Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Ouackl Ouackl And don't look back o The tale of The Duck: An update A lot has happened sin ce tht; U. S. Governm ent tried to crush the Phantom Duck of the Desert. If you've followed the exploits of CYCLE _EWS GOES FASW. wearesobusvwej us tdc n c t ha ve rim et ogoi ru o .dh hewhvs.md whe refo res b u t I he fa ct is eye le Newsissc fliugsofas t it issel lingou l .al ruan v n ewssra nd sau d so mc de a ler surej u st n o t o rd cr i ngen ough co p iesto m ee t t h ecnt h us ia st it' d ern ano san d soweh l)peourd eal er s \..-illgc t wit hirando rderplen t vo f issu esbe cause weh a ve n ' l go t irne lo kecp re m in d ingth e m a n di f yo u . wan t to bc aC y cle Xews d e uk-rpi r k upthephone.lndwewi lls how you howinahurr v. or (2 13 ) 4 2 7 · 74 3 :~ wr ite P.O. Box 4 9 X .IA'"~ Beach. C.\ 90 XO 1 OBay Area Bultaco KTM-HOdaka h . . . . Gr. .tlngs Sale on 1978 250 Pursa ngs to m y customers & friends THOR RACING • FABRICATION. INC. 5606 W. Manchester, Westchester, CA 90045 213-649-1700 SUPERCROSS TICKETS Great Seats Ava ilable! SAVE sz.ooi Oakland Coliseum Jan. 28 Call Mar c (41 5) 687-7742 38 J ... " • • i, •• 6905 Oslo Cir. Buena Park. CA 90620 714-522-4571 Motorcycles Mopeds Bicycles U.S.A. Importer: Cycle.Kart Racers. Inc. 4 131 S Sh.. wn Tul... . OK 74 145 ( 9 1 ~) 66,14080 The Duck in Cycle N ews, you know that the Barstow to Vegas Trail Rid e not on ly happened . it was a bla zing su ccess. Since that time. more results' of the Du ck's actions have be en realized. In actual fact , the Phantom Du ck ha s cha nged the d irection of th e American Motorcyclist Association's District 37 . Thursday night . Dec. 7, 1978 . District 37 held its regular monthly meeting . At this me eting. it was announced by th e Legal Defense Fund com mi tt ee that they wer e officially changing their stance regarding the Bureau of Land Management. Up until now. th e District ha s tri ed to work wilhin th e framework of th e BLM structu re . In four yea~. th is gained them nothing and cost us land . The officers actually got up and said that they owed a debt 10 The Duck and they -thanked him . Applause from a ll present showed th e fee lings of th e club members. Dropping anoth er b ombsh ell . District announced that th ey hav e hired th e Du ck's lawyer 10 work with them in fighting the BLM a nd other abusive agencies in court , It was clear tha t the days of taking it in the ea r without a whimper are over. J im Wells a nno unced that District 37 was also filing for t he origi na l Ba rstow to Vegas and th e Check Chase. If turned down . Wells sai d th ey would sue all t he way d own th e lin e . T his brou ght th e hous e down . The Du ck was then invited to address th e Sports Committee . In a voice ringing with co nviction and stre ngth . the Du ck warned th e District o ffi ce rs and reps ab out under estimating the vile and rotten tactics of the BLM. He reminded th em that we are dealing with people who will lie . chea t. swindle. steal and threaten to get things their way . To back u p the statement of the Duck , this writer gOt up and told th e District meeting that the powe r and money of the DMA (Ducks Motorcycle Association) was behind District - as long as they d id what they said. In other words . all the awesome power of the Mighty Mallard would be t here as a watchdog. The Duck finds himself in a unique positi on . He owes no all egi ance to District 37. non e 10 CRC, no ties with AMA . no favor s owed 10 CMC. or anyo ne else for rhat matter . He ha s no axe to 1grind. ot;he 1r ...th an .gett J:Il mqre ing I . • 11 ; j • , .1 • . I J ~ land for the off-road people - no matter what or who they ride with. T he Duck will wo rk with a ny org anization in terested in opening u p mor e land for recrea tional pu rposes . This means dune buggies. sand sailers. anyone. • . . It pleased the Duck Organization mightily to see District 37 make a 180 0 swap in policy. We pointed OUI loud and clear that th e motorcycle rider .is not a soft willed whimp, willing to sit on his ca n while "negotia tions" go on a round him . The DMA has decided 10 let it all hang out. We a re not on ly going ~o back District 37 in its figh t', we WIll fight on our own. giving the BLM a double tongued viper 10 deal with . We ha ve irons in the fire and evil th ings planned for the enemy. In particular , keep Ground Hog's Day (Feb. 2 . 1979 ) ope n on you r calendar. This will be a good one. The good people who responded lethe Legal Attack Fund cannot be thanked enough. The very first person to send in a check was none other than CN enduro journalist, Larry Langley. A partial list of those in the industry who got behind us is shown here. This list is by no means complete. as more support cont inues to roll in daily. O h yes. T he Dirt Diggers Motorcycle Club alone contributed over $700 10 the Attack Fund . The l is t : Wins ton Beaumont . Malcolm Smith. Webeo, California Enduro Association . Works Performance , JT Racing. While Bros. Cycle . Hemet Cycle Ce'}ter. T <:rry Cabl es. KTM . Al Baker Racing Product s . C ycl e P r odu cts West . Ma ico , T orste n Hallman Ra cing . and Electro Helmets, T h is is only a partial list. T im e (hick of it) prevenLS mor e det ails. One thing that amazed us was t ha t rid ers from all over the cou ntry sent in Bucks for the Du ck . W e receive d m a il from Wi sc onsin. Idah o . U t a h . Oh io . Florida . erc . , etc . The edi tors of Cycle News have served the riders in a' true fashion . They kept th e public informed and ga ve much space in their pages to the matter. Our thanks 10 them , It appears that the Phantom Duck of the Desert ma y win th e CN Rider of the Year award . If he does . then it even becomes more of a victory for the dirt bikers. He has proven that one stubborn, to ugh , honest man can change things in a big way . For a full story on the Phantom _ Duck of the Desert , check OUI the March 1979 issue of Dirt Bik e. It should be on sa le right around Feb. 20 . . And, for quick news , keep reading Cycle N ews. The battle is just starti ng and the Duck will keep you post ed . Rick Sieman For rhe Phantom Duck Mem ber . DMA . L.A . Chapter I J '~ I,) .J ~ JtLtl l " .i ~ '

• Cover