Letters
LETTERS
PLYMOUTH ROCKS THE BOAT
I he enclosed clipping appeared in the Sacramento Bee, Monday, July 26, 1965:
“PLYMOUTH ADOPTS BAN AIMED AT MOTORCYCLISTS "An ordinance apparently aimed at control of Hells Angels type of motorcycle clubs has been adopted by the Plymouth (Calif.) city council. It stipulates three or more motorcycles being operated simultaneously, whether in close proximity or not, whose operators are member of any informal or formal group or club, constitutes a public nuisance.
"Persons found guilty of the misdemeanor can be fined up to $250 or sentenced to 10 days in county jail or both. The ordinance defines motorcycle as any two or three wheel, self propelled or gasoline, diesel or battery propelled vehicle. The ordinance became law at its passage.”
Now generally I'm sort of a complacent guy, inclined to let things ride and accept the status quo without getting all riled up, hut this is too much! In your May ’65 edition you hinted at, or I might say warned that, the legislator was out to get us. But that was way back in Massachusetts where I used to live a few years ago.
I left because the place was so darned old fashioned and behind the times. Well I’ll be darned if the blue noses haven’t gotten a hold out here in California too. I’m teed off enough to write this letter in hopes something can be done before it’s too late. I’ve never written a letter to any publication before so I must be hot to go at it this way.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a member of no motorcycle club, especially the Hells Angels. As far as I’m concerned they represent organized crime in one of its worst efforts. Unfortunately, they ride bikes and consequently we all get tarred with the same brush, merely because we enjoy the fine sport of motorcycling.
I sincerely feel any community has the light, yes the obligation, to protect itself against the insane, immoral, disgusting and criminal activities of these unwashed, ignorant slobs - but not the way Plymouth, California is going about it. The city fathers in this peaceful little town in one of the most beautiful counties of the state, are condemning all bike riders with their narrow minded ordinance.
I fully realize their intent is to have on the books a law which they can use to nail the malefactors, not every group of three or more touring riders that happens to pass through that town on scenic State Route 49, but surely they must have already on the books a law or ordinance which gives them the right to nail some jerk beating on an ash can in the middle of the street at night as being either a public nuisance or disturbing the peace. Why is it necessary to single out as a special case the public nuisance mounted on two wheels? How about the one mounted on four legs? or a Pogo stick?
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I take a great pleasure in riding my Honda Dream 305. My friends are mounted on more Hondas — Hawks, Dreams, 150s — and a BMW thrown in for good measure.
We all wear helmets, have short hair, bathe, wear clean clothing and range in age from 21 to 40, so you see we really don't represent the hoodlum element. Yet Plymouth sees us as dangerous, merely because we enjoy motorcycling. According to their ordinance, if two nitwits were tearing up one part of town and I innocently rode into the other end of town they could toss all of us into the pokey. Of course the worst part ot the punishment here would probably be the incarceration in the same cell with the nitwits. I'm sure all bike riders are wandering around with $250 in their pockets to take care of miscellaneous and sundry fines to bolster the lagging economies of our struggling towns.
It also seems to me that their ordinance is denying the right of the public way to us and I'm wondering if that is constitutional. It sure doesn't seem so to me but I’m not a student of constitutional law even though I took some in college.
Of course all bike riders could stay the heck out of Plymouth and their ordinance would die on the vinè, along with the poor motorcyclists who may happen to live in the town, but this isn't the point. The big fear I see is that this ridiculous attitude may spread to the next town, and the next, and the next thing you know' it’s state wide — and here in the biggest motorcycling state in the union! After all, you show'ed us in the May issue how things were going way back in Massachusetts. (They’ve eot a Plymouth there too!) Ever hear the ph rase “It can’t happen here?” How much longer will it be before you can’t take your bike out of the yard without being branded as a public nuisance or a criminal? (I’ll just bet if the truth were known, none of the city fathers of Plymouth ride bikes.)
What I'm hoping is that maybe you can bring this sort of legislation out in the open, to stir up a few thousand bike riders who will contact their elected representatives. Something must be done, and soon, as the handwriting is surely on the wall. You’ve got a fine publication with a large circulation and you steadily speak with the voice of authority and leadership in the American motorcycle world. You're rapidly becoming the “word” as concerns bikes. Now, fire up all burners and lead the way out of the morass of public apathy and ignorance toward which we’re headed on two wheels or we'll all find ourselves going back to the buggy days. We, the decent people of motorcycling, need help, leadership. and impetus!
ROBERT A. FISHER
No. Highlands, Calif.
RULES OE THE ROAD
I am starting a Driver Education program for the motorcyclists in Burlington, Iowa with the help and sponsorship of various service groups, church -groups, civic groups, Junior Chamber of Commerce, Social Fraternities, the Mayor and Chief of Police. The young people or our town have taken to the wonderful sport of motorcycling in the typically American wholehearted way. However, it’s rather obvious that in their enthusiasm they have neglected to realize just what they can and cannot expect from their machines and their reflexes. They have had, up until now, nobody to teach them how to ride defensively, safely, courteously and how to present a well mannered, well dressed image. I know and love the sport of motorcycling and it was this knowledge that prompted me to start the school. I want to, at all costs, avoid any serious breach of conduct on the part of the riders and the townspeople through lack of understanding.
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Neither myself nor my teachers receive one penny in salary for this work. We feel that if we, through our instruction, save just one person’s life and preserve the sport of cycling, we have been rewarded beyond measure. I have fought uninformed legislation against riders on the streets for years and I’ve finally got a chance to help the riders themselves. Any assistance would be welcomed; perhaps our “start” will spread all over the nation through the help of your wonderful publication. I will be only too glad to supply interested civic groups with our course outlined when it is completed, if they will inclose the postage.
DANIEL R. MACDONALD
Burlington, Iowa
FROM A FAMOUS STABLE
After reading the letter by Aubrey Soper in your June issue I though you might he interested in my bike. The Scott is a 596cc water cooled, two-stroke twin, now being made by Mat Holder in Birmingham. Manufacturer claims 30 bhp at 5000 rpm. Transmission is through a three-speed box,
overall ratios are 8.5:1, 5.25:1 and 4:1, giving a top speed of 95 mph. It has dual seven-inch brakes on the front and eightinch on the rear.
Oiling is by Pilgrim pump on the right hand crankcase door, oil being circulated through the crankcase seals and main bearings into the crankcase. As Mr. Soper can see, no water pump or fan is required.
BRIAN CROSS Yorkshire, England
A CALL FOR UNITY
A National Motor Cycle Association is needed. One that would cover all the aspects of the sport, and one that would solve many of the problems now facing it.
An Association composed of manufacturers, dealers, and enthusiasts. One that would pull us all together on a national scale, and offer benefits which couldn’t be had otherwise.
An Association composed of duly elected officers, by the members with elections held each year. This Association should be non profit, supported by the membership. With an organization such as this it can easily be seen what could be accomplished. It would give us the power to look into unfair legislative matters, and the power to do something about them. It would give us the programs that we need to educate the people of this country on the safe and efficient handling of motorcycles, and therefore help to build the organization and the sport.
There are many things we could do, but most important it would give each member an equal voice in all matters.
I am sure there are many comments to be made, and I would like to hear them. I am interested in starting this organization, and would like to hear from all interested parties.
STANLEY P. SIRKIS 3611 Chase Terrace Beltsville, Maryland
OVERLY SUSPICIOUS
I very much enjoy your fine magazine, and I consider it to be virtually in a class by itself as far as motorcycle magazines are concerned. I have a couple of friendly criticisms of your road tests that I would like to put forward, however.
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T would like to suggest that you avoid repeating road rests of the same machine until the great majority of reasonably common and interesting machines have been tested at least once. As a case in point, I cite the Norton and Ducati tests in the August issue. I'm sure that the Berliner and ZDS folks are nice people to do business with and all that, but I really feel that the Norton 750 and the Ducati 250 have been pretty well covered already. In your reply to a frustrated Hawg lover who wanted to know why you didn’t run a test on the Electra-Glide, you said that you didn’t think the electric starter was enough of a change from the DuoGlide you had already tested. In the latest Atlas test, however, I was unable to find any difference from the previous (road) Atlas except a change in the color of the paint (and a disappointing drop in the recorded performance)!
A test on any one of the following machines would have been more interesting to me, at least, than Ducati and Norton reruns:
BSA Thunderbolt or 500cc road machine
BMW R-60, R-50, or R-50S (or even a sidecar outfit!)
Triumph Bonneville (road, not TT special) or Tiger Cub (why a machine as popular as the Tiger Cub hasn't been tested is beyond me).
Harley Sprint 250cc (think of the poor H-D lovers)
Maico (road or new 360cc scrambler)
Zundapp 250cc (not too many of these around, but I sure see more of them than Parillas, Güeras, and the like).
And if it’s got to be a Berliner machine, how about a test on the Electra 400 instead of another blooming Atlas next time?
ED SENIOR Palo Alto, Calif.
The Ducati Mk III is a new machine and was available for testing; some of the machines you list are not available. The Norton Atlas was last tested in March 1963 (more than two years ago), and our readership has more than doubled during the interval. It seemed logical to us that fifty thousand new readers would like to read about this popular heavyweight. Five of the machines you list are scheduled. —Ed.
WE LIKE THIS TYPE
No gripes, beefs, or complaints, just writing in to give you a reprieve from the narrow minded clods and misplaced comma types that buy your magazine to hunt for errors.
Your mag is the greatest, I just received the latest issue and it’s up to your usual high standards. Though I am mostly interested in dirt riding your road racing and tech, articles are very interesting. Kudos on your Intelligent Motorcycling series.
JIM MATHEWS Canoga Park, Calif.
Thank you, kind sir. —Ed.
HE SAW THE LIGHT
What is prompting this letter is my confusion and discomfort over the U.S.’s inability to become part of the International racing scene. Why are Manx Nortons only to be seen among “maverick” organizations? What, in short, is this AMAUSMCFIMAAMRRAFM bit all about, anyway?
Now, I’ve come up with some of my own ideas. They’ve come out of my own noodle because I don’t have occasion to talk to other cyclists much, I ride alone, and I don’t belong to any clubs. “All I know is what I read in the papers.” But I did join the AMA a few months ago, and I have been shocked by the attitude of this organization. Its publication is hopelessly canted toward a certain make of motorcycle and its governing body seems deliberately to be attempting to encourage isolation from the hot European activities that would make their pet look so bad. I am resigning from the AMA now, and am turning in a far-from-expired card because I just plain don’t like their attitude and don’t want to be a part of it.
Now, I might be all wrong — if not about the AMA's refractoriness, at least about their motives. Although after this latest thing, the last straw, their attitude toward the AAMRR business, I doubt it. At any rate, what I would like from you is a nice, long, objective, detailed article in CYCLE WORLD about this situation. Who are the bad guys and who are the good guys?And what can we non-competitive riders who want a U.S. Grand Prix do about it by way of joining worthy org’anizations and otherwise making ourselves heard in support of those few who are bucking the organizational resistance to international racing? I wanna see sidecars and MVs and Russians and even lady drivers before I die! Here in the USA!
PETER A. BETZ
Albuquerque, New Mexico All these things would be possible if more people felt as you do. — Ed.
HELP! INDIANS!
I recently obtained the following described motorcycle: 1946 Indian, motor
#CDH 4539. I wish to obtain any parts list, rider’s book or any other source of information on this machine. I plan on a complete restoration, and will appreciate any help you can provide.
STAN PHILLIPS Baker, Idaho 83461
We suggest you contact the following: Sam Pierce, Pierce Motor Center, 933 S. San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel, Calif.; Indian 4 Club, c/o Wickham, 751 Dayton Ave., Findlay, Ohio; or Antique Motorcycle Club, c/o Earl Chalfont, Secretary, Maple Lane Drive, Cooperstown, Pa.—Ed.
EAGER
On October 2, 1965. I will be relieved from active duty by the Navy and will find myself among the unemployed. Previous to joining the service I lived in the San Francisco area for a couple of years. As I remember, jobs pertaining to motorcycles were especially scarce and offered little oportunity for advancement.
I have been playing with motorcycles since I was 13 years old and have always thought that I would make my living from them some day. Í have owned a number of machines in the past and at present have a Black Shadow and a Bultaco 200cc Scrambler.
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T am mechanically inclined and do a fair job of keeping my bikes going, however I am not qualified to work on all makes that customers might bring into a shop, and have received no formal training as such. Where does one begin? Is there a firm that would hire unskilled labor with the chance of going to a factory school and making a decent living?
I am 23 years old and unmarried ( with no immediate plans to do so). I can well imagine that there are many people who are in the same boat as I. but if there is a reasonable chance to make a living out there, I would like to have a go at it.
PAUL B. FURLONG JR. U.S.S. Cutlass CSS-4781 c/o F.P.O. New York, N.Y. Although we cannot help you directly, possibly some of our readers can—Ed.
HOMEWARD ROUND
After eighteen months on Okinawa, I am finally going back to the land of the Big PX, Detroit monsters, stairs with steps over 5" in height, no kanji signs, fourlane freeways, potatoes instead of rice, catfish instead of fried octopus, no chukasoba, no sukiyaki, no sooshi, and no one saying, "Do you want lam flied lice?,” or "Rots of ruck.”
Please do not get me wrong, I have enjoyed my stay on Okinawa which has been very educational and interesting. I had no idea that 20,000 bikes of all sizes could be concentrated in an area of approximately 25 square miles (Naha City and surrounding area), with as few accidents as they do have daily. Seeing these jokers wheeling around on 50cc machines with boxes stacked on the rear of the seat three or four feet high is something that would send shivers down any stateside rider’s back!
Naha also has its own bunch of "Brandos;” a gang of clowns that have numbers from one to about fifteen on each bike respectively. They ride on the streets and highways in this order and, I have yet to observe a higher numbered bike in front of a lower numbered one. How they arrive at this "rating,” 1 do not know.
Most of the military personnel that operate machines here seem to ride sensibly, carefully, ever alert, and appear to want to make a favorable impression on all non-riders. Evidently, the Ryukyuans that ride bikes do not wish to follow their example and desire to be a Far-East branch of the "Hell’s Angels” Club. I'm sure that Mr. Honda did not have this in mind when he decided to make it possible for almost anyone to buy and operate a bike of his own!
Without bending your ear further, I will close for now. Keep publishing the best mag available as I think that each issue is better than the previous one.
BENNIE C. BURT Naha City, Okinawa •
