Around the Industry
AROUND THE INDUSTRY
BERLINER SERVICE SCHOOLS
One of the largest dealer school and technical sessions took place recently in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, and in Glendale, California, shortly thereafter. These meetings, banquets, service schools, etc., were organized by Mr. Joseph Berliner, head of the Berliner Mtr. Corp., importers of the Norton, Ducati, Matchless and Zundapp lines of motorcycles.
Heading the list of VIP's called in for the Norton-Ducati regional distributors conferences was W. J. Smith, Managing Director of Associated Motorcycles, makers of Norton and Matchless, Chief Engineer Charles Udall, and Production Chief Fred Neil. From Italy came Enzo Anconelli and his assistant Felix DiNunzio, representing Ducati-Meccanica.
Classes were conducted in both the New Jersey Berliner headquarters and at ZDS Motors in Glendale, California, Berliner Distributors in the West. In New Jersey the Lucas Electrical Co. was represented by Bill Owen, Jack Baueh and Eric Goutjh. Castrol oils had Ray Cole in attendance, Densmore Ross represented Smith's instruments and KLG plugs and other products distributed by the Nisonger Corn. Lin Kuchler of the American Motorcycle Association also came for the Eastern banquet and meetings along with Jimmy Hill of the A.M.A.
Though the meetings in the West were not as elaborately attended, thev were none-the-less huge successes and were followed by a sumptuous banquet where Joseph and Michael Berliner. Messrs. Smith and Udall. plus CYCLE WORLD'S Editor made brief speeches. West coast meetings were conducted in ZDS Motor's new headquarters and were presided over by Bob Blair, head of ZDS.
Manv new Berliner models were introduced. including the new Norton 750cc Atlas Scrambler, also much new information was forwarded concerning plans for Matchless in the United States. Things look very promising indeed for the Berliner Mtr. Corp. for the forthcoming vear. In the photo above a corner of the Eastern banquet can be seen in progress where the Norton/Matchless dealers saw movies and received diplomas for their school efforts. The next picture shows, left to right; Mr. Michael Berliner. Lin Kuchler, Walt Von Shonfelt. public relations director at Berliner, and Tom Kalan.
Above you see Fred Neil and Charle^ Udall of AMC, addressing a group of dealers durine a Norton session at ZDS Motors in Glendale. The last photograph shows, left to right: Joe Berliner, Bill Smith, Fred Neil, Michael Berliner, and Bob Blair.
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GREEVES CHAMPION
The fierce looking airbourne gentleman in the photograph is younç Gary Conrad, consistent winner in Southern California cross country racing, hare scrambles and TTs for the past four years riding Greeves. Among Conrad's especially noteworthy wins; 1st 250cc, 6th overall in California State Championship hare and hound; 1st 250cc, 5th overall, Pacific South West Championship hare and hound; 1st 250cc, District 37 Championship; and 1st 250cc Checkers hare and hound, all run four in a row with no work being done to the machine between races. It certainly speaks well for Conrad and his remarkable Greeves.
More feathers for the Greeves cap show in the results of the recently run Placerville, California, scrambles. 138 started the 80 mile event, with the lightweights starting 2 minutes after the big bikes, Greeves came in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th overall. Dick Mann was the first 250 rider and second man in, followed by Nick Nicholson who rode the first 200cc class bike in. Nicholson is the same Nicholson of Nicholson Mtrs. in North Hollywood, Calif., Greeves Distributors •
YAMAHA APPOINTS NEW MANAGER
Mr. M. Kasahara, vice-president and manager of Yamaha International Corp. in Los Angeles, Calif., has announced the promotion of James E. Jingu to the post of Manager, Advertising and Public Relations. "The creation of this position," said Mr. Kasahara, "is significant as it indicates another step in the rapid growth of Yamaha in this country. In the short span of five years Yamaha has grown from a two-man operation to a staff of eighty. Estimated revenue during 1963 for the three Yamaha Divisions, motorcycles, pianos and skis, represented in the United States exceeds $7,000,000.
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Jingu, 42, has spent the past 15 years in the U.S.-Japanese trade and is known to his many friends as the "rice eating Texan." He was born and raised in San Antonio and is a graduate of the University of Texas. During the war he was a member of the famed 442nd Combat Team which distinguished itself as the "Fightingest American Outfit of World War II" in Italy and France.
The Los Angeles offices of Yamaha International Corp. also coordinate the activities of the Mexico City operation and the recently organized facilities in London, England, and in Hamburg, Germany. In addition to its now established place in the American motorcycle and piano markets, Yamaha recently introduced a quality line of Epoxi skis. This year, the parent company in Japan, Nippon Gakki Co. Ltd., expects to gross in excess of $150,000,000.
AGV HELMET SNELL APPROVED
The AGV helmet in certain models has just been approved by the Snell Foundation, making it acceptable for most automobile racing associations. Previously it had only been tested and approved by the American Motorcycle Association. Priced at $27.95, the strap-on, flip-up face shield is priced at $11.95 and attaches to any helmet easily. Cosmopolitan Mtrs. Inc., Dept. CW, 5521 Wayne Ave., Philadelphia, Penna., will supply the name of your nearest dealer.
PRESS QUEEN FROM ENGLAND
Each year the Birmingham (England) Press Association holds a Ball, prior to which a "Press Queen" is elected. The very attractive young lady, pictured with her new Ariel Pixie in front of Ariel Motors Ltd. main office, is Miss Elizabeth Bruton, selected from 80 entrants for this year's honor. Selected by the four Editors of the leading Birmingham newspapers, one of the prizes this year was a trip to Hollywood where she received a great deal of publicity. Her hosts in this country were Pan American Airways and United Artists pictures. The good-looking Pixie was also a prize.
STAR-TO-BE IS MOTORCYCLIST
The gesturing young man is Peter Fonda, son of actor Henry Fonda, and brother of the well known actress Jane Fonda. Peter rides a BMW R-27, and will soon be seen in the forthcoming motion picture "Lilith." Produced and directed by Robert Rossen, Lilith is the movie version of the Book-of-the-Month Club novel by J. R. Salamanca and deals with the legend of Lilith, of Biblical origin.
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This is Fonda's second movie; his first was Columbia's "The Victors," and he has spent most of his career on the formal stage. He lives in Hidden Valley, near Beverly Hills, Calif., with his wife, two Burmese cats, a Corvette, and of course, a black BMW.
HOLIDAY IN JAPAN FOR HONDA DEALERS
Honda dealers and their families from throughout the U.S. pose at Los Angeles International Airport before take-off for "Holiday In Japan" tour sponsored by American Honda Mtr. Co., Inc., of Gardena, Calif., distributor for Honda. The all-expense paid trip went to 50 dealers in a nation-wide contest based on sales quotas and service facilities. This was the second year Honda has sponsored such a trip for its dealers. They visited Honda manufacturing plants in Japan as a part of the tour.
FLYING TRIUMPH
The Cosmos Troup proves the versatility and handling characteristics of a Triumph Tiger Cub at low throttle speeds in their exceptional high wire balancing act recently on a country-wide tour. We cannot help but wonder what kind of a trials rider the operator of the bike would make!
NEW ENGINE
Pacific Basin Trading Co. has informed us that their new line of Hodaka twostroke engines are now available in 55cc and 80cc (7.5 hp @ 7,500 rpm) versions complete with constant mesh gear boxes, lighting coils in magnetos multiple disc clutch and special high exhaust systems (at extra cost). Pacific are exclusive distributors in North America, Canada, Hawaii and Mexico, and have priced them quite low; $121.34 retail for the 55cc, and $114.75 retail for the 80cc.
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NEW FLEA MINI-BIKE
This miniature "go-anywhere" bike provides easy, economical fun for all ages. Equipped with a 6 horsepower, fourcycle engine, recoil starter, muffler, air cleaner, automatic clutch, fenders, folding pegs, chain driven jack-shaft, magnesium wheels, motorcycle throttle controls, telescopic fórks and knobby tires. Prices start
These interesting little power plants should be of particular interest to builders of specials, such as minibikes and the Vantech Scrambler. They will alco bolt directly into the Yamaguchi SPB frame as replacement units. The complete accessory exhaust system is priced at $12.98. They feature caged roller bearings in the rod, full circle crankshaft and ball main bearings. Pacific also stocks a complete line of speed equipment for them. Full information can be obtained by writing them at Box 327, Athena, Oregon.
at $165.00 FOB from K&P Mfg., Dept. CW, 330 South Irwindale Ave., Azusa, California.
H-D DEALERS SERVICE SCHOOL
Dealers and mechanics who attended the first session of the Harley-Davidson Mo'or Co. Service School are; front row, from left, Ray Chatigny, Westminster, Mass., Al Thibodeau, Springfield. Mass.. Robert Clark, Lakeland, Fla., Ron Wilcoxson, Las Vegas, Nev., Marlin P. Ziel, Palmdale, Calif., John Kroneman, Tacoma, Wash., Carroll Thorp, Merced, Calif., and Charles Huskey, Los Angeles, Calif. In the second row from left are; Jim Ratliffe and Nicholas Gomez, both of Wichi-ta, Kansas, Herbert Price, Muskegon, Mich., Charles Barton, Gering, Neb., Harvey Rousseau, Macedón, N.Y., Morris
Flatter, Greenville, Ohio, and Michael Holguin and Henry Sales, both of Albuquerque, N.M. In the third row are; Vern Fuller, Lincoln, Neb., Joseph Adams, Waukegan, 111., Vincent Sawicki, Newark, N.J., Harry Wilkins, Barre, Vt., Merle Griffith, Fort Wayne, Ind., Robert Bugçenhagen, Buffalo, N.Y., Dallas Padgett, Tallahassee, Fla., and John Koch, Milwaukee, Wis. Standing in the back are; Service School instructors, George Wenzendorf, Dick Marshall, Bob Jameson, John Nowak, Sid Soiney, and Dave Morton, Service Manager.
BULTACO AT THE I.S.D.T.
Shown are Jose Sanchez on left, and Oriol Bulto, possessors of a gold medal and a silver medal respectively earned in 1963's running of the International Six Days Trial, riding prototypes of a new model Bultaco soon to be seen in the United States.
