Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

- a ft er Iml ntgnl on I a D a I"" str....t. • '"di :-l.l· ,as ,--j the Dallas (Texas) Times Herald recently published a story blaming the death and an increase in motorcycle fatalities statewide on " ... more affordable - and more powerful - motorcycles." saying that " ... the slowdown in sales spurred motorcycle manufacturers to design 'superbikes' - cheaper. faster bikes that would attract younger customers." The article quotes Brian O'Neill of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Washington. DC as saying that Kawasaki Ninjas and Honda Interceptors like the VF500F crashed by the dead youth". . . have acceleration capabilities comparable to Grand Prix cars. and can reach speeds up to 170 milas per hour." The story did not indicate where enthusiasts can buy one of the mythical. less expensive. 170-mph, accelerates-like-a-GP-car 500 or 600Cc machines it describes. The U.S. Marine Corps has purchased 186 Kawasaki KLR250s for use in carrying secret messages among battlefield commanders. According to wire service reports, the machines. now being used in training sessions at Camp Pendleton, about 50 miles north of San Diego, California, are equipped with a special dull green paint job. The advantage of using motorcycles for communications is that electronic evesdropping equipment can't be used to intercept messages. The Marine Corps paid $2800 for each machine, making the purchase worth a total of $520,800 to Hayes Manufacturing Company of Rancho Cucamonga, California, which bought the bikes from Santa Ana Kawasaki in Santa Ana, California and modified them for military use. The AMA Dirt Track Advisory Board voted .July 27 to approve Continental's controversial Conti/ Blitz dirt track tire for use in professional AMA competition, but limited its use to WM-5 rims. which have a maximum width of three inches. The vote. taken at the Park Inn in Benton, JlJinois. the day after the DuQuoin Mile. reflected the board's concern thatthe widebodied Conti/Bliz. when mounted on a 3 1/2-inch wide. WM-6 rim. will not fit certain approved motorcycles unless the bikes are modified. notably Harley-Davidson's XR750 and the Wood-Rotax 600Cc single. The ruling was designed to prevent any alleged unfair advantage Honda riders might gain by using the wide-bodied Continental with a WM-6 rim. and also was set to limit the amount of costly modifications necessary before the Conti/Blitz could be made to fit other motorcycles. The ruling will go into effect at the August 15. AMA Grand National Championship/Camel Pro Series. Hamburg Half Mile in New York. The Fifth Annual North Georgia Mountains 50cc Road Reliability Run will take place on October 26. The AMA-sanctioned tiddler run starts and ends at T.W.O (Two Wheels Only) Campgrounds in Suches, Georgia. Last year's run was won by former National Enduro Champion John Penton. Multi-time motocross champ Bob Hannah, Hi-Point Racing Products advertising manager Matt Weisman and Penton tied in points and the win was awarded to Penton via a weigh-off. As event promoter Ben Cheatwood put it, "In case of a tie the heaviest rider wins period." For more info, contact Cheatwood at 404/923-1685 or Bob Lenk at 404/963-5477. Forttm'Ss"pfa-rlning 'on attend"ing the International Six-Day Enduro in Italy. September 1-14, Cagiva is offering 750cc Elefant dual-purpose motorcycles for rental. The cost is $150 for 10 days. For more information. call Peoples Travel at 800/841-0980, or Husqvarna's Charles Halcomb at 619/5651414. The Los Ancianos Motorcycle Club's 250-kilometer Tecate Enduro is back and will be held December 6, in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. The enduro will be a one-dav event, covering approximately 15'0 miles. For more information, call Dick Phares at 619/279-2498. Former Cycle World magazine editor Allan Girdler's JlJustrated Harley-Davidson Buyer's Guide was the only motorcycle-related book on the Classic Motorbooks Best Seller Ust issued July 31. Girdler's book placed fourth on the 20-book list. Classic Motorbooks specializes in books dealing with automobilies. motorcycles and racing. The Smithsonian Institution has announced theopeningof a new motorcycle exhibit in the Road Transportation Hall of the National Museum of American History. The exhibit, entitled American Motorcycling and Motorcyclists, 1900-1940, has been mounted by the museum's division of transportation. The exhibit will continue through November 27. Television coverage of the July 31 Budweiser American Cup Challenge speedway race at Gardena. California's Ascot South Bay Stadium will air on two upcoming episodes of the nationally-broadcast Speedway America show on the Tempo Cable Network. For air dates and times. consult your local directory or call 213/515-5115. •• ~ORCYCLE INDUSTRY "ANGES Hired Debbie Winkler, former advertising account manager for Motorcycle Industry magazine, by DG Performance in the position of dealer sales manager. Born Gregory Allen Jones, to former National Champion MXer Gary Jones and wife Renee, July 7 in Hacienda Heights, California. Moved Gianatsis Design, the Jim Gianatsis-owned advertising agency to 7944 Kentland Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91304; phone number remains 818/347-4435. Quit As service manager for Champion Motorcycles of Costa Mesa, California, Bill Rychlik, after five years, to pursue other interests; former tuner for motocrosser Rex Staten; former dirt track tuner; featured in a Cycle World magazine story on the eHects of rider size and weight on drag strip elapsed times. Appointed Southern California distributor for Marushin Helmets, Van Leeuwen Enterprises. • 'Kennedy'· . ':. introduces anti·ATV bill By Farren Williams LONG"BEACH, CA, AUG I Congressional abuse of ATVs jumped from the House of Representatives to the U.S. Senate July 24, when Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced a bill calling for Japanese manufacturers to redesign all-terrain vehicles orface an ATV ban. The measure, if approved, also would require warning labels on bikes and packaging materials, and would mandate similar warnings in all ATV advertising. Senate Bill S2689 was presented as a list of amendments to Kennedy's Child Injury Prevention Act of 1986 (introduced the previous week), and singles out ATVs, cigareue lighters and certain toys as especially hazardous to children; both measures were co-authored by Senator Albert A. Gore Jr., (D-TN). "We must begin to mount the same serious effort to combat (childhood) injuries as we did decades ago when we brought widespread childhood disease under control," said Kennedy in the July 24 edition of the Congressional Record. "I am introducing the Children's Injury Prevention Amendments of 1986. These amendments address three specific causes of injury to children: all-te.rrain vehicles, hazardous toys and cigarette lighters. "Most injuries are not accidents," Kennedy said. "Unsafe conditions, behaviors and products contribute mightily to the risk of injury. The public is becoming increasingly aware of the hazard represented by all-terrain vehicles. This summer, there have been seven deaths every 10 days because of these recreational vehicles. One-half of the deaths are to children under 16; one-quarter are to children under 12. "Because they are poorly designed, (ATVs) are prone to flip, tip or roll over, causing serious injury," said Kennedy. "The three-wheeled version appears to be especially dangerous. Each year the death and injury toll rises significantly. Though half of the deaths have been in children under 16, these bikes have often been viewed as toys. Most youngsters and their parents had EttIe idea about the risk they were taking when they mounted their new bikes. "Something must be done to put a stop to this needless loss of children," Kennedy concluded. "The bill I am introducting will require the four Japanese manufacturers to present an improved design for these vehicles to the Consumer Product Safety Commission wi thin six months. 1£ they do not, the legislation authorizes the Commission to ban the vehicle altogether. Shortly after the bill takes effect, warning labels will appear on the bikes and all packaging materials and advertising." 1£ approved by Congress, Kennedy's bill would ban domestic sale and manufacture of ATVs and would curb all ATV imports, unless manufacturers meet an 18-month deadline to adhere to proposed safety provisions within the new law. Six months after the bill is passed, the Japanese Big Four would be required to submit to the CPSC revised design specifications for ATVs designs that "improve dynamic stability," and are "demonstrated to be safe." No later than one year after the passage of the bill, the CPSC would have to certify that the new ATV designs are "likely to significantly reduce the number of injuries and deaths attributable to such vehicles." The CP Cfllso %Vld be-reCll!i ~ • report back to Congress, with any recommendation, 14 months after the blll has been enacted. Only three months after the enactment of Kennedy's propo ed law, ATV manufacturers would be required to put warning labels on their products, on product packaging and in all ATV advertisments. The rotating labels would resemble the familiar Surgeon General's warning on tobacco products. Warnings mandated by the proposed legislation include: " ot recommended for children under age 14; if any child is permitted to use an ATV, close parental SUpeTvision is advised; "ATVs may tip over upon encountering obstacles, slopes or during turns; "ATVs req uire specia I riding skills. All riders should complete rigorous training and instruction; "No more than one person should ever ride an ATV; "Always wear a helmet, boots, gloves and other protective gear." The Kennedy/Gore bill also calls for child-resistant caps on cigarette lighters, and demands a more effective system of labeling hazardous toys. The bill currently is under study by the Senate Commiuee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. • L.A. County considers SoCal riding areas By Paul Carruthers LONG BEACH, CA, AUG. II An off-highway vehicle comminee within the County of Los Angeles (California) Department of Parks and Recreation plans to submit applications for. state funding of oH-rbad riding areas. Since its formation last January, the commiuee has looked at 48 potential riding areas within the southern California county and will hold a public hearing on August 26 on the Los Angeles County Off-Highway Vehicle Master Plan and potential riding areas at Briggs Road in the Santa Clarita Valley, Bee Canyon in the Santa Clarita VaHey, H\f'me Canyon (as an alternate site tCl>'BeeCanyon} in the Antelope Valley' 1'litifeig Rock Wash in the Antelo~ ¥a1 l Fifteen of the 48 poosi ites are private property; six re 1 Hi city of Los Angeles, one is ~iR t. City of Southgate, three fall iiY ili risdiction of Los Angeles COun nd one comes under the State arKS and Recreation department. 'There iUe another 23 possible sitc:sthat fall under the federal government's jurisdiction. The biggest of the five projects under consideration is the 650-plus acres of Briggs Road. The area is located south of the Antelope Valley Freeway (Highway 14) and one-half mile east of Agua Dulce Canyon Road in the Santa Clarita Valley. The land is privately owned by three individual owners and extensive, unauthorized motorcycle and four-wheel drive use is already evident on the property. The commitee is encouraging user input on these five specific applications at the public hearing with comments being limited to three minutes. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Valencia Library, 23743 West Valencia Blvd., Valencia, California; those wishing to offer written testimony can do so by addressing their correspondence to the Department of Parks and Recreation, 433 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020, attention Dorethea HoffmanPark, project coordinator. •

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