Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

"Basically the letter asked Yamaha whether it would be better to suspend me for the first three months of 1978 or fine me the minimum I would have won ($800) if I had raced. Yamaha made no decision on the matter and returned the matter to Mockett. It's up to him again," said Roberts. A public hearing on the Hollister Hills Vehicular Recreation Area will be held Monday, Dec. 12 at 10 a .m . in San Jose, CA. The State Parks & Recreation Commission will hear public testimony at the Holiday Inn , 282 Almaden Blvd. Naturally the anti bikers will be there. Too bad you've got a day job. c<") CN 1-0 l1) ..0 S A first place award has gone to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in a safety film competition. The Foundation's film "Basic Street Riding" won the award in the traffic and transportation category in a competition sponsored by the National Committee on Films for Safety. l1) :> o Z Soboba Grand Prix. held annually on an Indian reservation near Hemet. CA, is on for Feb. 19, 1978. A new feature next year will be pro classes for 125, 250, and open machines. First place will pay $500, second $250, third $100. There's a $50 entry fee. Cycle News correspondent/professional photographer Brian Palormo and Michigan writer/photographer Steve Booth, have been working together for about two years now on a 128-page book called Championship Enduro. 15 chapters cover everything from how to get started to tips from the experts on riding technique, bike and bod prep, equipment, timekeeping and what to do if you run into trouble on the trail. Even if you can't read real well you will probably enjoy eyeing the over 200 action packed photos included within. It 's available only by mail from Paragon Productions, 3106 Sweetbrier Circle, Lafayette, CA 94549 , for $5.50 per copy postpaid. Often in error but never in doubt. Chuck Clayton stands corrected on several points in his AMA editorial last week. Number one: Barrie Best had worked for the AMA six months, not 90 days, when he was asked to resign. Two: Staff didn't ask that Wirwahn replace Best (that was a Board decision). Three: Class A Trustees can vote for AMA officers (thank goodness). And four: AMA President Bob Rudolph mayor may not run again. Watch for a big CMC motocross series in the west from Jan. 18 to Feb. 19, 1978. FUll House will be promoting a new line of goods including motocross apparel endorsed by Tony DiStefano under the name "'Esprit,. American Safety Equipment Corp. will close its helmet division. " Recent repeal of helmet use laws in many states has adversely affected demand, " they told their shareholders. Such is life. 2 The Man of The Kid? Who will be the 19n Trans-AMA Champion? It all comes down to Sears Point Raceway Nov. 20. Veteran Roger DeCoster and upstart Bob Hannah will pit Suzuki against Yamaha at the Kawasaki Trans-AMA for $23,000 and those vital series points. Kawasaki dealers have discount tickets available. Rumors have it . that Roger DeCoster . has been talking to two other Japanese companies - Honda and Yamaha about next year, just in case he fails to come to an agreement with Suzuki. Dates for the 8th Annual Rorida Winter-AMA MX series have been announced, and apparently any problems between the Rorida promoters and the AMA regarding those dates (and the conflicting Seattle Supercross date) have been settled. The Winter-AMA program kicks off on February 4-5 at Orlando, then moves to Gainesville (Gatorback) for February 11-12. Race three will be held at a new Jacksonville tra ck, Acti-m Park, on February 18-19. And the final race will take place in St. Petersburg on February 25-26. Kenny Roberts, contacted at his Modesto, California home, told Cycle News that a letter from AMA racing commissioner Doug Mackett was set to Yamaha concerning Roberts' alleged refusal to ride in the Race of Champions. It appears that Honda has at least three new mindblowers up their sleeve. The first we'll probably see is a 500cc water-cooled V-twin . 1200cc and a 1500cc fours and sixes are also rumored, with CVCC engines to emit the sweetest exhaust gases this side of paradise. Hold your breath until Dec. 13. California's Desert Advisory Committee will meet in EI Centro December 8-10. They'll be deciding all those things dear to desert riders' hearts. The places are City Council Chambers, 1275 Main Street (evenings, Dec. 8 & 9) and the Community Center, 375 S. First .St.17:30 a.m. Dec. 9 and 8 a.m. Dec. 10J But will any bikers be there? A familiar name is returning to the SoCal motocross circuit. 1977 CMC Numero Uno rider Val Tamietti has just announced that he and his sponsors Maico West and Track 'N Travel will be "ack every weekend . T ' N T man Hal Sanguinetti says "We're getting the bikes ready for our comeback, and it will be just a matter of time and money to see whether we go for the Nationals." Maico team riders are selling their factory bikes at Sears Point upon the conclusion of the Trans-AMA series. So if you want to buy Steve Stackable's, or Gaylon Mosier's, or Herbert Schmitz's Maicos, meet 'em in the pits with money after the races. Free copies of the final environmental statement for Big Sur Coastal Planning Unit , Los Padres National Forest are available from District Rangers' offices in King City, Los Prietos, Ojai , Santa Maria, Mt. Pinos or Goleta, CA. The proposed plan " em p hasizes maintenance of the unique visual qualities of the area" and a proposed hiking/biking trail along the coast . Motor biking? Check it out. Off-road motorcycles traveled 1.9 billion miles in 1976. That's just one of the facts and figures in "19n Motorcycle Statistical Annual" published by ' the Motorcycle Industry Council. The 48-page annual, crammed with vital statistics, may be purchased for $5 per copy from MIC, 4100 Birch St.; Suite 101, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Maico has posted a contingency totalling $8,450 in cash and merchandise awards for the Wlnrer-narionals! $5 ,700 is up for grabs by Maico riders in the Pro class races and $3,750 of possible merchandise awards have been posted for amateur class riders in the ' 125, 250 and Open division . Kawasaki's Jim Weinert was involved in an automobile crasH Sunday night. Nov. 13, rolling his car near Concord, Celif. Weinen was not seriously injured (he reportedly bruised some vertebrae) and is expected to be released from the hospital on Tuesday, Nov. 15, He was on his way to northern California on a pre-race publicity . assignment for the Sears Point Trans-AMA. :1 I J.R. Kelley, past president of AMA and owner of KK Motorcycle Supply in Dayton, Ohio, was severely injured in a lawnmower accident while preparing a local track for the first Dayton · NoviceMX . • Looks like Jimmy Weinert had a lot to do with designing the 1978 Kawasaki KX250-A4 MX weapon. But it seems to have been named by George Lucas (creator of R2D2 and C3PO). Specifications include 206.8Ibs. dry weight. 40 hp at 8,000 rpm, 38mm Mikuni carb, and leading axle forks. See the grean droid at your Kawa dealer soon. '

• Cover