Round Up

ROUND UP

JOE PARKHURST

LAST YEAR, racers and enthusiasts in this country had a thrilling firsthand look at a world champion in action when reigning 250 motocross title-holder Torsten Hallman competed in several scrambles events on both of our nation's major coasts. And I think I'm safe in saying that we all experienced the universal feeling that, wouldn't it be great if we could have racing like that all of the time? Well, perhaps someday we can, and maybe last year was the beginning of a growing, continuing program of world championship motocross come to our shores.

This year promises to be better than last, with a tour of six or eight of Europe's finest in the offing: Hallman will return this Fall, accompanied by teammates Bryan Goss, 01 le Petersson and possibly Jan Johansen. And he will be deprived of a second walkaway by the presence of the CZ contingent of Joel Robert, Dave Bickers and Petr Dobry. And quite possibly, young Roger DeCoster might tag along to provide even additional thrills with his incredible style.

One of our chief concerns in this country involves the availability of suitable challenging courses for these rough and tumble ambassadors. The East Coast came the closest last year in offering Hallman challenging courses, but in the west we failed miserably. Torsten's principal complaint about what we consider to be our roughest course — Hopetown — was that it was too smooth and too fast, and this after a mud-making frog-drowneder that sidelined better than half of his challengers. The Dirt Diggers, the AMA District 37 club sponsoring the Hopetown bash, have already put paid to any hopes of making Torsten eat crow this year by stating that they will run the same course as they have in the past.

However, we're not going to permit him the luxury of racing on only one smooth, fast course this year. We have a surprise awaiting him and his fellow Europeans that we're certain will tax even their uncommonly high degree of skill.

The surprise is a brand-new motocross track located less than an hour's drive from downtown Los Angeles. Designed by Australia's Kelvin Franks, a European motocross veteran with better than nine years on the Continental circuit to his credit, the new Forst Ranch course is just over a mile-and-a-half around and is a true natural-terrain motocross circuit. Kelvin tells us that in addition to being potentially the best motocross course in this country, Forst Ranch will have spectator accommodations that would do credit to an automobile racing plant such as Riverside Raceway.

Curiously, the Forst Ranch track, which also has an honest-to-goodness European speedway currently abuilding, got its support and backing from outside the sport — from rancher Hal Forst, who owns the property and feels that something constructive should be done with it. Forst says that he has better than 160 acres on one section of his ranch that he hopes to develop into a complete and specialized motorcycle racing plant.

Sanctioning arrangements are presently being made with FIM. and if all goes smoothly, we can be certain of watching the World's best motocrossers perform on the type of course they're accustomed to.

TOUR EUROPE BY MOTORCYCLE

Several tours to Europe are underway this year. Just about the time you read this, Edison Dye's fourth group in as many years is zapping around on new BMWs and Triumphs, no doubt having a ball. I'm hoping to run into them on the Isle of Man.

It has become almost a habit seeing the blue jacketed bunch, covered with colorful patches. Dye's 21-day tour is sponsored by KLM Airlines each year, and generally runs from the middle of May into the month of June. The price is right, the group is always a good one, and a lot of fun is had by all.

A new group will leave in mid-September, under the leadership of travel agent Ted Van Der Kolk from Glendale, California. He is currently mustering as many motorcycle enthusiasts as possible for a bike riding tour of Holland, Germany. Austria, Italy. Switzerland. France and Belgium. Although the two-wheeled travelers will not attend races — they will trek through sections of the best motorcycle riding country Europe can offer. If the tour appeals to you, be prepared for some wet riding, though.

Both KLM Airlines and American Airlines are in on this event with Van Der Kolk, as is Pierbusseti, Inc., the travel organization. Machines available in the "all-inclusive" package price are 500cc Matchless, 650 and 750 Nortons. The price varies with the model chosen and the place of departure. If you want more details, write Van Der Kolk at 1809 South Brand Blvd., Glendale, Calif. 91204.

YAMAHA OWNERS' CLUB FORMS

I've written often in this column about clubs formed by owners of particular motorcycles, most of which seem to be in England. Now, I have news of a new one for owners of Yamahas - but it's in this country, for a change.

Yamaha International's Don Gately is the guiding spirit behind the club. Gately recently took a large number of Yamaha riders on a Sunday tour in the wilds of Southern California, launching the club with marvelous results. If you are interested in becoming a member, or want additional information, write Don at Box 60094, Los Angeles, Calif. 90054.

Complete details are not formulated as yet; but group activities such as road and dirt rides, overnight trips, and a lot more, are in the offing.

Yamaha's plans will include local chapters throughout the country. Membership is open to riders of any brand, contrary to what one might expect. They are also looking for interested persons who are willing to open these chapters. All efforts will be well publicized in Yamaha World, their magazine for Yamaha owners.

Among the services Yamaha will offer club members are: free telephone service on Fridays, for the purpose of briefing members on what activities for the weekend will be; a free secretarial service advising members of the schedule of events in the months ahead. A subscription to Yamaha World, membership pin, jacket patch and membership card will all be included for a modest $3.00 fee.

The Yamaha club is dedicated to safety, and consider it the most pressing problem in motorcycling.

CLUB DOES GOOD

One motorcycle club that deserves plaudits for the excellent job it is doing of promoting motorcycling in a sound and usable fashion is the Ridgewood Cycle Association of Homewood, 111.

The club was recently invited to take part in the 15th annual convention of the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association, taking place at the Jefferson Hotel in Peoria, and they accepted readily.

The club came to the convention prepared with a complete, interesting program that was so well received, the hosts held their portion of the session over by an extra hour.

IHSCDEA Director Neal Rathjen is a member of the 12-man Committee for Motorcycle Curriculum Construction. Members are appointed through the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Illinois.

TRIUMPH PHOTO CONTEST

What has become an annual "lookedforward-to" affair has been announced for this year: the Triumph Corporation's Photo Contest. Two classes are open again — amateur and professional, with $50 to be awarded the winner of the professional class and $25 to the amateur. Most of the national motorcycle magazines publish the winners — we do, anyway.

Awards are presented for newsworthy photographs with Triumphs appearing predominantly. Consolation cash awards are also given in three places. Photos will also be used in Triumph Corporation sales brochures, as well as their own magazine.

Entries need only send their shots to the Triumph Corp., Towson, Baltimore. Md. 21204.

Good luck. I plan on entering myself this year . . . Please, no cracks about which class!