Cycleplan Tour To Europe
CYCLEPLAN TOUR TO EUROPE
THIRTY-FIVE MEMBERS of Cycleplan's first Jet Tour to Europe and the International Motorcycle Show at Earls Court in London, congregated at the new Pan American Terminal at Idlewild International Airport for a cocktail party on November 2nd, prior to the departure of the giant Pakistan International Airlines jet liner for Frankfurt, Germany.
In Frankfurt Cycleplan tour participants transferred to another jet for a fast flight to Milan, industrial center of Italy. Sunday morning the group toured the city, and in the afternoon, after a typical Italian Sunday dinner, were guests of Mr. Saldini, representing Pirelli Tires, who invited us on a-tour of one of Europe's tallest skyscrapers, a re-inforced cement building, towering some 33 stories over the Italian countryside.
Next stop was Bologna, where everybody was invited to the Ducati factory. After a tour of the plant, and the opportunity to test ride the 1963 250cc "Scrambles" models, all were hosted by the executive staff at an impromptu buffet and cocktail party. Chief engineer Taglioni spent considerable time with the racing enthusiasts discussing competition engines. Chet Slinger, Ed Kretz and numerous other dealers commented favorably on the 250cc Ducati models they rode.
The day after our visit to Ducati, a chartered luxury bus, operated by a wonderful driver, "Luigi", and a charming hostess, "Madelaine," took us to Florence. After visiting the famous leather school at the Cathedral of St. Croce, where typical Florentine leather crafts and gifts were purchased, we converged on one of the finest restaurants in Italy, Buco Mario.
The specialty, unusual as it may seem, is steak! Of course we had our share of lasagna, spaghetti, etc. Everybody enjoyed delicious Chianti wine, a product of this area, though "Wop" Varesio, of Vineland, N.J., stuck to Danish beer! In the afternoon some shopped, others visited points of interest.
The shopping spree over, our trip back to the Hotel Jolly in Bologna was spent exhibiting various purchases, leather bags for wives and girl friends, leather belts, wallets, neckties, etc.
On to Milano by omnibus, we stopped to eat at one of Milan's newest motor hotels, where our dependable bus driver was presented with a gift of $25.00 for his excellent service and good judgment over the hilly and treacherous highways of Italv. In Milan we boarded a German Lufthansa airliner for Munich, from the air observed the jagged snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps and, in what seemed minutes, arrived in Munich to be greeted by Mr. Eichele of Zundapp.
After dinner at the Rathskeller of the Hofbrau Haus, and much good Munich beer, singing and swinging, we were photographed and proceeded to a small nightclub at which Mr. and Mrs. Slinger of Sacramento, California, won a prize of a bottle of Vintage Wine for having come the greatest distance. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Kretz tore the house down with their Monterey Park version of the Twist, and "Snake" Davidson gave an exhibition of the Twist, Tennessee style, that had everybody clapping and shouting. Associated Motorcycles Ltd., manufacturers of Norton, Matchless, AJS, Francis Barnett and James motorcycles, rolled out the red carpet for the visitors. Managing Director of Associated Motorcycles, Mr. A. A. Sugar, Managing Director of Matchless Motorcycles, Mr. Bill Smith, and Mr. John Loweth, along with Mr. Udall and racing expert Jack Williams all greeted us, and numerous photographs were taken for both CYCLE WORLD and the British press. London photographers enjoyed a shot of Ed Kretz at the controls of the successful Matchless sidecar racing outfit with Joe Sarkees lying down in prone racing position in the Watsonian sidecar.
Champagne for breakfast was the reward for all who went to the large and modern Zundapp factory where Dr. Rosenbaum welcomed us. After a guided tour, company officials presented the guests with gifts and wished us an enjoyable journey. During the tour of the development section, sharp-eyed Californians noticed some special 250cc heads and learned about Zundapp's new 5-speed gearbox. Lots of fun was had road-testing Zundapp's new lightweights.
Next day plans were made to visit the giant B.M.W. factory. Here we were again met by company officials, given a hearty welcome and taken through both the auto and motorcycle production lines.
Everybody enjoyed Munich, but Paris was next. A short hop by jet brought us to Orly airport; the tax-free shops were too much of a temptation. We stocked up on U.S. cigarettes at $1.75 per carton, and Scotch at $2.50 a fifth. By private bus to the heart of Paris, where our hotel was only a block away from the famous Follies Bergere!
November 12th was the date of our prop-jet flight from Paris to London. The one-hour flight over the English channel brought us to delightful Hotel Flemings on Half-Moon Street.
I guess because there's no language barrier in London, everybody went his own way.
We were invited to Earl's Court as guests of the organizers; once actually within the walls, photographers made every effort to "catch" Americans scrutinizing the British products. Needless to say, Norton, Matchless and Triumph stands were among the most popular British exhibitors visited, while Ducati and Zundapp rated high among the continental displays.
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Tennesseean Kenny Hayes was feted by the Castrol Oil folks, who presented this capable U.S. competition rider with a case of Castrol racing oil. Smith's KLG export manager R. R. Chown invited dealers and competition riders to the Smith Motor Accessory exhibit as did Mr. Cook of Lucas whose cordiality towards the American visitors is to be complimented.
On Wednesday, November 14th, at the invitation of Mr. Ceder of Johnson Mtrs., Triumph, California, and Mr. Turner of Triumph, several of the Cycleplan group were driven out to the Triumph plant in Coventry, while the others took a short jaunt to Plumstead, the home of Associated, for a cocktail party and luncheon.
Managing Director Sugar greeted the guests and after luncheon we toured the plant. Competition-minded dealers and riders, under the capable guidance of racing expert Jack Williams, visited the development and research division, the racing "crib" and the dynamometer room. With ear-muffs for protection against the roar of competition engines, a recently built 350cc AJS 7R was taken up to 8200 rpm. The faces of Kurt Liebmann, Kenny Hayes, Chet Slinger, Harvey Goodling, James Kite and myself, I must admit, lit up with surprise as Mr. Williams calculated the developed H.P. of 41.9 at 8000 rpm!
Associated maintains a separate division for assembly of competition bikes, and we were given the opportunity of seeing line production of racing machines. It's too bad that these fine machines, available to anybody all over the world, cannot be raced in AMA events.
Thursday, November 15th, our last day in London, was marked by a special treat. Representing the 35 American motorcycle dealers who had visited the International Exhibition at Earl's Court, I was invited by Sir Norman Hulbert, D.L., M.P., to a luncheon in the House of Commons, flanked by the "big brass" of Associated and overseas distributors from 13 countries. Sir Norman's encouraging remarks were enthusiastically received, as were the few words I spoke after Mr. Michael Berliner confirmed American plans for thé products produced by Associated.
Our departure from London by Pakistan International Airlines was smooth and swift. Once in the giant Boeing 707 jet liner, folks started to recap their two-week European excursion, everybody agreeing that they had a real ball.
Perhaps the entire effort could be summed up in the few words of veteran motorcycle correspondent Peter Arnold of Motor Cycling News, who told Americans and British alike, "This independent venture of Mr. von Schonfeld's has done much to stimulate interest in British bikes and has at the same time re-affirmed British confidence in the American market for our two-wheeled vehicles." •
