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/125837
Last weekend's rain and the resulting mud caused a noticeable difference in the results received in our offices from SoCal moto-ekses. Normally the lists of Beginner trophy winners is considerably longer than the list of Experts. This time it was the other way around. You don't get to be an Expert for nothing. The 1974 Mint 400 has been cancelled bKalse of the ges shortage. They wouldn't have had any lWobIem getting any gas but the Mint didn't want to appear to be a contributor to the IWOblem. Watdt out, Daytona! Steed Industries is apparently sponsoring Chuck Palmgren next year on his Yamahas. It takes all kinds, we suppose. Sonny Nutter, speedway star, sponson motocrosser Billy Payne, through the shop that Sonny runs, Pacific Motocross. Nutter says that he is as involved in motDR:ross as he is speedway. He's looking for more riden, by the way ... , A new motocross track has opened up in NorCal. Altamont raceway is on Grantling road off of 580 between Livermore and Tracy. The pits are paved and the toilets flush. Their Hrst motocross will be held on December 16. Look for some major changes in riclen on factory motocross teams next ~, which means it will be just like every other season since MX became big time except that there will be a lot morc surprises. (Dick Mann? On a Yamaha SC-500?I Motocookies seem to be more intelligent than we remember or are we just easily impressed? Will B. .y beat Bredley?Will the 11Oc:c "'-terminibike ever get the piston it deslAM (and badly needs)? Will Jim Pomeroy rully switch to flat track? Does anybody care? For the a _ n to tt.se ...d other questions that have beffled scientists for centuries, look further into next issue. POOR: We were reading a test of a 125 Enduro the other day in one of the monthlies. The test includes a rating scale for various components. The classifications range from poor to good. Everything on the bike was rated either "good" or Uexcellent". We have had recent experiences with the same bike. We k now the instruments {rated "excellent"} are no better than average, that the ligh ting ("good") is only fair, and that other components, all of which were given the nod as being better than average, aren't more than run-of-the-mill. Do we not get these super machines or are the testers in publications like this just completely out of touch? The CN "Muchos garcias" goes out to PJ's Sportbikes in Manhattan Beach for their help with the two recent tests of Carabelas. If you're interested in a "canned adventure", you might try "Cycle Trek '74", a three month ride across Africa. More info is available from Afrotrek Ltd., 24 Center St., Manchester, N.Y. 14504. Tests have shown'that dune buggies can cause hickies. Having had the rare and appreciated opportunity to ride some racing, works-type bikes recently that a couple of mo'sickle superstars have done well on. we are even more impressed wi th the incredible talen t of these road race and motocross pros. The machinery is good, no doubt, but the pros' ability on it is well nigh incredible to us mere motals. The machinery doesn't make that much difference; the riders do. When are U.S. promoten going to stop calling their events that don't pay World Championship points "Grand Prix"? An American International Motocrou is a perfectly respectable thing to promote and race in. The "Inten", as they're cal.led in Europe, usually draw bigger crowds and pay bigger purses th... the real GP's. The U.S. races, like the TransAm, are even more International than the ones in Europe 'causa _ have more Japanese and Australian riden. We watched Tricky last night while he smiled through his jowls and tried to convince The People of This Great Country that he had" the fuel shortage (which he must be blamed for to a large extent) under control We aren't very happy about the straight 50 MPH speed limit. It seems to us that motorcycle. and small cars should be given a\ higher speed limit to encourage their use. It's the American love for the Big Pig (Toad Cadillac. have lost SI500 in resale value in the last two weeks) that accounts for much of the problem; A trend towards bikes and small cars would be quite productive. A short conversation about the bike pictured took place one chilly November Sunday at Turtle P.rk R-.y, Elkhorn, WlICOfISin while waiting for the spectator gete to open: "That thing really what the tank decal says?" "Yep:' "Factory effort?" uYep:' "Gonna be available for sale?" uYep:' "How c:orne you're pushing it?" Ult broke:' (Accompanied by a beady stare.) The photos are by D.T. Schmidlin who reports that it r... fast and hancled well, until it broke, under the guidance of some fella named Johnson. Didn't look like Ake. We also wonder why the Moton:ycle Industry Council isn't doing something to point out die advantallllS of motorcycles these days. Billboards with a picture of a motorcycle and the comment "Fuel shortage? Not for us ... Motorcycle Industry Council" would probably sen quite a few motorcycles and. give them a positive image as well. A comment on the parking advantage would also be worthwhile. Next: the great A & P (Atlantic and Pacific) International Motocross Series, perhaps. Hey, Scott Varozza! Bob Ashlock has your Husky in his garage. You can get hold of him at 213nSO-555O. 5