Round Up
ROUND UP
JOE PARKHURST
EUROPE IN JUNE has become for me one of those pleasant habits, a time when I can combine work and a little pleasure. The tiny, green island way up in the Irish Sea was again my goal for a starter — the Isle of Man, of course, and its fabulous TT motorcycle races.
They celebrated their 69th year of racing this last June, and more old time racers and officials of the British and European motorcycle industry and press were on the Island than were racers.
My quarters were again the immortal Geoff Duke's Arragon Hotel, with its cozy, intimate, American-style bar, the gathering grounds for endless hours of verbal racing and battles.
CW's Contributing Editor in England, B. R. "Nick" Nicholls shepherded Editor Wagar and me around the course during the three days of TTs, proving himself a most capable guide and host. Ivan also knows his way around the Island. A few TTs back he rode it himself, winning a "replica." So who could ask for better informed company?
I have to stick in the fact that it was my sixth TT and that I was genuinely honored when the Auto Cycle Union, England's equivalent to our AMA (sort of), asked me to write down my feelings on the TT for this year's official program . . . Hell, if I didn't tell you about it, who would?
Hailwood — on the fours and sixes from Honda that make those soul-tearing noises — performed on cue again. There are still plenty of places in the winners circles for American riders. Someday, maybe we can pry Gary Nixon or Dick Hammer away and give it a real try. It would shake up a few people, not the least of whom might be the powers that be in the Japanese factories, those who repeatedly select second-rate English riders, instead of first-rate Americans. Agostini, on the MV, is an Italian Dick Hammer; the two would have a ball trying to catch Hailwood. It would be worth a king's ransom to see it.
Only one note saddened the TT for me this year — the death of Sergeant Jim Swindlehurst, staunch defender of law and order who held things down at Governor's Bridge during the TT. He died one week before the TT, after having returned from what must have been a genuinely personal triumph in representing the Isle of Man at a massive conference of United Kingdom policemen in Canada.
Jim and I became quite good friends, from TT to TT, year to year. We swapped things, usually my supply of postage stamps for bits and pieces of his uniform and badges. I often wondered what his Supply Sergeant (or whatever they might call his counterpart, and God only knows what that might be in England) thought when Swindlehurst would continue to requisition such things as lapel badges and numbers. They make really wonderful souvenir jewelry, but are hardly in keeping with the dignity attached to the office they represent.
Last year Jim agreed, after a lot of bickering, to trade me one of his hats, a prize that I deemed the ultimate. For years I had admired the stature and demeanor the tall, well-shaped hat gave members of Her Majesty's police forces. On the Island, they are white, and a handsomer head piece you'd be hard pressed to find. Jim's death ended negotiations, at least that's what I thought.
Then, one of his superiors, Inspector Corrin, took it upon himself to carry on the chicanery. One fine, sunny morning (which most of them were), a highly polished police sedan arrived, with the hat solitarily ensconced in the back seat. The driver had delivered me of one of the Inspector's own crowning glories. To say that I was overwhelmed is the understatement of the century. The hat is now in my office. And it will always remind
me of Sgt. Jim Swindlehurst — a good cop.
Ivan and I zapped to the south of England after the TT for a day of racing at Mallory Park, a sight that makes my American blood boil with desire to see such a spectacle of racing at home, to visit my old pals the Rickman Brothers and the home of the Metisse. We were warmly received, shown the works, wined and dined, and came away happy.
Rickman Engineering is not a large concern, but one where quality of design and workmanship are the most important thing that goes on. The brothers Rickman are planning a trip to the U. S. soon, for business and a little racing for fun. I hope all of my readers get a chance to meet them.
In a land so dominated by socialist trends, the Rickman's operation is as American in concept as apple pie and all that stuff. They've made it succeed with hard work, and a constant personal proving of the product. The Rickman-Metisse kits are a superbly made product, reflecting an honest head-on approach that I admire immensely. I own three, and have one more on the way. What more can I say as an endorsement?
We left England to see Dr. Dieter Neumeyer at the Zundapp Werke in Munich. He played host to Ivan and me, and we both left Germany with an entirely new concept of these warm and friendly people.
I'm about as much an expert on industry as Twiggy, but I have been in a whole bunch of grimy factories and for me, Zundapp was quite a revelation. Small, compact, extremely efficient, modern and highly mechanized all fit. Really fantastic to see such die-casting, a racing department as tantalizing as any, super-friendly people looking for a larger share of the American motorcycle scene, and I'll guarantee they'll find it.
Dr. Neumeyer really laid it on for us, and it was hard to leave. Wagar beat it up to Holland for the Dutch Grand Prix, and I returned to the warmth and comforts of home and the office. While passionately fondling my 125cc, five-speed, International Six Days Trial replica Zundapp, maybe even riding it, I'll be thinking about Munich and my enlightening visit. Mark my words, the Germans are coming!
AMERICANS AT THE ISDT
Not straying far from the subject of the International Six Days Trial, to be held in Poland this year during the month of September, word comes of another Ameri can invasion of this classic event. Ameri can enduro ace John Penton tells me that the FIM has selected as its "Vase A" team a group known as the John Penton, Bud Ekins, John Steen, Leroy Winters and Malcolm Smith sextet, to ride Husqvarnas and to represent the good old USA. Co-sponsors will be Dewan who will supply jackets, Bell for helmets, and uniforms by little old CYCLE WORLD.
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CANADA IS 100
Between the facts that Canada is 100 years old this year, and that Expo '67 is open and running, thought you touring and camping riders would like to know about a special service one big Canadian dealer is offering. Any U. S. rider planning on making the scene up north for all the activities, which, by the way, also include the Canadian Grand Prix on September 30th, need only send his name, address, departure date, planned return date, type of motorcycle to be ridden, and specific places the route should go through, and Fred Deeley Ltd. will send free of charge a travel kit. The kit includes such things as a map, camping guide, Expo guide, Canadian Motorcycle Association calendar of events, and other travel folders, all personalized to the needs of each traveler. Just write Fred Deeley Ltd., Yamaha Div., 854 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., Attention: Expo. — Bon voyage.
HELL'S ANGELS
I have read both praise and criticism of the notorious Hell's Angels, even an asinine tribute to them simply because they are incorporated now and have hired a rabble rousing attorney to speak for them. Probably because most of them don't know how to communicate very well, an understandable dilemma considering the calibre of most of the members. They are indeed organized, as are the Mafia and a lot of hoodlum clubs in the big cities of the U.S. Proof of this was graphically demonstrated recently in California, when another public hearing on California's Assembly Bill 978 (see this column, July, 1967. issue), opened. The Angels, in the company of another motorcycle club, came to protest the Bill AB 978, which would require the wearing of helmets, goggles or face shield, foot covering, and create a special licensing program.
I cannot disagree entirely with the Angels' spokesman when he told the men on the bench that they were taking all of the fun out of motorcycling, but they picked the wrong group when they tried to blame all the trouble on riders of lighter machines. The stupid misconception that weight makes a machine handle better is best related to little old ladies who have been hypnotized by the swaying, sexy ride of heavy automobiles. A heavier vehicle will lose traction sooner, and slide farther when it does. Ralph "Sonny" Barger, an Angel that lo and behold can talk in words of more than one syllable, has obviously never given thought to why racing machines are always light.
Harley "choppers" certainly have their place in motorcycling. I guess we should not condemn the machine since it is, after all, an inanimate object. But most of the people who ride them are pretty bad. I m certain I'll hear from those whose spirits are pure and ride choppers. Hell's Angels and other socially unacceptable clubs consider them the badge of their existence. They are heavy, foul handling, and most of the time dangerous as a slick tire on wet pavement. Their considerable weight is by no means to their advantage. If they have been modified to increase power, their capacity to stop and steer is reduced even further. The point is, how can anyone whQ rides one of those things consider himself a judge of machines, and then try to inflict this miserably informed opinion on someone that might at one stage or another, be able to pass it on to us. This time I'm on the side of the Legislators.
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ISLE OF MAN TOUR
Whippany, New Jersey's Hank Siegers of the company of the same name has really started something. Every time I turned around on the Isle of Man this year I ran into Hank, in the company of about 28 other guys, all of whom joined him on a special tour to the Island for the TT. For such noble reasons as showing their appreciation for what the TT people are doing for international racing, and to establish good will and friendship with our British and Continental fellow cyclists, and to enjoy some of the best racing in the world, are Hank's stated reasons for organizing the tour.
Among the people joining him were George Mennen, president of the Mennen Co., Charles Smylie, VP of the largest licorice firm in the U.S., Eddie Fisher, a Triumph dealer, Stan Myers, a BMW dealer, Paul Wilson, 75 years of age and owner of 9 BMWs, enduro rider Pete LeoGrande, and Fred DeSantis, a TriumphBultaco dealer. They plan on making it an annual affair since it was so well received on both sides of the Atlantic. Cost will be only $286.00 for the round trip air fare, and an additional daily cost of only $7.00 at the Empress Hotel in Douglas, including three meals. I don't remember ever having seen a better bargain. Hank can be reached at 19 Ridgedale Avenue, Whippany, New Jersey 07981.
INDUSTRY CHANGES
Two occasions this month prompt me to use a little news from the motorcycle industry, for a change. I've long felt that most riders don't really care too much what's going on and who's doing it, unless it really concerned them in a first hand personal way.
Jack McCormack, "Mr. Motorcycle," long the guiding genius at Honda, and then Suzuki, has left Suzuki and formed a company to be known as McCormack International. Jack and his lovely wife Jeri kept me company on the Isle of Man this year, then zoomed to Italy to pick up a new Ferrari GTB-4, and visit a few factories in Europe with an eye to importing a new line of bikes to the U.S. I am not in a position to say what the results of his efforts will be.
Also, Denis McCormack, long time head of the Triumph Corporation in Baltimore, has retired. He will continue as Director of Triumph Marketing Services. He is being replaced with Mr. Earl J. Miller, who will take over the running of the company as Vice President and General Manager. Mr. M. L. Jofeh, from the Triumph Corporation's parent company in Birmingham, England, will be the new President.
