Round Up
ROUND UP
JOE PARKHURST
A NEW MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION just came to light. No, the AMA and all the other groups don't need to rush notices to all their members, forbidding them to take part in the new group's activities. The new group is the Classic and Antique Motorcycle Association, with headquarters at 808 S. Church St., Visalia, Calif. Frank F. Conley is the secretary, and annual dues are only $3. Though initially a California group, its organizers seek members through out the country.
The officers didn't advise me what their rules require in regard to the age of a machine to qualify as an antique or classic. (In England, the Vintage Motorcycle Club, inspiration for the CAMA, restricts machines to 25 years or older.) The CAMA program for 1968 includes membership cards, a regularly published bulletin with bikes and parts for sale and/ or exchange, and a planned rally for trophies open to all members and guests, to be held in C entral California.
I'm happy to give the new club publicity. I don't own an antique or classic, but they fascinate me. We plan to expand the ancient bike display at the 1968 CYCLE WORLD MOTORCYCLE SHOW at the Sports Arena in April. Old bikes are one of the most popular features, so I'm doubly glad to see a rising interest in them.
MOTORCYCLES AND A CHURCHMAN
I'm taking the liberty to reprint, fully, the remarks of the Rev. Paul D. Urbano, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church, Phoenix, Ariz, as reprinted in The Arizona Republic. I am not quoting the gentleman simply because he is a clergyman who feels sympathetic toward motorcycles and motorcyclists, and is not afraid to say so. Rather, I point out his remarks because they are so well stated, and profoundly true. I am indebted to Jim Jones of that city who sent me a copy of the paper.
TWO WHEELS TO FREEDOM
This is a column in praise of motorcycles. And to those who inquire what possible religious significance could be found in motorcycles, 1 reply, much! At least, the increasing popularity of the bikes and the widespread public dislike for them are both very interesting and perhaps instructive.
The "image" of the motorcyclist as a filthy, dangerous lout, if ever it was accurate, is inaccurate now. The great majority of those who ride two wheels are decent citizens who find something in this form of transportation which they do not find in others. What do they find?
Wearing the Bike
They find, first, a sense of freedom. A sense of physical freedom not unlike that found on skis when once the skis are mastered. A good rider and a good bike become, like a good rider on a good horse, one. The bike becomes an extension of the rider's body in a way never true of cars. And the effect is exhilarating.
A motorcycle is extremely responsive. It accelerates rapidly and in a way that can be felt. If driven reasonably, it brakes well. It corners by balance more than by "steer." The rider "wears" it more than he drives it, and aims it more than he steers it. He sits in the open, which adds to his feeling of freedom.
All this, needless to say, is accompanied by certain risks. The risks, indeed, suffice to keep many people off motorcycles who, if the latter were a little safer, would enjoy them. But precisely in the risk, it may be, lies some of the attraction.
I am not speaking of such neurotic attitudes as that implied in Freud's "death wish." The sane rider has no desire to take a painful or even fatal spill.
It is the overcoming of the danger which attracts him. Our world has lately become too restricted and too "safe." Men need some danger. And here is the motorcyclist, doing something on his own requiring skill and nerve and providing enough peril to add zest and flavor to his life.
Deserves Consideration
It would not be easy to take this attitude from a hospital bed. Nevertheless, the attitude is basically correct. For life is risk. And, after all, more people are injured in the bathtub than anywhere else. We cannot determine our actions by the risks involved, for we never know in advance what the risks are.
Save for the inevitable few psychotics, the motorcyclist you see on the road is not there to show off or to deafen you with his exhaust or to shred your nerves with his recklessness. He is there for the same reasons that any other driver of a motor vehicle is there, and deserves the same consideration.
He is entitled first of all to be seen: most bike-car crashes occur because the automobile driver is looking for other automobiles and literally does not "see" the bike.
He is entitled to the full lane he is riding in, not just part of it; and any attempt to force him onto the shoulder can be disastrous to him.
Remember that he can't hurt you, but you can hurt him. And remember that, so long as he conducts himself responsibly, he is entitled to travel in the way he prefers.
MOTORCYCLE STATISTICS
Sales figures for the motorcycle industry for 1967 have been compiled by Paul M. Brokaw for Motorcycle Dealer News, which is devoted to the industry and is not sold to the public.
Gist of the report is the astounding figure of $183,316,829 representing the total moneys spent on motorcycles and motorcycle parts and accessories in the United States in 1966. Figures for 1967 have not been compiled as of this writing, but they should exceed this figure by at least 20 percent.
Equally interesting are the statistics which show an increase in imports of 250-cc and over machines, and a decline in imports of those up to 90 cc. It appears the trend is toward larger machines, and in large quantities. Japan leads the nations by a considerable margin, with Italy second, England third, and Austria fourth, (this seeming incongruity results from the large numbers of the relatively unknown Puches sold by Sears). Next follow Spain, West Germany, France, and Czechoslovakia, with the remainder spread among Sweden and a handful of smaller nations.
It is interesting to note that England ranks second in dollar volume, but third in unit sales in the U.S., a result of the high unit cost of the big British twins. The MDN article shows a discrepancy in accounting these numbers, as the figures are for motorcycles which clear U. S. Customs, not for motorcycles actually registered. A total of 2,360,776 motorcycles should be reflected in national motorcycle registrations, yet only 1,735,411 appear on the rolls as of January 1967. When the numbers are published for 1967, they no doubt will show more than 2.1 or 2.2 million motorcycles. I'll bring the figures up to date when they are made available.
CYCLE WORLD SHOW: 1968
Four days, April 25, 26, 27 and 28, time slot for the fifth CYCLE WORLD INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE SHOW, again will be the peak of the motorcycle enthusiast's year. Los Angeles' fabulous Memorial Sports Arena again is the scene.
Among attractions lined up for the show are the wild MV 600 Four, tested in this issue; the first example of the 75-bhp Read/Weslake 500 twin in the U.S., hopefully mounted in the CYCLE WORLD Metisse now owned by Kenny Clark; the most exciting 750 road machine to come out of England in many, many years, to be accompanied by a CW road test, the new Norton 750 Commando, seen in England at Earls Court and at a motorcycle trade show in Los Angeles in 1967, but not yet in dealers' show rooms; Honda's hottest dream version of the 450, to be tested next month in CW and fresh out of the factory just about the time the show opens; a very special 250 MZ, built just for the International Six Days Trial and not sold to the public (the one that wins almost every off-road international event in Europe); and some surprises I cannot reveal this early.
CYCLE WORLD'S Trails Course will be bigger and more difficult this year, but the fabulous prize of an "I Did It At The Cycle World Show" button remains the same. (No red-blooded cycle enthusiast should be without one.) Come to the show this year, and be sure to look up the CYCLE WORLD staff at our information booth near the main entrance. We look forward to meeting you.
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THE U.S. JOINS THE GROUP
I wish that headline was about to come true, but, unfortunately, our largest motorcycle body, the American Motorcycle Association, is not a part of international motorcycling. We have long advocated an alliance with the FIM, the Federation Internationale Motorcycliste, the international ruling body, but due to many complex and involved problems, the U.S. continues to be alone in the world.
It always has been my gripe that, specifically, there is nothing wrong with being alone and running our own national association. We have done very well at it, and motorcycling in the U.S. is healthier and more vital than anywhere else in the world. Competition is more enthusiastic, close and exciting than even most international competition, but it is at a lower level of achievement. We have some of the best riders in the world, but they aren't given sufficient opportunity to prove it. It was marvelous to see some of our guys mixing it up with the Europeans who toured the U.S. motocross circuit late in 1967 (and who will return in 196S for, among other things, the CYCLE WORLD Motocross at our own Saddleback Park). It would be even better to see our Americans beat the Europeans as quickly and easily as they beat our best.
One way, and perhaps the only way, this can ever come true is for a greater number of Americans to ride in the International style. We need more clubs and promoters to stage this kind of event, and we need more Americans going the other way — to mix it up in Europe. This, of course, costs a great deal, and must be supported by American industry or by group support, such as club sponsorship or the like.
Americans have done well in every form of international competition, from Olympic sailing, skiing, automobile racing (our hero, Dan Gurney), even chess and tennis. The major reason is that the Europeans play the games the same way as do Americans. About the time our guys put their foot down to slide a big, hard surfaced, slick corner, the Europeans pass them feet up.
What must be accomplished is the affiliation of our leading motorcycle body with the FIM. It has been discussed, argued, time and time again, for several years running. The AMA says it will not affiliate with anyone but the FIM, not FIM "stooges" in this country. The AMA leadership refers to MICUS, the Motorcycle International Committee of the United States, a loosely organized group of wealthy Florida businessmen which has held an iron grip on the situation for some time, while producing no concrete results other than the farcical U.S. Grand Prix at Daytona a few years back. Now MICUS has been handed to a group of California amateurs, which, though well meaning, is not equipped financially, or in any other way, to do the job correctly.
The British motorcycling press not long ago published the statements of Henry Burik,Secretary of the FIM's Commission Sportive International, competition body of the main group. He stated that negotiations between the FIM and the AMA were at a "progressive stage" in regard to a possible affiliation. I became so excited I wrote the following letter to Burik, with a copy to the AMA's head, William T. Berry. To date, nothing has changed. That letter follows:
"I read the recent issue of Motor Cycle News quoting you with great interest. It has long been one of this magazine's causes to further the position of the United States in International racing.
"Though I do not wish to undermine their efforts, or become embroiled in a battle against them, I feel that MICUS should be eliminated and that the FIM should affiliate with the American Motorcycle Association.
"My feelings are based on the simple fact that the AMA represents the majority of riders in this country, and, as such, should represent us in the world body.
"I knew of the near affiliation several years ago. At that time it was my understanding that the AMA refused to negotiate with MICUS, since they were a very minor body of private individuals who represented only a few American riders. I agreed with AMA's position entirely, especially since the MICUS riders were European oriented and did not portray an accurate picture of the majority of American riders.
"MICUS has always overstated the size of membership of the affiliate clubs. Almost the total ACA membership, for instance, also belongs to the AFM. And, where both clubs claim close to 1000 members, the true figure would be nearer 150 individuals.
"I have taken this opportunity to agree with your quoted feelings, while sending a copy of this letter to the AMA, in hope that it will perhaps have a minor effect on your and the AMA decisions." ■
