Joe Parkhurst & Cycle World Magazine

I first met Joe Parkhurst, Art Director at Karting World Magazine, when I submitted our VanTech Reed Valve Manifold for a comparison test article of Manifolds they were featuring using a McCulloch kart engine.  Their dyno testing showed that the various competitive manifolds increased horsepower by only 1% to 2%, while our VanTech Manifold added 13%.  I know Joe gained considerable respect for VanTech after that!

Before Joe Parkhurst joined Karting World Magazine, he had been Art Director at Road & Track Magazine, the leading sports car magazine. He was convinced that the Motorcycle Publications at the time were not doing a good job for the readers, or the sport, so the idea of Cycle World Magazine seemed a perfect next step for him.  Joe and his wife “hocked” everything, and in only one year (of near starvation), they made Cycle World into the Largest Selling Motorcycle Magazine in the World. Joe Parkhurst lived motorcycles, and he LOVED the idea of a serious performance bike made in America, and supported VanTech whenever he could.  First was a three page Test Article on our 1964 VanTechs. It was Cycle World’s first test ever under 250cc.  In 1965, Joe bought a VanTech-Yamaha for his own personal collection and to run a second test article.  Rest in Peace, Joe, my Amazing Generous Friend.