Letters
LETTERS
YES ALICE, THERE REALLY IS A UNO-GUZZI
I was amazed and displeased to note that a reader stated that the Uno-Guzzi is a joke, and inferred that CYCLE WORLD was the source of his knowledge. Allow me to remind you, sir, that while Uno-Guzzi is not now advertising in this country, it soon will be, and the attitude of your magazine indicates that perhaps you are not worthy of our business.
But to assure that horribly misled reader of the reality of the U-G, I enclose a rendering of Uno Guzzi’s bid for the big bike market, the Gluo-Blide.
More exciting than ever, this new UnoGuzzi is balanced by adjusting the two independently revving cylinders of the special H-D mill, which exhausts through nozzled Chattanooga Rattlers. Disc wheels are featured, within which are concealed tanks for the storage of lighter fluid for the popout cigarette lighter which is standard. Other features; 737 pounds weight; saddle height; 9'7'/2"; transmission: 10-speed Schwinn with jumpehain;
3.2 horsepower @ 97 rpm.
STAN WASHBURN Advertising Mgr.
Uno-Guzzi U.S.A.
BONNEVILLE CORRECTION
On page 31 of your November issue your caption: “Bill Martin brought this handsome belly-tank based Triumph for an assault on the 179.304 mph record held by Bill Johnson and Joe Dudek’s Triumph,” is slightly in error. Actually our AMA SA 500cc record is 212.28 mph set by Jess Thomas and Jack Wilson in 1958.
DON. J. BROWN Johnson Motors Pasadena, Calif.
GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY
This last school year, while 1 was away at college, there came to my town a very fine young man from Kenya. Africa, on an exchange program. In a letter from my brother. I learned that Simon did a little motorcycle racing in his homeland and owns a 650cc BSA which he hopes to get back to riding some day. I11 a visit to the BSA dealer near me he enjoyed very much looking over a Lightning Rocket. There is no doubt he loves motorcycles.
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Simon's desire to get hack in the saddle of his Beezer does not look like it will be fulfilled, since more important things are on his mind, primarily his education. What is this leading up to,> It seems to me that it would be a fine act of good will and a source of great joy to Simon if he could be united with his bike. If the help of some faction of American cycle enthusiasts could be obtained to this end. or to unite him with some machine here in America, it would provide him with familiar transportation and fun while he is staying here at college. PETE BERG
6 Ives Lane Clinton. New York
I have been living in this great country for 3 years, my country of origin is Cuba, which I left for reasons that are known to everyone. I am writing to tell you about a friend of mine who recently arrived in this country in a small boat after having escaped from Cuba for the same reasons I did. He is now in Florida.
My interest is to help my friend in his own field of work and knowledge. He is young and I believe able to earn his way in this country. His name is Antonio Guzman, he is 27 years old, with about 12 years experience in the best shop in Havana as a motorcycle mechanic. He has good character, is honest and really knows his w'ork. While with Van Der Mye Motors who sold and serviced Velocette. AJS. MV, Matchless. Horex, he also serviced other European makes such as Triumph and Norton, etc. His boss was Mr. William Van Der Dye. a Dutchman. I had personal experience with them and Mr. Guzman serviced my machines and I know that he has the necessary experience to work on any motorcycle with efficiency.
His schooling is to Jr. High School. He has however, one small limitation, his limited knowledge of the English language. He does, however, know the English names of all the parts and tools so he would not have any difficulty working in any shop.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could give me any ideas about where this chap could be used or where he could most probably find work in a motorcycle shop. He is alone, single, which would permit him to move anywhere.
ANTHONY RIERA 65-15 3Sth Avenue. Apt. 3-K Woodside. New York
Do any renders have any idea! —Ed.
BEATLE FAN
I would like some back issues of CYCI I WOKI o. and if any of your readers are Beatle fans I will do a swap of Beatle gear, books that is. for motorcycle books.
I have plenty of Beatle books and magazines worth quite a bit in our money; I will furnish a list and answer all replies. For the complete collection I want 12 CYCI i WORLDS and 10 of any other, or others, but they must be motorcycle publications. Not a bad swap. I would also like a pen friend who, like me. is a motorcycle fanatic and who can send photos.
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P.W.B. WOAN
106 Bootle St.
Preston, Lancashire
England
SIDECAR PLEA
I need your help. We need a formula governing the displacement for a class (or classes) of motorcycle sidecar racing machines. At the recent race at Cotati, the American Federation of Motorcyclists had a display in order to generate interest in them. This is a phase of the sport that has not, as yet, caught on in this country. The spectator interest, and thus a greater turnout at road races would justify any effort involved.
I would like to see a class allowing a maximum displacement of 250 cubic centimeters. Many machines would be available in this size and the cost would be less than an open class. Also, a sidecar will require experience on the part of two people to operate it so the reduced class would allow reduced hazards. If we can come up with a formula for 250cc. plus, if needed, an open class, I will pledge a European type machine ready for the circuits by June of 1965. Any interested parties should contact the A.F.M. at 1409 Cypress Point Drive. Placentia, Calif., or the San Francisco chapter, 215 San Jose Ave., Apt. 1, San Jose. Calif.
JIM PUSTER Roseville, California
CW MARRIAGE CLINIC
CYCLE WORLD is the greatest, you kids are doing a fine job. Having read it from copy one. we rate you the best of the cycle publications, and we take ’em all!
Me an Ma are a skinny, crabby old couple w'ho fight and argue and scream and throw items at each other most all the time.
About the only moments we get friendly is when we are out riding the motorcycles or when we snuggle up together each month and read CYCLE WORLD soon’s it arrives.
Thank you for helping to save our marriage. An’ keep up the good work with the magazine lest we drop in some afternoon an kick all yore spokes out!
Love.
BET n’ HERB WINFREY Napa, California
M ECU AN IC'S HALL OF FAME
I had to read the comment under the picture of our Championship Tuner's Trophy in the October issue of CYCLE WORLD, several times. This caused me to do some thinking and prompted this letter.
First of all, I am more than just a cycle enthusiast and own a number of bikes. I ride a 250 Ducati and both my younger sons have machines, one a Honda, the other another Ducati. I also own a Manx Norton and a 1913 H-D. If you can call a Morgan three-wheeler a motorcycle, I also own one of those.
I mention my array of motorcycles to demonstrate that I do not have any favoritism for a particular machine as might be suggested in the comment below the trophy illustration. As a matter of fact. I visited a number of cycle dealers looking for what I called a good racing engine. I did want one that was acceptable, of course, to the A.M.A. An old friend of mine. Mr. Becker, he runs a motorcycle shop here in the Chicago area, had a very old Harley 45 engine out of the frame. He was most generous and allowed us to use it, and the sculptor did use it as a model.
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We did not want it to look like any particular engine, and we also wanted it to be a no name engine. At least that was our effort, and if someone as critical as CYCLE WORLD detected this, I suppose there will be many more that will be able to identify this, but it is not supposed to be any particular engine. We are interested in recognizing the tuner or the mechanic, and that is the whole purpose of our program.
LEE A. STURTEVANT
P.A. Sturtevant Co.
Addison. Illinois
TWO FOR THE ROAD
“The Road,” in your October issue, is what I have been trying to accomplish for some time, that of getting the fascination of motorcycles down in story form.
While in Barcelona, Spain, last January. I rode the municipal bus to the end of the line and walked a mile to the Bultaco factory in San Adrian de Besos, a small suburb outside of the city proper. It was while walking to the factory that I was treated to the unusual experience of watching "The Road” come to life as the factory test riders sped by on TSS road racers and model S Sherpas.
Standing in the early morning cold and watching these thoroughbred machines speeding past, flat out on their expansion chambers, literally shaking the water out of the trees, was one of the high points of my travels.
BILL PEDERSON
Long Beach, Calif.
For the past six months I have become more and more engrossed in the sport of motorcycling. I have become better oriented and have a better than average understanding of why I have become so involved in my hobby directly as the result of reading CYCLE WORLD.
I have been buying CYCLE WORI.D from a motorcycle shop for the past year, the first six months of which I spent trying to determine the best motorcycle for me. CYCLE WORLD was an invaluable aid in helping me decide.
During the past year your magazine has become an important addition to my monthly, or better yet. daily reading habits. I just finished reading “The Road” in the October issue: it is as good a monthly journal as I've ever had the pleasure of reading. The entire format of CYCLE WORLD, design and copy included, plus most of the advertisements, are equal to most of the magazines available on the stands today.
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I have learned a great deal about motorcycles from the “Service Department” and “Technicalities.” “Letters” are also rather enlightening and I look forward to the road tests. Due to the “Intelligent Motorcycling” series I now wear a helmet and boots and I am going to try to develop the habit of shifting into neutral at stoplights.
I hope you test my machine, a Bultaco M ercurio; I’m sure you have many such requests from readers. My service manual is in Spanish and the English language version is not available.
R. F. GRIMES Louisville, Ky.
FROM OUT OF THE PAST
Carlo Pcrclli was wrong in his assertion in the story on the Moto-Guzzi V-8 ( CYCLE WORLD, September 1964), that when the original drawing of the new racer was sent to the press nobody guessed the truth. Or, to be precise, he is half right. Nobody guessed the truth, but I deduced it, and the fact was published, with the drawing, in the magazine for which I then worked.
At the time, 1954/55. I was responsible for much of the Continental coverage for the magazine "Motor Cycling." At the 1954 Milan Show chance remarks made by, I believe, the late Fergus Anderson and by various Italian contacts led me to believe that Guzzi were preparing an “Eight” for the forthcoming season.
T herefore when Motor Cycling’s Editor, then Cyril Quantrill, received the Guzzi drawing in the Spring of 1955 I was able to say, w'ith virtual certainty, that its power unit was a V-8. The picture was duly published as the heading to Cyril’s column, with a caption reading that it was “believed to be the new V-8.” And. it was.
JOHN THORPE Sandhill Lane Crawley Down Sussex, England
LAMBRETTA SCOOTER REACTIONS
We too cannot help but agree with your excellent opinion that the Lambretta 200TV which appeared in the September issue of CYCLI WORLD is the “Thunderbird of motor scooters." Your report was. in the main, an article which reflected the superior performance and features of this machine and you are to be congratulated for a largely favorable article.
There are. however, several aspects of your report which require clarification. First, allow us, as one of the largest manufacturers of scooters in the world, to state an opinion: “Motor scooters are not toys to be used by youngsters riding solo at speeds under 50 mph.”
Anyone conversant with the development of motor scooters knows they have outgrown their classification as contraptions used to putt about delivering newspapers or going to school. Neither are they so underpowered that they will only carry a person of average weight at a satisfactory speed.
As the leading publication in the industry. CYC i i w OR i D should be aware of the social phenomenon which has seen the motor scooter achieve a status in the U.S. unforeseen a decade ago. This growth has also seen the engineering of motor scooters develop to meet the requirements of modern travel.
Speed, maneuverability, economy and fun of motorcycles plus the added features of comfort and cleanliness were the benefits that the consumer demanded and which motor scooters furnished. The engine was lowered and moved to the rear, the gas tank found its place under the seat so that step-in design convenience and a more comfortable sitting position could be offered to the rider. Wide foot rests and legshields were added to protect the rider from road dust and mud and the engine/ transmission were enclosed in the scooter body so that no grease or dirt could smear the rider’s clothes.
Your scooter test errs w'ith regard to the Lambretta drive on the 200-TV which is via double chain in oil hath. This drive is to be found in all Lambretta LI and TV models. We at Lambretta thank you for your fine reports and would, for the sake of setting records straight, appreciate your printing this letter for your readers.
ANDREW ROCCO General Mgr., Sales Innocenti Corp.,
Long Island City, N.Y.
FAR APART (AND OUT)!
I cannot renew my subscription to your publication w'hich is mainly concerned with small bikes. Furthermore you have been abused by letters prompted by those extraterrestrial spies that enslave mankind. The July issue still contained one. I w'rote you a letter giving some clues on what they did to falsify the motorcycle sport. Whether you published this letter or not I have no means to know at the present since I occasionally get fake copies. Sometimes it is the other way around, the letter reaching the addressee is a fake. Being as it will, to me the situation is clear, a large motorcycle with a large engine is •safe and fast, a small one is not. at the present technical stand. This is a matter of honesty and justice. Our viewpoints could not be farther apart.
B. AUCHHISIGER Strasbourg, France
Hooooooboy! Sorry you missed the June 1964 issue, we published the fast thing you sent, as we are this one. As for those fake copies of CYCLE WORLD, we want to know who is printing them, sounds a bit illegal, and by golly we don’t like people messing around with our baby! Your summation of what is safe, and what is not. is very cute. We think you had better start shopping at another technical stand, the one you patronize is without doubt a fake. Does Rod Serling know about von yet? Ed.
CONCERN APPRECIATED
I would like to say thank you to all the people who expressed their concern for me through cards, letters and telephone calls during my hospital stay in Peoria, Illinois. I appreciate very much everything everyone did for me.
DICK HAMMER Lakewood. Calif.
