
of advertising space.
Sometime this month, we'll know
whether the Supreme Court agrees to
take the test case. If not, Charles Simon
is out $27,000 and still has to give up
riding or else have a helmet made special
for his unusual head. If the Supreme
Court does agree to hear the case, the
legal fees will cost at least another
525,000 - and we still could lose.
However, the Boston Law firm of
Crane, Inker and Oteri is represen ting
motorcyclists in this case and they have
a good track record with the Supreme
Court. So, next time you need a good
helmet, shop around and see what Hap
Jones has to offer, commend the AMA
for its help, keep on reading Cycle ews
and save your money - Charles V.
Simon may need it. '
*
*
*
*
*
Onward and upward with Triumph
. Last week I had the pleasure of
breaking bread with Dr. Felix A.
Kalinsky, the new Presiden t of BSA Inc.
Dr. Kalinsky is a distinguished man of
medium size who looks accustomed to
command, yet appears capable at any
time of rolling up his cuffs and wading
in where there is work to be done. The
subject. of work dominated Dr. K's
*
*
*
*
~iQi811ent...
7@nWide.
Within the past year, Assemblyman Chappie has introduced three separate bills to "provide greater safety for road-riders through the signing and even tual elimination of N
....
highway rain grooves. As the result of this legislation, the California Division of ~
Highways has completed their initial studies and is ready to act upon this 'highway
N
menace' to motorcyclists.
.
Motorcyclists are encountering two separate, but similar, problems with highway t;
surfaces. The first are those surfaces into which grooves were cut after the highway 0
I. Leave a two-foot smooth-surfaced strip on the right-hand side of the outside lane, U
and,
.
2. Erect signs 1000 feet in advance of the rain grooves/brushed surfaces to alert
motorcyclists of the poten tial danger.
3. The Division of Highways has suggested painting wavy lines on the pavement
surfaces in lieu of erecting signs. Their reasoning is that the painted lines will be
easier to see at nigh t and will not require the motorcyclist to take his eyes off the
road in front of him.
Your help is badly needed. To get this program under way, the Division of
Highways needs your answers to the following questions:
.
r~~HmS~~C5-----------------------t
I. Have you personally encountered brushed highway
motorcycle? Yes
No-,
_
2. Did these surfaces cause you to lose control? No
~urfaces
while riding a
. Momentarily
_
3. Did this situation result in an accident? Yes
No
If so, how
serious ?_ _..,-..,--,--,-=-;-_,---,---_",-,--,-_,---,---,....4. Recognizing that some highway surfaces are worse than others, list by priority
those highway sections you feel should be given immediate attention.
(Indicate precise areas, such as "1-80 between Arden Way and "E" Street in
. Sacramento.")
_
GROOVED SURFACES
5. Have you ever encountered grooved highway
motorcycle? Yes
No,--_
6. Did these surfaces cause you to lose control? No
Completely
7. Did this situation result in an accident?
surfaces while riding a
Momentarily
_
8. Recognizing that some highway surfaces are worse than.others, list by priority
those highway sections you feel should be given immediate attention.
(Indicate precise areas, such as, "[w8D between i\.rden Way and 'lE" Street in
Sacramento".)
_
SUGGESTION59. What is your opinion with respect to leaving a two-foot strip of
smooth-surfaced highway on tiLe right-hand side of the outside lane for
motorcyclists who experience difficulty with brushed or grooved surfaces?
10. Would you prefer warning signs? Yes
No
I·
I I. Would you prefer wavy lines on the pavement surface? Yes
No _ _ .
I
Please send this form and any other comments to Russ Sanford, c/o M.O.R.E., P.O. I
Box 26062. Sacramento, CA 95826. Russ will present your answers to the Division I
~E...High'\'!y~Bu~::.~~2:..~~ of~:...e~e~.::
1
22nd ANNUAL CHECK CHASE· HARE &HOUND
OCT 8, 1972
IF THERE IS SUCH A Tt:t1NG AS A
"WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP HARE & HOUND"
THIS IS IT
LARRY PFUTZENREUTER ON HIS 250
BU LTACO PU RSANG
1st OVERALL~ •••••••AGAIN
with a little help from his friends
He finished 18 _minutes ahead of
second place. Think of what it
would have been if he were on a
350 ~ uItaco Pu rsan·g.
~u~
.,.~C=
.
"
Cl
conversation. He sees the role of his
American managemen t as uworking
with the factory, working with the
dealers, working harder," to put the
company back in to the high position
from which it slipped under a previous
managemen t.
I was impressed with Dr. Kalinsky's
uoderstanding of the motorcycle market
in this couotry. He is emphasizing the
Triumph brand in the 1973 model
lineup. All of the four-strokes are
Triumphs except the motocross model,
which earned its great reputation as a
BSA and continues with that brand on
the tank. The new Rickman line and the
Top Gear accessories are making life
better for Triumph dealers and my
feeling is that the new 500cc Triumph
Trophy Trail will generate a lot of
demand that no other machine comes
close to satisfying.
Birmingham Small Arms declared its
wholehearted commitment to the
motorcycle business a few mon ths ago
when they rejected the realistic but
cold-blooded advice of Lazard Freres.
their longtime financial advisors. The
Lazard hankers insisted that BSA should
cut their losses by getting out of
motorcycle marrufacturing and
concentrate on the less glamorous, but
steadier profits of heating and air
conditioning manufacturing. The Board
of Directors knew better and now it is
up 0 theu new American President· to
prove them righ t. The company has one
of the best dealer networks in America,
a great racing reputation and what looks
like a very desirable product lineup.
With their forthcoming Wankel engines
and the transfusion of inspired U.S.
management, I think it is safe to say
that BSA's troubles are over.
*
M
M
STATE ACTS ON GROOVED HIGHWAYS·
AMERICAN, LTD. SANTA CLARA, CA.
~
