Around the Industry
AROUND THE INDUSTRY
ENFIELD HEAD IN U.S.
Major Victor Mountford, Managing Director of Enfield Cycle Company, Redditch, England, recently visited the United States on a tour of Royal Enfield’s four U.S. distributors; Cooper Mtrs. in Los Angeles, Joe Schotthoefer, Warren, Mich.; Gene Shillingford & Sons, Philadelphia, Penna; and Sam Avellino, Revere, Mass. Mountford’s visit was for the purpose of planning the execution of Enfield’s farflung plans for 1964. A banner year is anticipated by all.
During his visit in Los Angeles with Frank Cooper of Cooper Motors, the Major was taken on a fishing expedition in Cooper’s boat. It turned out to be a successful day, despite the fact that the Major caught a 6 foot shark and didn’t quite know what to do with it!
This exciting moment was followed by an equally stimulating evening at Los Angeles’ famed Ascot Park watching Elliott Schultz ride his Enfield to yet another smashing victory by winning the Expert Main. Major Mountford was further deprived of a restful evening when Guy Louis Jr., also riding an Enfield, getting off to a bad start by a bad starter in the Amateur main event, started dead last and crushed his way to second spot in the event. All in all, we have the feeling the Major will not forget Los Angeles, and Ascot, for some time to come.
CUSTOM PLASTICS EXPANDS
Custom Plastic Sales at 1020 B Street, Hayward, California, headed by Cuplass fairing designer Dick Kilgroe, now features in addition to Cutlass fairings, tanks and seats, a complete line of road racing hop-up accessories for the Hawk series Honda. Their latest development is a complete wheel conversion service to prepare them for road racing. The service includes: Ferodo linings, drilling of ventilation holes, machining the heat retaining flange off the backing plate, installation of air scoops, sandblasting of all surfaces, turning drums, and finally, careful lacing of alloy rims by a master San Jose wheel lacer, Slim Kokker (winner of
1941 Big Bear), who now specializes in this demanding occupation. Total price is $67.50 exchange, and preliminary tests of prototype shown in the photograph have proved extremely satisfactory.
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Another San Francisco Bay area maestro, Jim Kibblewhite, of Precision Machining, has teamed with tuner Jere Young to produce a 350cc conversion kit for the Hawk which combines with special forged pistons, specially anti-friction coated in both 350cc and .040 oversize chrome racing rings and sleeves. The kit is installed requiring only conventional reboring and standard procedures and is reasonably priced. Precision also has several different cam grinds under test and soon will market what is reported to be some of the finest equipment on the market based on research and experimenting over one year.
SPROCKET MAKER PROMOTES
Tab-Loc Sprockets in Azusa, California, one of the largest manufacturers of aluminum alloy overlay and solid sprockets is issuing a new four-color silk screen wall poster. Theme of the poster is “Cycling Is Fun,” and it should add attractive interest to any motorcycle dealer’s showroom. Manny Harmon, Tab-Loc President, informs us that his new decal is also creating quite a stir. Readers wishing one of Tab-Loc’s new decals can obtain one free by sending a self addressed and stamped envelope to them at 6234Vi N. Irwindale Ave., Azusa, California. Tab-Loc have now added aluminum alloy sprockets for Pointer motorcycles in overlays in 12 to 18 tooth MJ-2 and YG-1 transmission sprockets.
FIRST 1964 BMW'S IN PRODUCTION
Bayerisch Motoren Werke, manufacturers of BMW motorcycles, have greatly increased their production of motorcycles due to the strong demand for them throughout the world in 1963. Shown are the first of the 1964 BMW R-27 models coming off the assembly lines. Machines
in the photograph have already arrived in the U.S.
The photo shows Mr. Alfred Bondy (center), President of Butler & Smith, Inc., sole importers of BMW in the U.S.A., on a recent visit to the factory. With him are Mr. P. G. Hahenmann (left), VicePresident in charge of sales, and Mr. H. Herbstreit, Export Mgr.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY
A special exhibit commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. was a big attraction at the recent picnic for the Milwaukee firm’s 25year club. More than 300 employees who had been with Harley-Davidson 25 years or more attended the picnic, which was held on the lawn of the company’s Capitol Drive plant. The photograph shows Wm. H. Davidson, President of H-D, welcoming his fellow members of the 25-year club to the picnic. On his left is the first Harley, built in 1903; next to it is a new member of the 25-year club, a 1938 H-D. Next to the 1938 model is a current Duo-Glide, and on the opposite side is CYCLE WORLD’S road test KR-TT, Dick Hammer’s No. 16, and a 250cc Sprint.
LAMBRETTA DEALERS ON ITALIAN HOLIDAY
Preparations are almost completed for the Lambretta Dealers Italian holiday organized by the Lambretta Division of Innocenti Corp. in cooperation with Innocenti of Milan, Italy. An Alitalia jetliner has been chartered to take dealers and their families to Italy on November 10th, and bring them back on November 24th after two weeks of very little work and a lot of fun.
The program includes a four-day stay in Milan visiting the Lambretta factory where technical lectures and a seminar will be held. Remainder of the stay in Italy will be spent on a tour of “Renaissance Italy” including Venice, Florence. Rome and Naples with stops and side trips to such famous places as Gardone, Padua, Pisa, the Vatican. Pompeii and many more.
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GILERA COMES TO U.S.
Güera, a world famous name in motorcycle racing, will make its debut on the American market in the very near future. C & N Enterprises, Incorporated, 750 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, California are the Importers. According to A. Lamont Nibarger and Howard Cox of C & N Enterprises, the new line includes 98cc, 124cc and 175cc single cylinder models as well as a 300cc twin. In each displacement a standard road model is available and also a sport model. The price structure is competitive, and the quality of Güera should be excellent.
The Güera factory is reputed to be very modern and very well equipped. Each motorcycle is road tested on a special test track prior to shipping to the port of embarkation . According to the
gentlemen from C & N, the Güera factory is going “all out” to make the United States its prime market, and it is even rumored that the “4” could be made into a street machine if the market potential was such that it would be practical to make such a “dream” available. The initial supply of motorcycles and parts are on the way.
BSA GRAND PRIZE DRAWING
In the photo are Carol Zusi of the BSA office staff, and Jody Nicholas, 100 and 150 mile championship winner, during the drawing for winners of the BSA Grand Prize Contest conducted by BSA dealers throughout the Eastern U.S.A. this season. Winner of first prize was Martin J. Cornell, Doylestown, Penna., who is now the proud owner of a new BSA Gold Star Twin, delivered through dealer George Parsons of Lambertville, N.J. Second
prize winner was Dick Rawls of Vienna, Virginia, who received a BSA Royal Star 500 delivered through dealer Cycle Imports, Arlington, Va. Third prize winner was Charles Waggoner of Coral Gables, Fla., with a BSA SS-90, delivered through Miami dealer Long’s Motorcycle Sales.
NEW PARILLA DISTRIBUTOR
Ernest Wise, President of Cosmopolitan Mtrs. Inc., of Philadelphia, Penna, is shown congratulating David Amsler of the C. D. Amsler Motorcycle Co. of Goshen, Indiana, upon the occasion of their appointment as Parilia Distributors for Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and Michigan.
Mr. Amsler will warehouse a stock of Parilia, Bianchi and Capriolo motorcycles as well as AGV helmets, Pirelli tires and Baruffaldi goggles. The C. D. Amsler Company has been in the cycle business for over 50 years and they are well equipped to offer dealer assistance.
VESPA DEALERS HAVE CHANCE TO WIN TRIP TO ITALY
Vescony, Inc., importers and distributors of Vespa motorscooters, Vespa parts and accessories will be taking 65 of their dealers and their wives to Italy this Spring. The trip will top off a year long competition which covers all sales for 1963. Each dealer was provided with a “Tour Italy - Vescony” stamp saver book and TIV stamps are sent out in 5, 10, and 25 point denominations with each order. In an effort to make the contest as fair as possible, dealers have been assigned categories according to their sales volume. Dealers will fly on a chartered plane to Italy, where they will visit Rome, Pisa, Genoa and the Vespa factory in Pontedera. There are approximately 300 Vespa dealers throughout the United States. •
