Cycle Round Up
CYCLE ROUND UP
JOSEPH C. PARKHURST
F.I.M. RULES & CALENDAR FOR 1963
The Federation Internationale Motorcycle met in Brussels, Belgium recently to set rules for 1963 and to establish the racing calendar for the forthcoming season. Most significant ruling to come out of the meeting was the change in engine sizes; no engines under 350cc will be allowed to race in the Senior TT at the Isle Of Man or in any other 500cc race.
An important rule change that has concerned us for some time is welcomed, concerning the maximum allowable wind velocity existing when a speed record is to be attempted. Bill Johnson was almost blown off the course in the Triumph streamliner at the Bonneville Speed Trials (CW, October '62) so the maximum allowable wind has been dropped from 5 mph, to 3.35 mph.
Classic Road Races for 1963 are as follows: Spanish Grand Prix, May 5th, Maontjuich (50, 125 & 250cc classes); West German GP, May 19 or 26th, Hockenheim, all classes; French GP, June 2nd, Clermont Ferrand (50, 125 & 250cc classes); Isle Of Man TT, June 10th, 12th & 14th, all classes; Dutch TT, June 29th, Assen, all classes; Belgian GP, July 7th, Spa Francorchamps, (50, 125 & 500cc classes); East Geiman GP, August 18th, Sachsenring, all classes; Finnish GP, Sept. 1st, (50, 125 & 500cc classes); Ulster GP, Sept. 7th, all classes; Italian GP, Sept. 15th, (50, 125, 250, 350 & 500cc classes); Argentine GP, Oct. 13th, all classes; Japanese GP, Suzuka, Nov. 10th, provisional.
USMC CHAMPIONS
For the second consecutive year, Tennessee's Hayes brothers dominated United States Motorcycle Club's dirt track competition, but while Jim was 1961 champion, younger brother Kenneth rode roughshod over all opposition in 1962. Emerging as point leader in both the lightweight and heavyweight divisions, Kenneth ran up the most impressive score of any cyclist in the USMC.
In the lightweight class he was undefeated, rolling up seven wins in seven feature races; in the big class he scored 4 firsts and 4 seconds in 8 races. This record of 11 wins and 4 seconds in 15 features was compiled over a three-state area and does not include qualifying events. 73 riders from eight states scored points.
The following are the USMC dirt track point standings for the 1962 season:
HIGHLIGHTS OF AMA COMPETITION COMMITTEE MEETING
The yearly get-together of AMA Competition Committee members, this time in San Francisco, brought some interesting new rulings, most drastic of which concerns Class C road racing. Fairings have been approved and will first be in evidence at Daytona, where they should do much to further spectator interest and appeal. Such a streamlined face-lifting will undoubtedly have far reaching significance for the sport as a whole, perhaps bringing the day of true International competition a giant step closer.
For the first time, too, novice Class C riders will be required to ride machines of 250cc capacity when competing in halfmile dirt track events. This plan has been tested successfully at Ascot Park in Los Angeles for the past year, substantially reducing injury rate among the newer riders.
Another historic step was the invitation of three leading professional riders, AÍ Gunter, Neil Keen and Dick Mann, to the conferences, where their opinions and suggestions were considered carefully for the first time in an open forum. Keen, shown speaking, and Gunter, whose picture-taking ability is inspected by Committeeman Aub Le Bard in the other photo, were spokesmen for Motorcycle Racers, Inc., a group of AMA competition riders whose interests they represent on the Board of Directors.
SCHEDULE OF 1963 AMA NATIONALS
March 31 Daytona Beach Fla., 200-Mile Road Race June 17 Heidelberg, Pa., 15-Mile Dirt Track June 23 Laconia, N.H., 100-Mile Road Race June 30 Columbus, Ohio, 10-Mile Dirt Track July 7 Indianapolis, Ind., 120-Mile Road Race
July 20 Gardena, Calif., 8-Mile Dirt Track July 27 Kansas City, Kans., 5-Mile Dirt Track Aug. 11 Watkins Glen, N.Y., 150-Mile Road Race Aug. 18 Springfield, III., 50-Mile Dirt Track Aug. 25 Peoria, III. T.T., 7-Milers, 250cc and
251 to 900cc (no 80") Aug. 23 Santa Fe, III., Class A Short Track, no points
Held over: Gardena T.T., 50 laps; Windber, 50-Mi 1er; Sacramento, 20-Miler
No Applications: 130-Mile Road Race or 25-Mile Dirt Track
Record attempt at Bonneville Salt Flats when possible No date: Class A Hillclimb, Muskegon, Mich.; Scrambles Nat'l., Dist. 37, Los Angeles, Calif.
ENDURO NATIONALS
Feb. 17 San Luis Obispo, Calif., 200 Miles May 26 Columbus, Ohio, 250 Miles Sept. 1-2 Lansing, Mich., 500 Miles (Jack Pine)
Sept. 29 Atsion, N.Y., 125 Miles (Sandy Lane)
Sept. 29 Cayuta, N.Y., 150 Miles (will negotiate
with above)
No date: Pasadena, Calif., 400 Miles
NEW GRAND PRIX BOOK
Among the many nice facets of being the Editor of a magazine like CYCLE WORLD are things like the really beautiful book Jack McCormack of American Honda Motor Co. sent me. It is entitled "The Race For Leadership" and it is a summary of the 1961 World's Grand Prix road racing Championship. Without doubt it is the most beautiful book on motorcycling I have ever seen, both in graphic design, photography and art work, to say nothing of the handsome printing and binding. Only a limited quantity will be available of the almost 200 page book, profusely illustrated with hundreds of excellent photographs, in color and black and white, and maps of all the grand prix courses of the world. The last page of the book contains a phonograph recording of the West German Grand Prix with the sounds of all of the prominent machines. Natur ally the book is strongly slanted towards Honda, for another reason than the obvious one that Honda wins so many events; it is published in Japan so is natur ally biased. Road racing afficianados should feel in adequate without this fantastic book on their library shelves, even at the ten dollar price, for it is well worth it. If you are interested, a word to Gerald Bruce at American Honda Mtr. Co., 4077 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles 19, Calif., if done quickly may get you a copy. Good luck.
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HONDA WORLD CHAMPION
Seated on the fabulous four-cylinder Honda "Four" 250cc grand prix racing motorcycle is Luigi Taveri, World Champion in the 125cc class riding for the Honda factory. His equally happy looking partner is Jack McCormack, Sales Manager for the American Honda Motor Co. The scene was the recent occasion of Mr. Taveri's first visit to the United States.
We were given the opportunity to discuss racing on an International scale with Mr. Taveri at a sumptuous dinner party hosted by the Honda company in honor of the visit of their diminutive champion. The charming and continental Taveri, a Swiss though bearing an Italian name, fully expects to retain his title in the 1963 grand prix season where he will again be riding for Honda. We will not be one bit surprised if he repeats his victories either.
After dinner the younger members of the party, composed primarily of press people, adjourned to one of Los Angeles' better known night clubs where we were given a lesson in the fine points of appreciating a floor show. Of course, as with most red-blooded American boys, we needed little coaching, though it was interesting to hear the Continental view on the proceedings. (!)•
. . . AND A LOCAL CHAMPION
Often we get wind of outstanding achievements of local riders who all too often go unnoticed on the nation-wide cycle racing scene. One case in point is that of Tommy Morris. Morris has ridden for 13 years, on just about every machine, and is now riding a Honda in 250cc racing in the Eastern U.S.
Don Piotrowski tunes Tommy's Honda; his skill is evidenced by the fact that Morris has not had an engine failure through the entire season. He started the season in April at Davey Speedway in Winston Salem, N.C., where he gained seven firsts out of seven starts. Since then he has had 34 first places, set 3 new track records for 6 lap distances. He also won the AMA State road race championship 250cc class on a Honda 250, then placed second in the open class with a Honda 305.
Recently he set a blistering pace at the Vineland 4-hour production 250 race and placed 2nd after leading for all but 20 minutes only to lose a plug wire. At Montgomery, Alabama, on his 305cc bike, on a Vi mile track, he finished 3rd in the finals and set a lap record. At Gainesville, Florida, he made a clean sweep of the road race winning his heat and the final by a wide margin.
Tommy is no lightweight, he tips the scale at 165 lbs., a lot of weight to give his competitors. This was Tommy's first season on a Honda, and he is a pleasure to watch on either XA mile, Vi mile, or road race course, dirt or pavement. He is also known as a sportsman and is well liked by all of his competitors. Most of his friends feel that he would be high in the national point standings if he raced other than just on weekends. He is a motorcycle mechanic by trade.
ENFIELD IN THE USA
Frank Cooper of Cooper Mtrs., Distributors of Royal Enfield motorcycles West of the Mississippi, recently sent me a brief "history" of the Enfield cycles in the United States that is the answer to many questions we have had asked about Enfields.
Royal Enfield cycles were imported into the U.S. from 1946 through 1954 and sold under their own name, Royal Enfield, for this period of time. For 5 years, 1955 to 1959, the Indian Company, which is owned by Brockhouse of England, purchased Enfield motorcycles and put their own name on the tanks and sold them as Indians. In 1959 the name Indian, and the Indian Company, were sold by the English Brockhouse Co. to Associated Motorcycles Ltd., of London, the manufacturers of Matchless motorcycles.
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In late 1959 and 1960 the Indian Chief 700cc was the only Royal Enfield model sold to the Indian Matchless Co. by Enfield. No Royal Enfield Chiefs have been sold to the Indian Matchless Co. since early 1960 and no more Royal Enfields will be sold to them. At no time has Royal Enfield been connected with Indian other than to sell them RE motorcycles, with the Indian name plate on the tank. Since late 1959 Royal Enfield motorcycles have been imported into the U.S.A. under that name and distributed by Cooper Mtrs., Gene Shillingford (for the Atlantic States), Joe Schotthoefer (Great Lakes), and Sam Avellino (in New England).
HARLEY AND DAVIDSON HONORED BY ITALY
For his contribution to the economic welfare of Italy, Wm. H. Davidson, President of the Harley-Davidson Mtr. Co., which has an Italian motorcycle subsidiary, Aermacchi Harley-Davidson, located near Milan, was awarded the "Order Of Merit Of The Italian Republic."
Presenting the award in the photograph is William J. Harley, Chairman of the Board of Harley-Davidson's Italian affiliate. Harley, who also^ received the commendation, had been presented with his award during a recent trip to Italy and had been authorized to make the presentation to Davidson in Milwaukee. Bard Hanson, riding a 50cc Sports Model Tohatsu, established himself as the man to beat in his class this past season in the Seattle area. At the New Alic-M Ranch Track at Woodenville, Wash., which opened this year with a 20 race season, Bard took 19 first places and one second. In the Northwest Championship scrambles, Bard won all three moto-cross events.
The Order Of Merit, a high honor bestowed by the Italian Republic, is presented to those individuals who have contributed significantly to the welfare of Italy in the fields of science, art, industry and social activity. The award was based on the efforts of Davidson and Harley in increasing Aermacchi Harley-Davidson's production and employment which constituted a definite industrial contribution to the Italian economy.
The two officers of the Milwaukee motorcycle and motor scooter firm each received a commendation signed by the President of the Italian Republic designating them "Commanders" in the Order Of Merit.
ASMA OFFICE CONSOLIDATION
Consolidation of American Motor Scooter Association offices was announced recently by James H. Carrier, AMSA President. Chicago, 111., has been the headquarters for AMSA activities, and in 1961 a Western office was opened in Provo, Utah, to serve the trail scooter portion of the industry.
"The move will be accomplished in two phases," Carrier said. Effective October 31st the Chicago office will be closed and their activities transferred to the Association's Western office. When arrangements are completed, the consolidated office will be moved to Denver, Colorado. The Denver location will provide more flexibility in serving both the trail scooter and street scooter interests of the Association.
Carrier also announced that W. T. Berry Jr., of Provo, Utah, has been appointed Executive Secretary of the Association. Berry joined AMSA in 1961 as Assistant to President Carrier. In his new position as Executive Secretary, Berry will be responsible for coordinating all AMSA activities.
HANSON SWEEPS NORTHWEST RACES
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Hanson is sponsored by Bryant's Equipment, Inc., of Seattle, as is his running mate Chuck Buell, who also rides a Tohatsu. Chuck has been placing second to Hanson in most events. At the Castle Rock races Chuck won the Class B main event while Hanson took the Class A race. One further point of interest; both Bard Hanson and Chuck Buell are only 16 years old and are "A" and "B" students in high school.
YAMBERT ORGANIZATION TO HANDLE TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLE ADVERTISING
Triumph Motorcycles have appointed the Ralph Yambert Organization of Hollywood to handle national advertising and public relations.
The Triumph Corporation of Baltimore, Maryland, distributors of the British-made machine for 31 central and eastern states, and Johnson Motors, Inc. of Pasadena, distributors for the 19 western states, will share in the service rendered by the agency. President Denis McCormack of the Triumph Corporation and Wilbur J. Ceder, head of Johnson Motors, concurred in selecting an agency in California where, along with more of many other great sports, there is more of motorcycling.
Ralph Yambert, head of the Yambert Organization, who will personally handle the Triumph account, has been identified with many of the West Coast's most successful consumer accounts during his 30 years in advertising.
In the photograph, left to right, are; Wilbur J. Ceder, Don Brown and Ralph Yambert.
KEYS TO THE KINGDOM
With the addition of veteran motorcycle field man V. B. "Vic" Cox, to the Hap Alzina staff, BSA dealers in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming are assured of a closer liason than ever before.
Pictured above is BSA Distributor, Hap Aizina, handing over the "keys" to the six states to Cox, while Field Representative Joe Ward and "Boots" Curtis admire the new station wagon fleet that has just been put into service for the field crew.
JOHNSON AND CAMPBELL MEET
The two fastest men in the world in their respective spheres, try out the 1963 Triumph Bonneville during a visit to the International Motorcycle Show, November 13. At the controls is Donald Campbell, holder of the world water speed record, who plans an assault on the world land speed record next year. His pillion passenger is Bill Johnson of California, who broke the world speed record for motorcycles with a streamlined Triumph Bonneville in August.
ROGUE VALLEY RIDERS
One of the most successful club-promoted events of the past season was the Oregon State Championship T.T Scrambles presented by the Rogue Valley Riders at Grants Pass. An enthusiastic crowd of 3,000 gathered for the meet at Josephine County Fairgrounds, and 84 riders from Oregon and California turned out to see that they weren't disappointed.
The 3/8 mile Fairgrounds T.T. track, site of bi-weekly races throughout the season, was beautifully prepared for the Championship event and a full program included every class from 50cc to Open, with Sweepstakes honors going to Don Feagles of Florence, Oregon, riding a 650cc BSA.
