I rediscovered that one can read issues of Cycle World from the 1960s on, having found that, has been very informative, for me.
I did not start reading Motorcycle magazines till the 1970s. Now reading the Cycle World issues from the sixties , show how much they changed , in content and style when the 1970s rolled around.
Just looking at and reading the adds from the sixties is fascinating, makes of motorcycles that by the seventies were fading from history already.
I had known that the Daytona 200 existed since1969, when Harleys Flat Farewell, was spoken off often in motorsport magazine BUT from 1967 and earlier, I knew it existed but payed zero attentin till this week.
Seeing the pictures and reading about the Matchless, BSA, Honda 450 makes me feel like a little kid again, thinking Wow Man, COOL like I did in the early sixties, when the Honda Step Through, became the cool item, then replaced by the SS50.
They ran the 1965 race in the rain, and the picutures of racers, including winner, going around corners dirt-track foot down is fascinating, although from what I read this was normal, in the dry, until about 1967-68 by a lot of , even top line, riders.
It makes sad though that the old school Brit Bikes and Harleys, became also to not ran by the Yamaha juggenaut that showed its fangs already even when the KRTT Harley reigned and Triumph was the burr under its saddle.
When the AMA allowed more than 4 speed transmissions was a heaven sent gift for the 2 cycle bikes.
Reading the Cycle World tech. articles makes one fully realize how much easier computers have made what they spent hundreds or thousands of mid-night hours looking to improve.
If you are into motorcycle racing history, in the USA, (/Though they covered fully the goings on in the FIM and Europe) check out the back issues of Cycle World online. (it is Free)
Tiger 100 becomes Daytona racer.
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Dick Gariepy on his Matchless motorcycle Daytona 200 1966
Edited by Bob Riebe, 20 December 2024 - 16:47.
