Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Girl watchers

I loved your September cover! I’ll make you a deal. Every issue that has Leeann Tweeden on the cover, I will buy. If she’s there at least half the time, I will subscribe.

I remember the Norton Atlas. Almost got one. Didn’t, and have regretted it ever since. Vincent M. D’Addio Signal Hill, California

Your spread on the Norton Girl ads prompted some great memories of my sales department days at Norton-Villiers. While this series of “dolly-bird” ads was not generally well received by seasoned motorcyclists employed within the factory, the “message” conveyed clearly failed to deter legions of uncommitted buyers. NV sold well over 50,000 750/850 Commandos before it went pear-shaped.

Each ad was created by Les Nappin, a former London advertising agency jack-of-all-trades, in whom CEO Dennis Poore had unshakeable faith. Mind you, if Les, who operated from a cobbled mews in St. James (thus adding to the supposed mystique), had been a rider himself he’d have pictured our motorcycle showing its timing side, traditionally a more attractive view; but with just a couple of exceptions, the Nortons were perennially posed “traveling” right to left. A pity, in my view.

Poore’s theory behind the Norton Girl ads-renewed each quarter, and placed only in a particular market’s major publication(s)-was that its position and regularity would convince consumers we were a far more substantial outfit, back at the ranch, than we actually were.

But whether Norton’s advertising was considered corny or horny, it nevertheless appears to have stood the test of time. Michael Jackson Hampshire, England

Thank God for the Norton Girl! She’s better than ever. I thought she’d been permanently replaced by that stinky BMW guy from their new ads. I think he was in front of me at the checkout counter last week. Paul A. Blouin Grand Lake Stream, Maine

It doesn’t get any better than this! First, I spent three days at Mid-Ohio for the AMA Vintage Days where Norton was “Marque of the Year.” The three Ohio Chapters of the International Norton Owners Association (INOA) put together a museum-quality display featuring 25 different models of Nortons throughout the years. Then I traveled down to Buena Vista, Virginia, where the Washington, D.C., chapter of the INOA put on the National Norton Rally. It was five days of great riding, dear friends, good food, terrific organization and Norton fun.

I returned home after 1800 miles on my 1972 Interstate to find a Norton on the cover of Cycle World. Thank you for telling everyone else that Norton motorcycles and riders are very much alive and well.

Suzi Greenway President, INOA

If anything can resurrect Norton motorcycles, it would be the return of the Norton Girls. Great cover. I hope you sell a million copies. Barkley Moore Jasper, Alabama

Ah, but didn’t they make a lovely couple, the beautiful Norton Girl and the handsome Vintage Rebuilds 880 Commando? And thank you ever so much for including those ads for us to once more enjoy.

I would, however, consider the “Swingingest Norton Chick of all Time” to be the long-legged, barefoot blonde in shorts (or was that in the era when they were called hot pants?) wearing a blouse with Union Jack motif while standing tiptoe astride a 1976 Bicentennial Norton. The bike was white, trimmed in red and blue, to commemorate our nation’s 200th year of independence from the Crown. How’s that for irony?

I’ve only seen one such bike, possibly in ’76 or ’77. Sadly, the Norton Girl was not riding it.

Bob Lardinais

Lexington, Ohio

As they used to say on “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” what’s all this, then? Bloody heck, a feature on the legendary Norton Girls? It’s me bloomin’ high school years come back again! (I’ve still got a copy of the “Go far faster” ad in my basement museum.) The whole campaign was shameless, yet so British. Right, lads?

The politically correct tone of today’s world makes it unlikely that such cheeky fodder will be seen again. But I’ll lift a pint of ale for the memory of it all! (And an extra round at the pub for that fetching bit of stuff on your cover...) R. Dean Ice

Painesville, Ohio

Vice squad

The beautiful Norton pictured on the cover of your September issue would have shined even brighter had it been straddled by a woman who actually rode a bike.

There are so many of us women who ride motorcycles, wear leathers, sweat and get grit in our teeth like men, yet we remain women-beautiful, strong and sexy. Bike magazines have exhausted the image of the cheesy boob-job chick. If you must picture a woman to enhance a bike (which your cover girl clearly did not-the Norton was fantastic on its own), then at least show a woman who rides one.

Enter your magazine into the millennium knowing that women are not just poseurs; we also ride bikes, buy bikes and purchase motorcycle magazines.

Kristin Lamberson Williston, Tennessee

A double-fisted thumbs-down to you. My husband and I are both motorcyclists who subscribe to Cycle World for the fast bikes, but I must say I have grown tired of the naked babes. As more and more women are entering

our sport as riders, racers, professionals and enthusiasts, I find it behind the times in a very uncool retrospective fashion for you to choose to continue to feature women as ornaments to the machines as opposed to respected participants in the motorcycle industry.

Like many women and men, I respect and appreciate the female form, but when you choose to represent women predominantly as big-breasted, shiny ornaments rather than motorcyclists with something to say about the

bikes you feature, you insult all of your readers as well as yourselves.

Kim Brittenham Editor Cybercycle Magazine

Naked babes!? Where? (And Dennis Rodman in the buff astride his Fat Boy-no jokes, please-doesn’t count.)

As a woman, I found your September cover very tasteless, as did my boyfriend. We both enjoy cycles and like reading your magazine, but were very surprised that Cycle World would lower its standards just to sell a few more magazines.

What point are you trying to get across anyway? You have a great magazine, and there is no point in including pornography. If people want that sort of entertainment, there are plenty of suppliers. Mary Christopherson Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Does this mean we can’t count on your support for the upcoming Cycle World Swimsuit Special? For the record, covergirl Leeann Tweeden comes from a family heavily involved in drag racing and karting; rides dirtbikes; conducted victory-podium interviews on the Supercross circuit; has a column in Racer X Illustrated; and files video reports for the TV show "Planet X.” A professional model, she also happens to be a beautiful woman, perfect for our homage to the Norton Girls of old. And, yes, we do hope having her on the cover sells a few more magazines-that would be our job.

Potato-Patoto

There are a bunch of us out here in the motorcycle world (well under 50 years old) who recognize that old British crap as just that...crap. Nothing more. Many of your readers only know a Black Shadow as the stuff left on the racetrack after the vintage iron limps in after the cool-down lap.

Jay Ibold Friday Harbor, Washington

I currently own and ride five of the Queen’s Finest. It’s not that modern bikes don’t appeal to me-I always look forward to reading the road tests of the latest models in Cycle World, and plan on buying a new bike in the future for riding two-up, even if it means having to sell my Ariel Square 4. Right now, the leading candidate is a Moto Guzzi VI 1 Sport, with its style, character, performance, handling and European good looks... hey, it’s starting to sound like my British bikes!

There is something palpably exciting about riding a British Twin. I see more British bikes on the road now than five or 10 years ago. They’re being rediscovered, resurrected, restored and often ridden. I’m proud to be a Britbike owner and rider. Long live the Empire! Dan Behrs Solvang, California

Loved the cover feature on the Norton VR880. Still love the Norton Girls, too. I was a BSA freak, but my riding amigo was a Norton (which he referred to as a “Not-Run”) man through and through. I loved the sound British bikes made and their thumpy torque. I really loved the feel of getting it “right” in the garage (on most weekends) and then sprinting out onto the highway. You were really connected to your ride, its each and every sound and shimmy and nuance.

And now, 30 years later...I really do prefer my GL1500 Gold Wing. Really. Dan Nathan

Nashville, North Carolina □