Etc.
ETC.
BOOTY FOR BUYERS
As part of Cagiva North America's customer-satisfaction program, buyers of new Ducatis are now entitled to a commemorative silver coin worth approximately $50. The only way to get one-pre sentation-boxed, numbered and depicting the Ducati logo and the words, "Style, Sophistication and Performance"-is by purchasing a 1996 916, 900SS or M-900 from an authorized dealer.
SUZUKI RECALLS GSX-Rs, RMS
American Suzuki Motor Corpora tion has announced a safety recall on some 1996 GSX-R750s, RM125s and RM25Os.
Early production GSX-Rs may have insufficient combustion chamber squish area that could result in piston-to-cylinder head contact at high rpm, necessitating the installation of a thicker head gasket. RMs produced prior to De cember, 1995, may develop cracks in their rear suspension's cushion lever rod, and should not be ridden until the unit is replaced; RM25Os may also develop cracks in their kickstart levers. Suzuki dealers will make the necessary repairs free of charge.
JAWA FOR SALE
Jawa, the once-great Czechoslo vak~an motorcycle manufacturer with production of more than 100,000 units per year, is for sale. The Czech government recently put the state-owned company up for bid, and will select the buyer with the best plan for the future of the company-not to mention enough money to pay the asking price and existing debts. On the block are the main works in Tynec nad Sazavou, the R&D center in Prague and the plating shop in Benesov. The deal does not include Jawa Oivisov, the privately owned company that pro duces Jawa speedway racing bikes.
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE...
What’s got 196 wheels and costs more than $1.5 million? The 98 motorcycles that were sold at auction in Los Angeles recently.
Amassed by a wealthy Japanese enthusiast, the collection included some choice racebikes and sporting machines. Star of the show was a 1956 MV Agusta four-cylinder GP bike that fetched a cool $150,000. Next highest sale was a 1954 AJS Porcupine, which went for $120,000, reportedly to the new Honda Motor Museum in Japan. Early estimates had the bike bringing a higher bid, but missing engine internals and an uncertain race history kept the price down.
Spirited bidding between the buyer of the ’56 MV (a private Connecticut collector) and Team Obsolete’s majordomo Rob lannucci took the price of a Mike Hailwood Ducati higher than anticipated. The bike, a 900 F-1 used by Hailwood in his famous 1978 Isle of Man TT comeback, went to Connecticut for $105,000.
DUCATI 916 “COOLEST”
Ducati’s svelte 916 was recently rated the “Coolest Dream Machine” by the television auto magazine, “MotorWeek,” in its annual Drivers’ Choice awards. One of 15 winners, the 916 was the only motorcycle chosen. Selections were based on product integrity, performance, pricing, value and purpose. The syndicated program is carried on 240 TV stations nationwide.
ORBITING EXECUTIVE
Czechoslovakian cosmonaut Vladimir Remek, 47, who flew with the first international crew on a Soviet space mission in 1978, is now the assistant general manager of CZ, the venerable Czech motorcycle maker. In addition to its own line of scooters, CZ currently produces small-displacement motorcycles in a joint venture with Cagiva.
25 YEARS AGO JUNE, 1971
A Moto Guzzi V7 Ambassador graced the June cover, as did some psychedelic blurbs reminiscent of the TV show, “Laugh-In.” Only a bikini-clad go-go dancer decorated with body paint was missing. But funky cover aside, the V7 proved impressive, as CW called it “an alternative to H-D or BMW; big, smooth and comfy.”
In fact, editors suggested the 757cc V-Twin would be ideal for “a short jaunt to Uruguay, or halfway around the world and back.”
• Such long-distance journeys would have been impossible for Clem Johnson’s hand-made Vincent, however. Christened the “Barn Job,” this drag racer was the first to break the 140-, 150and 160-mph barriers in the 1960s.
Ten years later, Johnson continued to tinker with the venerable machine. In a CW interview, he said his passion “was, is and will continue to be planning and building.” Even so, editors wondered, “Can Clem get it back on top? Or will his love for this hand-built marvel wither and finally succumb to his urge to ‘Junk it and get a Harley?”’ • Also in this issue was coverage of the 1971 Daytona 200, which CW labeled “an epic, factory-backed struggle,” thanks to the racing of Dick Mann, Paul Smart and “the fabled Mike Hailwood.” In the end, Mann emerged the victor, despite Hailwood’s and Smart’s best efforts. Editors explained, “He did it last year on a Honda. He did it this year on a BSA. And both times, Dick Mann’s strategy was the same. Hang in there and wait for the jackrabbits to break. Which they did.”
Wendy F. Black
