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/125822
Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, to mention a few. Another method to -develop the pennanent classification are National qualifiers. I would like to end by saying that those people truly interested should make the clubs and promoters aware they want sanctioned events in order to earn the points and. their proper classification. Thank you. GUY OurLAND . Youth Division Manager American Motorcycle Association Americ:8's No.1 Weekly Motorcycle N_lNlMr Sharon Cleyton; Publisher Tom Culp; General Manager Ed.,. Mewton; Sec. to Publisher Tadl RlIfferty; Managing Editor e.therine I,.empton; Art Director Art Friedman; Editor Dave Schoonmllkar; Assoc. Editor John D. Ulrich; Cal. & Controversy Howie Fowler; Advertising Mgr. Wendy Blanton; Advertising Asst. Rhaba Smitl\; Circulation Manager Cheryl Steinberg; Circulation Asst. Rosalind Plut; Production Asst. Heetor Aguilera; Lab Technician Marion Hateshita; Typographer Melvin Phelps; Asst. Typographer Dave Crowe; Collection Manager Grace Camp; Accounting Manager Barbara Bebeck; Accounting Asst. Chris Koibet; Accounting Asst. Squeaky Nesbitt; Svc. & Support Michael Colikas; Svc. & Support Ken Lee; Services & Support Dav Pauli; Services & Support Jeannie Dunivan; Receptionist National Advertising Dir; Tom Culp WEST P.O. Box 498, Long Beach CA 90801 (213) 427-7433; LA 636-8844 TELEX NO. 673-474 EAST·DIXIE 4190 First Ave., Tucker, Georgia (404) 934-7850 Dirty Nortons Racer's Training for Novice Road Racers? F or sometime I have followed with interest the random editorial meanings and proposals, put forward in many publications, advising the AMA· about new structures their road racing program should accommodate for next season. Among these, the Novice class seems to be the most controversial and to this I wo~d like to.add my thoughts. The basIC complatnt that allowing inexperienced novice road racers to compete on machines capable of 120-30 MPH creates a potentially dangerous situation seems farily valid. But rather than prohibit the use of the Yamaha TD twin series! probably among the safest, best handling, and most reliable racing machines pt'Oduced, the answer lies in a method of giving these riders the experience that is required for such high speed racing. Within its own membership, the AMA has the resources to ei ther encourage or create a series of ImJIIlL 1118 West 6th St., Austin, Texas (512) 476-7571 Minis Gallery One year, second class mail, $12.50 ·2 years, second class mail, $22.50 3 years, second class mail, $30.00 Single copy price, 504 Mert! · . New Products Local Racing Desert International MX 7 8 9 13, 20 14', 28 16 Finnish GP Technical· 18 An Americal Wankel? Ja. Education 21 Learn to toon. North News Published weekly except for the first and last week of the calendar year by Cycle News, Inc., Post Office Box 498, Long Beach, California. Second class post3lle paid at Long Beach, CA. Editorial stories, cartoons, photos, etc. are welcome. Addressed, stamped envelope assures return of editorial matter. Reptinting in whole or part only by permission of the publishers. Advertising rates and circulation infonnation will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. Copyright ~ Cycle News,lnc. I 9 73 all righ ts reserved ::? '" _ N ! « en ~ Z ~ ~ l.l CENTRAL Subseription c:: I : 22 25,32 The EPA meets the MIC. National MX 29 Pete again in Texas. Road Racing 31 Put a dome over Ontario. Interview BLM What's a Pfulb? Speedway 34 What went down last week. Results Calendar 38 .42 COVE-R: Dave Pauli's imaginative Sadhs-BMW custom. Don't look for one at the next street comer. Photo by Hector Aguile.ra. off-season road racing training programs. While in England I observed both th~ Dixon/Robb and Kirby Camp road ractng schools, which trained riders on various ability levels, held races among students to check their progress and finally released them for successfui racing careers. I believe that this type of fonnal ~aining would be the key to safer ractng by Itrst·time professionals. Those familiar with the sporty car set know that the SCCA requires completion of such a program before a competition license will be issued' an ' idea we could foUow. A program of this type is indeed feasible, especially in an area such as Southern California. During -·the off-season we could have at our disposal such racers as Kel Carruthers, Cal R~yborn, Don Vesco, Dave Smith, Reg Pndemore, Steve McLaughlin, Don Emde, elc. as instructors and such tracks as Riverside, Ontario OCIR Carlsbad, and WiDow Sprin~. Othe; areas, notably No. California, Florida, and New England could also create this type of school utilizing resident racers and existing racing facilities. I hope that we may see the creation of this type of program before a new crop of Novices takes on Daytona. SCO'IT EASTBURN Newport Beach, Calif. The Ascot T.T. Nati"onal story was beau tiful, and, being an old Norton owner at one time (1937 Norton International and a 1947 ES2) •. I was' happy to see Norton on the comeback bail. However, there is an error in the second paxagraph regarding this being the IlrSt National win for Norton. I believe Norton won the SpringIJeld Mile in 1946. In fact Norton won two half-mile dirt track National Championships in 1951. Dick KIamfoth won the Richmond, Virginia half·mile ahead of Bill Tuman and beat out Kenny Eggers at Shreveport, Louisiana . that year on a 500cc OHC single. Klamfoth's record for seven miles on a half-mile set at Shreveport may still be standing. Then in 1952 and 1953 Bobby Hill and Bill Tuman won the 200 mile two·mile Dirt Track National Championships at Dodge City, Kansas aboard the single cylinder N ortons. Although, remembered first for their Daytona-Laconia wins in the 1950's Norton was also a force on dirt tracks before 19?3. So much for history, congratulaoons to Dave Aldana and Norton for the TI win and good wishes for more Aldana-N orton wins. ' RUSS WHITIINGHILL Louisville, Ky. Catch ing Heaven You are going to probably catch hell from the religious faction, but I personally thought Scotty Schafer's sacreligious story on the eight day week was hilarious. My helrnet off to him. LARRY LANGLEY Lakewood, Calif. .Motor Money Mini Things Having just finished reading the letter in your July 24 issue from Jack Ward of Mission Honda, I should like to take this opportunity to define "Catch 22". First of all to be a "National" Champion in any sport you must be of the best. The best then by skill rating would have to be the Expert class. 1 t should also be understood that to establish a truly National organization it is necessary to have regulations and procedures as equally fair in application to the rider in New York as California. An Expert class, to have any meaning in being established, must have procedures to give qualification to the rider carrying that rating. AI though only one system for early development /of the Expert class is referred to in the 73 Y-AMA Rule Book, our development of programs and procedures to establish a true National youth program did not stop with the prin ting of that book. This system, of course, depends on speedy and accurate reports, including initial classification by the individual event referees. The initial Novice and Junior classifications are exactly as referred to, temporary classifications. Novice and Junior place winners at all Nationals are upgraded one class; riders participatin~ actively in adult competition (verified) are judged to have "earned"·the Youth Division Expert rating; and existing local organizations having an established system of skill classification may qualify the system and have thpse member riders classification transferred directly to the corresponding Y-AMA cIass. However, this lOust be done as an organization, not by individual riders ( Fathers). This is in fact being" accomplislied in many areas of the coun try including Washington, Nevada, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, In the ,\ugust 6 issue of your pape~, I saw an arocle on a new type of engme patented by: Ronnie Ryen. I have seen four or five good engine designs suitable for motorcycle use which have not progressed because of the lack of funds for their development. " I think the different motorcycle magazines, instead of engaging in expensive project bikes and things of that sort should invest money in the research and developmen t of new types of engines, help people like Mr. Ryen, and help. the motorcycle industry in general. Why not create a research and development division of the Motorcycle I,ndustry Council with a monthly newsletter available to the public? Very truly yours, RAUL M. BlASCOECHEA Buena Park, Calif. Plastic Wheels, Anybody? Several weeks ago you published a hot little tip about plastic wheels for cars, now being produced. Found out about it only when people started streaming through !he door with fistfuls ?f money in one hand, and Cycle News m the other. Needless to say, it caught me flat footed, dumfounded and totally without warning, since none of the industry publications subscribed to mentioned it. Clue me in Please. ALAN ILFORD Westlake, Calif. Sorry, AI, but since it related primarily to cars, we forgot. But the item has provoked a large amount of comment and question from bikies, too. Somebody who wants to get rich can get to work on plastic bike wheels. We promise that they'/l sell like ~e proverbial better mousetrap... Ed.