Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125636
Ten Montlls In In Europe Russ And Cheri finish The Season By Russ Darpell What Is It like to spend ten months In Europe, racing motocross, traveling, and being away from friends, family, and borne? That Is the question i am going to try to answer In this story. I cannot tell you what It Is like exactly, or what it will be like to you if you come over, but I will tell you what It bas been like for us. Conditions and adventures will vary from person to person of course and that is the reason no one can say "THIS Is wbat Europe Is all about" • Ten months away from home is along, long time. The days, weeks, and months have passed rapidly for us, but now that we know we are going home and the date we are to leave, the time seems to drag. We can hardly bel1eve It will be only one week before we are home again, and we are very anxious to depart. Homesickness bas not been a problem to us this year, as we have led a very busy life here. When we first arrived in January everyth1ng was new and different to us. We hated to go to sleep at night because we tbougb we would miss something. WIlen we came to the continent from England we were apprehensive each time we had to go through a customs at the different borders. We were unsure of the process of border crossing at first, but we sooo became old hands at It and relaxed. Now we can zip through a border without hassle. Cheri geis out the neces- sary papers before we are stoPPed, and we are quickly under way again after being passed through the line. Once we settled into a pattern,life was much easier. We established our headquarters in Gent, Belgium, and live in a traller park/camp ground In fhlsbeautifui city. Alter getting a sort of "home", we became more confident. That always gave us a place to come home to after a race. We had roots so to speak, and it helps os create a new scheme of dally living. In Gent, we get UP in the morning whenever we wake UP, and 1 usually go to the Molly Garage to pick UP the mail. The mail is what keeps you going from day to day. I mean it is really important. if you don't get mail, it almost spoils the whole day. Mall is your direct link with home. Fortunately we get lois of mail, and It keeps US busy answering letters. Our days are spent preparing the bike, shopping, working at the garage, and reading and writing much of the time. The European life isn't all glamorous, we'll guarantee you. At times we get very bored between races. It isn't that there is nothing to do, there are many places to go and things to see, but if 1 have trouble in a race and make only a small amount of money, then we have to nurse our funds to get us to the next race. It is really kind of adventurous to set off for a race 1000 mUes away with only $12 in your pockets. We have done this on With wheels stralninc acalnst the start Inc tape, Russ and lhe other European riders eyes lhe starter's fiaC. several occasions. Traveling on limited funds is just a fact of life that must be accepted as SUCh. if we were at home, 1 would just go back to work for a week and pick UP my weekly check - no problem. Over here it is difficult to work because of the mobile motocross life. You have to travel to get your money. Cheri and I both knew that this first year was going to be rough, but we decided long ago to lick all the problems. When I do well at an event, we live like kings for a while. When I do jlOOl'ly, Cheri just makes inexpensive meals and we- conserve for next week. There is always next week. That is our little philosophy for European racing/living, and it works quite well for us. Our stay here bas been one big school. We have gained insight Into many world and country problems which would be impossible to realize In the U.S. We have learned much about people, places, things, and mostly life, Life is about the same everywhere. No matter what language is spoken, or what differences there are In customs, dress, government, etc; the people underneath are the same everywhere we have been. They get UP In the morning, go to work, shop, quarrel, love, dream, and live just like we do. I guess we never really thought much about it until we came over here. Even In East Germany which is ruled by the communists, people live like people the world over. They are basically like all other people, but because of the communist principle they miss out on the extras of life. Traveling is fun for us. We always try to take differeot routes to places so we can see as much as possible. France is the worst place to travel. The roadS are narrow, and if you do happen to get on an autobahn, it will be a toll highway. if you think U.S, driving is had, wait until you are In France! Regardless of statistics at home, France bas the worst death rate to accident rate in the world. If you are involved In an accident on the highway In France, you have nearly 50% chance of being killed. From our experiences, I would say the French have to be the most stUPid people on earth when it comes to vehicle driving. They are appaIllng. Once In Paris we were traveling down the Avenue de St. Michael, which is a very broad one way street. The street narrowed at a construction sight to two lines. 1 had the caravan behind the car, and as 1 passed a French driver going Into this two lane section, he suddenly slammed on the brakes and got all panicky because he thought r wouid hit him with the trailer. I had allowed an extra five feet of room just to prevent such an occurrence, but he really got uptight anyway. When the road became five lanes again, he sped past me honking his horn and waving his fist. 1 swear, if you put boxing gloves on a Frenchman's handS, he wouldn't be able to utter one word. Anyway, I smiled and waved at him real friendly like,and he blew his mlndl He roared ahead of me and slammed on his brakes directly In my path. Now motocross racing doesn't exactly make ones reactions slower, sO r had already guessed what the idiot was going to do before he did it. I never shut off for a second. I just pulled over one lane and passed him,leaving him stoPPed', Donny Watkins - 250cc Capra Jill Raymond - 250cc 5 speed Capra A stock 250cc 5 speed Capra made the Novice Main Event, Ascot Park TT. Only modification the detachment of the front brake (to comply with AMA rules). Ridden by outstanding Novice rider Jim Raymond the new Capra, in its first outing, does it agai n. If you're looking for a FAST motorcycle with HANDLING try a Capra at your dealer today. Slpport 1IIe AmeriC31 Motocross Te~ for 1910 P. o. Box 3276 Hollywood, Calif. 90028 1st 250 Novice (20th Overall) Shamrocks Hare & Hound - 9/14 on John DeSoto's old prnonttsa Montesa Motors, Inc. / 3657 Beverly Boulevard / Los Angeles, California /90004. Phone (213) 663-825&