Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

v....... Fontene.CA If you're looking into a widely varied motorcycle racing career, you'd do weU to emulate Jim Fishback. After making a name for himself in IOUthem California motoeJ'CR, taking a number one plate in the 250cc class of AMA 0·57 daert raciDg the fil'll year be tried, and then becoming one of the nation's top speedway riders, FIShback decided to try reliability trials last year, winning two Two-Day Q,Wifien and running on Gold in Sweden until he crashrd into a me and broke his shoulder. Fishback returned this year, winning the Cal City Two-Day, and winding up fourth in the overall SOOcc standings. Ron Ribolzi V8maheOgIesby,IL "Just had a good time making Mike Rosso and Road Bush work harder for their 175cc class winsl" answered Ron Ribolzi to the did· anything-unusual-happen question. Repairing traeton for the Cater· pillar Tractor Co. in Aurora, IL, is what Ron does for a Jiving. He's 25, married to Beverly (who'll be pan of the suppon team in West Gennany) and enjoys watching the Wednesday night short track races at Santa Fe, inDer·tubiDg down the local whitewater rapids, keeping his van _ , and "just plain ~ting cra.zedJ" Yamaha Moteli' Corp. P a big thank you from R.on, who says "I like to be very reliability-minded wilen p~ng a machine and this facet of raang is where it shows the 1DOIt. Also in the tpeeiaI tellS. the resalu tell the story - the futest man winIf" John Faro V81N1M O........ CA When you ride a Yamaha IT, remember that a lot of John Fero went into that machine. Fero, 52. worb at Yamaha Motor Corp. doing testing and development work on the IT. TIUs year. be's riding all the National Enduros. as well as the Two·Day ~ , to develop a new IT. When John's not working or riding, his interesU turn to his wife and three cbildren, working on the race truck. his van, or his Sis Days bike. "I like to make it perfect." he says. "and wben I'm done. it is. " "I would like to thank the people at Yamaha, and special thanb to Kevin, who IeCIIIS to care the 1DOIt. Also, thanks to the people who have helped me with their products and the many people who helped at the qualifiers. Also, I want to thank Cycle NftlI$ for showi~' some interest in our spon." (Our re,Jolan ... EditOf".) , medal is wonh a lot to me becaUIC it's something I earned with my own work and sweat. A hardearned Gold would really mean a lot ... when you finish the last special test on Saturday, it all becomes wonh it," wrote John about why he rides the ISDT. Maico USA Terry Cunningham 12 M8ico Nelsonville, OH Sept. 12. 1979 wiU not only be the midway point in the 54th ISDT. it wiU be the 21st birthday of U.S. Six Days rider Terry Cunningham. Terry, who spends his days working as a mechanic, lives with wife Peggy and daughter Carrie. Mom and dad, Ramsey's Motor Sporu and Maico East are on his thank you IisL. Besides motorcycling, be IiItes "any kind of competitive sport. I love competition a 'belluva lot. ' " What is the reward for Six Days IUCCCII? According to Terry, "pride in younelf _ than anything." John Ayers M81co RocM8ter, PA "In search of fame and fortune - well. fame anyway," said John Ayers, when we asked him why he was going to the effort and expense of competing in the ISDT. John, a familiar figure on the National Motocross circuit, is a rookie in Six Days type competition. "I was always learning something every day and time I rode. Since it's my first year, I have a lot to learn. Two·Day riding is rIOt motOCTCW. .. Ayers' thanks go to Craig McMillian of Action Cycle (where John has worked for two years) and Tom Steele of Maico Motorcycles. Hobbies for the 25·year·old bachelor include four·wheel drives, Wetbikes and snowmobi1es; the latter of which be intends to race this winter. Steve VanWatermeulen Club Teams Six Pence M.C. A. C. Bakken H.....".,.. S8n M8rcos. CA "For me it's a personal experience that someone else might not feel. People don't realize how much pressure there is on a Six Days rider. There you are, in a country you've never tieen to, people you don't know, and you're representing the United States in what European countries and governments take very seriously. It's just something you can't truly experience unless you've done it, and I guess. that's why I enjor it." Those are some of the thoughts on Sis Days, expressed by A.C. Bakken. A.C. works at Hallman Racing in EI Cajon. CA, and says he's really into racquetball ("keeps my mind and body in tune"). He and wife Sandy have one IOn, Brian who's seven months old. In the Two·Day qualifiers, "every. thing went pretty smoothly, except for a shift lever I broke off in Washington. Fellow competitor and friend Ken Maahs loaned me a pair of vise·grips until I could find one laying out in the woods somewhere." A.C. expressed appreciation to HuIqvama Motuicyde Co. "for supply. ing me with excellent equipment. Also, toJohn Gregory fromJT RaciDg, and friends ~~Ie I didn't even know who b me in pitting and suppon." MBIco Green Rock. IL "The expense is really bad and it costs a lot of money. But I only live once and want to do aU I can in my lifetime. Besides, it's a lot offun and you get to meet a lot of nice people and see some of the most beautiful country in the United States. Now I will be able to see some of the world," said Steve VanWatermeu1en when we asked the inevitable why-do·you·do·it question. Steve. 22, works at the John Deere pans distribution warehoUIC in Milan, IL,. and enjoys fishing, golfing, hunting and all spans. On his debt-of· gratitude list are his wife Connie, "for being 10 understanding," Roger Debenham of Debenham Imporu, and Larry Griffin and all the peOple at Suzuki World. Also, Steve adds, "all the people I've met.•• KTM Frank Gallo Ted Leimbach .. Dennis Vandecar Husqvanut Okemos.MI "The ISDT is the motorcycling, the amateur. To finish plishment, but to Olympics of top for an is an accomwin a gold medal is tbe best feeling you can have. The different countries, the different language, the color, everything about the ISDT, and of course all the friends and spectators make it the greatest thing going on two whee1s." Thiny. nine·year·oId Dennis Vandecar leaves litde room for doubt about how he feels toward the ISDT. Snow skiing, bicycling and power boating are Dennis' off·the·motorcycle interests, of course along with wife Diane and SODS David, 15, and Jon, 11. Owner of three stores, Dennis sells Schwinn bicycles. KeJiny Hess, "for transponation and gassing at the out of state qualifiers," p Vandecar's vote ofthanb. Jeff Hill Terry Davis KTM M8con.GA "The reward is competition on a world class level - to be able to compete with the world's best in something yoare good at," re- V81N1M sponded Jeff Hill when we asked why he competed in the Six Days. A registered pharmacist who lives in Macon, GA, with his wife Deborah, Jeff enjoys "running to keep in sh~pe, tinkering with cars, etc." The folks that Jeff would like to thank for their help are his father, Bob Hill, KTM America and Hi·Point Accessories. Hesperill, CA Among the things we asked U.S. ISDT riders was to relate any outrageous or humorous incidents that happened in the Two· Day qualifiers. Terry Davis, of Terrycable/Terrykit fame, had an answer that topped the field. "At one qualifier in Washington, the pit crew returned to impound on the same road as part of the course. It was a small section of road but they were coming toward the riders. Suddenly, a pit crew vehicle turned onto the course just as I was going quickly by. The ensuing crash was unavoidable. Luckily, the vebide was a Toyota and I flew over the engine hood and received scratches and bruiles. My bike was not 10 lucky and received various injuries including a smasbed air box which kept me &om finishing. The clincher is that out of all the pit crew vehicles in the woods that day, the one I met happened to be my own car with my wife driving! How does one explain that to one's insurance company?" Terry, who's 56 years young, married with two children, boys, ap 4 and 10, is a veteI'aJl of SoCaI daert raciDg but a rookie on the ISDT level. Among the people be wished to thank were yamaha -of Corona and "the experienced Sis Days riders who have . been open to my questions and willing to help new riders." Horse training. water and mow skiing. and ro11er slr.ating are some of Terry's ouuide interesu. Perry Mtn. M.C. Mike Melton Husqv8rn8 Butler, GA "No. I feel that I'm 99 ~ % ready. I've been working a little harder on my special test skills by doing some motocrossing this summer," was 20-year·old Mike Melton's answer when we asked if there were any problems about getting to .the Sis Days. "I would like to thank my parenu for sticking by me in all the races. I would also like to thank Husqvarna Motorcycles for their suppon. Thanb to Mr. Bob Hill for his support both past and present. Thanb to Dick and Jill Burleson for their help in the qualifiers. Thanks everybody that helpedJ" said Mike. Mike, who works in a textile plant, IiItes to water ski and switn, and has gotten to the point where he's "beginning to like runnin, for exercise." He adds, "I love working on my bikes mostly." Why do go the trouble and expense of ri~ tbe Sis Days? "I love the thrill and satisfaction of competing against very competitive Sis Days riders. I know you don't get a lot out of it, but it is nice to see how all Americans stand against the best in the world." Dwight Rudder Suzuki J8Ckson,MS August and September wiU be busy months for 25-year-old Dwight Rudder. August 25 was the day he told us he was to be married. Sept. 10 is, as a matter of passing interest, the stan of the ISDT, and Dwight's gonna be there. It's only fair - in 1977, be qualified for the Six Days, only to miss it due to a cropduat· ing accident. Para manager in a motorcycle shop and also a commercial pilot - "excropduster," he adds, Dwight will carry the colon of the Perry Mountain M.C., as pan of that club team. That club is allO on Dwight's list of supporters, along with Jackson Motorsport Center, Suzuki Team Manager John Morgan, Turkey Creek Enduro Team, Arcadiana Dirt Riders, Gulfcoast Sandblasters, NOEA, Southern Enduro Riders Association, Hodaka of Hattiesburg and "my numerous other friends who have helped me fmancially to get to the Six Days." Dwight, who still enjoys flying, says of the Six Days, "I enjoy motorcycle racing and a gold medal in the ISDT is the ultimate goal you can reach in this type of event. "

• Cover