Round Up

ROUND UP

JOE PARKHURST

EVERY NOW AND THEN one of the members of the motorcycle industry does something we feel is worthy of mentioning in CYCLE WORLD, despite the fact that we are not a "trade magazine."

Kawasaki Motors recently conducted a six-month contest among their dealers, dubbed the "Kawasaki Motors Service Training Sweepstakes." The criteria used to determine the winner were scores on tests based upon knowledge of the Kawasaki Service Manual, and an outstanding knowledge and aptitude for mechanics. Dwayne Paul, Kawasaki dealer in Knoxville, Tenn., was the winner and was awarded the top prize of a new Ford van. He and 20 other finalists were flown to Kawasaki headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif., for the final stages of the contest, which consisted of correcting problems on a booby trapped machine. The van is a sexy Super model equipped with mag wheels, wide Firestone tires, a Molly paint job and stereo tape player.

Since it is well known that service is one of the sorest areas the average motorcycle rider must deal with, it pleased me no end to see Kawasaki show such concern. In the long run, promotions like this one will benefit everyday riders who are often at the mercy of dealers. The photograph shows Dwayne receiving the keys to his new van from Kawasaki’s National Service Manager, Al Goslee.

BAJA FUN

Not to pass up a chance to have a little fun, motorcyclists do, on occasion, go to Baja for other reasons than to break records or win races. One group initiated what is known now as the Webco Fishing Tournament, and made their way to Rancho Buena Vista, a fishing resort on the Gulf Coast of the fabulous peninsula south of L.a Paz. Hopefully it will become an annual affair. Participants were dealers Ed Kretz and Armando Magri, motorcycle accessory and component manufacturers Harper Victor, Elmer Gilbert, Ray Morrow, Bob Hampton, and Henry Spooner, banker Scott Fedders, insurance man Joe Amidon, and of course the inimitable Bob Hughes, Tom Heinneger and Neil Holt from Webco. John Steen, founder of Steens Inc., jumped from his buggy after finishing the Mexican 1000, winning 3rd in his class, and joined them.

As 1 am not a fisherman myself, it is difficult to relate to the fishing stories being told. But, winners of the tournament were: Magri, who captured the largest sailfish (a 90 pounder); Morrow, for a rooster fish; Amidon, for the largest dolphin; Harper, for the largest amberjack; and Elmer Gilbert, whose prize was a year’s supply of Webco T-shirts, for being the entertainment committee. Kretz’s prize was a fishing rod and his name was inscribed on a permanent trophy placed on display at Webco.

Unofficial title for the best fish story must have gone to Steen for his tale of almost landing an estimated 450-lb. marlin. According to Steen, the fight lasted five hours! Champion of the meet, at least in terms of total catch, was Bob Hughes—in one day he caught a 243-lb. marlin, one bonito and two dolphins! All participants agreed that fishing from small boats all day in near 90-degree November weather was pretty close to their idea of paradise. Everyone plans to make it for the second annual affair. 1 may even go myself. Contact Tom or Bob at Webco if you're interested in going.