Round Up
ROUND UP
JOE PARKHURST
I WAS somewhat saddened recently when NORRA, the National OffRoad Racing Association, lost its right to promote races in Baja. NORRA brought real first life to off-road racing for cars, establishing a need for a type of car that didn't even exist a few short years ago. The Mexican 1000 has become a classic event with world standing, and the Baja 500 was getting close in stature. The advent of more pavement on the main road leading south of Ensenada compelled NORRA to move the start to Mexicali last year, a move I criticized openly. It did offer more challenges, but it included one of the longest paved roads in all of Baja.
NORRA, that is Don Francisco and Ed Pearlman, has been replaced by a Mexican organization calling itself the Baja Sports Committee, with offices in Mexicali. President of the BSC is Juan Jose Hernandez. Whatever the real reason for the BSC taking over really is, bitter resentment exists in NORRA over the turn of events.
The BSC states that prize money paid by NORRA was taking money out of Mexico since they paid the money in this country. One point NORRA made in their counter argument is that receivers of prize money would have to pay Mexican tax on it if they accepted it in Mexico. NORRA feels that the main reason the BSC is taking over is that it is run by interests connected with the business people in Ensenada who do indeed show a considerable increase in business during the races.
Whatever the real reason or reasons are, it is a shame to see a group that has done so much for racing and the Baja economy kicked out without knowing more about the situation. Since I am one of NORRA’s founders and in a position to make my feelings known through this column, I feel there must have been another way of doing it.
No organization is perfect, and I have criticized NORRA over the years as much as anyone. But the BSC has taken over a heavy burden, and at a time when NORRA had become very proficient at running a race with incredible logistic problems.
Bill Martin, an old friend and CW advertiser, is connected with the BSC. Executive Director is Alfredo Arenas Rodriguez, who says that the BSC is an organization, incorporated under the laws of Mexico, and that proceeds from the races would be devoted to charity funds for the children of Baja to be administered by Mrs. Milton Castellanos, wife of the Governor of Baja. He went further to say that since the profits would be devoted entirely to the betterment of the sport in Baja and to provide assistance for underprivileged children, prize winners would not be subject to Mexican income taxes.
As one who truly loves Mexico, particularly Baja, I am happy for the local people. NORRA has indeed taken profit home with them—it was never intended to be non-profit in concept. But, on their side, the group worked very hard for Baja racing, relying heavily on volunteer labor to run the events, and it all must have cost a great deal of money to promote.
To counter the BSC, NORRA is promoting a large race to be called the Big River 500, on almost the same date the BSC will run the 1000—Nov. 6, 7 and 8, with the 500 on the 9th, 10th and 1 1th. Because of this, the BSC expressed the hope that contingency money supporters would continue their support of the 1000. NORRA says it is trying to convince them to shift its support to its events on this side of the border.
NORRA’s latest bulletin indicates that a large number of them are doing so. On the other hand, the BSC’s latest bulletin reveals that Parnelli Jones and the Stroppe organization have fielded the first entries for the 1000. We don’t need this kind of a new Mexican American war.
The arguments sound pretty petty to me. NORRA argues that many of their contestants take their vacations at the times of either event, and that many had already made plans for the 1000, so they are running the Big River 500 in order to accommodate them. Pretty thin argument. Most 500 and 1000 contestants are professionals who have control of their time. Those that don’t can certainly move a vacation date a little, it would seem.
So, instead of the results of BSC’s actions creating even more off-road racing, a healthier result at best, it will split the factions involved even more. Racing in Baja cannot be replaced by racing in Parker, Ariz. Baja is unique. It holds a magic attraction, despite the increasing problems as the pavement gains ground. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone which course to choose.
NORTON VILLIERS TRIUMPH
By now a good many of you have heard that the BSA shareholders voted to accept Norton Villiers’ offer and that a new single entity was created, currently called Norton Villiers Triumph. At the recent 1974 Triumph press showings, Dr. Felix Kalinski, president of Triumph in this country, confirmed to the press that the firms would indeed be merged and that certain changes would be made. For the time being, though, things will remain status quo. It will, of course, take a considerable amount of time to unify two such large firms.
At Laguna Seca, during the Kawasaki Super Bike National, Dennis Poore, the dynamic director of Norton Villiers, told me he was in the process of sorting out the colossal job of putting it all together. I asked what the new company was to be called. Norton Villiers Triumph was merely an interim name, he said, and he was searching for a single name that would represent the parent firm who would be the maker of Nortons, Triumphs, AJS, and the distributors of the Rickman line.
I suggested he go back a ways into the sport in England and pick up the name given to endless numbers of Triumph engines that ended up in Norton Manx frames—Triton. He loved it, but of course that doesn’t mean he will use it. A few years ago he asked me what I thought they should call the then yet to be announced AJS 250 scrambler. I, of course, said that it should be called the AJS Saddleback! He liked that, too, but we all know what happened.
While on the subject of Triumph and its 1974 model line showings, they are changing the line a little. It will consist of the 500 Avenger (same as the BSA Victor), the only 500cc single-cylinder MX bike in current production; two 750s, the Tiger and Bonneville; the Trident 750 Three; the Daytona 500 Twin, and the 500cc Trophy Trail Twin. It’s a small line, but one that is surely highly marketable.
Kalinski did hint at a new bike to be announced in early 1974. It will be a 750 Three with electric starting in an all new frame and using a new engine. The Three will be tilted forward slightly, and the styling will be sensational. Can’t wait.
KAWASAKI FOR '74
Kawasaki Motors did it again. It would be hard to beat them when it comes to ways of showing new bikes to the press. For years the Santa Ana firm has dreamed up the neatest ways to entertain the press while showing them their new bikes. Once we all flew to a dude ranch in Arizona. Another time we boated to Avalon, Catalina Island. The Queen Mary was another location.
Last year they got involved with Trippe Cox, the Mutt and Jeff Englishmen who promote the Hang Ten U.S. Motocross Grand Prix, and the Laguna Seca races, working with Kawasaki. The press was flown in a chartered plane to Laguna Seca and spent a day being wined, dined and generally entertained. We were even given a chance to ride the bikes.
(Continued on page 10)
Continued from page 4
All the Kawasaki Threes will feature rubber mounted engines for 1974, and the 350 has been stretched to a 400.
Several new bikes were shown, but the most important to me were the two new motocrossers. The two factory replicas, tested in CW in July ’73, are now production machines. They are light, go like hell, and handle fantastically. Torque is well-down in the rev range, making them extremely flexible and easy to ride. They will be hard to beat and should compete well with Honda’s Elsinore and the new YZ Yamahas to be announced soon.
The Japanese makers have done an incredible job. In a very short time they have caught up with the established European motocross bike builders and are making bikes that are extremely competitive.
One sad note at Laguna Seca: Skip Newell, ex-staffer around here when we were publishing Dune Buggies Magazine, now Public Relations Director for Kawasaki, is leaving that company. Skip and his family are settling on a farm in Northern California, giving up the chaotic “good life” for contemplative solitude, sort of, and to lead a more natural, and certainly more peaceful life. Going to miss him. He is replaced by Bruce Cummings, young, affable and competent. Jeff Heininger continues as PR Coordinator. Nice group of guys, ggj
