Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Ray Cosgrove KTM Camanche, IA "It's the most important thing in my life. I'm going to the Olympics - I'm one of 41 Americans picked to ride and represent the United States of America. A gold medal is great, silver and bronze, just as good, but we're going as a ttam, The United States team. " That's part of what 19-year-old Ray Cosgrove feels about riding the Six Days; nobody can fault him for lack of enthusiasm. An apprentice pipefitter for ·the Pullman Kellogg Company, Ray enjoys meeting and entertaining people and taking his old car out on a motocross course and "doing it in the dirt." "Let me tell ya," he adds, "my KTM handles a lot better than my car in the dirt.': Water and snow skiing, eating pizza, and driving his Ford van are other things Ray enjoys. And then there's the wrestling. "Tom and Denny Reese, Steve Van Watermeulen and myself always had wrestling contests before the first day (of a qualifier), after the first day, and' on Sunday night. Down at our motel in Alabama, we had a dandy of a match on Saturday night. All four of us went through the wall and almost into the bathtub after wrestling, flying through the air ana crashing through the wall. It was a costly match, and all with sore shoulders, we retired for a good night's rest." Ray would like to thank AMA Districts 17 and 22, and all the riders thereof, as well as "Team 1Il0wa." Mt. Baker M.C. Hans Raidel KTM Westerville, OH "I changed eight fouled spark plugs in the Alabama Two-Day and hit a check two minutes into my grace. Managed to crash three times in one special test in Michigan. Still, I managed three gold medals in as, many tries," writes apprentice brick mason Hans Raidel, 22. Hans, who enjoys hunting, sports and traveling, thanks "my dad for always being there, and the rest of my family and friends for all their support, no matter what the odds." "It's what I've always wanted to do - ride with the world's best," says Hans about why he's going to all the effort and expense in pursuit of a gold medal. Darryl Kuenzer KTM Union Lake, MI Nineteen-year-old Darryl Kuenzer has some pretty strong feelings about the ISDT and success in the event: "A gold medal means more to me than I can say, but more than the medal I ho~ I can represent the U.S. by scormg better than most of the European riders." Skiing - both water and snow are some of ·the things Darryl likes to do when he's not riding or working on his job at Pontiac Motors. His dad, "for all the time and money he has spent since I was II years old so that I could accomplish what I have with motorcycles," and Ed Tingley, "who taught me a lot and helped me to ride better," are two of the people Darryl would especially like to thank for helping make it possible for him to ride his first ISDT. KTM and Champion Cycle in Pontiac, MI, also recive D~rry)'s thanks. Greg Davis Husqvarna Westerville, OH "Riding Six Days and what motivates a person to ride Six Days is very unique and extremely difficult to explain. One almost has to experience it to understand that it gets in your blood. Getting a Gold Medal in West Germany means a great deal to me. My reward is how I feel about myself," says Greg Davis, Husqvarna's Eastern sales Manager and ISDT competitor. Greg lives with wife Marsha and daughters Jill, 10, and Mitzi, 7, in Westerville, home of the AMA. All he'll tell us about his age is that he's "older than Burleson, but not much." "Sincere appreciation ... for their support and making unequaled products" is what Greg would like to say to the following companies: "Husqvarna Motorcycle Company, Stough Smeed . (Moto-Race and Metzeler tires), Conrad Anderson (Sun Rims), Bill Kniegge (Bell), Dick Kryder and Scott Boyer (Scott Goggles), Jon Stillman (Husky Products), Larry Meiers (Hi-Point), Terry Davis (Terrycable), Torco Oil, Preston Petty Products, and a special thanks to my friend Dick Burleson." Barefoot water skiing and snow sltiing are Greg's hobbies, but a knee injury suffered while water sltiing this year that has hampered his training caused him to lament, "I should stick to riding motorcycles. Last winter I injured my other knee while snow skiing." Norsemen M.C. Bob Pearce Kawasaki West Senaca, NY The sole Kawasaki rider on this year's U.S. ISDT squad, Bob Pearce says there's "really no answer to why we do this crazi- they're mentioned in Ed's "like" list) and the approaching realities of adulthood, Ed is preparing to meet the world's best in six days of competition. Who does Ed want to thank? "Husqvarna Motorcycle Co., my great family and my uncle Len Kaczor and cousin Cheryl Greiner for their work as my pit crew, and especially my uncles Joe and Ron Lojak for all they taught me through their vast experience in motorcycles and motorcycle racing. " Lojak's Cycle Sales is where Ed works (full-time during the summer, pan-time during school) and he helps service, repair and deliver snowmobiles, Huskys and Yamahas. His interests are hunting, fishing, trapping and girls (see - we told ya). His dislikes are smoking and dope. Ed concludes by saying "I like goo(!, strong competition and being a winner. A gold medal will be an important pan of my racing career and personal inner feelings." Bill Berroth KTM Wilton, CT "Ever since I've been riding everyone talked of the Six Days as the event and I have to agree. It's the hardest, but the most satisfying, rewarding and exciting event in motorcycling. How much is your soul worth?" responded Bill Berroth to the "why" question. The 22-year-old service manager of a Ford dealership has been riding for eight years, competing in the TW9-Day Qualifiers for the past two. He is one of the 16 rookies on this year's American ISDT squad. Berroth, who enjoys water Skiing, bicycling, snow skiing and his friends, had a close call in the Washington Two-Day, when a rider he was trying to pass moved over but then swerved back when Bill tried to make the pass, knocking him down a gO-foot cliff. With the help of Bob Ayers and another man, Bill was able to get the bike back on the trail and get to the next check on the last minute of his grace. I Bill's thank-you's go to Frank at Port Chester Motorcycles for his help and encouragement, Mr. Hill and Mr. Cora, and all the other people at KTM and Hi-Point "who helped me across the country, and my father, who helped me out at all the local enduros and kept me going through the bad days as well as the good. " ness. AliI know is that to me this is the toughest event a IDotorcylist can ride and finish." Twenty-four years old and recently married, Bob works at Hebeler S&S in Sockport. That shop, and Bill and Carole Hebeler are on Bob's thank-you list, along with his mother and father, Mark Ives of Kawasaki East, and Kawasaki Motors. During the winter, Bob likes to snow ski and enjoys jet skiing and water skiing during other months. His biggest worry as the days go by before the start of the Six Days is "knowing that I have to ride to get prepared for the race. At any time I could crash and be injured. I hope for the best and just keep on ridin'." Yamaha Genesco,lL If you told Denny Reese that he Ed Lojak had a good shot at a medal in the ISDT, he might take it as a pun. Denny and his family run a plant Husqvam8 Tarentum, PA "I live about five miles out of Tarentum in Fawn Township with my mom, dad, three brothers, two sisters 'and my uncles JOe and Ron. That's 10 of us and our dog. Luckily, our house is big'" That's part of the report we get from Edward Wayne Lojak, 18, a senior at Highlands High School. While most 18-year-olds worry about college-vs.-a-job, girls (don't worry - Waterloo Enduro Team Denny Reese called Springfield Armory, and they manufacture and assemble military rifles for big bore rifle matches, hunters and collectors. Denny, who's 24 and single ("but sure do like Dianel") loves snow skiing, wa ter skiing, h",nting and shooting, traveling and women. Asked who he'd like to thank for his help along the way, Denny replied, "I owe so much to my mother and father for their support both morally and financially throughout the years. They're the bestl I also owe a great deal to my Uncle Lon. I have practical- ly destroyed his basement a thousand times assembling and disasRmbling my scoots week after week for races." About this year's ISDT, Denny says', "This is my third time and I'm going to make it a charm. This trip means as much or more to me than the first time." Tim Hopey Husqvarna Glenshaw, PA "The Six Days has been my dream since I was 14," says Tim Hopey, now seven years older. "I don't really know why but I always took it as the supreme test of a man and his motorcycle. I'm very proud to have qualified and if by chance I get lucky over there and earn a medal, it would be priceless. I would be one very proud and happy young man." Hopey, works at Lojak Cycle as a mechanic, and would like to thank " ... my brother a whole lot. He has always given me a great deal of support. And my mom, for being for motorcycles and encouraging me. Also, a cute little girl named Sandy for tagging along to the races all these years. And, the Lojak family for all their help - Thanx folks." Tim, who enjoys camping and being outdoors, and would like to get back into school, will be competing in his first ISDT. Bob Popiel Husqvarna Columbus, OH "Well, I've been struggling to learn the game of golf, but so far I haven't had much luck," said Bob Popiel when we asked about outside interests, adding, "my other interesu include listening to music, riding my KZIOOO, working on my house and my girlfrieJld, Ann." Popiel, Husqvarna's Eastern Service Manager, comes froin a large family: "eight brothers and two sisters, enough for a baseball team." He's been interested in motorcycles since he was 15, "which was just about the time my older brother bought himself a Triumph Bonneville." Husqvarna heads Bob's thank-you list, but "just as important are the crew people that helped our team at the Two-Days. I appreciate the help that Sun Rims gave me and all the qualified riders in our effons to go to West Germany." (Sun Rims gave each U.S. ISDT rider a no-stnngs-attached check for 1100 . .. Editor.) Bob's main goal is to "finish the Six Days. If a gold or silver medal can come as a result of my efforts then I will be even more happy. It is very thrilling competing in the ultimate trail ride and riding with the world's best off-road endurance riliers." Individual Riders Dan Dillon KTM Sp'okane, WA Dan Dillon had a pretty impressive record in the 125cc class of the Two-Day Qualifiers - a win and a pair of thirds - but there were so few slots allocated for the 125cc class that he ended up listed as first alternate. So it was good news for him when the West German organizers requested (Continued to page 42) 13

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