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/126440
-the wallet in Burbank and promptly lost the information. The next several days he spent a lot of time with the Burbank information operator with very little information he could remember to go on. This past Wednesday, the Dahlgreens once again called the boy's parents and Thursday night Mike and our son weOl to Burbank to retrieve the lost wallet; and the Dahlgreen family refused any reward money. Thanks to people like the Dahlgreens, CRC Desert Racing remains our favorite family sport, Thanks 12J. THE HANSINGS IIJ, 12, II Wand Pit Mama Ridgecrest, CA 111ft America's only weekly motorcycle newspaper Frightening apathy Sharon Clayton, Publisher Tom Culp. Mark.eting Dirtttor Caroline Gcndry. Sec. to the Publisher Nancy Gorak. Sec. to the Mktng. Dir. Advertising Skip Johnson, Sales Manager. Terry Pratt. Sales Manager. linda Brown, Advertising Coordinator. Editorial Charles Morey. Managing Editor. Dale Brown, Editor. Bobi McGann. Editor. Graphics and Production judy Klinger, Production Manager. Pamela Wood, Production Assistant. Manon Halashita. Cindy Torres. Typo· gnphy. Dennis Greene, Laboratory. Accounting Mike Klinger. Manager. Jeanne Hammond, ACCLS. Receivable. Donna Bryan. Asat. Acca. Receivable. Terry Dailey, Credit Manager. Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager. Shirley Short, Sarah Taylor. Assistants. Reader/Dealer Service Gin Harper, Want Ad Sales. Harry Fisher, ~aler Sales Mana~r. Service and Support Chris Aitchcson, Dickinson. S&S. Receptionist. Sam West 2201 Cherry Ave.. Long Beach. CA P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801 (215) 427· 7455; L.A. Line 656·8844. East 4190 Fint Ave.. Tuck.er, GA. P.O. Box 80S, Tucker, GA 50084. (404) 954·7850. Cycle News/West (USPS 141·540) is published weekly except the first and last week of the calendar ~ar for SI8 per year by Cycle News, Inc .. 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach. CA 90801. Second class postage paid at Long 8ech, CA. POSTMASTER: Send' form 3579 to Cycl. News, P.O. Box 498, long Beech, CA ~1. Subscription rates: One year, second class mail, S18; two years, second class mail, S~O: three years, second class mail, $41; 25 weeks, $10. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material induding Stories, cartoons, photos, etc. Suc.h material, if published. becomes . . .tbe exclusive property of Cycle News. Such accepted mate...ial is subject to ~vision as is necessary in the sole discretion of Cycle News. Unsolicited material which is not used will be- returned if accompanied by a self·addressed stamped envelope. All unsolicitated rtaterial will be handled with rt:uonable care, however, Cycle News aSlumes no responsibility for the safety. loss or damal{C to such material. Reprinting in whole or pan only by ~rmission of ttK- publishers. Advenising rates and circulation information wilt be sent upon re~uest. See S.R.D.S. Copyright Cycle N._. Inc, 1979. TrMl.......k Cycl. News regln.M1 U.S. P81.nt OffIce. All rights r-..ed, ON THE FRONT PAGE: N..ty a quarter century separate these two photos. one taken by Walt Mahony of Joe I...eonMI in 1960. the other taken last Sunday. Dec. 1. by Charles Morey of Kent Howwton winning The Suparbikers competition at Carlsbad. 4 Bob Meyers says thanks' I would like to thank Betty and Gary Lewis of No-Name Promotions, everyone who donated prizes and contingencies, Sacramento Motorcycle Patrol, and all the wonderful people who attended the CMC Benefit race for me on Nov. II. It was a day I will always remember. I would also like to take this time to thank some special people for their concern and support through out my racing years, especially my mechanic Bill Fernandez, Jim Baird and all the good people at Maico West, Geoff at Moto-X Fox, Scottie at Bosch, Bruce at Hi·Point, my local sponsor Mike at Cycle City for their help. Also all the really tough northern California riders, Shultz, Magoo, Lesniewski and a bunch of guys too numerous to mention. Last but not least, my girlfriend Betsy and my best fans, my Mom and Dad. Maybe I'll see you at the races and long live motocross. BOB MEYERS 1979 D-36 Blue Plate II Antioch, CA A study in contrast On Saturday, Nov, 24, the BLM blockaded section of desert with their signs, bodies, badges, jeeps and helicopters. The desert they were supposedly protecting was no more fragile than the rest of the Barstow to Vegas course. Meanwhile. the California Highway Patrol casually looked the other way as hundreds of dirt billes went 10 miles down the pavement on Cima Road. Apparently, CHiPs have the compassion to allow several hundred people to enjoy an un-hassled trail ride once a year. BLM please take note: After the veto override of the Sagebrush Rebellion bill, you'll realize your blockade was just another nail in your coffinl a THOMAS K. McGEACHIN Santa Monica, CA Polka Dot kudos This is just to add my two cents worth to this year's 4ger Enduro. I've enjoyed their race for the-rast three years, and want to go on record as saying that this year, the Polk.a Dots have really out-done themselves. I don't often write letters of complement, (not often enough, I'm sorry to say) but this one is called for. Yes, I realize that two checks had to be thrown out, and probably justified al that. But mistakes happen, and I can overlook that when I see the honest effort they put forth. I wonder if we riders really realize what kind of work goes into setting up a successful race like this one. The course was fast, but not too fast. Challenging for most but passable for all. New and different trails for Ihe veteran of this ride, and breath tailing countryside for everyone, Riding ability was tested from the tight woods trails, up to fast fireroads, The course was well marked, (in my opinion) and ample flagmen were on hand where needed. The Polka Dots have obviously tried 10 learn from every past experience as neither I, nor my riding parmer ran into a single bottleneck, A well laid out course prevented any serious uphills in case of bad weather. A common problem for this time of year. ThaJlk you Polka Dots, for a good ride. You'll be seeing me again next year. DUANE PURDU.E Aubum,CA Open letter to the Dahlgreen family Desert racers are a special breed of peoplt,. The Saturday before the CRC Rosarito Beach Grand Prix, our 18year-old son had to work till 5 p.m. here in Ridgecrest. So he and two of his buddies drove to Rosarito late Saturday night. We raced the next morning over one of the best courses of the year. Just after the boys crossed back over into the U.S., they discovered the driver was missing his wallet with over $200. They searched the car well with no luck, hoping it was in the camper. By the lime we had reached Ridgecrest, the Dahlgreens had contacted the boy's parents advising they had the wallet with everything intact. The boy took the address and telephone number to work the next day planning to go pick up Dam.n it, I'm mad and the subject of my anger is not the BLM but something much more threatening to the future of off-road motorcycling. If you haven't guessed what I'm talking a bout, I'll lay it out straight: it's rider apathy. After deciding to get involved, and sending some bucks to the Duck, I attended the Hungry Valley planning meeting held by the State Parks and Recreation Department. To my amazement and frustration, I found a nearly empty auditorium· with a small audience containing about 15 other dirt bike riders besides myself, and some fourwheel-drive club representatives. Out of the thousands of dirt bike riders in L.A, county, only 16 had the initiative and concern to attend a meeting which will have a profound effect 01) the future of state-owned riding areas around Los Angeles. The level of apathy is frightening. If the low turnout wasn't bad enough by itself, then some of the riders' comments made it even worse. The presentation by members of the State Parks and Recreation Department was very well planned and professionally conducted. Two of the members had gone through the trouble of learning to ride just so that they could gain the perspective of those they are attempting to serve, and readily admitted that they enjoyed the entire experience, After showing the proposed plan for the park, which will encompass approximately 30 square miles, the meeting was turned over to questions from the audience. When the subject of user fees came up, the reaction from the audience was utterly amazing. Most of those present stated flatly that if entrance fees were imposed they would not use the park. Period. I was startled, The State Parks Department members outlined the fee structure at Hollister Hills, which currently involves a $1.50 per towing vehicle fee, a $1 per day use fee per motorcycle, and a $2 per night camping fee. Compared to Saddleback or Indian Dunes, or even the Department's non· ORV parks, this fee schedule seemed quite reasonable, but I was in the minority. Most of those present felt that any fees at all were unreasonable, a stand which caught the Parks Department members completely off guard. The State Parks Department is putting forth a fine effort to sel up a workable OHV park at Hungry Valley in order to guarantee L.A. county dirt riders a place to ride in the future. So what do they get in return? They get a slap in the face from riders with thousands of dollars worth of equipment who don't waOl 10 pay a reasonable use fee. If this is the way dirt riders are going to act, then the Sierra Club can forget about us; Wf: are going to do ourselves in. RICK KOENIG Torrance, CA