Round Up
ROUND UP
JOE PARKHURST
SADDLEBACK IS OPEN
Please pardon my enthusiasm. Saddleback Park opened to a huge and happy crowd March 1. It’s really great to be in at the beginning, watch something grow, then see all those plans and dreams come true. Saddleback Park, in case you haven’t heard, is Southern California’s first motor park. It also is one of the first in the country-and it’s a proving ground for things to come.
Over 700 rugged acres of famous Irvine Ranch property are devoted exclusively to the great sport of motorcycling. I reported on a good deal of this—the plans—in the February edition of CYCLE WORLD. It was a .dream then; now bulldozer blades, earth movers and a lot of sweat have made Saddleback Park a reality.
Since the fabulous Belgian, Joel Robert, laid out the Saddleback motocross course, it has been graded, scraped, and otherwise etched into steep hillsides and deep canyons. The result is perhaps the most challenging of such circuits in the United States. Joel’s layout lines were followed exactly. The result is a course almost 1.25 miles in length, with 27 turns over more ups and downs than a TV soap opera.
Several CYCLE WORLD scrambles machine tests have been carried out on the motocross circuit—the loop has proved to be a genuine handful.
Early in March, Sweden’s Gunnar Lindstrom, 500-cc division motocross competitor, took a fling at the motocross layout. He and J.N. Roberts, co-winner of the initial Mexican 1000, the Tijuana-to-La Paz Baja California Rally, and perennial desert rider, spent a day helping to perfect the motocross layout. Their knowledgeable advice was invaluable. Lindstrom set fastest time to date around the dusty, rocky roller-coaster course at 1 min., 24 sec. Compare that to 2 min., 10 sec., for my best time, and there should be little doubt in your minds why I publish magazines and he rides motorcycles.
Saddleback also is equipped with a TT track, complete with hairpins and a jump; all of which provide Saddleback visitors an alternate way to practice getting from Point A to Point B along the most devious route at the fastest speed. Great fun! I predict the TT course will become one of the most popular attractions of the park.
Another feature of Saddleback Park is “Impossible Mountain,” a hillclimb course that defies imagination—and motorcycles. The hill to date IS impossible. As of this writing, no one has conquered the mountain. It is unlikely that anyone ever will. However, a goodly number of challengers will be given an opportunity to try, come Independence Day. A local post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars has taken on sponsorship of a professional hillclimb. The group hopes to make this an annual July 4 event.
For the non-motorcyclists and the motorcyclists who want to take a rest from motorcycling are a series of shady picnic grounds. Families can settle down in the cool shadow of live oak trees, near the TT course—and enjoy the relaxing advantages of a weekend out-of-doors.
In addition to fun places to play with motorcycles and picnic, Saddleback Park offers some services that visitors will welcome. A patrol of experienced motorcyclists covers every square foot of the park, to aid riders who may be, in trouble, to answer questions, and give directions when asked—700 acres provides places to get lost in, too. Saddleback management also has become, without even half trying, a motorcyclists’ baby sitter service. Many parents have found that, because Saddleback is insured, trails are patrolled, and management is made up of responsible people, it is easy to leave their offspring at headquarters. Parents leave their children in the morning, then return later in the day to retrieve them. This arrangement is fine; of course, the parents appreciate it. Be that as it may, it’s a service that hadn’t been thought about before the park was opened.
Initially I had hoped the park would be open to twoand four-wheeled vehicles. However, this can’t be done. No insurance company is willing to accept the liability of all sorts of vehicles running together over the same roads. So, for now, Saddleback Park is exclusively for motorcycles.
Speaking of insurance, underwriters require that all riders within the confines of the park wear helmets, and that all riders sign a liability release. If an individual is under 18 years of age, his or her parents must put their signatures to the release form.
Saddleback isn’t finished yet. The dozers and graders will continue to work weekdays until there are approximately twice the number of trails opened, and additional racing courses are constructed. Refreshment facilities are temporary now, operating on weekends only; soon, a permanent snack bar operation will be installed.
The parking lot is vast in capacity; the view of hills and the motocross course from the parking lot is magnificent.
The admission price is $2 per vehicle. An annual $40 club rate, and a 50-cent spectator charge also have been established.
Well, there it is: Saddleback Park. It’s easy to plug one’s own efforts; it’s even easier to plug a worthwhile effort when it wins popular acceptance, meets a need, and creates a clean, healthy atmosphere for motorcycles.
Complete information on Saddleback Park can be obtained by telephone from track director Vic Wilson, Area Code 714, 639-5832, or by writing P.O. Box 1617, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
Better still, bring your bike to Saddleback and find out for yourself.
MIKE DUFF JOINS CW
For motorcycle racing enthusiasts and long-time readers of CYCLE WORLD, introductions are unnecessary. Still, I have to say, “Welcome aboard,” to Mike Duff, and add that I’m delighted to have a true professional on the magazine staff.
Mike brings to CYCLE WORLD years of experience gained on the grand prix circuits of Europe, and North America. As this is written, Mike has “just stepped out of the office” to compete in Yamaha colors in the 250-cc and 350-cc classes at the Daytona International.
Aged 28, a native of Toronto, Canada, Mike first raced in 1955, when only 15 years old-he gained no notable success on his 500 Triumph Twin.
Mike’s father, confident of his son’s ability, purchased him a new 500 Manx Norton in 1957-which he rode to many successes in Canada.
In 1959, Mike decided to turn professional, to compete in Europe. The year 1960 was one of little success. A winter of hard labor bought Mike a G50 Matchless and a 7R AJS for the 1961 season. Among his successes on these machines was a 1st in the 500 Finnish GP, and a 4th in the Belgian 500 event. In 1962, Mike finished 5th in the Junior TT and was the 9th man in history to lap the Isle of Man course at over 100 mph.
By 1964, Mike was a sought-after journeyman of road racing. Yamaha signed him to ride five GP races—one of which was the Belgian Grand Prix, in which he set a record for winning speed. A 2nd place at Monza followed. These successes brought Mike a full season contract with Yamaha for 1965.
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The year 1965 was Mike’s best, with lsts in the 125 Dutch TT and 250 Finnish GP, 2nds in 250 events in America, West Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Ulster GP, and a 2nd and two 3rds at the Isle of Man.
Then, while testing prior to the Grand Prix of Japan, Mike fell, sustaining a severe injury to his left hip. Long sieges of hospitalization in Japan and Canada kept Mike out of competition through most of 1966.
Mike will taper off into journalistic retirement by riding in a few events here and there.
As I said, I’m happy to have him on the staff; he’s a welcome addition. And it’s great sport to (try to) follow Mike’s line through a bend at speed.
CZECH THESE CHANGES
A considerable change has been made in the distributorship of Jawa and CZ motorcycles for the U.S. The changes are part of a stepped up sales program, which started when Dave Bickers, Roger deCoster and Joel Robert made their presences felt on the scrambles scene last year. The factory now plans to send the riders back this year in an effort to continue the push.
The Jawa name is one of the oldest established foreign brands in the country, but the factory is anxious to pick up a larger portion of the market than ever before. Central office of the new company will be in Montreal, Canada, with branches in Long Island City, N.Y., and Los Angeles, Calif. The company will be known as American Jawa Ltd., and will concentrate initially on larger parts and service facilities.
BUFFALO FOOD CLASSIC
Buffalo meat, barbecued over open fires, just about as it was done on the plains of the West in frontier days, is served once a year to several hundred motorcyclists in what has become a classic among motorcycle events. Three California motorcycle dealers, Skip Fordyce from Riverside, Dave Mason from Pasadena, and Ed Kretz from Monterey Park, are the prime movers behind the affair, now in its 9th year. Buffalos are supplied by the U.S. Government and are shipped from Lawton, Okla., on a very strict quota. This year, the event will be on April 21, which, unfortunately, may be before you read this. If there’s time, visit any one of the three dealers for tickets.
SINGLE SWINGERS TO EUROPE
I always knew there was something I liked about Husqvarna distributor Ed Dye. For one thing, he’s the “main man” with Torsten Hallman in the company set up to handle the tour of European motocross riders this year. (Nov. 23 and 24, by the way, are the dates for the Cycle World/Saddleback Park Grand Prix.) Now Ed has started something which makes me admire him even more. He calls it the “Single Swingers Motorcycle Tour.”
It’s like this, fellas. If your wife is reading over your shoulder, you’d better leave the room. Not only will Dye provide you swingers with BMW motorcycles, “European-U.S. Rally” jackets, transportation, hotels, and most meals, he’ll arrange for a “guide” for you. Female, of course. She’ll accompany you on the back of the BMW through Belgium where you’ll see a motocross, Luxembourg, Switzerland, France, the Isle du Levant off the southern coast of France (that’s the wildest nudist community there is ), Monaco, Italy, and Germany. Then you depart for home, and your guides go back to the comparative safety of Belgium. The tour, which is limited to 20 motorcycles, leaves July 12 from the West Coast. It doesn’t matter what it costs; GO! Ed will be happy to send complete information; just write Edison Dye, 4790 Palm Ave., La Mesa, CA 92103.
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H-D SNOWMOBILES
Among the many follow-ups to our snowmobile article (CW, March ’67) was a clipping from Metal Working News, a trade journal for that industry. It hinted that Harley-David son Motor Co. in Milwaukee, Wis., is giving these vehicles serious consideration. William Davidson, H-D president, told the paper that snowmobiles would fit into the company’s line and help level the seasonal nature of motorcycle and golf cart production. The company is considering acquisition of an existing snowmobile manufacturing concern.
MOST DANGEROUS SPORTS
I saw a government survey report that lists the most dangerous spectator sports, in order, as motorcycle racing, auto racing, boxing, horse racing and football. Federal statisticians report that the five most dangerous participant sports are hunting, scuba and skin diving, boating, swimming, and skiing.
The reason that motorcycle racing is lumped in with spectator sports, rather than participant sports, is that crowds do attend certain national events. By federal tally, 2800 riders registered for this very special type of competition produce 25 deaths per year.
However, as a participant sport, motorcycle racing attracts well over 100,000 men to events which also attract spectators. The majority of such events are of amateur status-and lower.
During the same period, 1967, the game of football resulted in 18 fatalities-but the government computerizers neglected to say how many men and boys engaged in the game.
Professional racing of anything is dangerous, but, if the 100,000 amateurs in competition are considered, motorcycle racing must be one of the safest forms of motorized sport.
The highly professional brand of motorcycle racing, admittedly, is dangerous. Motorcycle competition, as a whole, is not.
PENNSYLVANIA MOTORCYCLE ACTION
David A. Collins Jr., chairman of the recently formed Pennsylvania Motorcycle Action Committee, sent me a stack of information on the group. It seemed a good thing to pass on. The PMAC has been founded to inform motorcycle owners and riders in the state of legislation changes which affect them. The group will publish a monthly bulletin detailing its stand and asking for public support.
According to Collins, there are over 20,000 motorcycles registered in the state. PMAC hopes to encourage riders of at least 15 percent of them to join. One sad note is that when PMAC was formed, the founders expected interest from riders in the state. It didn’t materialize. These leaders aren’t discouraged, but the battle against apathy among motorcycle riders appears to be a more difficult one than that of combating adverse motorcycle legislation. Collins cited CYCLE WORLD’S help in putting down the California helmet law last year. Another sad note is that here in California our No. 1 do-gooder, Assemblyman John Foran, will front another similar bill shortly. So, we have that battle to fight again out here.
As I have been saying for years, the only thing these people pay much attention to is mass opinion. I urgently request all of you motorcyclists in Pennsylvania to join the group; it can only be of benefit to you. Helmet and special licensing laws are inevitable, as CW has said before. More and more states are drafting laws for the compulsory wearing of some kind of protective headgear. No matter what you might have read somewhere else, they are indeed inevitable, and the pressure of the Federal Government on state bodies to institute such laws at risk of losing federal highway money still exists. The Pennsylvania group appears to be an honest, sincere effort to help motorcyclists. I believe that PMAC is the genuine article, not an appeal for support of a highly paid lobbyist.
