Round Up
ROUND UP
JOE PARKHURST
HONDA TRAIL GUIDES are the latest thing to come from the omnipotent American Honda Motor Co. Trail Guides are for those who spend endless week-ends in Southern California searching for open areas in which they can ride. Since so much land is steadily being closed, the guides are an invaluable aid. Though available at present only for the Southern California area from Big Bear to Saugus, they are preparing guides to additional areas as fast as the Forestry Department reviews and approves maps.
Information included in the guides are accessible fire roads, lands that are open to riding, approved roads, riding areas, and, ot course, closed areas. Each guide lists a copy of government regulations concerning national forests and recreational sites, along with a reminder of good trail riding manners. Honda dealers will sell the guides for 50 cents each.
JOSEPH BUEGELEISEN DIES
Another of motorcycling’s pioneers, Joseph Buegeleisen, died recently. The Buegeleisen ('o., founded in 1933, made motorcycle accessories until 1958, when it switched to the manufacture of safety helmets. It is one of the oldest firms remaining on the contemporary motorcycle scene. The firm was sold to American Safety Equipment Go. in 1966, at which time Buegeleisen retired. Buco helmets are now made by the new firm under the old label.
Scientists at the University of Michigan and Wayne University helped him design the original Buco helmet, recognized as one of the leading safety helmets available. Joe is survived by his wile, a son, a daughter, a brother, and six grandchildren.
HELMET COUNCIL JOINS HONDA/YMCA PROJECT
Some time back 1 mentioned that American Honda was donating 10.000 Honda minibikes to a YMGA Youth Project,Nvhich will use the bikes to train boys in the 12to 15-year-old age group. The goal was to motivate the youths toward positive social behavior. and teach safety for themselves and others. A recent notice from the Safety Helmet Council of America tells of the SHC’A’s donation of 300 safety helmets to the project. Each of the helmets bears the yellow and black SHGA certification mark indicating that the model has been tested by a laboratory of national repute to meet or exceed the American National Standards Institute’s Z90.1-1966 standards. Member firms must submit to an off-the-shelf random sample test program. The SHGA states they are vitally concerned with the nation’s youth and feel the helmets will contribute to the success of the YMC'A program. In the picture, YMC’A Program Director Keith Davis, American Honda’s Mat Matsuoka, SHCA President Prank Hea cox and SHCA Executive Director Gary Lovell stand fvy a YMC'A youngster suitably attired for riding.
FUTURE MOTOCROSS CHAMPION
Little Michael Koemans is the 3year-old son of one of the American Motocross Team’s ardent supporters. He certainly looks like the motocross champion of the future as he leaps through the air near his Pasadena, Calif, home.
American Motocross Team rider Brian Kenny is in Europe now, fresh from winning the AMA’s Winter-Am motocross series that saw its final event run in the infield in Daytona, Fla., during Speed Week. Donations for the team are gratefully accepted at Box 3276, Hollywood, C'A 90028. Donations of $5 or more entitle you to a handsome team patch to sew on your jacket.
THE GENIUS OF BRUCE BROWN
If you saw the fantastic surfing movie “Endless Summer” in 1966, the name Bruce Brown will be familiar to you. We’ve mentioned several times in the past that Bruce was working on a motorcycle movie to be shown as a full length feature in movie theaters.
He and his crew were shooting film at Saddleback for the Inter-Am and Trans-AM A motocrosses, Daytona, Ascot, Sacramento, Loudon, and Elsinore, as'well as in Canada for an ice race, and even in Spain for the International Six Days Trial. Bruce’s crew saw more racing than just about anyone I know. The other night we got a chance to see a 16-minute sample of what the 90-minute feature will look like.
I’m still bubbling with so much enthusiasm it will take me a week to come down off the ceiling.
To say that it is fabulous is an understatement. Stars of the film, Steve McQueen, Mert Lawwill and Malcolm Smith, with Bruce’s narration, take the viewer through some of the most incredible footage I have ever seen.
Scenes of Lawwill at Sacramento, filmed from a helmet-mounted camera which faced backwards, make your hair stand on end.
The same camera facing forward at road races, half-miles, miles, TTs, etc., takes you right into the scene so fully you almost find yourself working control levers. And the scenes of Gal Rayborn at Bonneville and of the guy running eighth in some obscure motocross, missing a turn, cutting through the infield, center and punching the rider running second, alone are worth the price of admission to the film.
Bruce and co-producer McQueen showed the press a “teaser,” put together to sell theater booking people on the idea. If it doesn’t become a classic within days after opening, I will be greatly surprised. Everyone connected with the making of it is a motorcyclist, including Bruce and McQueen, who, incidentally, is shown in one scene, under the alias of Harvey Mushman, cutting his way through heavy traffic at Elsinore on his way to a sixth overall finish.
“On Any Sunday” is the title. It will open in Los Angeles on June 30. Watch your newspaper for details. And don’t miss it.
