Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

;~i .. 5 '\ ~, {.~;li~~i.J' ~:l ~~, October 16, 1973 If you are injured at someone else's raee, don't send your claims to our company as some riders have. If you think about insurance before you race another event, check with the promoter for his company policy ...please don't. assume you're covered by ours if we aren't sanctioning or promoting the event. JOHN BETHEA Public Relations Director CMC . The Barstow to Vegas race is approaching and "Pro Pit" is back. Since many of the entrants will be coming from out of the area and maybe riding this race for the first time, I thought this information might be helpful to some. Our service consists of ptoviding gas, etc., at all the main and alternate pits. We charge $25 per rider. Information can be obtained by calling (714) 735·0276 or (7r4) 658·2091. Last year we had 43 riders sign up for "Pro Pit" and 40 finished the race. For those who need a pit, we can help. On September 23, the Shamrocks M.C. held a hare scrambles event south of Barstow. The race was originally to have been a hare and hound un til the BLM decided to impose their bureaucratic authority and buried most of the proposed course under their red tape. The course, which the BLM fmally approved, amoun ted to allowing the Shamrock.s to run the trail recently used by the Desert Vipers. The only difference was that the Shamrock.s were told to run the course in reverse. It is difficult to determine the think.ing process used by the BLM in proposing this course. I suspect that they are trying to conduct a study on the effect of running the same course several times a season in order to justify closing more areas to competitive riding. Presumably the BLM will examine the desert after the race to determine what "irreparable damage" has been done to the landscape. I wonder if the Bureau is also keeping track of the number of injuries caused as a result of their insistence that the race be run over such a dangerous . course. It is my understanding that there were some 16 riders treated for broken limbs. This is an 'I!l time high for this type of injury in desert events. Only the superb job of mark.ing the course by the Shamrocks prevented many more injuries. The BLM is herding us onto courses which are increasing the incidence of injury. These injuries will probably appear as statistics on a BLM report, as impersonally as if they were reporting the results of a wildlife habitat manipulation project. Upfortunately, that number represents more than "just another statistic" to us. Those who were injured as a result of this BLM experiment happen to be our fellow competitors, club members, friends and family. If the BLM wants to experiment with human lives, let them consider establishing backpack.ing trails through the gunnery ranges and aerial impact areas of the desert; the BLM has already tak.en a great enough toll on the motorcyclists. ROBERT EARLE Pasadena, Calif. Before you leap from a presumption to a non-productive conclusion, read the article beginning on page 4. Then reconsider your role as a concerned desert biker and act accordingly. The issues are complex. Simplistic solutions, delivered sarcastically, won't help... Ed. The Strength of a Tiger Recently, a television commercial for Sambo's Restaurants depicted a motorcyclist disrupting a family's picnic lunch. MORE immediately notified Sambo's that this commercial was offensive to California's motorcyclists., and that a boycott of Sambo's Restaurants by motorcyclists and other outdoor recreationists was imminent, unless a re traction of the commercial and an apology to motorcyclists was forthcoming. Three days later, MORE received a lengthy telegram from the advertising agency which produced the unsavory commerical. Herein, are excerpt~ from that telegram: "Russ Sanford, MORE, Per your letter of August 13 we are withdrawing Sambo's commercial showing motorcyclist starting engine near family eating lunch. Intention was to amuse not offend, by showing potential hazards of eating adjacen't to parking lot. No intention to suggest action was typical of motorcyclists. We might have used low flying crop duster if budget permitted. In any case, please accept our apologies. Also, Sambo's is blameless. We as their agency, conceived and produced commercial. Happy Mo torcycling. A.]. Baragona" This just goes to prove that the overnight growth of motorcycling as a respectable and responsible form of recreation has given us 'great· strength , when our efforts are united and properly channeled. RUSS SANFORD, President M.O.R.E. Paranoid? I just received an official copy of the BLM Desert Plan. Themailinglabelh.ad my Sierra Club number on it, so I must assume all Sierra Club members received a copy, which is fine. But I did not receive a copy with my AMA number, 0·37 number, or Cycle News number on it. Am I paranoid or did BLM send out maps to conservationists only and not to bikers? Maybe you can find out. SCOTT A. OBERLE Westminster, Calif. Bill Templeton of the BLM Riverside office tells us that the BLM gave away thousands of maps to the Sierra Club, the California Off·Road Vehicle Association, and other interested groups, who then sent them out to their members... Ed. Oh, The Irony In a time when nerves are dangling from frayed ends due to loss of faith, (Watergate), and a diminishing sense of credibility, I thought it fitting ;t'share a bit of irony, (albiet horror) I found in the L.A. Times today. It seems Assemblyman Z'berg, (you k.now, the guy with the big push to ban off·road riding permanently in California), is up for his second trial on drunken driving charges. Imagine that, a simple man tries to play Big Brother to a host of off road enthusiasts and then winds up playing chicken with the statistics columns. I mean WOW! The guy can't even cope with his own problems - how can lNe afford to have him mess around with ours? Remember the anti drunk driving commercial? ....SCREAM BLOODY MURDER! But first,·let's get him off the road." DAMIEN MACE Beverly Hills, Calif. Are You Covered? Hold up a minute! It has come to our atten tion tha t apparently there is a misunderstanding going around that having a CMC license entitles a racer to th'e CMC Medical Insurance package at all races he enters. T hat is untrue. The package is guaranteed to all CMC entrants only, repeat, Only, at CMC sanctioned events. Political 4 You know they've just begun Column 5 Is this an obscene phone call? GP ....•...•..........6 Pros In Your Pits BlM Blues INSIDE K. C. KLEIBER Pro Pit let Me Explain A couple of issues ago you prin ted a letter I sent concerning an editorial by Chuck Clayton in which he commented on "The AMA Five". After re.reading the letter I feel I ought to clarify some of my statements and opinions so they won't be misinterpreted. I didn't want anyone to think I was being critical of Ed Youngblood and his action in dismissing Don Woods. Ed inherited a mess when be took over the reins in Westerville. It took guts just to aecept the job, yet alone do it. I would like to publicly apologize to Ed Youngblood because I honestly didn't mean for my letter to be understood, in that manner. I still agree with Chuck concerning the "AMA Five". They are talented people who have the best interests of the sport as objectives. I think what they are doing now with other motorcycle organizations and what they will ·do in the future will speak for their abilities and sincerity. The conflicts between Youngblood and Woods shouldn't cast a shadow of doubt upon either's character. They are both talented and dedicated motorcyclists. Youngblood has a round road ahead of him as far as shaping up the AMA is concerned. And the fact that Woods got fired just might be the break he deserves. He could and should move on up the ladder to bigger and better things in the sport and industry. DICK AINSWORTH Kansas City, Mo. Tell It Like It Was I have to write and tell you what a disappointing year with Cycle News. The highlight of the week at our house was reading Cycle News, but now there is nothing interesting in it so it is very dull. I t sure would be nice if it were like it used to be. We could read about our friends at differen t tracks such as Point Runs and also Corona, EI Toro, Elsinore, Perris, etc. The only local article is Ascot and it is all pro, and not near as interesting as the riders starting out. So with the added cost and less coverage we will not renew our subscription. I know many people who feel the same way our family does about this and as soon as their subscriptions run out they will not renew it. J feel sure it is not the Professionals who support yOur paper like the riders starting out do. It was very exciting to these young riders when you wrote about the races they' were in. My boy is 16 years old and Expert number 8 in 0·37 Lightweight class. He now rides the Open Expert class and does very well. I have to add Cycle Scoop (which is free) is doing a very good job tak.ing your place. MRS. CLAUDE HAILEY Oceanside, Calif. Thanks, Mrs. Hailey. We needed that. Look for an editorial on this subjec t next week... Ed. Four Aces deal high Trans Am 8 Mikkola doesn't win Tourist Trophy 10 Ascot National 12 Kenny at Ascot SoCal MX, etc. 14-17,29,34 Your cohorts get famous Enduro 26 Larry gets ca!1ght Trials RV Spectacular 27 28 SCORE's big shaft Puch? 30 That's a four letter word! Spirit before bucks 32 It ain't BC Results Calendar 34 39 COVER: Kenny Roberts smelling his lei after the Ascot National. Photo by Dan Mahoney. Published weekly except for the first and last week of the calendar year by Cycle News, Inc., Post Office Box 498, Long Beach. Califomia. Second class postage paid at Long Beach, CA, Editorial stories. cartoons. photos, ctc. arc welcome. Addres~d. stamped envelope: assures return of editorial malter, Reprinting in whole or parr only by permission of the publishers, Advertising rates and circulation infol"l'{lalion will ~ sen I upon requesL ec: S,R.D.S. Copyright CycJe News, Inc., 1975. All rights reserved. Sharon Clayton; Publisher Tom Culp; General Manager Edna Mewton; Secre.tary to Publisher Tod Rafferty; Managing Editor Catherine Lampton; Art Director Art Friedman; Editor John D. Ulrich; Calendar & Controversy Howie Fowler; Advcrtising Manager Wendy Blanton; Advertising Assistant Rheba Smith; Circulation Managcr Cheryl Steinberg; Circulation Assistant Nancy Gray; Production Assistant . Hector Aguilera; Lab Technician Marion Hatashita; Typogrdpher Melvin Phelps; Assistant Typographer Grace Camp; Accounting Manager Twila Wheeler; Accounting Assistant Chris Kolbet; Accounting Assista.nt Chris Hom; Services & Support Michael Colikas; Service) & Support Dav Pauli; Sef\lices & Support Jeannie Dunivan; Ren:-plionist National Advertising Director; 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., Tucke', Georgia. (404) 934- 7850. Central; 1118 West 6th St., Austin. Texas. (512) 476-7571 Subscription One year, second class mail, $12.50 2 years, second class mail, $22.50 3 years, second class mail. $30.00 Single copy price. 50

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