Round Up

ROUND UP

JOE PARKHURST

THE INTERNATIONAL Six Days Trial, held in Garmisch, Partenkirchen, Germany, looked like an AMA event, there were so many Americans present. I went along to watch, take a few pictures, and drum up things for American motorcycling. Our riders performed outstandingly well, and received attention from everyone, particularly officials of the FIM. Comments generally were how much our riders had improved. I explained it was not so much improvement, only that they were finally seeing more of our best riders. In the past, only a few went over, but Preston Petty, Malcolm Smith, Mike Patrick, Herb and Bill Uhl, John Penton, Dave Ekins, Charlie Hockie, and a lot more, composed an impressive array of American talent.

What impressed European observers most was that the Americans came at their own expense, racing largely for fun. Not at all like the hard, profes sional European riders; and bearing least resemblance to the dour Eastern European riders who seem to know little about having fun on a bike. Most amazing to the Europeans is that the American riders were so very good, rode hard, were superb competitors, won many medals, finished 16 out of 23 entered, and still had time to laugh and kid around a lot. The American spirit is pretty hard to keep down.

While in Europe I met with several people prominent in the Federation Internationale Motocycliste (FIM). They were later to powwow with Bill Berry, Bill Bagnall and Michael Bondy, all officers of the American Motorcycle Association, to discuss an affiliation. We have long sought international recognition, and at the time it appeared to be forthcoming shortly. The FIM is by no means the answer to a maiden’s prayers, nor is it the best organization in the world, but we must have closer relations with them in order to become a part of the world scene.

We object to many aspects of the FIM; it is run by a group of old men who are not motorcyclists and actually have little sympathy for the sport. They are in it for glory and fame. They are, of course, often performing noble service, since they do not get paid. But it would be nice to see the sport’s governing body with a few motorcycle riders in it. I do not like affiliating with an organization that gives equal votes to such strong motorcycle countries as England, while on the other hand gives equal power to communist slave nations like Albania and Mongolia, who do not even have riders, much less motorcycle manufacturers.

CYCLE WORLD has never felt the AMA was perfect, far from it, but it could be the best organization in the world. It certainly represents the best motorcyclists in the world.

As of this writing there is no indication of the future of such splinter groups as the American Cycle Association (ACA), American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM), and the alphabet club, American Association of Motorcycle Road Racers (AAMRR), if the AMA affiliates with the FIM. Theoretically, there would be no further need for the smaller groups that have done so much for motorcycling. MICUS (Motorcycle International Committee of the United States) has been the official representative of the FIM in this country for several years. If the AMA and FIM join hands, MICUS would be out of a job. But what of Wes Cooley, the dynamic and controversial head of MICUS?

The ACA and AFM have virtually kept road racing alive in this country, in the light of the AMA’s failure to instigate more racing of this type. What the ACA has done for motocross, along with the California Motocross Club (now known as the California Motor Sport Club) is immeasurably important. The AMA has done nothing for motocross, leaving the development and regulation of our first genuine international motor sport, manifested by the International American Motocross Series (Inter-Am), to MICUS.

The month ahead will be interesting. If we must have international affiliation, must it be at the sacrifice of such groups as the ACA, CMC and AAMRR? Or can something be worked out? It is, of course, not in CYCLE WORLD’S hands. We are merely observers for the most part. But because CW is so deeply involved with motocross with the InterAm finale at Saddleback Park on December 14, our position becomes rather difficult. Heads of the AMA could virtually sell themselves down the river, though it is unlikely. FIM affiliation would require that the AMA stage only one major race a year run under FIM rules in order to keep the partnership alive.