Around the Industry

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

CYCLE WORLD MOTORCYCLE SHOW

Things are progressing extremely well with the First Annual CYCLE WORLD Motorcycle Show to be held this May 22, 23 and 24 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. We said it was going to be the biggest motorcycle show ever and it looks like we were right. Latest additions to members of the motorcycle industry who will display their wares now include; BMW and the Flanders Co.; Ken Kay Distributing Co. and their sensational new Omega; Velocette in the guise of MC Supply Co., Bultaco Western; Trailrite Motorcycle Trailers, Nicholson Mtrs. and the complete line of Greeves machines including (they hope by show time) the new Greeves Challenger; Tab-Loc Engineering; Pyramid Cycle Sales with James; PABATCO (Pacific Basin Trading Co.) will display the Cotton Cougar and Telstar plus the new Hodaka 90; Rockford Scooter Co. will bring the Bridgestone 7 and 50; Simplex will display the Compact and Senior; Motor Racing Books plan on displaying the largest selection of motorcycle books even seen, outside of their own showrooms of course; and, as previously mentioned, Yamaha International, American Honda, U.S. Suzuki Corp., Webco Inc., McHal protective headgear, Harman & Collins cams and Montesa Mtrs.

Deadlines being what they are, we are certain the list will be twice as long by press time of this issue and quite a few participants will be signed up that cannot be mentioned here. We'll catch them next month. Regardless, it is shaping up as the biggest event in the motorcycle industry this year; better make your plans in advance.

AMERICAN MOTOR SCOOTER ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW HEAD

Andrew Rocco, veteran motor scooter sales executive, has been elected President of the American Motor Scooter Association. Members, meeting in Chicago at

their annual conclave, elected, in addition to Rocco; Arnold Mende as Secretary Treasurer; John Aarvold as Director; Walter Davidson as Director; Robert Remensperger as Director. Rocco is General Manager of Sales for Innocenti Corporation's Lambretta Division in New York. Rocco in addressing the AMSA membership said that all indications point to 1964 as being the biggest year in the history of the industry, both in the number of units sold and in total dollar volume. Rocco noted that in 1963 motor scooter registration figures were not available because most states do not make a distinction between scooters and motorcycle registrations.

(Continued on Page 22)

In calling for increased industry participation in the field of traffic safety and driver education, Rocco announced that the AMSA will start production this spring on an operator training motion picture suitable for distribution to driver training classes. It was also announced that William T. Berry has again been retained as Executive Secretary of the Denver based association.

YAMAHA NATIONAL SALES CONFERENCE

Smiling and radiating confidence are, from left to right; Barry Page, District Manager; Hideto Eguchi, Vice Manager (Los Angeles); Jack Hoel, District Mgr; Fred Chase, Dist. Mgr; Ben Watanake, Assistant Mgr. (Los Angeles); Jimmy Jingu, Advertising Mgr; Bert Smith, United States Sales Mgr; Mitsuo Kasahara, Vice President and General Mgr; Ron Knapp, Dist. Mgr; Bill Powers, Dist. Mgr; Larry Beall, Dist. Mgr; Tom Clark, Manager Eastern branch; Bill Erickson, Dist. Mgr; Terry Tiernan, Dist. Mgr; and Milt Loflin, Dist. Mgr. The occasion was a national sales meeting for the ten District Managers of Yamaha International Corp. in preparation for 1964 sales, and it was held at the Statler Hilton in Los Angeles. Tom Clark, newly appointed Manager of Yamaha's Eastern branch in Pennsylvania, said "From this meeting I am satisfied that Yamaha will again succeed in reaching new heights in sales, and 1964

will truly be our greatest year." As America's second fastest selling motorcycle, Mr. Kasahara reviewed Yamaha's standing in

the industry; "Twelve thousand skilled workers; five hundred research and development engineers dedicated to making a finer motorcycle; world's largest industrial plant facilities including the largest piano factory and a most modern qualitycontrolled motorcycle plant — all combine to make one of the richest industrial firms in Japan, ranking in the first ten with 1963 sales totalling more than two hundred millions dollars." Mr. Kasahara, having recently returned from a factory visit, explained to the assembled executives the expansion plans at the Yamaha factory that will increase production by 50%. "I am very happy to say definitely that with our continuing sales success we can now set our sales target at 180,000 units for the 1966-67 period."

(Continued on Page 24)

Sales Mgr. Bert Smith outlined the concept of a good dealer while Advertising Mgr. Jingu added that Yamaha will spend over half a million dollars on advertising in national media this year and dealt with "point-of-sale" promotions for dealers. Competition became a major topic since many of Yamaha's District Mgrs. are also competition riders; Barry Page from Pennsylvania; Tom Clark, a road race enthusiast; and Larry Beall, who holds a national number in dirt riding.

On the subject of racing, Mr. Kasahara stated; "In my view, we do not wish to discourage racing. However, Yamaha considers racing important only to the extent that it is one part of advertising along with other advertising in which we are actively engaged, such as TV, radio, newspapers, trade and consumer magazines, etc. Yamaha will not send teams to race as we did last year. Instead we will provide support for those dealers who are willing and able to maintain their own racing equipment. We expect to support major riders through dealers only, at races such as all AMA sanctioned nationals."

BSA SERVICE SCHOOL

Over 200 Eastern USA BSA dealers and their staffs attended the 1964 BSA service school at their headquarters in Nutley, New Jersey, the largest such event to date. Four days of mechanical instruction plus a full day of sales meetings' kept the dealers busy. The first session was devoted to details of the new 75cc Starlite model (mentioned elsewhere in this column), and to carburetion procedures on all BSA's. The school was under the direction of Walt Brown, Service Mgr., though much of the actual instruction was handled l}y Herb Neas, BSA shop foreman, well known for his Laconia and Meadowdale-winning road racers.

Many dealers conferred with staff members, headed by T. A. Hodgdon, President, Fred Schafer, Parts Mgr., Len Friday, Credit Mgr., and Emmett Moore, Advertising Mgr. Field representatives Harry Chaplin and Hank Westra were also called in to assist. The meetings concluded with a banquet where dealers were addressed by William Rawson, BSA Sales Director and member of the BSA board of directors in England. The final day of the school was devoted to Lucas electrical instruction by William Owen and Jack Baugh of Lucas. All in all,

ISLE OF MAN TOUR SCHEDULED

Bob Hansen and the Johnson Travel Bureau in Racine, Wisconsin, recently furnished us with complete details on their tour to the Isle of Man TT races scheduled for June of this year. Three tours are planned, departing from either New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, at very reasonable prices, that include jet air fare via scheduled air liner, hotel accommodations, at least two meals per day, land transportation, tickets to races, etc. We have been assured there are no hidden "extras" and that this tour is truly a complete package. Rooms are reserved and paid for in both London and Douglas, Isle of Man at the Castle Mona Hotel.

A "fly now and pay later" plan is offered and a 10% deposit is required on a first come basis. Costs are $595.00 from New York, $600.00 from Chicago, and $883.00 from Los Angeles, for the approximate one week tour. Arrangements can be made for stays up to 21 days if desired. We suggest anyone interested to contact the Johnson Travel Bureau at 1342 Washington Ave., Racine, Wise., very soon. Time is running short.

(Continued on Page 53)

TURNER RELINQUISHES BSA AUTOMOTIVE CONTROL

Mr. Edward Turner, Managing Director of the BSA Automotive Group, at his own request relinquishes control of the giant manufacturing concern, and though he will remain on the Board of Directors he will no longer direct the company personally. A successor has not as yet been named. He remains as a director of the present company, the Birmingham Small Arms Co., Ltd., and also a director of Ariel, BSA and Triumph so that his wide experience and special knowledge of the motorcycle industry will continue to be available to them.

The managing director of another BSA subsidiary, Mr. H. G. Sturgeon of the Churchill Machine Tool Co. of Manchester, England, will assume Managing Directorship of the Motor Cycle Division, consisting of BSA, Ariel, and Motoplas, in Birmingham, and Triumph Engineering in Meriden. He was formerly Mgr. Dir. of the De Havilland Aircraft Co. of England.

NEW KOLBE HONDA OPENS

Recent grand opening ceremonies of the new Kolbe Cycle Sales in Reseda, California, latest addition to the Andy Kolbe Honda empire in the famous San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, saw the crowning of no less than "Miss Honda of 1964." Lovely Linda Carpenter, a Burbank, Calif, model, received her Miss Honda helmet from Don Sheik, representing American Honda Motor Co., and a trophy from proprietor Kolbe.

She was selected from a field of eight shapely contestants who made it difficult for judges Ira Cook of radio station KMPC, Bob Hunter of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, and Red Rowe of the "Tell It To The Camera" television show. Kolbe moved into larger quarters after outgrowing his first facility; he also owns a Honda dealership in Woodland Hills, a high income suburb of Los Angeles. Miss Honda will serve as queen at several events planned for the summer.

ARIEL PIXIE FOR U.S.A.

An entirely new lightweight, the Ariel Pixie, is soon to be available in the United States after exhaustive testing in England. Powered by a 75cc, overhead valve, singlecylinder engine, the Pixie is the end product of a series of around-the-clock marathon rides in the rugged hills of Wales,

England. Conducted on a 24-hour basis for two weeks, the tests ran up a total of over 30,000 miles, reportedly without mechanical failure. Prospective American buyers will be interested in knowing that the tests were conducted on the 50cc British version; the 75cc version for America has considerably more pep and is the same as will be used on the BSA Starlite.

Details of the engine include; 47.6mm x 42mm bore/stroke, engine and fourspeed gearbox in unit, alloy cylinder head with cast-in valve seats. The gearbox is lubricated by the engine sump, a multiple plate clutch and a "rack and pinion"

throwout give straight line action. Ignition is by alternator and the entire engine/ gearbox unit can be removed from the frame via the removal of only four studs. The frame is a pressed metal box-type, front forks are of the trailing link type and are controlled by rubber-in-compression units with nylons bushed bearings that are lubricated. Wheels are 15-inch diameter with 2.50 Dunlop tires, brakes are full width on both hubs.

(Continued on Page 55)

These machines are now becoming available throughout the country from BSA Inc., 639 Passaic Ave., Nutley, New Jersey, in the East; and Johnson Motors, PO Box 457, Pasadena, California, in the West. For the nearest address of a dealer write whichever is more convenient. which the builder states is ideal for the Harley FLH.

MOTORCYCLE TRAILER OFFERED

John M. Hughes, Box 371, Ventura, California 93001, now has made available for the first time, to our knowledge, a custom manufactured motorcycle trailer. The 72-inch rails will accommodate any machine up to a Harley-Davidson FLH, total weight is 325 pounds, and it is available in a two or three-rail version. Price for the three-rail model is $155.00, at the Ventura factory, and $140.00 for the two-rail model

NEW YAMAHA SALES MANAGER

Vice President of Yamaha International Corp. Mr. Mitsuo Kasahara has announced the appointment of Mr. Bert Smith as Sales Manager to replace Skip Clark who resigned in February. "It is a pleasure to make this announcement as Bert has demonstrated a sincere and forthright sales ability during the past year in his duty as District Manager for the tough Rocky Mountain territory for Yahama," explained Mr. Kasahara.

(Continued on Page 56)

Smith, 35, was born and raised in the Wyoming territory; he visited the Yamaha factory last fall and is thoroughly familiar with all phases of sales and service. He was Yamaha's top District Manager in 1963 and was in retail sales in Oregon before joining the Yamaha organization. "I am very anxious to become personally familiar with all Yamaha dealers," stated Smith, "and I want to emphasize the Yamaha family and team spirit."

In the photograph are, left to right; Ken Carpenter, new District Manager for Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky; Bert Smith behind the new Yamaha 80cc YG-1 Trailmaster; and Milt Loflin, new District Manager for Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana.

BSA CYCLONE COMPETITION 500

Latest corrected specifications of the new BSA Cyclone Competition 500 include high compression pistons with exact compression ratio as determined by the factory to give maximum horsepower (not necessarily the 11-1 pistons as specified in earlier announcements from BSA) and flat competition-type handlebars. Other specifications, including the new full race camshaft, remain unchanged.

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY

I have received an additional bit of intelligence on the American motorcycle industry; an announcement from Mr. Paul Treen, President of the Simplex Mfg. Co. in New Orleans, La., makers of the Simplex Sportsman motorbike, a road impression of which appears in this issue.

A report from Simplex's auditor, Mr. A. K. Cameron, showed that profit for the year 1963 was equal to 9/10th of 1%. This figure reflects a profit of $1.62 per motorbike manufactured, sales of which increased 63% over the preceding year. Simplex is retaining their current price structure for 1964, regardless of the small profit shown, anticipating an increase in volume, as has occurred in January and February. Target is $5.00 per unit profit. Simplex has doubled their advertising budget for the year, and the increase in sales reflects the wisdom of the decision as sales for the period are running ahead of the like period last year.

COSMOPOLITAN DEALER SCHOOL

Parilla dealers from all over the Eastern half of the United States attended the recent Cosmopolitan Mtrs. dealers' school, where factory technician Joe Rottigni instructed in the repair and maintenance of Parillas, Capriolos, Bianchis and the Capri engine. Diplomas weer awarded at a testimonial banquet where finance expert Bob McLaughlin lectured on "Finance in theMotorcycle Business." Mr. Ernest Wise, President of Cosmopolitan Mtrs. Inc., addressed the group concerning the tremendous increase in sales of the products handled by the firm.

In the photograph shown Rottigni looks on as Ernest Wise presents a Cosmopolitan Service School diploma to Parilla dealer and noted racer Eddie Moran.

LOS ANGELES BICYCLE DEALER SHOW

Motorcycles and motorbikes seem to be making inroads into a field that until recently seemed incompatible, that of the bicycle dealer. A short time ago the National Bicycle Dealers Association held a trade show at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles and three significant members of the cycle industry were in attendance. Smiling happily over the show's sales results is Paul Treen, President of Simplex Mfg. Co., standing behind one of his Simplex Senior Sportsman motorbikes. Simplex sales in bicycle shops are quite good, I am told. This type of machine is a natural step for the bicycle rider tired of pedaling.

In the next photograph, left to right, are

CYCLE WORLD'S Advertising Manager, Jerry Ballard, Rupp Mfg. Co.'s Richard Van Cleeve, and Chuck Florian, Advertising Mgr. for Rupp. The Mansfield, Ohio firm manufactures go-karts and the attractive two-wheeler the trio is admiring, the Rupp Continental. The Continental is an oversized mini-bike in one sense, or a miniature motorbike in another, CYCLE WORLD will shortly publish a scooter test of the Continental, one of the best built and designed small machines we have seen in some time.

In the third photograph are three more happy looking gentlemen, as well they should be happy since the Bridgestone lightweight motorcycle is doing so well these days. Left to right are: Mr. Eric Ironen, factory representative of the Bridgestone Tire & Rubber Co., makers of the bike; Mr. K. Satake, also of Bridgestone; and Mr. W. A. Mueller, General Sales Mgr. of the Rockford Scooter Co., distributors of the line in the United States.

PROMOTING BSA DEALER

BSA dealer Carl Donelson of Donelson Motorcycle Shop, St. Louis, Missouri, believes in the power of promotion, as can be seen by the photograph of Mrs. Donelson, seated on a new BSA Royal Star. The display was at a sports show in St. Louis, and Cathy Donelson was on hand to explain the finer points of BSA ownership.