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/125845
in whi ch o n the maj ority of tracks th e Harley S p r in t is at a d istinct disadvantage. Yet Rex does extremely well because short tracking is nothing but one long charge and Rex loves the action . It wasn't until last seas o n that things really started to fall into place for Rex; he enlisted the help of Ar chie Douglas to help him set up and maintain his bikes and Harley Factory tuner Carroll Resweber began teaching Rex the finer points of rac ing. "Carroll can go out there and watch me go around the track and pick out the things ['m doing wrong. We fix that and then he gives me hints on what to correct to go faster . He's given me hints on how to get off the line that have really helped .as well as tips on ways to relax when' get tired. They're really things he's been through when he raced and he just knows so much that everything is a help." Once the Grand Natio nal Championship circuit starts life beco mes a weekend to weekend existance fo r the imp atien t Rex Beauchamp and in those six days inb et w een he plots every foot of the track . Du ring hi s th ree years on th e ci rcuit, racin g mainly the same trac ks, Rex has ca ta logue d an d ' filed a wa y li ttl e b i ts a n d p i e c es of i n fo rmatio n o n each tr ack re calling th em as the circuit meanders fr om w est to east and ba ck and forth o nce m o re. Eac h seaso n b ri ngs with it new va riables: t rac k surface , ne w tire co m po un ds, more horse power, inc reased competition from other riders and other brands; staying o ne step ahead is a big job. "[ start t hinki ng about t he next race a week before it's t here; as soo n as I'm done at one track , wa n t to go again. , t hink of every thing I' m goi ng to do right down to th e hole sh o t and what "11 do to get the to the first corner. , try to get the whole race planned so that when' get to the track' can imm ediatc:ly start trying things out; it's the only way to get an edge on the rest of the riders." An edge, getting o ne up, Psyching out t he opposition ; whatever you call it , it still falls into the category of being one step ahead of the co mp etit io n . "I think I'm pretty good a psyche out, so that when it comes to someone tryi ng to psyche me out they aren' t going to do it. In fact [ think that I'd do it to them before they would do it to m e ; there are a lot of guys on the circuit who you can j ust look at and say something to at the last minu te and they'll blow it ." As Rex Beauchamp the intrepid, impatient p hiloso pher charges off to a nother season resplen dent in the orange and b lack leathers of the factory Harley raci ng tea m a question arises : Just who t he hell is Rex Beauchamp? It's really very sim ple: "I'm jus t another racer that 's digging it (racing) while it's here; I've been in the right p lace at the right time and I've had the luck that comes from it." So what does 1974 hold in store for Rex? A lot if yo u judge b y his preparation schedule of daily running, icc: raci ng as often as possible, an excercise schedule, co w trailing on a snow mobile and, oh yes, cutting down on the partying. You see the Milford, Michigan "Flash" is ser io us about t h e coming y ear; he's also human. It takes co ndi tio n ing to be read y, to last out the 20 lap events when , after 15 laps yo u feel dead, but that's what it takes to win and Rex is not satisfied with just o ne National vic to ry . Rex's ke y to 1974 is himself and he knows it. Last year. although he did good. he wasn't a t a peak o r hundred per centing it as he says; an admissi on that is both enligh tening and realistid y honest in an age of put-oris b y everybody. "['m going to be more of a racer in 1974. I've got a better bike than ever and I know a lo t more about the circuit; I'm already in better shape t han [ was last year and that 's go ing to make a difference ." Raci ng is Rex's life . Yo u can sense it when he talks . see it in his face as he bench races or explains a point of conversatio n. Just wat ch him in t he pi ts or ask about next weeks race. " Racing is like a gift. , don't have to work and I'm really digging it . 1 know that it's not going to last forever but while it's here I'm going to enj oy it. [ couldn't ask for anyone better to ride for than Harley. Oh Yea ! I wouldn't wan t to be d oing anyt hing else." • Reflections on a season past . In 1973 Rex won the Terre Haute Nat ional , finished as th e sixth ranked rider in the Nat ion and captured the Central Regiona l Top Expert plate as well. Aud rie Beaucha mp , wife and number on e fan, travels wit h Rex on the circu it . 7