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/126330
"My first bikes were used Bultacos I bought. Jan Houtermans was my first mechanic. He worked on the bikes all those years and he taught me just about everything. " I had been wanting to race the Nationals for years . but this past summer was my first real effort. Every time I got set to go out and race the circuit I would get hurt and would end up staying home. I'm a lot smarter now and don't take the kind of chances I used to . "T he problem is I don't like being back in the pa ck . I want to be up front there like Hannah does . Being second just doesn't sa tisfy me . Sometimes I would just try too hard , that's why I would crash. I feel like I can win . I have the ability , but I haven't learned to th ink like I should yet. It's all in my . head. I'm learning to control myself better now. " Watching Darrell in the final half of the 500cc Nationals you could see he had taken control of his desire to win or crash trying. He settled down to riding easier in an attempt to finish and in the process he actually became quicker. Week after week he was rattling the numberplates off the likes of Marty Smith and Tommy Croft on h is way to top five placings each race. For a privateer, Darrell Shultz was turning in the most outstanding performances since Tony DiStefano came on the scene back in 1974 . And like nearly every other privateer, just meeting expe nses to follow the Nationals proved to be a major stumbling block for him. No matter how well you do on the circuit it's nearly impossible to just meet your weekly expenses without some type of help. "T he money racing local races back home is really good. That's what's supporting me in the Nationals . . . what I earned earlier in the year. "I really did well in this year's Trans-AME Series. I earned between five and six thousand dollars. I would have earned more except I missed the .first and last races of the Series to ride the Nationals. I still finished first overall in the 250cc and Open class , but I missed out on winning some two thousand dollars because I missed those races . . "Still, with the 'money I saved to follow the races it isn't enough. I have to have a lot of people helping me and I really appreciate it . " I've been racing Maicos since last year's Trans-AMA Series, with the bikes coming from Rancho Cordova Suzuki back home. "My father owns a sheet metal shop, but he closed it down so he could help me as my mechanic out on the circuit this yearv This is the first time he has ever worked on bikes and I guess m y finishing record shows what a fantastic job he's been doing. " I have other sponsors, too . Hi Point Accessories, Works Performance ' shocks; and Wheelsmith Engineering does all the trick th ings to my bike. The one person who has really helped the most though , is Ken Sisler who owns Sisler Construction in Sacramento. He has helped other r iders as well , like Perry Klassen, without getting anything out of it other than the personal satisfaction of .seeing us do well." , Darrell's brilliant rides in this year's 500c c Nationals earned him a factory contract from Maieo for the Trans- . AMA Series. What Darrell will do after the T r a ns-A MA Series will' probably be dependent on two things : How he does the Series itself, and which factory will be able to outbid the other to sign up on their team the fastest young star in American motocross since Bob Hannah blew into the scene, • ~ ~ .. . "IT'S TRICK!" Get it on like the champions National Model (347) Grand Prix Model (318) Open Class Model (333) "ITS TRICK! " Jim Pomeroy " #1 IN PROTECTION!" Tony"D" "JOFA, FOR CONFIDENCE!" Jimmy Ellis Jofa . , . the superior name in dirt bike protection offers a full line of Shoulder Pads like the ones worn by many top riders. New design provides all pads with ventilation holes for coolness, lighter weight and comfort. Individua l adjustments for chest, arm and shoulder; washable. Also check out Jofa's great line of Shin and Elbow Pads, the Jofa Rock Guard and accessories including Jofa's new line of Motorcycle Helmets. I Send 25; and a salf'add,assad envefope for the new Jofa brochure and dacal. To : Vo lvo Rec. Products 15 Maple sr., Norwood, N.J . 07648 DISTRIBUTED BY: The Protection Collection for all off-road riding and riders of every age. Accessory Distr . Palisade s Par k NJ - D.W. Engineering, Hun ting ton NY . Florida Cycle , Jac kson ville FL - Fox . A rl ington TX • Fox D istributors, NorcrossGA • Fo x , Phoenix AZ - Full Hou se. Co lumbus OH • Ho ward Grif f in , Monroe LA • I ron Horse, Hous ton TX . J . T . Rac ing, Nat ional City CA - Moto-X-Fo x, Campbell CA - J im O'N eal , Reseda CA . Su refire , Ashev ille NC - Su llivan Brothers, Hanson MA • Torsten Hallman , EI Cajon CA - Torsten Hallman. Add ison IL - Wheelsport, Po rt land OR OVo lvo of America Corp . 13