The Daily Herald from Arlington Heights, Illinois • Page 33

Money machines in label has new meaning for motorcycle lovers By MIKE KLEIN The huge success enjoyed by American motorcycle tourism, built upon millions of Japanese dollars, began about 15 years ago when Honda decided it had all the nicest people. Hats off to the English and Italians, and the old Indian bike lovers, but face it, the Japanese really got these wheels rolling beneath American youth. Since the early 1960s, all Honda has had is a majority of the market while others, like Kawasaki, promise to keep your good times rolling. Yamaha makes the simple, unassuming pledge that someday, you'll own one. More than six million Americans own motorcycles.

At least that many more have entertained romance with a bike. Why, we're even coaxed into thinking that nobody should drive a car, ride the train or take a bus to work. Ride a motor-sickle! Oddly, those commercials make no mention of the months called winter. Cycling looks like a gem business investment. Orders flow.

Is there a kid in the country who doesn't want a motorcycle? So, then isn't it one helluva note that motorcycling have BSA to kick around anymore? You might remember the BS.A 650. A rugged bike. Tough, fast, male. But there is no more BSA. The company has folded and with it, one of traditional names is laid to rest in a swoon of debits and credits.

The motorcycle industry, accelerating just one year ago with all kinds of signs for more growth, is a sick bird today. It has fallen prey to labor strikes, part shortages, import taxes and currency Dealers have brochures. They don't have bikes, especially the big cruisers, regardless of brand. the ones got price tags w'hich baggie the mind and sear the wallet. The dealers moan: want bikes now because they know in a month, even if they are available, probably cost more.

not just motorcycles, says Burt -Myers, manager of Tri-Star Cycles, a Kawasaki dealership, in Crystal Lake. headline maker the past two seasons has been its 903cc double overhead cam four-stroke. Kawasaki Z-1 900 is the fastest street legal production motorcycle in the world, with a top speed about twice the limit you should ever the manufacturer claims. But you get one at Tri-Star during June. That's because Kawasaki the Z-1 900 to Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and parts oi Iowa.

Orders were returned: of Japanese have America rolling on high-priced wheels. Myers hopes to have the big grabber in July. availability of bikes is real echoes John Lemme, eight-year owner of Cycle Ranch on Rand Road in Palatine. He deals in Yamaha and the British made Triumph. models are the ones we need the big said Lemme.

bikes we seem to get in fairly good Lemme's showroom told the story. He had one each of 500, 350 and 200cc bikes. He had no 650s or 750s and just a couple Triumphs. But on the front lawn, there were a host of Yamaha 125cc trail bikes. 750s are just starting to come through Lemme said.

probably get more than two or How many could he sell? the price going (about not too Many Fire calls despite perfect World Football start by MIKE KLEIN Chicago Fire owner Tom Origer had better become accustomed to huge telephone bills because Bill Byrne, one of his highest ranking employees, has a penchant for long distance calls. Bjrne is fella in charge of finding healthy, aggressive bodies for head coach Jim Spa vital. And he promises that roster changes are coming, despite 1-0 record in the World Football League WFL Ontral Division. we go along, we see a way to better this team, we'll do Byrne stated Monday between phone calls. team wins consistently unless they try to better themselves.

Even if we were 20-0, still look. You always After last Soldier Field success, a 17-0 win over tired, old and slow Houston, you can bet those changes will alter offensive line and backfield. Some decisions should be forthcoming after Chicago hosts the unbeaten Jacksonville Sharks at 8:05 p.m. tonight on the lakefront. Jacksonville nipped New York last week in the first nation ally televised game.

'Hie Fire needs offensive linemen, preferably guys been around a while. And the quicker Byrne can find some, the easier life will be for Spavital. down to five regulars and one said tackle Steve the only veteran upfront of quarterback Virg Carter. need somebody that knows how to play football. Just picking up any player been released the answer.

It could take the guy two or three weeks to learn our system. veteran, experienced offensive lineman can pick it up in a day or two, at least well enough to play a The Fire line is depleted to injuries, the old bugaboo of all football teams. Dave Malheiro, a 250-pound offensive guard from Miami of Ohio, had been taxied after final cuts as insurance. Well, that insurance was cancelled this week. Malheiro has bad knee ligaments and was scheduled for surgery.

Starting guard Dave Bradley badly twisted an ankle against Houston and probably suit if Malheiro were Steve Wright Chuck Kognt healthy. As it is, probably be suited tonight. Byrne has gone two routes for help. On recommendation, bringing in 35-year old Don Talbert, mostly recently with the Dallas Cowboys. the older brother of Washington Redskin defensive tackle Diron Talbert.

was expected in Chicago on Tuesday and will view game from the press box alongside Byrne. The other newcomer, whom Byrne sought out on a five-day trial basis, is recent University of Illinois graduate John Levanti. Spavital already has two Illini grads on the club defensive end Mick Heinrich and back-up linebacker Chuck Kogut. Levanti took a brief fling with Calgary in the Canadian Football League. When they tried trading him to Winnipeg, Spa- old club, Levanti quit and came home.

just for me. I get used to Canadian Levanti said. was a good experience but glad Levanti was pondering a tryout offer from the National Football League Cincinnati Bengals when Byrne tracked him dowTi Monday morning. begin workouts on Thursday. Certainly, Byrne will look further.

But if Bradley gets healthy and Talbert or Levanti works out, that could be enough at least until the NFL camps begin their cuts. biggest weakness against Houston was a ground game that ambled forward just 71 yards in 27 tries. But it a true test either. Cyril Finder, whom Spavital calls the main man, got himself ejected for fighting during the first quarter. Youngster Mark Kellar, highly touted from Northern Illinois and NCAA leading ground gainer last year, had a rude pro start with just 24 yards.

replacement was Clayton Heath, also a rookie, who gained 14 yards in 10 tries. no speed merchant. Finder can be, when healthy. He was a star sprinter at Illinois. The Fire need that combination.

But over 20 games, need depth and you can bet others will get a chance. Ck)ncern is valid because 41 years NFL experience in the Houston defensive line turned out to be just so much old age. They withered. Those hazards aside, there are plenty of good things to say about two free agents who could make it big wide receiver James Scott and linebacker Kogut. Scott snared 10 Carter passes against Houston and has displaced former Bear and Notre Dame favorite Jim Seymour.

The other wide receiver tonight will be Jack Dolbin, who caught six passes last week despite a broken nose. Scott was a free agent who Spavital had at two tryout camps in Canada. 22 and played at Henderson County Junior College in Texas. As these things go, Fire scout Bob Baccarini was coach at Henderson, so the connection was easily made. Byrne insists the six-foot speedster can play with any club in the NFL, CFL or WFL.

(Continued on Fage 5) many. We probably could have sold 15 or 20 Dealers for Harley Davidson, sole major builder, were having few supply problems until six weeks ago when their Milwaukee plant went on strike. no telling when that labor dispute will end. offered Werner Sommers, manager of Lake Shore Harley Davidson in Falatine. not fooling around with some rinky-dink union.

dealing with the United Auto Sommers had seven XL-l in his shownwm and two of its biggest road machine, one new, one used. He sells about 200 bikes annually. has always been limited prciduction as far as the big bikes which are all made in this Sommers said. was no problem before the Other plants have shut down, also. Kawasaki closed for six weeks and Honda for three in Japan.

a shortage of bikes not because they be manufactured but because they get related said Sylvia Mark, owner of Cycle Sales, a Honda dealership, in Woodstock. ran out of tires this year. Batteries be supplied to manufacturers. We get them retail for over the counter for a long time. got them Last year, sold motorcycles.

Their allotment for the current season is only 700. Next year, who knows? This is one crrisis nobody predicted. To a man (or woman), dealers interviewed said they had anticipated no bike shortage this season. up in the air about availability of 1975 models. But they all agree the prices will continue going up.

Bikes depreciating; appreciating! Most models are bringing more at one year old than they cost new! had five price increases this year. Honda made four. Most Japanese bikes are 20 per cent higher than last season. Lemme expects another 10 per cent hike on 1975 models. Harley went up about 10 per cent over last season.

Honda and Yamaha have Sports really been hit said one manager. are getting tired of eating rice over there. I especially want you to put it in the paper like that, but What to do? Ferbaps Kawasaki has a partial answer. the first Japanese builder to invest and how, $23 million in an American factory. is the biggest thing to happen in said Myers of Tri-Star.

the others have talked about it for 10 years. Kawasaki was the first to do it. an important step toward stabilizing Motorcycle trends are open to question. However, the Japanese, behind Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki, are more than solid in the American market. running the show! Mark, of Cycle Sales, even predicts, two years, see no English bikes at all.

If you do, he just a Lemme, who deals Triumphs when he can get them, agree. But, forget the BSA! Inflation has hit the industry where it hurts the most in the wallets of young people who have big money but want big bikes. Fossibly, be seeing more medium sized bikes, in the 350cc to 500CC range, than larger models, at least until prices stabilize. an excitement about winding into a curve or taking a hill that be answered in an automobile. Frices are up and supply is down, but until those curves are pulled straight and hills scraped flat, look out, here come the bikes! firey 65 hurls Open into three way battle by CHARLIE DICKINSON Bob Augustine came out of the pack on the second day of the Illinois Open yesterday with a seven-under-par 65 to tie first round leader Hubby Habjan and Bob Moreland for the second round lead at 140.

Augustine had been at 75 after one round as Habjan fired a 67 and took temporary control of the three day event. second round score was 36-3773. Moreland displayed the consistency necessary to win the tournament as he carded back to back The other two seventy shooters from the first day. Odell Trueblood and Emil Esposito, had rocky moments that cost them the board. Trueblood, who operates out of the Elks Country Club, went through both hals at even par for a 36-3672.

Esposito, had an extra stroke of trouble and finished with a 73. was playing super until the twelfth Esposito said. that hole cost me a total of four shots. had birdied eleven and was two under for the day, four under for the he continued. had a good drive on twelve then hit a shot into the bunker.

I wound up with a five. was still bothered about that he said. wound up making a seven on that Esposito parred the following hole, birdied the 15th and parred the rest of the way in. Flossmoor Country Ray Williams had a potentially spectacular day toned down to a 68 by the shaky putting. Williams started the day in relative anonymity, having shot an opening round 76 to effectively put him out of the championship picture.

He opened with birdies on two and six and could have had birds on three and seven if he missed two putts, buth inside ten feet. Williams had only one bogey the entire round and hit seventeen of the greens and seventeen of the fairways. After the birds on two and six he birdied 12, 14 and 15. He missed a five foot putt for a birdie on then make a 20-footer on ten to save his single bogey. He missed short putts on 11, 13 and 16 that all cost him birdies.

His birdie on 15 came after two putts. Mike Harrigan, an assistant pro at Rolling Green, from Arlington Heights opened the tournament with a strong 71 Monday and came back yesterday with a 73-144 to remain in contention for the title. Bill Ventresca, the bead pro at Rolling Green, made up for an opening 76 with a 69-145. just played better today than I did Ventresca said. course played about the Knowing the course as intimately as he does have too much of an effect on score.

It never hurts to know the golf he said. pros would rather not play their own course. a lot of pressure and all the members are there you to do well. Me, I mind playing here. did like playing in the morning better than in the he continued.

the wind came up and dried out the greens. That spiked the grass and the ball hold as well. definitely think it was easier to score in the morning than the Ventresca had a flashy round going until the final two holes. He had birdied the first and second holes then bogeyed number three. He recovered with birds on the six and seven and again on 13 and 14.

He was cruising along at five under par until he bogeyed the 17th and 18th. The top 60 scorers and ties will square off today for the final round with the top finisher looking to collect $2,200. Patty Berg watches as tour progresses by ED SAINSBURY LA GRANGE almost 30 years since Fatty Berg won the first National Open golf championship. Thursday, at the age of 56, Miss Berg will watch at La Grange CJountry Club when play begins for the same title. The game has passed by her.

She won the Open in 1946 and the amateur in 1938. Babe Didrikson came Miss Berg said, had a swing and a hit, and most of us not too much of a hit. Babe brought power into golf, and she brought lower scores in. girls can Wt it so far now. They can carry the ball in the air.

getting longer all the time, hitting it like a cannon. think what people want to see. The game has better equipment, a better ball, better courses, and better methods of teaching. Those are some of the changes that have helped produce so many girls that can hit it so far. I wonder it will ever Miss Berg figure as a contender for the title this week, but she has played 72 holes in 16 previous national Patty Berg Big inning huries Prospect by MIKE GARBUS Ken run-scoring douWe in the first gave the hosts their short-lived lead, but starter Gordie Johnson who had checked Post 247 on just two hits through five innings, and reliever Buddy Hughes were both chased as the visitors batted around during their big uprising.

A two-bagger by Jim Lyons and singles by Dave Patterson, winning pitcher Jay Liggett, Bill Harrison and Kip Zdeb ioned their lead against last-frame RBI singles by Greg Pfaff and Mike Quade and tally that crossed (m a passed ball Liggett surrendered eight hits while fanning nine and walking two for Park Ridge, now 7-5 in district competition. Mount loss evened their record at 8-8. SCORE BY INNINGS Park Ridge .................000 007 Mount Prospect 100 000 opens, and she might break through to play all the way in this one and win some money. played 42 years of competitive she said. I was an amateur go out weekends and play exhibitions for charity in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, for about eight years every Saturday and Sunday.

1941 I won the Western Open. We qualified Monday and played every day of the week with 36 holes Saturday, and I won $100. In 1940 there were five girl pros and we played three events with top money of $500. think terrific today because of the signs of progress. I never look wards or sideways.

Now I only play eight or nine tournaments a year, but I do a lot of clinics and In contrast, this purse for the Open is $40,000, not one of the larger sums on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour, and the winner will get $6,000. Rated the leading contenders for the title were JoAnne Gunderson Camer, Susie Maxwell Bemlng, after her third straight crown and fourth overall, Carol Mann, the 1965 champion, Sandra Haynie, Jo.Ann Prentice arid Jane Blalock..