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/126433
of the deal. Mter all, they were getting all that great advertising and all we were getting was pans. So we put together a package of what we wanted and took it to Suzuki. At [!Tst no one would even talk to us. but then we finally got in touch with some important people. Things started happening. A few of the public relations, advertising and marketing executives came down to the office and we came to an agreement. Part of this contract was a salary for Byron and me and a lot of developmental freedom . By the way, I've just signed a new twoyear contract with Suzuki. Was money the only reason you went toSuzuki? Money was a prime consideration, but not the only reason. Both Byron and J have an immense respect for the management at Suzuki. They really seem to have their acts together. Suzuki is willing to put an honest effort into improving its product and promoting drag racing. This will eventually bring better social acceptance to drag racing. What do you mean 'social acceptance'? Well, drag racing - Pro Stock in particular is more easily identifiable to the street rider than any other form of racing. After all, my Pro Stock bike looks like a GS 1000. Additionally, Joe public's GS cam be modified in many of the same ways as my race bike. Thats the basis of R.C. Engineering, seIling proven race parts to the guy on the street. Why wasn't Kawasaki interested in sponsoring your effort? I think Kawasaki didn't see this correlation between me doing a low nine and the guy on the street buying a KZ instead of a GS. That is, until now. J think next season you'll be seeing (Opp. page) An esoteric look at Vance's new Suzuki Top Fuel bike. (Above) Four-time Pro Stock champ Terry Vance. fully sponsored riders for Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Honda. Have you tried any other forms of motorcycle racing other than drags? About two years ago, Byron put together a KZ650 for me to do a little road racing on, but J didn't like it. .. it was too scary. Scary? Yes, while in drag racing you're often going faster than a road racer, you're all by yourself. J don't like going 'fast right next to someone else who's going equally fast. Someone could make a mist,!ke and make me crash. How does your wife feel about you going 150 mph in just over nine seconds? Naturally she worries about me, but she understands I'm good at what J do. Good? OK, the best (laughs). The only thing that both.ers her is the Top Fuel bike Byron's just put together. Once its dialed in, it should do low sevens at just·over 200 mph. Needless to say I'm a bit apprehensive. Tell us a little about Byron Hines. 1 feel very lucky to have Byron as my mechanic and friend. As a mechanic he's second to none. Unfortunately the term 'mechanic' doesn't do him justice, genius is more acctrrate. He's capable of producing more horsepower than anyone else, and he does it without all the head game you sometimes see mechanics involved in. Byron's personally responsible for many of the engineering feats at R.C. The triple-engine Honda was Byron's work, as was the dual-engine Sorcerer. Byron also completely built my Pro Stocker and my new Top Fuel bike. Byron also took care of the cylinder heads on Don Vesco's latest streamliner as well as the entire line of R.C. products. • MOTORCYCLE IGNITION PARTS BUY WITH CONFIDENCE . IGNITION AMPLIFIER Accel's Amplifier provides additional spark energy, longer point life, optimum reliability and the ACCEL reputation for quality - what more could your customers a~ for? CONDENSERS The perfect campi iment to ACCEl point sets insure maximum ignition performance in all your customers' bikes. ACCEl Condensers are moisture and vibration proof. Many ACCEl condensers use mylar insulation to eliminate shorting. SILICONE SPARK PLUG ................ . BUY ACCEU ACCEL POINT SETS Give your customers the ignition performance edge they need. ACCEL Point Sets feature a crowned tungsten contact, space age rubbing block material and "'screw-type" electrical connections. Even under sustained high rpm use ACCEL Point Sets deliver reliable winning performance. PERFORMANCE COILS Cash in on the demand for a reliable performance motorcycle coil. ACCEl Motorcycle Coils deliver a 50% increase of energy, reduce plug fouling and eliminate shorting or tower flashover. WIR~ The first choice of smart cyclists, ACCEL Spark Plug Wire Kits feature double silicone insulation, stranded capper wire, stainless steel terminals and silicone boots. ACCEl Silicone Spark Plug Wire is designed to provide maximum energy transfer and is also available in spools of 75 and 100 feet. Send for the latest ACCE l Motorcycle Catalog today. AleE/, P.o. Box 142, Dept.3A Branford, Conn. 06405 17