Trail Riding Association Launched
TRAIL RIDING ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED
ROUND UP
JOE PARKHURST
AN ASSOCIATION THAT is badly needed came to my attention recently, called the National Trail Riders Association, headquarters at P. 0. Box 4, Chatsworth, California, and headed by Mr. Roy D. Ruddock. Their purpose as stated in their by-laws, is: "Recreation without abuse or misuse of public land." Almost simultaneously with the news of the new group. Governor Brown of California signed the new bill forbidding any mechanical vehicles on state hiking and riding trails, which naturally includes motorcycles or trail scooters. The obvious portent of such legislation is that other states might follow suit, only one reason why the NTRA should he joined and supported. The American Motorcycle and Scooter Association is fighting for our rights when and where they can, limited only by the size of their budget and the need to spread their rather small resources over such a wide range and in so many areas of interest of the members. AMCSA cannot do it alone, even with the help of
the occasional efforts of the American Motorcycle Association, which is busy staging races.
I feel like a parrot. since I've said this before, hut oii r only voice is a collective OflC. Organizations made up of riders. and others corn posed of mc in hers of the trade, arc desperately needed. Motorcycle trail and open country riders are slowly being edged out of their rights by large groups of people who either want these areas saved for themselves, or want them preserved in some impractical, unrealistic dreamland that would he nice to have -but the needs of the people are more press ing. I don't recommend the dissolving of our wilderness areas: they are precious. beautiful, and should he maintained tinspoiled, but they are only a small part of the public and private land that stands unused and is not necessary in preserving either wilderness or natural resources.
California, motorcycle capital of the U.S., seems to he leading in the creation of new rules against motorcyclists as well. Here in Los Angeles County. the Hoard of Supervisors has for sonic time been at tempting to draft a new law that would forbid motorcyclists from using all privi~te ly owned land without having written per mission from the owner, en their person. Such an unjust law would keep us from using thousa~ids of acres of desert and wasteland that, though privately owned, is not being used nor is it fenced or restricted. Creators of the push seem to he a certain group who feel as though they have had their privacy invaded and were disturbed by the noise or possibly the mere presence of people riding two-wheelers. At this writing a group of people in the motorcycle trade is still fighting it in a civilized, intelligent and proper manner. We are of course fully behind them.
The National Trail Riders Association has a marvelous program outlined, based on "Sportsmanship, Conservation, Safety and Service." It is a non-profit group, created purely to collect the VOiCeS of trail riders to protect their rights, promote their interests, and increase the activity as a sport. Though I (10 not know when and where their meetings are to be held, I will report it when it is known.
\Vhilc on the subject of tr~iI riding, SOfl~C tulle ago I mentioned that Southern (`a I iforni a's Jack Krizman had at last developed his U.S. Forestry Service ap proved spark ar rester for 500cc machines,
as well as the other units in his line that fit bikes as small as 50cc and 80cc, twoand four-stroke. Now I'm told that the Krizman unit is standard equipment on all Yamaha Trailmasters, and soon will he standard on all Yamahas designed for off-the-road use. The photograph shows the 500cc model KSA-Vl-l-l arrester on my Matchless Metisse. List price is $24.50, including standard adapting kit, and they are available from American Sports Co., 15899 So. San Pedro, Gardena, Calif. I'm not turning iiiy coin ni n into a new product release sectiom I point out the Krizman ASC unit because it is so badly needed. Hardly an ounce of power is lost in using it, so I sincerely urge any readers concerned that the installation would save a possible fine, and would by all means promote the sport in the eyes of government officials.
HONDA OWNERS CLUB FORMS
A trend familiar in sports car circles seenis to he catching on in motorcycling circles, that of owners' clubs. We know of the old and well known BMW Owners' Club, and a few of the special clubs in England. J. Bradley Flippen. Chairman Pro Teni of the newly formed Honda Owners' Club in San Diego. California. To promote the use of Hondas in a respon sible, adult manner is the intent of the group. San Diego residents can contact them at 6484 Mt. Adelbert Drive.
DEATH VALLEY GOING ON ELEVEN
Official dates for this year's annual Death Valley Tour will he the weekend of October 30 and 31, 1965, it was an nounced by the Death Valley Committee, 12739 S. Paramount Blvd., Downey, Calif. Once again road riders will gather on Hal loween at the lowest point in the northern hemisphere for an evening of camping and to award double the number of trophies that were given out in years past. One hundred custom trophies have been added to the prizes and to be eligible, machines must actually be ridden on the run.
Continued on Page 6
Of, by and for road riders, the tour will conclude with contests and the trophy presentation on Sunday. Each entry, win or lose, will get a “beautiful, specially made four-color engraved cigarette lighter, commemorating the 11th year of the Death Valley Tour. In addition, each entry will receive the Death Valley Frying Pan Tour Pin, Decal, Identification Badge and 1965 AM A Tour Award Patch.” Only official mail entries, completed before October 16, will be accepted. Write to the Committee at the address above for brochures, posters, entry forms, etc. before then.
NEW YORK STATE MOTORCYCLE LICENSE LAW
New York State governor Nelson Rockefeller has signed a bill which will require the state’s motorcyclists to get special licenses if they want to keep riding their vehicles. Under terms of the new law, all those who register motorcycles in the state after Oct. 1 of this year will have to apply for a special license. To receive their license they will have to pass a special driving test. This requirement will apply whether or not the new motorcycle owners already have automobile drivers’ licenses.
Present owner-operators will have until 1968 to obtain the new licenses. It was not immediately clear whether they would also be required to take the driving test. Previously, all persons with New York automobile drivers’ licenses were eligible to operate motorcycles and other twoand three-wheeled vehicles. If a prospective driver took his road test on a motorcycle, his license w'as not valid to drive a car, but if he took the road test in an automobile. he could legally operate a twowheeler. Other components of the test include w'ritten and eye examinations.
New York thus joins its sister state. New Jersey, in requiring the separate motorcycle operator’s licenses. New' Jersey has had the tw'o-wheeled requirement for decades, but it requires an automobile operator to re-submit to w'ritten and eye tests in addition to the road test in order to qualify for a license.
Regulations to implement the revised New York law are expected to come from the state motor vehicle department. Passage of the bill caught most of the state’s motorcyclists by surprise, although several of them polled informally, conceded the regulation was reasonable in view of the different skills necessary to operate automobiles and motorcycles.
One dealer suggested that a by-product of the new requirement might be a lowering in liability insurance rates. In New York City these are now among the highest in the country. A cut in insurance would also make feasible the renting of motorcycles in New York, a service now said to be impossible to provide because of prohibitive insurance costs. Since it does not take effect until near the end of the motorcycling season, the new law will not make its fullest impact on dealers and prospective customers until spring.
