Still Riding

Seeing and reading about the 1927 Indian Hillclimber in the March issue brought back fond memories of my father telling me about him going to Somers, N.Y., to watch them in the 1920s, and I bet he saw this one in action.

I used to travel that area in the late 1940/50s on my 1947 Indian Chief to see if I could find the hill but never did.

Here’s a grainy photo of my mother in the sidecar of my father’s 1927 Indian with me in her lap coming home from the hospital in 1928. The other photo is me on my 1947 Indian Chief in 1949 after coming home from a trip to Canada. Then one of my current rides, a Valkyrie.

Henry Thoben | New Paltz, N.Y

Bultacos!

I read with great pleasure Chilly White’s story about off-roading on two Bultacos.  I am a Bultaco collector and president of SMOG, the Spanish Motorcycle Owners Group.  I have a couple thoughts to share.

First, the condenser problem is common to those machines.  The solution is to use an after-market condenser and to mount it under the gas tank.  I use one made by Kohler. To prove that they work, in 2001, I rode a 1967 Bultaco Metralla from New York to San Francisco with no problems!  An Ossa and a Montesa came too.  We visited the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame museum and took pictures, and the bikes were displayed at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days West as well as at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio in 2002.

My father (age 94), I and my son are all Charter Life Members of the AMA.  My son and I just returned from competing in three AMA Vintage National Dirt Track events in Georgia and Florida.  We ride Bultacos, of course!

In addition, SMOG has four trail rides for Spanish motorcycles, two in Illinois, one in Florida and one in New York.  They’re free to anyone on a Spanish bike (any national forest fees are extra). Anyone who needs info on Bultacos or SMOG can contact me at (518) 279-4292 or [email protected].

Ken McGuire Jr. | Troy, N.Y.

Safety Tech

After reading articles in the AMA magazine concerning current vehicles with their accident avoidance systems and a potentially deadly accident that recently occurred locally, brings a question to mind.

An acquaintance of mine was recently sitting at a traffic light on a six-lane highway while riding his motorcycle. The three lanes going in his direction included one car on his left and one car on his right and no vehicles behind any of them. As he waited for the signal change, he noticed a car approaching from behind in his lane very fast and was sure it was not going to stop. With no escape route and cross traffic moving through the signal he felt his only option was to abandon the bike. Leaving it on its side stand and standing in front of the car next to him, he watched as the fast moving car plowed right into his motorcycle without slowing. It was totaled and surely his chances of survival would have been slim if he stayed on the bike .

I have seen advertisements on TV of new automobiles with accident avoidance systems and simulated accident scenarios. One shows a pedestrian crossing a street with their car heading toward the person and slowing down. My question is, do any of the manufacturers offer a system that can safely stop their vehicle when traveling at highway speeds and a stationary object like a stopped motorcycle is directly in their path?

Joseph Pisano | Stuart, Fla.

AMA Life Member

This issue’s “Do Automated Vehicles Know We Are Here” (page 32) is an update on automated-vehicle technology. The quick answer is motorcyclists can’t pin their hopes on these features. Your friend was smart to keep an eye on his rearview mirror and take evasive action. There is no substitute for vigilance and quick action.

Remembering The Foxes

I’ve been a member of the AMA since 1964 and a District 23 competitor. I was 9 when I first joined and earned the money for my membership. It was also my first year to attend the Pappy Hoel Black Hills Classic, also known as Sturgis. It was a Gypsy Tour, and I remember the excitement of going to the Rally Headquarters at City Hall Building for your recognition patch or pin. Thank you for all the support through the years.

I read the interview with Rick May, senior adviser to the Interior Secretary, in the March issue. He mentioned one of his early bikes, a Fox Mini Bike. I also had a Fox. This was made by none other than the Fred Fox family that did business as LeMans Corp., which is now recognized as Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties and many other motorcycling labels. I had the privilege to work for the Fox family.

The Fox Family has been big supporters of the hobby and sport, but many don’t know where they started. They also produced the FoxTrac Snowmobile.

Randy Riley | Rosemount, Minn.

Palm Trees In Idaho?

I’m not a real believer in man-made global warming, but the picture and caption on page 22 of the March issue does make me think twice. A grove of palm trees identified as being, “…along the Lolo Motorway” does make me wonder just how warm Idaho is getting.

Chuck Williamson |
Mechanicsville, Va.

Thanks, Chuck. We goofed on a couple captions in March. The correct caption for the photo on page 20 is “Riding along a roadway in Sumatra.” The correct caption for the photo on page 22 of that issue is: “Cristi exits the only western-style cafe we’d seen in days.”

Correction

An item in April’s State Watch should have said, if passed, Texas H.B. 748 would repeal laws allowing certain motorcyclists and passengers to ride without helmets.