Road racing meeting in Europe? Guess again

[roadracingoldfart]

Nope,Pretty sure he was 14,Definitely under 15 as he had to get a dispensation to ride at Wanganui as in those days you needed a civil licence to compete there

And the prize goes to....

His hero was fellow Northern Californian Kenny Roberts. At 14, Mamola was sponsored by Yamaha and he wore the yellow-and-black Yamaha racing leathers of his idol. He was even known by the semi-derisive name of "Baby Kenny" in the early stages of his career. Mamola raced flat track and began road racing with coaching from Ron Grant. His first international exposure came with Grant's help. Mamola traveled to race the New Zealand road racing series during the winter and won that country's 125cc championship. In America, he began winning AFM road races and suddenly Mamola had new opportunities open to him.

From the AMA hall of fame website, full bio here:http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/hall...px?RacerID=221

I told you Billy was old , i just didnt know he had a memory !!!

[GD66]

Yes it was classic, but I had to go back and look a few times at that Yamaha in the same pic. AWESOME

That bike still lives in NZ : it was ridden in that series by Jim Allen, later the boss of Dunlop race squad in the USA for years (hence the letter A) ...then it became the Dale Wylie Coppertone bike. Eventually after years of being stored in a garage in Tokoroa, Terry Taylor bought it, and has galloped it from time to time since. The bike in its original form has been combined with bits from the Rodger Freeth Viko Special (which he's aboard in the pic on page 1) to make one smooth-looking Rottweiler...

[budda]

Nope,Pretty sure he was 14,Definitely under 15 as he had to get a dispensation to ride at Wanganui as in those days you needed a civil licence to compete there

Yep, that'd be about right Billy. When the wee shit came up to me at the Officials meeting at Levels that year, he was only zip-high .... and I aint no Brad Selfe !

I remember helping lift Pete Campbell on and off his sidecar too - doubt it would happen today, the hand-wringers would try and put a stop to it, "for his own good" no doubt. And who remembers Croz fanging round the pits at Levels on CFCA's RV90?sidecar doing wheelies and flattening all the rubbishbins ?

Or all the young fellas in lust with the chick painted on the fairing ofsome Aussie? Remember the young lady like it was yesterday, cant recall the riders name though !

[GD66]

Vaughan Coburn. Artwork by Sydney artist Alan Puckett.

[BMWST?]

it wasnt just the international events...10,000 people used to turn up to the castrol 6 hour.The old embankments at Manfeild were packed from end to end.

[budda]

Vaughan Coburn. Artwork by Sydney artist Alan Puckett.

Thats the man ! shame I was too bloody busy helping to run the meeting to get a real good look at it, believe it was brush painted, not airbrushed - no bloody computer-generated sticker shit back then ! Dear God- just realised I've now dated myself in the same era as the Billy !!!!!!!!!!!

[Billy]

Thats the man ! shame I was too bloody busy helping to run the meeting to get a real good look at it, believe it was brush painted, not airbrushed - no bloody computer-generated sticker shit back then ! Dear God- just realised I've now dated myself in the same era as the Billy !!!!!!!!!!!

So its my fault your old now!!!!

[Bender]

That photograph gives you plenty of clues why people no longer support racing in the way they used to.

Packed grandstand. People cheek to jowl. But next door there is a five-star three-level grandstand empty. Out back of that grandstand are decent food and bar facilities and toilets. Punters not allowed to use them.

The punters had to buy horrible, greasy chips and hot dogs at grossly inflated prices. They had to use the filthy, disgusting toilets, and there were bugger all of them. The hill stand had one tiny block way over the other side of the carpark and by the end of the day, it was rancid and the floor was completely soaked in piss because it couldn't cope. Pity anyone who had to take a dump!

And you wonder why people stopped going.

When spectators are given decent facilities, they will return - and by decent, I include easy access to and from the event, not a 10km traffic jam. Full portaloos, poor sight-lines, bad food, poor access to grandstands, etc etc - honestly, people just can't be arsed with it and why should they?

[Skunk]

Ok I've just had an idea that someone in a club could use.
Lets use the Manfeild Nats and the Vic club as examples.
I know the costs of running these events is costly so how about the club/organisers get in touch with some vendors and "invite" them to use the event to make some money. Charge them nothing but give them room to set up their "whatever".

Good idea that we have tried. Apathy was what we got.

One thing i have seen is when a totaly useless unwanted shop opens a new branch the local radio station comes along with a BBQ a bouncy castle and shit loads of adverts to the masses.
Whats it cost , maybee thousands but im sure its the best days trade the usless shop ever does.
Maybe the need to suck on a radio stations cock is all it takes.
Pussy can do the sucking.

$1000 is a starter radio package.

Here's a revolutionary idea: why don't we actually tell people an event is on?

Advertising costs and the money must come from somewhere. Tri Series saved the advertising for Cemetery Circuit as that was the best bang for buck.

That photograph gives you plenty of clues why people no longer support racing in the way they used to.
Packed grandstand. People cheek to jowl. But next door there is a five-star three-level grandstand empty. Out back of that grandstand are decent food and bar facilities and toilets. Punters not allowed to use them.

Manfeild has a contract with Gala Caterers so we can't improve the food there.

The Winter Series isn't a major series by any means... but we have tried to improve things - especially at Nationals.

[GD66]

Riders recognisable too me in an instant in Spydas pic are from NZ Trevor Discombe,Paul McLachlan,Roger Freeth,John Woodley,Paul Goodyear,Internationals Greg Hansford,Murray Sayle both Team Kawasaki factory riders,Pat Hennen and on the list goes all top line international riders.

Also there in the 33 leathers is Wes Cooley (USA), and to Sayle's left is the other TKA teamster Rick Perry (ex-Hamilton). Just past Cooley's attendant, the yellow sleeve belongs to Ray Quincey : the front row from the outside consisted of Jeff Sayle, Quincey, Lucchinelli, Hansford and Hideo Kanaya. Missing from the pic is Warren Willing, who jumped into turn 1 contesting the lead. But Pat Hennen wasn't there : he'd signed for Heron Suzuki, and didn't race in the 77/78 series.

[roadracingoldfart]

$1000 is a starter radio package.

The Winter Series isn't a major series by any means... but we have tried to improve things - especially at Nationals.

Lets look at the reality of that, $1000.00 wont buy a good set of slicks for some F1 bikes so on a ratio of return theres a good basis for further investigation.

Also , i dissagree with you . The VMCC winter Series IS a major series and that cant be argued.
It has the largest entry field, the most rounds, the second longest duration of existance, and its run well.

Paul.

[Skunk]

Lets look at the reality of that, $1000.00 wont buy a good set of slicks for some F1 bikes so on a ratio of return theres a good basis for further investigation.

Also , i dissagree with you . The VMCC winter Series IS a major series and that cant be argued.
It has the largest entry field, the most rounds, the second longest duration of existance, and its run well.

Paul.

The reality is VMCC aren't buying slicks for an F1 bike. We budget to make as little money as safely possible to provide the best entry price possible. We would need to spend closer to $5000 PER ROUND on radio to get the message out there to non motorcyclists. What's needed is a PR person to handle it as we are all converted. Do WE really know what Joe Public wants?

The Winter Series is only big because it's the only winter series in the NI. When I said 'major' I'm talking about it being a Club series, not a National or North Island title series.