Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Page 7 September 18, 1973 If you are -.rdting for parts for a . - t old antiq_, you might try Morgan Hil Motorcycle Salvage who haft parts for everything from AJS to Vespa and are having a big clearance sale. T.C. Christenson (Nor) took the Top Fuel title at the seventh annual AMA/AMDRA National Drag Championship meet with a final run of 8.837/161.87. T.C., in taking his seventh straight major victory, topped Bob Mauriello (Tri) after Mauriello's Routt prepared fueler's back engine soured during the fInal run. The eight cylinder/twin four Honda of rider-builder Russ Collins and owner Bill Adams destroyed the Top Gas Eliminator class, defeating a 16 man field effortlessly. Collins turned in a (mal run of 9.32/150, breaking a three year old National record, turning back Mark Davis (H-D). I The U.s. Forest Senice is Closing off a whole bunch of trails to rnoton:yde riders up in the SVlmu area. They claim to haft held public hearings adequalil Motocrossers can find boots, gloves, face guards, and just about everything they could want at their local drug store. It isn't so easy for road racers, though. Trying to get a set qf road racing gloves is like trying to get past Yvon DuHamel. The way the pro's do it is every year they go to one of the big money events in Canada and get them there. There are a few companies that carry boots. The only place tha t we've come across that carries both of them is at 1970 Newport Boulevard, in Costa Mesa, California. It's called Columbo's. Yamaha showed their new models last week. The only new line was the trials (TY) _ies which includes two models, the TY·250 and TY-80. The latier is a mini which we think is a good way to stan things. The YZ·125 and YZ-250 "professional" motoCfossers were shown, but the YZ·360 was not. The y.z·360 will be produced only in very limited quantities. The fifth new model shown was the MX-175. This reflects consumer interest in this area. Ake Jonsson, it seems, won't be riding the TransAMA series this year. Last year it was his series. Nor will Joel Robert be riding. Most of the Europeans, including world champ DeCoster are expected. Yamaha also showed three production road racers, the TA·125, the TZ·250, and the TZ·350. Not present but discussed was the TZ·700 which will be imported in quantity. The TZ·350 will be harder to get this year, because they have already imported enough for homologation. Yamaha is also V8rf close to producing their rotary. rnuch REMEMBER THE COBRA? Carroll Shelby who is most often connected with the Cobra (a rapid fOUT wheeler) and Ford (one of the makers of those unwieldy foUT wheelers that clog the freeways, cram all the parking places, and . use all the ~as) is taking sudden (and very sensible) interest in practical vehicles. He .has been talking to one of the big oriental fInns abou t producing a very trick cafe racer. Cobranda? Sebasaki? GT-350? WEAK HEADED CITY: The Burbank City Council is considering the first city mandatory helmet law in the country. The plan was originated by Councilman leland Ayers, and has been studied for two months by the city attorney. It looks very good that they might actually pass the ordinance by the time you read this. Whether they do or not, any biker opposed to mandatory helmet laws who lives in Burbank should remember Ayers when he comes up for rwIection. BetllIr yet, how about organizing a recaI\ election? .. '" .',." William H. Davidson, the Davidson in HaTley-Davidson, will retire on September 30. His father was one of the founders of H-D, and Bill Davidson is well known in motorcycling circles w here he has participated as a competitor (and winner), a manufacturer, an AMA officer, and a member of the MIC. Outside of motorcycling he has served as everything from a bank director to a president of Milwaukee County's Boy Scout Council (from whom he received the Silver Beaver award). Despite his retirement, the Davidson name will remain at Harley; his sons, William G., and John A., retain key positions in the company. Suzuki's new rotary is not a frisbee. We got a call from Leonard Thompson of the. State Parks and Recreation Commission last week on the eve of an Assembly hearing on AB 2645, an emergency measure to reclassify Red Rock Canyon as a Stat~ Park. Thompson opposes making Red Rock Canyon a park, and instead wan ts to take advantage of this opportunity for the Commission to "afford the people a recreation area...We can't do it in our redwoods, we're limited in what we can do with our beaches, and Torrey Pines, but in Red Rock Canyon we can protect the parts that need protection, and still have areas for motorcycles, dune buggies, places where people can pick up pebbles if they wan t, places wh..,re they can hunt in season," Thompson said. He said that as he lobbied Assemblymen and urged them to vote against the bill, he found that they all agreed on one thing... the only group that had contacted them on the issue was - the Sierra Club. C.O.R.V.A., M.O.R.E., C.O.R.L., and other groups had not done any effective lobbying. Latest word from the Baja Sports Committee is that they will not provide transportation back from La Paz for motorcycles entered in the Baja 1000. Bob Ham of M.O.R.E. disagrees with Leonard Thompson's report that Assemblymen and Senators were not effectively lobbied by off-road groups before the Red Rock frammis. Ham tells us that Russ Sanford and Hildamae Voght both did a lot of lobbying before the committee hearings. Long Beach is finally going to get a minibike park. The City Council has given Charlie Smith of the Safety Council and Royce Zigler $7000 to develop the park that will be on Navy land. Bikes up to 250 will be allowed. Smith. Zigler, and the Council are to be applauded by the bikies of Long Beach. If you (md a duck upon the seat of your motorcycle, don't be alanned; it doesn't have teeth. . ....'. enough to ensure input from al sides involved. but that's _ to JocaI dealers and riders surveyed. They also claim to .... rK8ived input from bike groups on the closure, but from what _ haft seen in ~ past, 1hat won't change a thint where the decision is COIlClImed. The system 1bey use is great in theory, but biased in aetuaI land closure practice. Boo! SOME DRINK IT: In Europe there's a beer called "Motocross.". We don't know if it contains dirt or if anyone plans to import it, but the last time somebody imported a product bearing the same name, it was a roaring success. Kim N_c:ombe. who led the world 500 points standings briefly this veu, _ kiRed in a crash at Silventone in England. The New Zealand rider was hold,ing second in championship standings behind Agostini at the time of his death. What made this particularly impressive _ that he rode a Konig. Cycle News has a limited number of maps of the BLM dellttt plan. Write to Depanment BLM Steal and we will send you one while the supply lasts. Speaking of steals, 'Sacramento Jammers Me had to ca.-I their September 16 Hare Scrambles when the BLM cancelled their permit OM. _ _ before 1he event. The BLM daiais it _ because of fire danger. It's ~ as planning aheiad. . b9 The 1974 Bultaco 250 same bike that Jim Pomeroy r last four GP's. It will have nylon fenders, chrome-moly frame, etc. that Jim's bike shocks aren't decided upon says that he wishes that something just a little trick. everyone else does. the m: tile eCsame ban and bad. The yeL Jim he had After all, Pomeroy wiD ~ likely ride for Bultaco next year despite offers of money, girls and ice - . . _ _ from other factories. displacemen t less certain, will probably be water cooled. Honda is the only company that can break Yamaha's lock on the 250 class. Whether they can do it in the Int year remains to be seen. Alfred Ullom would like to see a bike club buy the 80 acres he has up for sale in the Painted Valley of California. The site is ideal for biking without the BLM. He's willing to sel it at 125 dollars an acre at 7% percent in1lerest._to a mOtorcycle club. Interested desert riders can reach him at 714/835-6208. WANT TO BE A WRENCH? Los Angeles Trade Tech's motorcycle mechanics program is so successful that hardly anyone is graduating. It's a four-tenn course but students are being hired ou t by dealers looking for qualilled 'mechanics after two or three teTlllS. Orange County Irrtemiltional R_ _y is running the uOrange Bowl" with a $1000 purse to Experts, every Friday night. lbere are back-up events for from Old TI,",rs to Minis. Sounds good to lIS. WAIT TILL ALDANA HEARS ABOUT THIS: The Malibu Country Club's Labor Day weekend fIasco (the turnout was quite smaIl) had as its trophy girl a very naked too lsie. What's the procedure ror kissing a naked trophy girl? Yamaha is bringing ovw two of their mono-shock prototype motouossers for the TransAMA series. TIm Hart and Pierre Karsmakers will ride them. T.C. Browne-of "Cycle Guide" came off as probably the shrewdest dealer in the motorcycle publishing racket when Suzu.ki held their new model preview in ABC te1e'vision'5 "Let's Make a Deal n studio. Biggo:st winner was Brick Price of one of the minibike monthlies who won the newest trick thing from Suzuki. We can't tell you wat it is, though. (It wfSIl't a rotary-yeLl Bob Greene ("Motorcyclist") had the emcee, Monty Hall, almost giving it to him. Just the opposite was the secretary who seemed to want to give it away. Someone tried to arrange the engagement of CN publisher Shar... Clayton to Bob Atkinson of "Cycle World" so that they could win someth· g. It seemed to bave worked. . DOWN SOUTH DOWNS. The majority of spectators at 11M Atlanta National Mile Bummer (story on page 26) demoiistJaW inI:redibIe pnence. After sitting in 1he bot sun bough numerous delays. they -m home angry and seven bucks poorer. The more outnged and/or juiced bad to be wged by poIic:e to depart. But had such a fiasco occured at any of a doZlell northern tracks, the place would haft to be NbuiIt. Now only Don Brymer's repuution stands in need of reconstruction. That, and the im8ge of c:t.a.CJiooIship iilOton:yde rKing in 11M Atlanta - . But legBidiess of the 0U1I:0me. notice has finally been sened: ProfeaionaI racers will nat. and must not. cOiilpete under unsafe COiIditiOliS. A picture of the Honda 350 twin Trout Frying In America: U you've kept Sept. 16 open and you could dig a good ride with some friends. and you enjoy fresh fried trout, or any of the above, get out to the big annual TROUT FRY in Whitewater. It's two bucks a head and serving starts at noon. flashed on the screen at Kawasaki's new CONGRATULATIONS to Jim ~ (Bul) on his seventh place finish in 1he 250cc World Motocross champiollship. and to Brad Lackey C~I on his thir1llenth in the 500cc class. modd presen13tion for its dealers in Orlando, Florida. "Last year," said the speaker, "Honda sold more of this model than Kawasaki sold of all its models combined. You can't arguewith success." The next picture that flashed on the screen was a very similar motorcycle. a single overhead cam four stroke twin, but thiS one said ''Kawasaki'' on the tank. The show was at Disney World.. Everyone saw Donald Duck. Goofy, and Pluto. Mickey Mouse }US no when: to be seen. MORE HONDA TWO STROKE RACERS: The rumors are turning solid.. Honda. it seems almost certain, will produce production road racers. two strokes, for both the 250 and 750 AMA Formula classes. The 250 will be an air cooled .twin, the larger bike. HERE'S TO KENNY ROBERTS, THE NEW NATIONAL CHAMP. with his is 1he first rider to eWl" win the c:Iwn......iithip using Japanese machinery .xcIUli....,. ~ K-V...andthanb. ,.' Y....... K......;. ..... "

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