Letters
LETTERS
FRASER OF FIFE
I am writing to say what a great magazine CYCLE WORLD is. This is my first copy, since it is hard to get in Scotland. I have a deal to make with your readers. I have a large pile of motorcycle magazines (English) and would like to swap with American readers for American magazines. I am 24 years of age and have owned seven bikes. The fastest was a T110. I also have owned a Velocette Venom-I know they look old-fashioned, but are real thoroughbreds-and a 350-cc BSA Goldstar—very fast but was really hard to turn the engine over due to the high compression ratio. It was reputed to have been Bob McIntyre’s first racing machine, and was first ridden in 1954.
One bike I would really like to own is the Harley-Davidson Sportster, but it is very expensive over here. I am also interested in vintage bikes. I believe you people call them antiques. Last week, I came across a 1937 Manx Norton on a farm not far from my home, but the owner did not wish to sell.
1 believe Britain still is the center point for motorcycling in Europe. You would not think so by our weather, but there are thousands that turn out to see motorcycle sports, many
of course in their autos. I would like to finish by saying that your magazine is truly excellent. To me, even the ads arc interesting. Thank you tor a sensible publication.
JAMES ERASER 86 Greenloanings Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
WORTHWHILE?
Do you really think that short fiction is a worthwhile inclusion in your magazine? Even for a magazine devoted to such topics, good tiction is hard to find, and when it is constrained to relate to a special field such as motorcycling, the difficulty is greatly compounded. I won’t say that the short stories in your May issue were bad, but they were rather bland. Couldn’t that space be more profitably devoted to a technical section (on what makes motorcycles go), or a pictorial section, or advertisments, or anything, really?
CHARLES S. WILLIAMS JR.
St. Anselm’s College Manchester. N.H.
HUMORIST
I am an avid motorcycle fan. I buy nearly every magazine that has anything whatsoever to do with the subject. 1 have noticed in every magazine ever published on cycles a definite lack of humor. In your past few issues I have noticed that you have overcome the only flaw your magazine ever liad.
The article that inspired this little note is entitled, “Confessions of a Cycle Salesman” (CW, April ’68). I wish some of the other magazines would follow the leader, and add a little humor to the serious art of motorcycling. My compliments to Jerrold Beall on the most excellent article, of a non-serious variety, that I have ever read in any motorcycle magazine.
A. SAILOR
U.S.S. Essex
M-16 AND C-W
I just finished your April edition. It’s really great; the article on Harley-Davidson’s Daytona racers was tops. How about doing a series of road tests on some of the various machines that competed at Daytona this year?
Keep up the good work on all your excellent technical articles. To me your magazine is one of the essentials over here along with my M-16, a picture of Raquel Welch, and mail from home.
PFC HENRY J. REIDELBERGER E’PO San Francisco 96602
Check the June issue. - Ed.
WHERE'S THE AMA
With Daytona now in progress for 1968, I have some very interesting questions about the run there in 1967. But first I would like to ask some questions about the AMA. Is it representing us (the motorcycle fraternity) intelligently and effectively in Washington and in the states where ridiculous legislation is under study by individuals who are not even remotely familiar with the sport?
Of course it is understood that there are going to be more laws governing motorcycles due to the fact that there are millions of machines on America’s highways and roads. But what is the AMA doing about these laws concerning scat belts and crash bars, etc?
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I ask because I have never read about the AMA in the papers, but whenever any laws concerning the restriction of guns are proposed, the National Rifle Association is there in force.
Now, regarding the races at Daytona, in 1967, Ducati was prevented from racing desmo machines, even as the Yamahas were running with RD 56 frames. Between you and me, tlvis seems like a variation from stock. 1 would be very interested for my own peace of mind to know what manufacturer raised such a big stink about Ducati. I also understand that there was some deviation in the front forks of the Ducatis. There again, what about the RD 56 frames? I would be curious to know what the Sprints were using for frames and suspension, even though it was to no avail.
Now for the 1968 seasonwill the AMA allow Colin Seeley Matchlesses? I doubt it. This becomes very interesting when one realizes that the Triumph isn’t even raced in England-they simply can’t compete there. It would seem the AMA would be more aptly described as Patsy Motorcycle Association. It seems rather unfair that the large manufacturers and importers name the game, as it appears they are doing.
ROBERT R. WOLFE Hastings, Neb.
Apparently you are not very well informed regarding AMA, or English, raemg. Triumph factory rider Percy Tait has blown off the English bangers more than once with his Daytona model racer. The Ducati desmodromic heads were not submitted for approval at the previous year’s Competition Committee meeting. Desmo heads are now approved for Class C racing, although they were not used at Daytona this year. The RD frame liad been AMA approved for more than two years before Yamaha decided to use it at Daytona. There were no Seeley Matchlesses at Daytona: the frame has not been submitted
for approval.-Ed.
WO WOH WEEEEEEZO!!
Let me tell you how it happened. It was about 4:30 p.m. Monday, and I’d just finished a chemistry test. I was feeling glum. Before heading for work, I decided to stop off at Jeffries' Honda and Fixit Shop to exchange some plugs. As I strolled through the door, I happened to glance at the magazines that Glenn had in a rack on the counter and WOWOHEEEEEEZO!!!!!! WHAM SHAM KAZZZZZZAMM ! ! ! ! There it was!!!! Right there on the cover of CYCLE WORLD’S May issue. Y EE EE GADS!!! JUST FEAST YOUR BLINKERS ON THAT WILL YOU?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! What lines! What aesthetic BEAUTY!! I WANTED IT, I WANTED IT, I WANTED IT!!!! Oh, GOODNESS GARSH!!! What I wouldn’t have given to get my paws on that, you could lose in a thimble! !
Then my eyes began to explore the page and suddenly I found myself gazing at an extremely familiar piece of machinery. I could have sworn that just to the right of the “thing” I recognized a 1968 Honda CL450 which was identical to mine right down to the glimmer of its red paint job. I quickly snatched the magazine off the counter and hustled outdoors with it to make a comparison. Well DAD GUMMED!! The two were identical!! Because of my extremely curious nature, I hastily found my way to page 51 after only the briefest of stops to take in some more aesthetic beauty on page 35! AND, after zipping through the article with my 16,000,000,000 word per second reading rate, I found that not only is my NEW 450 faster and prettier than my old 450 but, OH GOLLY!!!!! It’s better built.
It was really a great article, guys, thanks a gillion. By the way, I also groove on your magazine’s aesthetic qualities!
WALTER E. STRONG Marysville, Calif.
I LIKE MR. WHITE
While reading The Milwaukee Journal, I came across a story written by a fellow Milwaukeean. This newspaper has a regular series of short articles written about Wisconsin produced autos and motorcycles. Mr. White was referring to such an article when he wrote the Journal this fascinating and well written letter. I got to like Mr. White just from his letter. Maybe CYCLE WORLD readers would enjoy it too.
A Motorcycle in 1911
To The Journal: In perusing The Sunday Journal I ran across Mr. Norton 's article on the Merkel car and also the motorcycle. It was the first time I had seen this name in print since I rode a Merkel motorcycle at the Shenango mine at Chisholm, Minn., in 1911.
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I was just a young punk, hired out from a position as store clerk in Plainfield, Wis., toa position of bookkeeper, timekeeper, draftsman, etc.
The Webb mine No. 2 at ¡libbing, Minn., was my first job. then a transfer to Shenango, where this Merkel cycle was placed at the disposal of the master mechanic, Anthony Tancig, for getting around to the various mines. It was stored in the carpenter shop, where l saw it daily in my rounds as timekeeper. My fingers itched to ride that bike.
I found out that the only thing needed to start the cycle was a brass plug, inserted into the side of the ignition coil, thus completing the primary ignition circuit. I got the proper sized spike and found that it would work as well as the original “key. ” / used to run the cycle on its stand and learned the controls. One day Tancig wanted something taken to another mine. He asked me if I could ride the cycle. Could I! Off I went on my first motor vehicle.
Over the years 1 borrowed this machine for Sunday excursions and it was the most faithful cycle I have ever seen. Eventually this machine, with its round belt drive, was sent to the laboratory, where young Einn boys used it to haul ore samples from various mines to the lab.
My appetite for fast rides was whetted and I then bought me a new Uarley-Davidson. It was the first two speed cycle to hit the range. My girlfriend (now my wife of over 53 years) and I, used to go weekending and on evening rides on my Uarley-Davidson, which was equipped with a dandy rear seat for my passenger.
Those were the days! When we kick about the younger generation driving like the devil, they are no worse than when I was young. But in those days there were only gravel roads. And those dust clouds were something to breathe in on holidays!
So hurrah for the old Merkel! She was a good cycle.
Harry 0. White Amberg, Wis. MICHAEL J. BOHL Patuxent River, Md.
ARIEL SPARES
This is a tip for Ariel owners: Two years ago 1 purchased an Ariel after being told it was not hard to get parts for same. When I started having problems, 1 found there were no dealers around with Ariel parts. 1 then proceeded to write the BSA Co., which said it had sold all the parts for the Ariel fourstrokes to Writers Ltd. When 1 wrote to Writers, this was confirmed. Writers has a comprehensive supply of parts for Ariels to List for many years. By airmail it takes only two weeks to obtain a price from Writers. The company also sells parts for Zenith and JAP motorcycles.
The address is Writers Ltd.. 161-165 Kennington Lane, London SE 1 1, England.
D. WILLIAMSON Niagara balls, Ontario, Canada
