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/126547
... ~ CLl ~ e ~ o Z lAbove left) The public got their tint up-cloH look et the Vemehll1982 model llne-up.lTop right) A country end western blind w.. provided elong with e bIIrbeque dlnn•. IAbove right) Pertlclpenta took to the Knott's rid... including thIa a1mulllted southern C811fom1e fl'eewey scene. Yamaha Family Affair: Fun at !!!A!!t:! Berry Farm Honest to goodness motorcylists rarely need much of an excuse to go for a ride. However, if there is a real good reason, like having a chance to meet some 3000-plus fellow motorcyclists, getting to check out aU their machines, as well as attending the first public showing of the 1982 Yamaha motorcycle 24 .lineup, there would be no 9uestion. Any motorcycle rider would hve to be there. That is just what happened at Yamaha's first Family Affair at Knott's Berry Farm. This was their third gathering like this, with the first two happening in June of this year at Brahsoon, MO, and Pigeon Fo~, TN. These Yamaha rides to "Silver Dollar City" were resounding successes. The Knou's Berry Farm event was the first endeavor of this kind on the west coast for Yamaha and it had overwhelming results. Some 3,000 enthusiasts purc~ tickets in advance at participating Yamaha dealers which were primarily in southern California. Don Best of Van Nuys Cycle and Dick AJlen of Dick Allen's Yamaha, respective president and vice-president of the Southern California Yam a h a Dealer Association, spearheaded the effort. Peter Leavitt and Sandy Stotts of Yamaha coordinated the overall event. ' Once at the "Farm" hundreds of motorcycles (mostly Yamahas) lined up in a special reserved parking area left no mistake - this was the place to bel Yamaha had a number of their bright yellow canopies set up in the park area in front of Independence Hall for registration and a diagnostic service center where Yamaha technicians were doing free motorcycle mechanical analysis. At registration, all participants received a bright yellow Yamaha event T-shirt and a chance to win a number of prizes to be drawn later in the day. The entire new Yamaha model line up, including the new 55(fV·twin Vision and the 650 Turbo Seca, along with a mechanical display of the new off road Monocross suspension and a complete Virago V-twin motorcycle cutaway really got the attention of the crowd while on their way to the Farm entrance. Participants could also enjOy a number of Yamaha motorcycle movies. Throughout the park all day and night you would see bright yellow Yamaha tshirts. Yamaha's video crew was also on hand with Ted Otto manning the camera recording the day's festivities. Later in the afternoon everyone gathered at the Knott's Berry Farm Gold Rush Camp for a real country style barbeque dinner complete with a live country western band. A~t 6 p.m. Yamaha started their prize drawings. Ernie Hough from Salinas, Kansas rode out on the XS·l100 Yamaha he won earlier at Yamaha's Silver Dollar City in Missouri to officiate the prize draw· ings. The winners were Joyce Edwards, San Diego (Yamaha YZinger); Tony Esquivel, Fresno (Yamahopper); Jennifer Kern, Vista (XS·ll00 Venturer); Barbara Baker, Orange (Exciter Day Pack); Regina Meese, Bonita (helmet); Miller K. Cockerill, Chatsworth (leather jacket); Brian Chapman, Fullerton (motorcycle cover); David Barret, South Laguna (carry-all bag); and Duane Blakeman, Merced, Rona Kandle, Santa Monica, Dennis Kendrick, Oxnard, Steven Givens, Los Angeles, and Mike Purvis, Parker, Arizona (Knott's Berry Farm Preserves). Also there were plaques awarded for oldest rider; Jack Hooker, Ridgecrest, 71, and to the youngest rider, a little threeyear.old girl named Shaun Dunlap of Santee. Longest distance award went to Doug Meister and Rich Conner from Winfield, KS, and the best looking bikes went to the wild west inspired Virago and Maxim pair of Shirley Barris of North Hollywood. Mter the awards everyone was free to enjoy the Farm until midnight. All in all it was a great way to spend a fun filled family afternoon and evening and still get your fill of motoreyde fun. •