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/126268
Motocross and .t r aged y from a -promoter's viewpoint: "What can we do?" By Terri Emery nother Sunday race day is here . The sound truck is announcing the races. The morning passn quickly, the bikes sounding like angry hornets. Several classes have already run . For the 10th time this morning. the sound truck booms "Please stand back from the track." I think the spectators are all deaf. For the fifth time today a crazy 10· year-old on an MX bicycle goes down the big hill in the back 40. We've got so much to do on race day that we can't keep telling him to quit. Where is his mother? . The 125 Amateurs are on the track now. flattening everything in sight on the start straight. Du ring the short pause while the bikes go around the first turns .a nd jumps the little boy on the bicycle comes down the hill one more time. . . Again the sound- truck pleads " Move back, move off the track! He re comes those ground-pounding, fast moving 125 Amateurs." I swear there is a pound of wax in each of the spectator' s ears. For the next few minutes everything seems to go well. Then tragedy hits . A rider's father and mother. sitting close to the track in lawn chairs . are watching th e race. The wife' s chair has square metal legs. A couple of 125 Amateurs dueling it out come. around the track int o a turn . . The first 125 rider makes it and goes screaming on down the track. T he second amateur isn't so lucky. His bike hits a "got cha" hole on the . small uphill leading into the ' turn . He wobbles and gasses it trying to power out of the hole . Instead , the bike bounces out of the hole and he loses control. When the rear tire bites traction again he has completely lost it and falls full force . skidding into the couple. One of the woman's feet is severed out of joint, sliced almost completely off by the meta l legs on her lawn chair. A small dog in her lap is killed instantly. Fortunately. the man only receives minor cuts and bruises. The .rider ? Well. he has no idea of the damage done. Like any young racer his thoughts are on winning and on his bike. He jumps back on, push starts his machine and heads on down the course. At t he time he seemed alright , but as he finishes his race and gets off the track he discovers that he has sustained major knee inju ries. He later lost a kneecap . As any rider will tell you , knee damage is extremely rough to get back in shape for racing. How would you , as a rider , like to lose a knee cap because of spectators too . close to the track? The tears. screams, pain and anxiety of the next few hours were horrible . It was a nightmare. The rider felt extremely bad. but it wasn't his fault. T hese accidents ha ppen all · the time . People just won't stay off the track. It's ironic th at most accidents like this are t he fault of people who are at the track every race day. They com e from motocross-centered families and (Continued on page 21) THE .1977 KZ400 SERIES. THREE OFTHE BEST VALUES IN MOTORCYCLING. Kawasaki motorcycles have always given you more for your money. And now, with the medi um we ight KZ400 series, you have . three more ways to go. . , The KZ400 Special does' everything efficiently and economically. It's powered by the same four-stroke engine as the others, tuned for maximum gas mileage. A kickstarter and drum brakes keep it simple. And easily affordable.* . The KZ400 Standard is a happy medium between luxury and frugality, .with a fourstroke overhead cam vertical-twin that gets any job done. Its unique crankshaft balancing system helps smooth this 36 hp powerplant for maximum comfort. Disc brake and electric starter see to safety and convenience. And chrome exhausts add that touch of flash. ' The KZ400 Deluxe is the showboat. Complete with fairing, windshield, locking saddlebags and luggage rack like no other bike in its class. Custom fitted, painted and trimmed for pure pleasure. But it's not all show. An electric startergets you off to fast starts. And a front disc brake assures quick, safe stops. , Se~ the KZ400 series , at you r Kawasaki dealer today. Prices start at '995-/ - Kawasaki \\e know why ride. you -Manufacturer's suggested list priCe , 1917 KZ~S. excluclng 'Night, dealer prep , title. ~tal. a~ IocaIIU....at part6dpating ~wuaki d.aJers. SHORT TRACK NATIONAL QUALIFIER Mini and Amateur National Qualifier Sunday, J~ly 17, 1977 at Benton lane Park 4 miles west of J unction City, Oregon on Hwy. 99 W. Sponsored by Territorial Motorcycle Racing Assoc iation. Mini Qualifier - 6 classes. Amateur Qualifier l 00cc thru Open, sign in 9:00 a.m. Come join the funl Our park facilit ies include: Overnight camp ing - swimming pool - restaurant and skating rink. .For more Information call 503-746-4505 DEALERSA~TEN~TION ~~ \S \~OCL' ~l1f.o NOW ~3(\1d~~"l\o~O(C'lC ORDER ." \". DIR ECT DEALERS ONL V H ERCULES DI ST. LIS T . 9827 Mason Ave . Ch atsworth. ca. 91311 . 1213 1 882-8272 Holeshot? .Goodyear is Carroll Shelby 213-538-2914 19