Cycle Round Up
CYCLE ROUND UP
JOE PARKHURST
ROYALTY ON CYCLES
Most of the newspapers of the world recently splashed a picture of Britain’s Princess Margaret and her husband. Lord Snowdon, former society photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones, riding a motorcycle with the Princess’s skirt raised above her knees.
We weren’t too impressed with her knees, but we certainly were taken with their mode of transportation. The London Daily Express called the pictures “a gay and refreshing view of Royal life away from the tiaras and sentries.” As a note of explanation, they were taken when the couple was on a country weekend vacation celebrating their second wedding anniversary. Gay and refreshing describes our reactions pretty well, too.
MATCHLESS G-50 CSR & CYCLE WORLD
Since CYCLE WORLD started we have had many many extremely flattering things said about us, and every one of them is deeply appreciated. Recently we were paid what we consider to be one of the highest and most profound forms of a compliment by the Matchless Indian Co. of Chicopee Falls, Mass. We received a sample copy of a printed letter that is being furnished, along with a copy of our April issue, to each purchaser of a new Matchless G-50 CSR. The April issue contains a road test of this fantastic machine. The letter reads: “Mr. Matchless G-50 CSR
owner; The enclosed copy of the April 1962 CYCLE WORLD is supplied through the courtesy of Mr. Joseph C. Parkhurst, the Editor. The article by Gordon H. Jennings and the illustrations will be of great value in helping you understand the design and construction of your engine.”
NSU CORRECTION
Enthusiasm is a wonderful thing, providing of course, you can keep it under control. It looks like our test staff got completely carried away last month with the NSU Prima scooter when we said that the turn indicators were standard equipment and that the luggage rack and spare wheel were optional extras.
It seems as though it is just the opposite; the turn signals are available at a small extra charge, and the quite expensive rack and spare wheel with a tire are standard. It would seem that it would be the other way around.
ROAD RACING CHAMPION
The efficient looking rider is Norris Rancourt astride his potent 250cc Parilia Grand Sport road racer that is running up an amazing number of wins in the California AFM road racing circuit these days. Recently he won first places in the 250 class at the Stockton, Santa Barbara and Cotati road races. Not content with class wins, Rancourt finished the amazing Parilia in two 4th places and one 6th place overall, running against some of the hottest machines and riders in the AFM circuit, including Norton Manx’s and Matchless G-50’s. In these types of races the smaller displacement machines start 20 seconds behind the larger bikes, which make his accomplishments all the more amazing.
At the recent races run at Laguna Seca in Central California, Rancourt took the amazing Parilia to probably its most glamorous win when he beat Don Vesco, one of the leading AFM riders, riding nothing less than a HONDA FOUR. On the first day of the two-day event he won handily over Vesco, but on the second day he had mechanical trouble and was forced to start late. When he entered the race, more than a full lap behind, he pulled onto the course behind Vesco, who was leading and eventually won the event, passed him and stayed there, thus proving that his win the day before was not a fluke.
The AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists) road races are run in conjunction with sports car road races staged by the California Sports Car Club and are proving to be highly interesting and successful events.
MINI-BIKE ASSOCIATION FORMED
A recent letter from Mrs. Janet Murphy, Secretary of the newly formed National Mini-Bike Association (NMBA) tells CYCLE WORLD that a Rules Committee has drawn up a Constitution, by-laws and
a set of competition rules pertaining to classes, eligibility and safety. An annual membership fee of $3.00 and an initiation fee of $2.00 were established and meetings have been scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month.
We are happy to see the mini-bike fans getting organized; this is essential to the success of any sport, especially one with the bright future that mini-bikes are facing. The NMBA has elected Mr. Tom Ruddy as President and he has invited anyone who is interested to contact Mr. Berk Eastman at 1158 East Ada, Glendora, California.
SMALL MAN, BIG BIKE? BIG MAN, SMALL BIKE?
Mike R. Vancil of Homewood, Illinois, sent the accompanying photograph of Bob Baugh Jr. of Peoria, 111., astride a Rebel Micro mini-bike which he rode through the pits at the recent AMA Daytona. Mr. Baugh is known in the Midwest as the “Voice of the Speedway” for his announcing at cycle and automobile events during the last five years. He tips the scales at 300 pounds plus . . . race, anyone?
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COSMONAUT TITOV SET FOR BLAST OFF
One of the highlights of the Seattle World’s Fair, in the opinion of Russian spaceman Gherman Titov, was the Honda exhibit. Shown here, Titov is assuming a gleeful “stationary” orbit astride Honda’s
fabulous four. An interesting aside is the machine itself; it is one of the factory racing bikes that was retired and then “dressed” for display at the World’s Fair by the well-known cycle customizer Von Dutch in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
AMSA TRAIL TRAVEL BOOKLET
Distribution has begun on a new trail travel booklet, according to Mr. James H. Carrier, President of the American Motor Scooter Association. It is designed to acquaint the trail scooter operator with some of the rules of trail travel.
The new booklet is the result of an extensive field survey conducted by AMSA personnel during the past six months. Literally hundreds of contacts were made with the U.S. Forest Service, State Game and Fish Departments, sportsmen’s organizations, ranchers, cattlemen and conservation organizations to obtain information for the booklet. “While designed primarily to help the trail scooter operator who is going afield for the first time, all trail scooter operators will find many tips that will help to make their trip more enjoyable,” Carrier said.
Protection of our natural resources from fire and erosion, meeting pack, stock and horseback riders on the trail, hunting safety and cross-country scooter operation are some of the subjects covered in the attractive 16-page illustrated booklet.
Initial distribution to trail scooter owners, clubs and dealers will be handled by AMSA member manufacturers. Other individuals and organizations may obtain free copies by writing to the American Motor Scooter Association, Western Office, 723 Columbia Lane, Provo, Utah.
NEW JAPANESE RACE COURSE
Racing of the grandest magnitude is scheduled to begin in Japan in September of this year when the new Suzuka circuit being built by Honda is debuted. The race course was designed by John Hugenholtz, director of the famed Zandvoort circuit in Holland and a consultant advisor on motor racing circuits. To be called “Motor Sports Land,” the 4-mile racing plant is being built where once were rice paddies and mountains near Suzuka, Japan, 150 miles south of Tokyo.
The original intent when designing the course was to establish a permanent testing ground for Honda’s forthcoming racing car and motorcycles. Their new Grand Prix car, rumored to be an 8-cylinder machine employing desmodromic valves, is expected to be first shown at the opening of Motor Sports Land. The finalized layout is the by-product of an original plan to build two courses, one near Tokyo, and one near the Honda plant at Suzuka.
Soichiro Honda, founder and head of the firm that bears his name, contacted Hugenholtz in January of 1961 to come During the planning of the race course, left to right; Suzuki, Hugenholtz, Soichiro Honda, Shiozaki, Okomoto, Fujisawa and Ogawara.
to Japan and design the complete racing plant. Upon his arrival in Japan, Mr. Honda had two complete plaster casts of the site ready for him.
It appears that soon we will be adding Japan to the International motorcycle and automobile racing program, and most welcome they are with this fascinating new course.
CLUB LICENSE COLLECTION
The photograph is of one wall at the Liberty Motorcycle Club’s clubhouse and those are motorcycle license plates, the collection of which is a club project. As you can see, they are doing quite well, but they wish to complete the job, and that’s why I am mentioning it.
They, Fred Steinhäuser, the Club President that is, have written CYCLE WORLD requesting us to run the photograph and ask riders around the country to help them by sending their old plates, so . . . They would appreciate anyone sending them by 3rd class or Parcel Post to: The Liberty Motorcycle Club, 297160 Shiawassee, Farmington, Michigan. They thank you, and we thank you. Anyone care to guess the number of plates on the wall?
