Letters
LETTERS
IS BAILEY THE BEST?
After reading John Shedd's article in September CW, "America's Ironman of Motorcross," we anxiously awaited the appearance of Gary Bailey at the Pepperell Inter-Am event.
Having now measured Mr. Bailey against the East Coast riders, we are wondering if Shedd's comment that Bailey "is probably the best motocross rider in America" was a misprint. He really meant "probably the tallest."
T.O. BYRNE G.E. WRIGHT Stowe, Vt.
Best or not, Bailey was almost crip pled by the boot nails in his feet. After one race, are you also ready to jump to the conclusion that Barry Higgins is faster than world champions A berg and Robe rt?-Ed.
LOVINGLY BLUNT
Just a short note to say I can dig the sarcastic, ironic, truthfully practical answers appearing in the “Letters” section of CYCLE WORLD. These answers are signed “Ed.,” but I believe they are a community project, and the personality reflected in these answers represents the charm of your magazine. Three cheers and a round of beers to the man/men responsible for these subtle and blunt examples of real motorcycleloving personality.
DAVID JANECEK Riverside, Calif.
We, us, ourselves, thank you and await anxiously that round of beers. —Ed.
AW, COME ON!
Thank you for the informative road test of the Norton Manx which appeared in the September issue of CYCLE WORLD.
DAVID A. PYNER Boston, Mass.
LET'S BE RATIONAL
Reading of Bill Ivy’s death because of a helmet failure in a crash prompts me to write in favor of head protection for riders.
On Easter Sunday of this year, I was easing into a small country town at a non-racing 30 mph when a large dog darted from alongside the road and ran directly under the front wheel of my X-6. The impact snapped the bike’s fork crown and left one dead dog, one badly
(Continued on page 14)
Continued from page 12
battered motorcycle, and one bruised but alive rider strewn along the pavement. My protective clothing was quite torn, but I was not. The Bell 500 TX helmet which I wore received deep abrasions over my left temple as I slid along the asphalt. In my opinion, that now ruined helmet saved my life.
If motorcyclists were to voluntarily adopt the proven safe practice of wearing helmets and devote their fighting efforts to blocking more absurd legislation, would they not find more friends in the general public? Wouldn’t a general educational campaign about motorcycles do more for the sport than rantings about the constitutional right to mash one’s head? We’re fighting for our very existence. Isn’t it time to stop the polemics and become rational promoters of a great sport?
FLOYD E. BARWIG, JR.
Scotia, N.Y.
ROAD RASH
About Mrs. Millard’s letter in favor of helmets and other protective riding wear (CW, June ’69). Let me account, briefly, an experience and let your readers come to their own conclusions.
Summers in Tucson sometimes nudge 115 F, so when it became law not to ride without a helmet and glasses, lots of riders felt an imposition and big inconvenience. Some took to World War II pots and tiny little glasses. My wife and I snapped bubble shields onto our sky diving helmets. Can you imagine being inside a bubble shield helmet in August in Arizona?
Anyway, the story goes on. I bought a Norton 750 Commando (nice). The night was to be cool, so my wife and I brought along our black motorcycle jackets, you know, the ones with all the snaps and zippers that aggravate righteous old ladies out of Tucson. Returning home on a lonely mountain road around midnight, a doe ran right in front of us. The next thing you know, we are examining the pavement real close. We both got a good sanding. My bubble shield had a hole in it you could waggle your thumb through. My helmet was almost worn through, and there are fair-sized holes in our jacket sleeves. What do you think we’d have looked like without that stuff on? Or, wearing shorts and sandals?
Then what happened? I collected Norton parts from out of the desert and we rode to the emergency ward by the light of the moon. (When they made the Norton, they made a motorcycle).
BOB SAUER Tucson, Ariz.
(Continued on page 18)
Continued from page 14
GOOD SHOW ON TV
I watched “Then Came Bronson” on TV last night, and realized that this series is the first motorcycle story that has represented riders and their machines in a favorable light. Through this medium we can all hope that the sport will once again become “respectable” in the distorted vision of the sadly propagandized American public.
Actor Keenan Wynn reflected the inner yearnings of all us “old-timers” for the open road and the feelings of personal freedom that can be afforded through motorcycling. (My first bike was an Indian four-cylinder, purchased for $50 in 1946.) His demonstration of the motorcycle mystique was as true a performance as I’ve ever seen. Of course, he was really playing himself; for years, Mr. Wynn has reflected all that is good in the sport.
When Mr. Wynn said, “Every rider is an adventurer,” he said it all.
PAUL D. DONOVAN Waynesboro, Va.
FALSE FACTS
The following is an excerpt from an article published in Product Engineering magazine. I responded to it, and in all fairness, I think your readers should be exposed to the article so they may take action to defend themselves from the false facts and misleading figures being presented to the unsuspecting public.
“The motorcycle is more dangerous than lung cancer. At least, that is one conclusion that can be reached from figures cited by Prof. John O’Mara of the University of Iowa. Last year, he says, 55,500 persons died in motorcycle accidents. The current death rate for lung cancer-from all causes-is about 40,000 per year... ”
OTTO R. JANS Systems Engineer, Compudata Ridgewood, N.J.
We’re glad you took the trouble to write the offending publication as well as informing CYCLE WORLD. The true number of deaths from motorcycles last year was only 1353, while the 55,500 figure applies to all motor vehicle deaths. A shocking error. We sometimes wonder whether some of our readers who write in about safety and legislation are not shirking their primary duty-to make themselves heard by writing their legislators, and publications in which information slanderous to the sport of motorcycling appears.— Ed.
(Continued on page 24)
Continued from page 18
IT CAN BE DONE!
The impossible has been accomplished. Motorcycle riders in the state of Illinois, without the help of any motorcycle manufacturer, distributor or magazine, have brought about repeal of the Illinois mandatory helmet law. Repeal was accomplished in the General Assembly where the helmet law originated. It was made possible through the time and effort of thousands of motorcycle riders throughout the state, organized and led by eight men who had never had any previous experience with this kind of endeavor to guide them.
There is no question—we know absolutely—similar things can be accomplished anywhere.
REED N. EHRLICH Illinois State Motorcycle Assn.
Chicago, 111.
SCOOTERMANIA
We refer to CYCLE WORLD June ’69, and to the story written by Evan Jones. It is an excellent survey of the trend in the scooter market in the past and today. We would like only to relate another example of a long Lambretta raid (tour), such as the one from Peru to the United States by a young couple, cited by the author.
Mr. George Albuquerque and his wife left New Delhi (India) in April riding a Lambretta scooter 125 LI with sidecar, arrived in Milano early in June and now they are on the way to London through Austria, Germany and Holland.
INNOCENTI Milan, Italy
LET’S ASK WHY
The motorcycle-hating, four-wheel public is trying, through legislators, to run us off the highways with bothersome, unjust laws. We must fight.
But we should also reflect on why they hate us, to better handle their offensive.
If you ride a loud motorcycle, you are hated because the noise of your bike
(Continued on page 26)
Continued from page 24
bothers people (the same way helmet laws bother us). If you ride a quiet (nowadays one may almost read “stock mufflered”) bike, the public hates you because they see your machine and expect it to bother them.
There are, of course, secondary reasons. One man hated me because I pay less road tax than he. A woman once said, “They (cyclists) think they own the road.” Another said (of twostrokes), “Are they the ones that send that awful stuff out their exhaust pipes?” But if all, or almost all, motorcycles were as quiet as the current stock Harley, BSAs, BMWs, the attitude of the non-cycling public would be different.
With best regards to a terrific editor (and thanks answering my letter last spring).
BRUCE HENRY Syracuse, N.Y.
STOLEN BIKE
My motorcycle was stolen on September 30, 1969. It is an old bike which I was restoring, and I am sentimentally attached to it. I would be very grateful for any information regarding it that CW readers might be able to supply. It is a 1952 Matchless 500-cc Twin, engine 52G911169, Oregon license 7139, with white fenders and red trim. The seat, mufflers, headlight mount, and front axle and brake are easily identifiable as non-standard items.
THOMAS W. FINDLEY 4021 SE Ramona Portland, OR 97202
HIGHEST TRADITIONS
Congratulations on an overall superb publication. I have been an avid reader of CYCLE WORLD for a number of years, and can remember as a young fellow when Floyd Clymer’s Cycle with cardboard pages and lots of blue color was all that was available in my part of the country. CW has always been, in my opinion, by far the finest publication of its type in existence.
Although your advertisements are in good taste and your road tests and service tips are comprehensive and valuable to any owner or prospective owner, that is not the true value of your magazine. The editorial views expressed in CW are in keeping with the highest traditions of motorcycling and show that you obviously are motivated by the interests of cycle lovers everywhere.
Every month when I pick up a new issue, I turn to “The Scene” as automatically as I change gears or as I take a bike off the center stand before I try to ride it.
RONALD L. MEREDITH @ Heidelberg, Germany
