Cycle Round Up
CYCLE ROUND UP
JOSEPH C. PARKHURST
CYCLE WORLD’S LEADERSHIP
Tub-thumping does not come easy to me, but certain things are occurring I feel people would like to know about concerning CYCLE WORLD’S position in the motorcycle publishing industry. To begin with, our advertising lineage is now averaging over 100% greater than our nearest competitor. In order to accommodate this support we are now publishing the largest, in number of pages as well as circulation, national motorcycling magazine ever seen in this country; 68 pages each issue. The reader benefits from this success and growth also, since the additional pages required for our position as the number one advertising medium gives us additional columns for editorial material as well. Our circulation, the total number of magazines being sold, is now approaching 40,000. This is a figure we will verify with our next Audit Bureau of Circulation statement shortly forthcoming. We have more motorcycle shops selling CYCLE WORLD across the nation than any cycling publication has ever had, over 700; each is listed in our Dealer Directory in this issue. Our list of paid subscribers totals around 6,500, and is growing constantly.
Leadership is a complex, many-faceted thing. We are proud of ours beyond measure. This, our 20th issue, is still only the beginning; our plans are far-reaching and if the first year-and-one-half is any indication, the results should surprise even us.
MOTORCYCLES AND PONTIAC
Readers of general interest magazines such as Life, Look, Time, etc., will probably have noticed the beautiful full-page, full-color Pontiac advertisement showing the young lady seated on a Harley-Davidson FLH alongside of a Pontiac Tempest with a headline underneath reading “You really don’t need wide-track . . . unless you drive a car.” The copy goes on to say that only people who ride motorcycles lean into corners and that they ride them for fun mostly, etc.
We enjoyed the ad for several reasons, including the technical inference on cornering technique, but most importantly we appreciated the tasteful use of a motorcycle in illustrating the point. The young lady Harley rider is dressed in a tres chic wool/leather outfit that had the lady members of Cycle World’s staff wondering where she got it, and a pair of very pointed-toed boots and black gloves. Our thanks to Pontiac for their example of excellent taste and intelligence. We liked it.
WE FALL DOWN TOO
Perhaps some of our readers will consider it a rather strange subject to dwell upon, or even discuss, but we have always felt that no one was perfect, particularly CYCLE WORLD’S testing staff. The nearby photographs prove my point; they show the Harley-Davidson Sprint CR-TT in its before and after states. Before and after the Editor went flying off of Riverside Raceway’s turn four at about 90 mph in a fit of zeal and plain old enthusiasm. Though I didn’t exactly do the beautiful little racer any good, it lived to run later after having the remnants of its fairing removed and having a little welding and mending done on it.
We hasten to assure you doubters of the authenticity of a CYCLE WORLD workout on a motorcycle that we go to no ends to prove our findings, though it does seem that this was a bit too far. We must apologize to Harley-Davidson and Harley-Davidson of Long Beach for the abuse wreaked upon the Sprint; we promise we will try to not let it happen again. A very bruised and sore Editor guarantees it.
TRUTH IN ADVERTISING
Our more alert readers will perhaps notice the absence of several editorial items in this issue that were promised in a rather hastily prepared advertisement on page 8 of last month’s CYCLE WORLD. This blatantly false notice promised all sorts of things for this issue, including; road tests of a Velocette 500 and three 200cc Bultacos, plus part two of Technical Editor Gordon Jennings’ dissertation on power transmission methods, none of which, as any fool can plainly see, is to be found within the pages of this issue. We will apologize, for the change in road test plans, the substitution of the HarleyDavidson KR-TT and CR-TT, and the Montesa scrambler, for the Velocette and the Bultacos, was due to unavoidable delays in obtaining the machines.
That Jennings is something else. At press time he was in a city called Indianapolis, Indiana, watching a pack of quite fast automobiles dart around a large oval at extremely high speeds, so how could he possibly find time to finish a technical piece for little old CYCLE WORLD. We promise those who care about such things, •that the way things look now, all three items will appear next month. But don’t hold your breath.
ROAD CLASSIC PLANNED
CYCLE WORLD is proud to announce that we are among the people lending assistance in the planning of the forthcoming William Johnson Invitational Road Sports Rally being sponsored by the Southern California Triumph Dealers Association. To be held on October 6th, this event will be the first of a planned series of annual affairs for the discriminating road riding and rallying cycle enthusiast. Plans are for the event to be one of the most important occasions on the calendar by including a series of special events at certain check points on the scenic route and by including a lavish buffet dinner with special entertainment, including movie personalities, at the finish. Trophy presentation and awarding of special prizes will be made at the end of the run and will be a part of the elaborate entertainment planned.
Members of the association responsible for the Johnson Invitational are; Norm Lee and Hazen Blair, Routing Committee; Skip Fordyce and Bill Bagnall, Entertainment; Dave Mason and Ed Kretz, Clothing and equipment requirements; Bill Bagnall, Ralph Poole and Joe Parkhurst, Publicity; Bud Ekins will arrange for special events on the route; Buck Smith will handle the timing; Pete Colman will start; Clarence Fleming is the legal consultant; and Don Brown of Johnson Mtrs., Triumph distributors, is Chairman of the committee. The event is named for, and will be held in memory of William E. Johnson, founder of Johnson Motors, who died in 1962 but is well remembered in the motorcycle industry. Watch CYCLE WORLD for complete details of this brilliant event, soon to be a highpoint in the motorcycle scene.
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MOTORCYCLE SWIFTIES
Never let it be said that we motorcycle people aren’t up with the times and swinging; to prove it the CYCLE WORLD offices have been buzzing with our own versions of the newest fad of satires on the utterances of us older boys’ favorite of childhood literature, Tom Swift (. . . and his electric Harley-Davidson, etc). The following is a sample of the best of CW’s staff; readers are encouraged to submit their “Swifties” for this column.
“It was a wonderful race,” said Joe Leonard Triumphantly; “It can be ridden through virtually anything,” Nick said Greeviously; “Your eyes aren’t the same,” he said Matchlessly; “I just love to eat,” said Alfred hoggishly; “It preys on much bigger birds,” he muttered Hawkishly; “That’s rather a nice Manx,” John said cattily; “I didn’t do it,” he said Innocenti ly; “Get off of the track,” he screamed coursely; “Honestly, I really do love my Lilac,” lisped Philbrick flowerly; “Boy, that’s pretty wild,” said Don Tigerishly; “Darn, you bent up the front end pretty bad,” said Bennie forkedly; “That Norton just gave me an awful shock,” she said Electrally; “Let’s go to Bonneville,” Gordon blurted out saltily; “I tell you it is an Indian,” Sam said without reservation; “By golly, it’s a new Cushman motor scooter,” cried Adam Eagley; “Now that’s the throttle,” he said twistedly; “My tread is worn out completely,” he said tiredly; “Did you read what CYCLE WORLD wrote about my motorcycle,” he said testily; “Doggone it, my transmission is broken,” said Jerry shiftlessly; “Let’s go to Daytona,” he said racily. “My battery is dry,” he said acidly; “My engine is larger now,” he said boredly.
JAPAN GRAND PRIX TOUR
The Overseas Travel Co. have announced plans for an air tourr to Japan to witness the first F.I.M. World Championship Grand Prix road races on the Suzuka circuit November 10th, 1963. The tour will leave several days before the races and will include many sightseeing activities and tours, all planned and paid for in the tour price. The eight-day tour will cost $130.00 per person and the air fare costs $783.00 per person totaling $913.00 per person. Included are; hotel accommodations with breakfast only, sightseeing tours and all transportation in Japan.
Interested parties are invited to contact the Overseas Travel Company, Dept. CW, 650 South Grand Ave., Los Angeles 17, California. The Grand Prix is scheduled two days after arrival; balance of the time after the races will be spent in seeing some of the famous sights in Japan. •
