Motorcycle Show
MOTORCYCLE SHOW
JOE PARKHURST
3RD ANNUAL CYCLE WORLD
BY FAR THE LARGEST MOTORCYCLE SHOW in the United States (and fast becoming one of the largest in the world) opened its doors to more than 95,000 people in the handsome Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, and closed four days later, a resounding success. More than 500 motorcycles were on display, both in the commercial layouts of the nation's distributor/importers, and in the. "private" entry divisions of the show.
Private exhibits divided into Custom, Antique, Competition and Street Custom divisions, were featured separately. Stars of the show were Premier Motors’ display of the fabulous Moto-Guzzi V-8, which earned a position among the world’s motorcycles as one of the most unusual; Yamaha’s Lunar Probe 250 streamliner; Harley-Davidson’s 250 record-holding, 176 mph Aermacchi streamliner; Gary Richards’ CYCLE WoRLD-sponsored Triumph streamliner, destined to make an attempt on the world’s speed record at Bonneville this year; two of the newest bikes in the growing Rickman Metisse contingent, one Triumph powered, the other a gleaming red jewel (the Publisher leaped at the chance to add to his collection); Team Cycle World’s wildly painted first Yamaha TD-1B; several entries from the International Six Days Trial; scrambles, desert, TT and road racers from every phase of American racing; and a galaxy of street and show customs boasting every color in the rainbow.
Visitors from abroad included the distinguished Dr. Ing. Michele Bianchi, commercial director of Moto-Guzzi from Italy, Sr. Modesto Sole, my friend from Montesa in Barcelona, Mr. Chris Butler of Butler Products in England, with an array of Butler fairings displayed by Quality Products, Frank Hall from Michenall Brothers, in England, makers of Avon fairings, fiberglass tanks and fenders (as
fitted to Metisse), and a complete Trade Mission from England that included Mr. Hall and Mr. Ken Craven, CYCLE WORLD distributor and maker of the famous Craven touring panniers imported by the Hank Siegers Co. Other members of the Trade Mission were Mr. B. J. Goodman, general manager of Veloce Ltd., builders of Velocette motorcycles, Mr. R. J. Battersby, director of Amal, Ltd., and several other prominent makers of motorcycles, bicycles, components and accessories. The group was on a 12,000 mile trade-tour with the CYCLE WORLD show a major stop on their tour.
Yamaha International again ended their “Safety A-Go-Go” at the Sports Arena, where almost 2,000 Yamaha riding enthusiasts arrived by motorcade from their headquarters, 20-odd miles away.
Movie personalities Pat Boone, Yvette Mimieux and TV’s Lori Saunders appeared at the opening ceremonies, where a motor-
cvcle beauty contest and rock and roll show were also featured. A circus-like atmosphere prevailed as civic dignitaries led the motorcycle cavalcade in open cars, festooned with balloons. Yamaha continues to promote one of the most exciting and successful occasions on the west coast, with an overtone of safety that is well noticed and appreciated by the nonmotorcycling public.
Cycle News, successor to Motorcycle Journal as the west coast’s weekly motorcycle newspaper, devoted most of its issue to the show. Los Angeles’ two daily newspapers, the Herald Examiner and the Times, both contained large special sections promoting the show, and several local television stations covered the opening.
Yes indeed, motorcycling as epitomized by the CYCLE WORLD show, is fast becoming a classic, and a must on the motorcycle enthusiast’s calendar. Ü
