Cycle Round Up
CYCLE ROUND UP
JOE PARKHURST
ONE WOULD THINK that I would get tired of saying it, and in a way I do, but in another way it pleases me so I can’t help myself. I’m talking about CYCLE WORLD’S growth. This 112-page issue is an all-time record beater in motorcycle publishing, same for the number of pages of advertising. Our leadership in advertising is the reason for the extra number of pages. Our system calls for the addition of pages when the advertising increases in order to maintain an iron-clad balance of approximately 60% of the magazine being devoted to editorial subjects for our readers. This is our 41st edition, and a far cry from the puny little 40-page January ’62 issue. This issue actually contains more pages of advertising than the total number of pages in that first issue. I modestly site the fact that it is also approximately twice as many pages of advertising as carried by our nearest competitor, the number two magazine.
Circulation is not standing still either. We are still the only motorcycle publication that has its circulation audited, thus offering the advertiser the only honest accounting of number of readers. Our monthly average is approaching 70,000, and I have said before but am compelled to point out, these are bought-and-paid-for magazines, not our printed number. Circulation and advertising are of course directly related, since response to an ad-
vertiser’s message is the only gauge he has of its value. No end is in sight, and we certainly aren’t backing off any in trying to earn our following, and attract more at the same time. CYCLE WORLD is still the only enthusiasts’ motorcycle publication, and therein lies our secret of success. We write the magazine for the rider, not the few old pals and friends that make up the motorcycle industry.
COLORADO MOTORCYCLE SHOW
May 22nd and 23rd will see the first running of Colorado’s first large motorcycle show in Littleton, Colorado. Motorcycles, scooters and karts will be displayed, and trophies will be awarded customs. Trophies will also be given to viewers attending the show for coming the greatest distance and in other categories. It will be held at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 1200 West Bellview Ave., in Littleton. This is five miles from downtown Denver. Bill Manning, former president of the Mile-Hi motorcycle club, and Edward Porges are the organizers of the show. The management of the fairgrounds have offered the use of the grounds. Camping facilities include showers and lavatory rooms, at no charge.
Arrangements tentatively include a fourhour live radio broadcast from the Exhibitor’s building, free continuous films, and several other attractions. We hope all of our readers in the Denver area will be able to attend the show which opens approximately three weeks after the CYCLE WORLD Show at the Los Angeles Sports Arena (April 29-30, May 1-2).
MOTORCYCLES IN SCHOOL
In response to a mention I made some time ago regarding motorcycles in high school papers, Miss Doreen Morse of Michigan City, Michigan, sent me a copy of her school journal featuring an article she wrote. The Crimson Comet, newspaper of Elston Senior High School, ran a banner story titled; “Comet Spotlight on the Golden Hawks.” The Golden Hawks, as you might imagine, is a Michigan City motorcycle club, and Miss Morse told their story with taste and consideration.
The same issue contains a feature on the growth of the sport in the United States and how it is being evidenced in their town. Motorcycles are continuing to receive more and more good publicity in every phase of American life, but it still tickles me particularly to see them getting the nod from the young people in school. We old timers, and I’m not really that old, like to think of cycling as our private domain since we’ve been playing with bikes for so long. But we all know that it is a young people’s sport, even when we realize it is the cycle that keeps us feeling that way.
LEARNING TO RIDE
Frank Cooper, veteran motorcycle industry member, at Cooper Mtrs., 5832 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 3, California, has an interesting little mimeographed pamphlet available to their customers, concerning the teaching of a new rider to operate a motorcycle. Short and to the point, Cooper’s method is as easy as any I have ever heard of and must make friends for his prospective customers. Cooper distributes Royal Enfield motorcycles, and is the Western representative for Cosmopolitan Mtrs. in Philadelphia. I feel fairly certain Frank would be happy to furnish a copy to anyone interested enough to write.
TOY & HOBBY INDUSTRY BOOSTS MOTORCYCLING
Judging by a news release from U.S. Suzuki Corp., around 30 million Americans will soon be asking, “How much is that Suzuki in the window?” Almost 300 major retailers of toys and hobbies will be featuring motorcycles in their main windows and in large displays on their showroom floors. Each one of the bikes is a Suzuki Cavalier, and, according to Suzuki, the colorful displays are part of the largest contest ever to involve two-wheelers.
Called the “Open Road Contest,” the event is being staged by stores from California to New York and will be supported by radio and newspaper advertising. Chief Suzuki Executive Jack McCormack called it “a telling acknowledgement of two-wheeling’s growing acceptance.” Families are encouraged to participate by writing a slogan, building a model auto or motorcycle, or riding a lightweight machine. “Naturally we prefer they ride a Suzuki,” grins McCormack. Large trophies are offered as secondary prizes, and one bike is being given away in almost every store. Organizers of the campaign are Western Model Distributors; Polk’s Hobby Craft Distributors of New York are also cooperating. I have covered the situation pretty well because I honestly think this is just about the best motorcycle promotion to come along in some time, and though it will by all means benefit Suzuki most, we can all be happy about it.
GIDDYAP...MOTORCYCLE!
Saw a fascinating item in the New Mexico Extension News, brought to my attention by reader Phil Hawk. Sandwiched in between articles titled “Hydocephalus, A Problem In Heredity,” and “NMSU Research Controls Harvester Ants,” was a clever editorial feature described as “Motorcycles Take Over The Sheepherding Job.” We will concern ourselves only with the latter of the three, for obvious reasons.
Seems as though the News, a publication of the New Mexico State University and the United States Department of Agriculture, sees a new era approaching. Since it actually costs less, takes less time, and is far more effective, motorcycles are replacing horses at the task of getting sheepherders about on the job of keeping fences mended and the other menial tasks of the trade. A comparison of the costs of maintaining a horse for a year shows $400.00 for the animal, and $112.00 for the motorcycle. Both last about the same length of time, but a cycle can cover about 60 miles of fence a day, against 20 for the poor, vanishing horse. Last, but by no means least, as the cliche goes, the motorcycle serves a useful purpose in “rounding up” coyotes and other pesky varmints that plague our friends the sheep. Seems the noise bothers them, having just about the same effect it has on some of our “general public.”
HARMAN & COLLINS REGROUPS
I’m pleased to point out that changes have been taking place at Harman & Collins, the motorcycle racing cam people’s plant, not that things weren’t going well in the first place. A complete reorganization has taken place, the results being a major change in the staff and financial structure of the firm. Production capacity has increased by more than 50%, which should allow them to keep pace with demands without compromising the quality that has been responsible for the demand.
More funds and time have been budgeted for research and development, and immediate efforts in this area will be directed toward a search for better metals and the wider application of their NonHarmonic Acceleration cam profile. They plan on continuing the expansion of dynamometer test facilities, being used extensively by CYCLE WORLD currently in the development of a road racing 250cc Ducati for Daytona and a Norton Atlas scrambler, both of which will be detailed in a forthcoming issue. H&C is also developing their roller tappet camshaft kits, and there will be a group of special engine components other than camshafts, to be released soon. Webco Tnc. continues to be their national distributor and now has all of the popular Harman & Collins cams in their various grinds in stock and ready for delivery.
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MOTORCYCLE BOOK ON THE NEWSSTANDS
A short time ago I obtained a copy of The Complete Book Of Motorcycling, by Lynn Wineland and the Editors of Hot Rod magazine. Priced at one dollar, the book will soon be available on your local newsstand. A handsome 98-page book, it covers the motorcycle scene exceptionally well on a general basis and should answer the needs of many neophyte enthusiasts with heretofore unanswerable questions. Though written by automobile enthusiasts and lacking in the introspect CYCLE WORLD’S readers have become accustomed to, it does a creditable job and adds handsomely to the motorcycling library. Some of our readers will be familiar with the names of Lynn Wineland and Hot Rod's Editor Bob Greene. Wineland has contributed on occasion to CW, and Greene has been seen on a motorcycle a time or two.
SIX DAYS TRIAL TOUR
Imperial Motor Sports’ Ed Dye has dreamed up something that should appeal to a select group, a tour to the Isle of Man for the 1965 International Six Days Trial in September. Dye will be taking two tours to the Isle of Man this year, one for the TT in June, and again in September for the running of the most rugged trial in the world. The Isle of Man was selected as the site for the I.S.D.T. but it will be run in the country surrounding the famous TT road racing course. As with the tour to the TT, the I.S.D.T. excursion price includes a motorcycle that will be returned to this country at the end of the tour free of charge. Machines available for the trial tour are a 650cc Triumph or 25Qcc Greeves scrambler; participants who qualify can compete in the Six Days event, or simply watch. Dye informs me that the TT tour is a smash success this year but the space is still available for the excursion that includes a three-week tour of Europe plus the TT and of course, the motorcycle, a BSA, BMW, or Triumph.
Not content with two European tours. Dye is forming up a group for a tour of Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines in the Fall. I hope to be able to join the I.S.D.T. tour, as a spectator, and bring back a first hand impression of this most remarkable dirt event.
EASTERN MOTORCYCLE SHOW PLANNED
Hot on the heels of the CYCLE WORLD International Motorcycle Show a few weeks away at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, comes the word that the Rhody Rovers Motorcycle Club in Rhode Island, is presenting its International Motorcycle Show at the Varnum Armory in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Dick Whitaker, Director of the show, informs me that in addition to a complete display of all the important and rare makes of new motorcycles, there will be a comprehensive display of antique and contemporary machines.
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In addition to this, the Rhode Island Museum of Transportation shall exhibit a display from its motorcycle section depicting the history of motorcycles. The show is a charity affair to benefit the building fund of the museum. They are building a new large addition to house the extensive collection of motorcycles, motorcycle literature and license plates. Readers who might wish to contribute to the building fund but are unable to attend the show, may send any contribution to the Rhode Island Museum of Transportation, 33 Alger Ave., East Greenwich, R.I. Also, anyone interested in contributing to the museum’s license plate collection may mail the plates to the same address; either will be equally welcomed.
Dates and hours of the show are Friday, May 28th from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Saturday May 29th from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Armory is located on U.S. Route 1, general admission is 50 cents. We hope it will be the biggest cycle show ever to hit the East coast.
YAMAHA ON THE SLOPES
Some time ago I took up skiing, ridiculous as it may sound considering how many excellent opportunities I already afford myself to break something. Yamaha International came to the rescue again and furnished my wife and me with two pairs of their beautiful epoxy skis. I’m happy to report that Yamaha products make about the same impression on the ski slopes as they do on the streets and that our bright yellow boards attracted much favorable attention. I am not as yet expert enough to give a qualified opinion on Yamaha’s skis, but they suited us to a tee and I was quick to explain to the curious that they made a pretty good motorcycle as well. To say nothing of pianos, guitars, banjos, organs and boats.
BRITISH PUBLICATIONS BOW
An old acquaintance from my brief excursion into karting a few years back, Alan Burgess, from London, England, publisher of the leading karting publication over there, has launched a first-time venture in drag racing magazines with his new publication, titled, Drag Racing. Though relatively common in this country, this is the first such publication in Europe and should reach a fast developing audience. Burgess devotes the magazine to all forms of sprint (drag) machinery, including a good portion to motorcycles, with articles by such British authorities as Charlie Rous and Peter Arnold.
First issue of Drag Racing contains, among many things, an interesting feature on blowers (superchargers) for bikes, details of the unusual Drag-Waye VW engined motorcycle, and several features on some of the prominent dragsters. Price of the magazine in the U.S. is 40 cents per copy by sea mail, and $1.00 each via Air Mail. A 12-issue subscription is priced at $4.50. Contact Lodgemark Press Ltd., 76 Reckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, England.
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Lodgemark has also published a new book called Taking up Motor-Cycle Racing, by Roy Bacon, with illustrations by CYCLE WORLD’S B. R. Nicholls. Price is $2.50 by sea mail, and $4.00 by air. The book deals with the thorny problem of how to enter the sport of motorcycle road racing. Though written for the prospective rider in England, many lessons and much good advice are offered to any fledgling competitor, particularly in the selection of machines. One entire chapter is devoted to the extremely obscure BSA Bantam and how to prepare it for racing, a subject the author gained much experience in while racing his own.
Bacon deals with several things, such as preparing the machine, tuning it, proper clothing, racing techniques, ideal carriers such as trucks, and a guide to choosing the right machine. Not everybody’s cuppa tea, but useful to many.
FAWCETT MOTORCYCLE BOOK
Further on the subject of books dealing with motorcycles T add the announcement of the release of the new Fawcett book called “The Book of Motorcycles, Trail Bikes & Scooters.” Prepared by Erik Arctander, priced at 75 cents on your local newsstands, it covers the subject of motorcycling in a somewhat spotty manner. Em a bit amused at the listings of the rather difficult to obtain machines such as the Junak 350, Harley-Davidson KRTT. Norton Electra, Tohatsu 50, WSK, as being 1965 models.
Regardless, the book covers the motorcycle spectrum quite well and has an especially useful catalog of most of the available machines on the market and their features. Several departments are devoted to new products, making and testing of safety helmets, touring, a brief review of the trail bikes on the market, and several other items newcomers to motorcycling might find interesting. I am happiest over the fact that the mighty Fawcett publishing empire considered the subject worthy of such an extensive effort.
DEPARTMENT OF UNINTENTIONAL SATIRE
My nomination for this month’s Department of Unintentional Satire goes uncontestedly to the American Motorcycle Association’s advertisement in a recent issue of their publication, American Motorcycling. The ad proclaims the advantages of using their insurance program and pointedly sets aside such special features as; “pays up to $100 in legal defense fees for a traffic violation arising as the result of an accident,” and the touching clause; “pays up to $200 for bail bond required in the event of an accident or traffic violation.” Yes indeed, put your best wheel forward.
