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/126326
-----~--~----.----------------------------------------..,...------- America's No.1 Weekly Motorcycle Newspaper .Sharon Clayton, Publiaher Caroline Gendry, Secrewy to the Publilher Bobi Scott, Executive Asaistant Advertising Jim Ryan, Sales Manaser. Larry Linle, Sal.. Manager. Skip Johruon, Sal.. Manager. Chris Koibet, Alaistant, Editorial Chari.. Morey. Managing Editor, Dale Brown, Editor. Brian Georgr:. Alliltant Editor. Graphics ~nd Production Judy Klinser, Dav Pauli, Production. Marion Hatuhita, Typography, Dennis Greene, Laboratory, Accounting Mike Klinger. Manager. Jeanne Hammond. Accta. Receivable. Donna Bryan, A.t. Acets. Receivable. Holly Hale, Collection and Credit, Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager. Paui De Pasquale. Sherry Kaufman, Sandye McKay, Cbriaty Bell, Allistanll. Services and Support Pat Cardenas. Receptioniat. Gin Harper, Want Ada. Steve McKay, S&S. West 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA P.O. Box 498, Long Beacb. CA 90801 (215)4~7-7455; L.A. Line 656-8844. East 4190 Fin< Ave., Tucker, GA, P.O. Box 80S, Tucker, GA 50084. (404) 954-7850. Subscription , One year, second c1_ mail. $15; two yean, second c1_ mail, $27; three yean. second c1_ mail. $57.50. Copyright· Cycle NeWl, Inc. 1978. Trademark Cycle News registered U.S. Patent Office. All rights reserved. Publiohed weekly except the fint and last week of tbe calendar year by Cycle News. lne., P.O. Box 498. Long Beach, California. Second c1_ postage paid at Long Beach, CA 9080 I. Cycle NeWJ welc:oma un.olicitcd editorial material including stories, cartoons. photOi. etc. ~uch material, if published, becomes the exclusive copyright propeny of Cycle News. Such accepted material is subject . to revision as is nccesaary in the sole dUcrftion of Cycle NeWs. Unsolicited material which is not used will be returned jf accompanied by oil self· addressed stamped envelope. All un· solicited material will be handled with reuoruble care, however, Cycle News assumes no responsibility for the safety, 1011 or damage: to such material. Reprinting in whole or pan only by pennission of the publishers. Advertiaing rates and circulation infonnatioD will be anll upon request. SeeS.R.D.S. POSTMASTER: Send form 3671 10 Cyc\lI News. P.O. Boa -.. Long Beech. CA . . , . 4 ON THE FRONT PAGE: AMA Ier1ct-we speciaIIat Rob ~ end the oudne to the Forest Service RARE II progl1lm. Which could cIoM millions of IICr8S to off-t'Olld riding. Photo by a-tes Morey. Long & short of U.S. Spee~way I agree with four·time World . Sperdway Champion and all·time grea't Barry Briggs in his last two paragraphs 6f the August 2 Cycle News. This year I believe the American Qualifier can be made more competitive for everyone concerned. Europe has always had the standard % to 14 mile tracks, while American Speedway has always been run on X. mile track. Finally, America has a 14 mile track of her own at Ascot Park, open every Thursday night. . I suggest qualifying runs/meets, one at Costa Mesa and the other at Ascot Park, with the top' two combined scorers from both meets racing as the American qualifiers. This way, we have a X. mile track and a 14 mile track and we will be able to see who are the top two. DAVE HINKLE Hawthorne, CA boys exert, only a fool would call them the above-mentioned names. I have grown many gray hairs watching my son run over, scooped up off the track, hauled to the hospital, body bruised, bike bashed and still love the sport, He has learned a great deal .of sportsmanship - a few have not, I will admit - and earned some pretty fair money for a young man in his early 20s. If suggestions are worth anything, I would ask that Harry and Louis both examine their motives and hopefully will come out racing! What is wrong with a league action between these two groups? Could get the team racing back in the picture. If the spectators will allow the riders the respect most deserve, if the riders will conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and if the promoters will give the riders a fair shake, we can get on with speedway racing as a sport, A RIDER'S MOTHER Speedway mom speaks out Dirt Diggers dig DiPrete I have been following with much interest the different letters to you concerning speedway. I am asking that you not include my name with this letter, not because I am concerned for myself, but because my opinion may vary from my son's, and I do not want to cause him any embarrassment. My son has been racing speedway for the past five years; he is one of the top 10 riders in the United States. I mention this only to emphasize my position, not to boast of his success. Naturally, as a mother, I am proud of him. After reading the letters to your newspaper, I agree with much of what has been written. But also much has been written that was untrue, unfair and unjust - especially to the riders. I feel, as does Mrs. Fairchild, that Mr. Oxley and Mr. Kossuth should bury the hatchet; the important point being that the riders work hard for their positions and pay, and the promoters work hard to make their tracks a success. In other words, they certainly do need each other. I resent the riders being called sheep or clowns. Certainly if you have ever had an opportunity to ride a speedway bike, or as the parent of a rider know the physical and menfal'stress these Congratulations, Mike DiPrete, new AMA Professional Racing Manager. We support you 100%1 DIRT DIGGERS NORTH M.C. Orangevale, CA First lady of road racing, Mary McGee Carter Alsop, in Voices, May 31, responded to a "non-fa!}" letter saying, "I am the first woman to be licensed as a professional road racer only nothing more." I'm sure Ms. Alsop meant that she is the first woman to hold a pro road racing license (Novice classification) from the AMA - which is not quite the same thing as being the first woman to be a licensed pro road racer. I certainly wish Carter all the best in her unique pursuit of a road racing career, however, I should like to bring your readers' attention to the real first licensed woman professional road racer, Mary McGee. Mary, by the way, is now Western Advertising Sales Manager for Motorcyclist magazine. Mary first raced sports cars in Phoenix, AZ toward the end of 1957. Then, in 1959 while she was drivillg a Lotus' ~ponsored by Vasek Polak, Polak made the comment, "Mary should ride motorcycles also, she is so smooth." At that time, the American Federation of Motorcyclists w~s sharing dates with the sports cars on the west coast. Mary's only previous motorcycle experience was riding her ClIO Honda to work. But after some practice ~t Willow Springs observed by then-head of the AFM, Wes Cooley, Sr., she was granted a pro road racing license in 1960. As a woman, she was restricted to the 125cc class, winning many times over the next couple years and placing very well overall. In those years, all classes. raced together, and Mary earned the respect as well as the help of such riders as John McLaughlin (Steve's father), Ivan Wagar, Ron Grant and many others. Mary, who stands a slim 5'1 r', raced a 500cc Triumph in the thennew sport of motocross in late 1966 at Forest Ranch, or Castaic. She was also the first woman to race in the rugged. Baja off-road events, first in a car, then On bikes. One of her greatest accomplishments, in my opinion, was to compete and finish (albeit 15th in the 250cc class) the 1976 Baja 500 on her Husky riding solo! Mary McGee never received much publicity for accomplishments; she didn't seek it. She enjoyed racing and just went out and got on with it. In the light of all the wonderful public acknowledgement now given to excellent women racers such as Sue Fish and Debbie Evans, I thought Cycle News readers might be interested in knowing about Mary McGee, a pioneer and a lady perhaps a bit ahead of her time. SUZIE MANN San Clemente, CA Concerning the dez Many thanks and muc!) more goes to all the bitchen people who helped pull off the great desert race Aug. 6 at Rand Mountain. CRC left it up to us and we did it! It was a fun course with some new stuff, great checks and there were compliments heaped on everyone who worked on it by riders who enjoyed it. What we can be proud of is the way all the people and clubs worked together with one goal: a great race. No egos surfaced during our long, hot days, unlike what I have seen too darn many times. Results: a great race. • Thanks to Marge Reeser, BilL Conroy, Len Edwards, Dee Murray, Coors, Don Duncan, Jim Marley, Chuck Houshunting, Fred Holdorf, Doc Newhouse, Hal£ Fast M.C., Clean Sweep RT, Gobblemores, M.C., Bench Racers, Coors, etc. All of you proved that we can do it. Thanks again. JIM McDONALD Cerritos, CA P.S. The ulcer is almbst"gone.