Around the Industry
AROUND THE INDUSTRY
BERLINER DEALER MEETINGS
Berliner Motor Corp., Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, now the second ranking distributor of motorcycles in the U.S. according to sales figures, as has been their custom for six years, again held their technical sessions and dealers schools at the New Jersey plant and at their Western headquarters, ZDS Motors in Glendale, Calif.
Representatives from factories of Berliner products included Bill Smith, Managing Director of Associated Motor Cycles, makers of Matchless and Norton, and his colleagues Chief Engineer Charles Udall and Production Engineer Fred Neill. Over 200 dealers were schooled, wined and dined at each of the three day schools in the East, and an equal number in the West. Jack Baugh of Lucas from England, and Densmore Ross of Smiths instruments, also from England, and Ray Cole of Castrol Oils held open forums, each answering questions pertaining to their respective products.
Schools were divided into the two major products of the Berliner lines, as mentioned Norton and Matchless, with the second day devoted to the Ducati line where Mr. Giorgio Stancari, Production Chief, and Enzio Anconelli, Electrical Engineer, from Ducati-Meccanica, Bologna, Italy, with Michael Berliner translating, took over. Dealers were introduced to the
newest entries in the Ducati line, the fabulous Apollo 1260cc four, the new 160cc Monza Junior, the 350cc Sebring, the lOOcc Ducati scooter, and lOOcc folding Ducati mini-bike.
Mr. Lin Kuchler, Secretary of the American Motorcycle Association, was a special guest at the banquet held at the conclusion of the meetings in New Jersey where he addressed guests including B.M.C. distributors and dealers from all
over the East. The following week at ZDS Motors, the scene shifted to California where the staff of CYCLE WORLD witnessed the three day technical session/service school, concluding with an elaborate banquet where CW’s Publisher was among the guests invited to say a few words to the assembled dealers and friends by Bob Blair, head of ZDS.
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Mr. Parkhurst complimented the Berliners. Joseph and Michael, on the remarkable progress of the firm and their secure position in the motorcycle industry. He also remarked on the quality and extent of the Berliner schools and profoundly praised the extensive line of Norton, Matchless and Ducati machines, now ranging from lOOcc to 1200cc. a claim few can match.
ITALIAN BUILT REX MACHINES ARRIVE
Interest has been added to the lightweight classes with the news that the United Rex Motor Corp., 3566 South 2nd West, Salt Lake City, Utah, has begun bringing in the Italian-made line of bikes in classes from 50cc to 125cc. General features of all machines in the lightweight Rex bikes include two-stroke engines, both normal and forced air cooled, magneto ignition systems, gear primary drives, kick started, hydraulically dampened front and rear suspension, high mounted American style handlebars, full lighting equipment, high mounted exhaust systems on trail models, and good quality Italian workmanship. Readers might remember that earlier Rex machines were made in Germany.
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Rex is now in the process of setting up dealerships across the country for their very competitive line of bikes. Typically Italian in design, they should find excellent acceptance on the highly competitive American market since they offer most of the features necessary for success.
WORLDS SMALLEST M/C MANUFACTURER...
... Is you, when you build this minibike with the easy drawings and instructions from Plans. Little scooters make errands and paper routes fun ... speeds up to 30 mph are possible, and it’s simple to build the frame for less than $10. Sent with each set of plans is a “confidential blue
sheet” that tells where to buy used engines for $15 and up, and how to save on other parts. Mini-bike plans with confidential sheet and discount coupons cost $2.00 from Plans, P.O. Box 478, Dept. CW, Denver, Colo. Motor bike and racing kart plans are also available at $2 each.
LESCO LITESUITS
Les Bowman of Leseo Products furnished the photograph of Los Angeles television personality Dick Lane, wearing one of Lesco’s new Litesuits while riding his Honda. Available in red, yellow or blue, with three zippered pockets, the over-suit is water, wind and wrinkle repellant and is worn like a pilot’s suit. Priced at $17.95, they are available in the West at select motorcycle dealers or from Leseo Products, Dept. CW, Box 1715, Newport Beach, California.
HAIL THE VICTOR
BSA will manufacture a limited quantity of replicas of the special 440cc machine on which Britain’s star scrambler Jeff Smith won the 500cc World Moto-Cross Championship in 1964, after 14 gruelling grand prix events.
The new model will be called the BSA Victor, and sell for $977 including tax, in England. It has a single cylinder, longstroke power unit developed over three years of scrambling. The machine is extremely light — only 255 lbs. Parts of the frame tubing are used in lieu of a separate oil tank to save weight. The forks have specially developed internal damping units and chrome moly shafts. Reinforced handlebars, alloy mudguards, and large capacity fiberglass air cleaners are other good features that the scrambler has.
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HONOLULU HONDAS
The two versions of Honda Super Hawk shown below are appearing regularly at drag strips in Hawaii. The one on the left is the pride of Chuck Garner, who built it using Harman & Collins track grind cam, S&W Valor valve springs and Barnett clutch with Webco springs. It has standard 305cc displacement and runs a 35-tooth sprocket at the rear wheel. Best time so far, ridden by Garner: 92 mph and 13.09 seconds E.T. in the quarter-mile.
The 350cc Super Hawk on the right runs a Webco kit, P&M big valve kit, H&C #7194 cam and 10.5 compression. It is ported and polished for the pair of 1 1/8" Amal carburetors and has a special flywheel weighing six pounds more than stock. The frame has been lengthened 8" and lowered 4". Builder/rider Joseph Yu re-spoked alloy rims for both wheels. Weight has been trimmed to 232 lbs. and the machine has turned 96 mph with a 13.4 E.T. Both dragsters are owned by Honda of Hawaii.
CUSTOM ACCESSORIES
We herald the arrival of a new facet in the custom motorcycle accessory field, Le Mans custom license plate and registration holders from Ernie Haneline at 712 Yorktown, Dept. CW, Huntington Beach, California. Haneline is a well established firm in the sports car accessory field and enters the motorcycle custom market for the first time with these handsome, stainless steel, engine turned accessories. The license case sells for $7.00, and the registration case for $4.00. Both are handsome and beautifully finished and will fit handsomely on any custom or street machine.
BARNETT HONDA CLUTCH PLATES
Could your Honda stand a little improvement in the clutch department? Fitting Barnett bonded lining clutch plates will probably work a vast improvement. Replacements are available from your Barnett dealer now for Honda models CB160, C200, C110 and C100.
SPARE TIRE IN A TUBE
Milne Bros., 22 N. Greenwood, Pasadena, Calif, distributes this liquid puncture sealer, which is squirted into the flat tire and stops leaks by means of “billions of microscopic fibers suspended in a complex chemical formula.” Called Air-Seal, it is said to be non-injurious to tires or tubes and will not affect wheel balance.
HOLIDAY IN JAPAN FOR TOP YAMAHA DEALERS
BIRDWATCHER
This member of the San Fernando Bird Watchers Society has chosen a Yamaha trail bike to carry himself and equipment (telemicrophone, tape recorder, binoculars and camera) to the best watching spots. The quiet little machine does not startle the birds.
TUCK AND ROLL CYCLE UPHOLSTERY
Accurate Accessories Company is now marketing custom tuck and roll seat covers for the popular Yamaha YG-1 with similar covers for Honda and Suzuki motorcycles soon to follow. Color scheme is silver and
black or solid black. The covers are easy to install. Retail tag of the sharp, heavygauge Naugahyde accessory is $15.95, sold through dealers only. Dealers can contact Steve Miller of Acc. Acc., 4347 E. Imperial Hwy., Lynwood, Calif.
LA DONNA E MOBILE
Getting into the Honda generation, Playboy magazine’s “Playmate of the Year” Donna Michelle decorates a white on white Honda Fifty, a perfect accessory for a pretty girl.
1965 BENELLI-MOTOBI LINE ANNOUNCED BY COSMO
Larry Wise of Cosmopolitan Motors, Inc. says “the Benelli line was just too good to pass up.” His well known firm is adding the famous brand to the Parilia, Capriolo and Bianchi motorcycles they now distribute.
“Benelli is Italy’s oldest and largest motorcycle factory and have expressed their intention to enter our market in a big way,” Mr. Wise continued. “We have been assured of an excellent dealer support and advertising program. Presently the 200cc cycle and the 75cc and 125cc scooters are available here. A 250cc motorcycle will be completed by spring, and several other very interesting models are under way.”
FIBERGLASS FINISHING
F. C. Kenyon Co., Inc., Dept. CW, Box 92, Whippany, N.J., makes a product called Guardón that is excellent for the refinishing of skis. This may sound somewhat obscure fof motorcyclists, but when one discovers that epoxy skis are repaired in the same manner as fiberglass saddlebags, it makes a bit more sense. The spray kit contains an epoxy paint in a pressurized can in one of five colors. This will put a like-new finish on fiberglass saddle bags, and on skis as well, of course.
NEW VISE WILL HOLD ANY SHAPE
The jaws of this new vice will hold any shape in a firm grip for grinding, drilling,
sanding, filing and any other workshop operation. The work piece is inserted between jaws in the normal manner and as the vise is closed, movable fingers match the contour of the object being held, gripping the smallest diameter as well as the largest diameter in a firm multi-bearing grip. When work is finished and the piece removed, an aligning lever returns the serrated fingers to straight-sided position. Flat or straight-sided pieces are held more firmly than in a standard vise because of the serrations on the fingers. The vise can be clamped to any bench up to 2" thick.
Dimensions of the vise are: Jaw opening 3", Jaw face 3", Jaw depth 2". Weight 11 lbs. Price is $29.95 plus $1.50 to cover shipping costs from American Machinery Co., Inc., Dept 182, Olivine Street, Willimansett, Mass. G
