25 Years Ago April, 1971

25 YEARS AGO APRIL, 1971

"Exclusive Test: BSA’s All-New 500 MX,” announced this issue’s lipstick-red coverline. The road test was partly trial by fire as Chuck “Feets” Minert raced the 257-pound Victor in the Trans-AMA Motocross Series. CW's testbike was one of six such models entered in the series, only one of which failed to finish a round, victim of a defective ignition coil. “Four-stroke fans unite, here’s your machine,” was the gushing conclusion.

• “A jet aircraft of the open road and the fastest production motorcycle in the world.” That’s how an advertisement portrayed Kawasaki’s 500S Mach III two-stroke, priced at $995. At the opposite end of the spectrum were the inexpensive-and less wheelie-prone-75cc Dynamite and 5-horse Coyote.

• A special 12-page supplement recounted the life and death of Vincent. Staff encounters with the distinguished British marque included Jody Nicholas’ report on a “deceptively easy to manipulate” 1952 Series C Rapide and Dan Hunt’s struggle with a mix-and-match Rapide/Shadow. “I rode a ’55 Vincent and survived. And I survived in style, thank you,” he scribed.

• A more timely feature, “AMA Racing: The Full Scam,” previewed the upcoming Grand National Championship season, detailing each manufacturer’s plans and speculating as to probable candidates for the title. Author Hunt favored rubberman Dave Aldana,

Cal Rayborn and reigning champ Gene Romero, but wisely didn’t discount the eventual winner, Dick Mann.

Matthew Miles