Round Up

ROUND UP

JOE PARKHURST

FLOYD CLYMER is dead. I never really thought I would make that statement. If anyone in the motorcycle industry was seemingly indestructible, it was good old Floyd. Born in 1895 in Berthoud, Colorado, he died instantly of heart failure while working at his desk in his home in January of 1970.

It is almost unnecessary to describe Floyd's standing in the motorcycle industry, he was so well known. I first met him as a competitor, when he was the publisher of Cycle magazine, CYCLE WORLD'S nearest rival when we first launched the magazine. He was a tough and persuasive opponent.

Clymer was a motorcycle distributor, dealer and racer at various periods in his life. Most recently, since his departure from the motorcycle publishing business, he was the U.S. importer for the Munch Mammoth and was deeply involved in a futile effort to revive the old Indian name. He raced Indians, sold Indians, lived Indians, and tried vainly to save the name with a wild assortment of machinery made in England and Italy, all bearing the name, but not the tradition.

His publishing empire consists of hundreds of books in the automotive and motorcycling fields and several now-defunct magazines. His offices were the training grounds for several well-known journalists, including ex-CW staff member Chuck Clayton, publisher of Cycle News, and CW's beloved Carol Simms, now a member of Petersen Publishing Company's book division. Carol came to CYCLE WORLD direct from Clymer in 1961. I'm not sure Floyd ever forgave me for that.

Floyd had more friends than just about anyone I have ever known. He could remember their names and tie them to scores of related facts, many of which they themselves had forgotten. In the February 3 edition of Cycle News, Chuck Clayton offered an eloquent tribute to the grand old man of motorcycling: ". . . of all his many claims to fame, Floyd Clymer was proudest of the many

famous friends and acquaintances he had formed in his years of business, promotion and publishing. Floyd's close friends would fill a Who's Who, includ ing Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eddie Rick enbacker, Orville Wright and former Chief Justice Earl Warren. If he had any enemies, we never knew of them, for Floyd never said an unkind word about anybody."

An era has indeed ended. Floyd Clymer's death at age 74 surprised and shocked everyone for he was active and agile to the last moment. How often I heard, "Do you think Clymer will ever retire?"

AMERICAN MOTOCROSS TEAM FLIES

Contributions to the American Motocross Team continue to pour in, and we are all thankful. For 1970, Russ Darnell will be the sole member of the team, laying the ground work for a more complete effort in 1971. We are working out the details for a rider qualifying program from which a team will be selected for the 1971 season. We are also deep in the throes of trying to arrange for really suitable machines for them to ride. In 1970, Darnell will ride 250-cc and 405-cc Husqvarnas, obtained by Husky importer Edison Dye.

Russ has been racing in Europe for a full season, finishing quite well and learning a great deal at the same time. He will be living in Ghent, Belgium, in care of Garage Molly DeBruyne, Waaistraat 9, if you'd care to drop by or write and wish him well. Don't send Russ any money, not that he couldn't use it. Send $5 or more to Box 3276, Hollywood,

CA 90028, and you will receive a handsome shoulder patch showing that you care about the American motorcycle racer's image abroad. We won't have the world champion this year, but give us time.

Founders of the AMCT are Dan Gurney, Kim Kimball of Montesa Motors, and myself. Contributors include Dick Smothers, Steve McQueen, Bruce Brown Films, Gurney/Shelby TV, William Shatner, Chuck Clayton, Bud Ekins, CYCLE WORLD (and virtually every publication devoted to motorcycling), Steens, Don Paul, and a lot of other fine people. We are all doing our bit to make motocross racing one of the best supported sports in the world, and Americans some of its leading proponents. We need your help.

A COOL PLAN

Every now and then I become enthralled with some relatively obscure act in the motorcycle biz. Like man, I mean Slegers/Forbes in East Hanover, New Jersey, has a new twist: the firm will pick up and store your motorcycle for a full winter, free of storage and service charges, from within a "reasonable distance." And for a single price they will add a complete "CycleAnalysis" (tuneup that is), in addition to the "Winterizing" deal. Naturally oil and parts, if needed, are extra. One doesn't pay a thing until he picks the bike up in the spring. Though Slegers/Forbes is a dealer for BMW, BSA, Honda and Triumph, the service is offered for any make of motorcycle...except HarleyDavidson. They don't say why. Formerly Hank Siegers Inc., the company calls itself the CycleLogical Dealer.