Afm Season Report
AFM SEASON REPORT
JOE SCALZO
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MOTORCYCLISTS (AFM) made long strides with their road racing program during 1963. A schedule of 15 races on different circuits throughout California gave AFM riders an extensive and varied season. AFM, not connected with any other racing group in the U.S., follows FIM inch-for-inch rules, and allows and encourages full racing machines to compete.
The coveted AFM high point rider award for '63 was undecided clear to the final race (Willow Springs, Dec. 1 ) and wound up in an unusual, and exasperating, tie. The two riders who’d gone at it hammer-and-tong since the season began. Tony Murphy and defending champion Norris Rancourt, will share No. “1” in '64.
Murphy, from La Puente. Calif., who has been racing three years, competed extensively in the 350cc and 250cc classes with Hondas, and occasionally rode his Norton Manx in the Senior (5()0cc) division. Murphy was high point man in 350. second in 250, and ninth in the Senior; all in all, an exceptional season. He scored 1 1 class wins, several of them overall wins as well.
The 250cc stylist, Norris Rancourt. who dirt tracked before he went road racing and who rides what is considered the fastest 15 inch production machine in the country, a Parilia, Oren Hall tuned, really cleaned house. He was far and away the high point man among the 250s. It was obvious he'd found the ideal combination with the Parilia. The machine was the same one with which the young Sacramento, Calif., rider won the AFM title chase the year before.
In the much-fancied Senior division, allowing the use of 500 Nortons and Matchless G50s, the speeds went way up, and the lap records dropped alarmingly. At Willow Springs for instance (which was freshly paved for the AFM), the lap mark went from 1:46 to 1:43 in four months, with three riders, Buddy Parriott. Don Vesco, and Lance Weil, sharing it. Vesco won the GP of the U.S. at Daytona Beach. Increased interest in the big class is gratifying. No matter how quick, or good, the smaller class rigs go, the 500s go that much quicker and better.
A total of 121 riders earned points during 1963, scored by class on a 8-6-4-3-2-1 system. Courses used included; Riverside. Stockton, Cotati, Vacaville, Santa Barbara, and the newly-revamped Willow Springs course, called the Home of the AFM.
For '64, a schedule of eight points taces is being set up. four in the north, four in the south. Numerous divisional (nonpoint) races are likewise scheduled. Points will be awarded in each class (50cc. !25cc, 175cc. 250cc. 350cc. 50()cc. and open).
TOP 15 AFM RIDERS
By class:
SENIOR: 351cc - 500cc\
OPEN CLASS
JUNIOR: 251cc-350cc
LIGHTWEIGHT: 176cc - 250cc
SEMI LIGHTWEIGHT: 126cc - 175cc
ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT: 51cc - 125cc
