Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

the use of that resource. If the BLM's only method for managing the desert consists of creating a vast museum, then I am truly sad. To be valuable, the desert must be used and enjoyed. To me, people are more important than powerlines. If we can have a new powerline in the B·to-V course area, then there should be no hesilation in having a race in this area. And not just while the powerline is being built. o 00 0') THUMPER FREAK \liS! Keep on racing by planning America's only weekly motorcycle newspaper Sharon Clayton, Publisher Tom Culp, Marketing Director Caroline Gendry, Sec, the Publisher Nancy Corak, Sec, 'be Mlung. Oir. '0 '0 Editorial Charln Morey, Managing Edi'or. Dale Brown, Editor, Mart Kariya, Editor. Advertising Skip johnson, National Sales Manager. Terry Pran, Sales Manager. Linda Brown, Advenising Coordinator. Duane johnson, Dealer Sales Mgr. Graphics and Production judy Klinger, Produc,ion Manager. Pamela Wood. Production Aaistant. Marion Hatubita, Cindy Tones, Typo· graphy. Omnis Greme, Labora,ory. Accounting Mike Klinger, Manager. jeanne Hammond, Acetl. Receivable, Donna Bryan, AlIt. AceD. Receivable. Terry Dailey, Credit Manager. Circulation Rheba Smitb, Manager. Shirley Shon, Sarab Taylor, Micbelle Allan, Aaistanu. Want Ada Leslie Tharp, Want Ad Sales. Service and Support Chris Aitcbeson, Receptionist. jim Leal, S6;S. 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.. Tucker, GA. P.O. Box 80S, Tucker, GA 50084. (404) 954·7850. Cycle Newl/West (USPS 141·540) is published weekly except the fint and lUI week of the calendar year for $18 per year by Cycle News, Inc., 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beacb, CA 90801. Second cI_ pootage paid a' Long Beacb, CA. POSTMASTER: Send form 3li79 to Cycle News. P,O, Boll ..... Long . .ch.CA..". Subscription rates: One year, JeCODd cJ.- mail, $18; two yean, aecond cI_ mail, "50: three yean. second cI. . mail, $41; 25 weeb, $10. Cycle News welcomes uNOliciled editorial material including Slories. canooDi. pbotOl, etc. Such material, if publiahed, hecomn the exclusive properry of Cycle News. Such accepted material is subject to revision as iJ necesary in ,be IOle discretion of Cycle News. UDIOlicited material which is ncx uaed will be returned if accompanied by a aelf·addreaaed Itamped envelope. All unsolicitated material will be handled with reuonable care. bowevft'. Cycle News .-urnn no responsibility for the safety. Iou or da.ma~ to lUeb material. Reprinting in whole or pan only by penniaaion of ,be publishen. Advertising rates and circulation information will be IIC1lt upon requn'. See S.R.D.S. Copyright. Cycle N_. Inc. ~_, TredemM< Cycle N _ reg..-.cl U.s, htent Oftlc:e. AI rights raerved, ON THE FRONT PAGE: Tho.. 4 of us acc:ustomed to seeing The MIIn, Roger DeCoster, In yellow MX gerb find . . new red, white and blue Jersey no leas then shocking. But on America's adopted MX King. It somehow seems eppropr'r lite. Photo by Len Weed. Re: YoahiCarpenter letter Carol Carpenter's letter in the Feb. 6 issue, criticising Honda for its involvement in racing while extolling the seemingly vinuous Yoshimura racing effort, left a lot of questions unanswered. For example, isn't it true that Suzuki is pouring money into Yoshimura because Yoshimura is the Suzuki racing effort? Didn't Pops go to Japan to have the Japanese Suzuki people put pressure on U.S, Suzuki to give Yoshimura more money? Doesn't this make the Suzuki/Vetter/Yoshi· mura venture a "big-buck" operation? Is Carol suggesting that Yoshimura is not in racing for the money? Is there something wrong with riders" and mechanics shifting to companies that are willing to reward them for their abilities? Isn't it good thai a few riders are finally being paid the money that racers deserve? Does Yoshimura think that riderS should race for nextto-nothing fees? And why did Yoshimura pull David Erode's bike from him mid·season? . Wasn't that a violation of !:lis contract? Why didn't Emde get a copy of this contract? Perhaps Cycle News should investigate some of Yoshimura's activities. In the mean time I must draw the conclusion that perhaps Yoshimura has shortchanged its riders, and that Ms. Carpenter is using our minds as garbage disposals. NAME WITHELD BY REQUEST Better than a movie. , . Superbikes at Daytona 1980 should provide some of the best racing of the year. With Spencer on a Honda and Lawson on a Kawasaki, a Hollywood movie couldn't have come up with a better script. The only thing missing is why Lawson isn't riding a Kawasaki in the 250cc GP class? It would seem the people at Kawasaki didn't do their homework by following the AFM 250cc GP results. Since Lawson and Spencer have only gotten logether once on the pavement at Sears Point, the score at present is one to zip in Spencer's favor, but if Lawson rides Superbikes and 250cc GP, the score will be Lawson two and Spencer one. With competilors like this I think Superbikes are going to be the most exciting this yearl MIKE STEWART Palm Springs, CA Amazing I have just heard the story about the new powerline that will be built along the old B·to-V course. I am amazed. The people in the BLM have told us for years that we couldn't have the B· to-V and Check Chase and so many other races because they did too much damage to the environment. They have assured us that their only concern was t,be protection of the environment, They are so busy concocting grandiose plans for the management of the California desen, that they do not see how ludicrous they have become. Doesn't it seem ironic to you that citizens utilizing small parts of Ihis vast area for recreational purposes are banned while powerlines and miners and tanks are permitted? The BLM seems to have its priorities confused. The only reason for having a BLM is to manage the land for the use and enjoyment of the people, AU of the people. This area is vast, with room for all. There are some parts of the desen that should be maintained as wilderness, with no vehicle access, for all time. But not all. There are some unique features in the desert that need protection. But this does not mean that huge areas must be closed. Consider Ihe corridor along 1·15 between Barstow and Las Vegas. This area is not virgin desert. There are hundreds of roads, trails and paths in this area. There is much commercial development in the a rea. There is no reason that a race cannot be permitted here. With proper course selection through appropriate sand washes, canyons and rocky stretches, and with appropriate use of existing trails, little damage need be done. Management does not consisl of maintaining the whole in a virgin state, Management consists of minimizing the damage incurred while a resource is used and in perpetuating Gas prices and shortages have increased the need for a truck or van with a 400 to 600 mile range, Last year, the shortage of auxiliary gas tanks in the Los Angeles a.re prompted ~ to order some from j.C. Whitney. After months of notices about back orders, I received a form letter stating they had filed bankruptcy. They are still in business as debtor in possession, so buyer beware. Through the U.S. postal inspector I found that there is legal action pending. If you have been "ripped off," get a proof of debt form and file it, listing your losses. Mail the form to the clerk of the U.S. District Court, 219 Soulh Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60604. Make certain to reference your claim 10 case no. 79-B-5784. While talking to dealers at the recent motorcycle trade show, they acknowledge knowing about the j.C. Whitney problem. This company is also one of the biggest suppliers of noisy, illegal exhaust systems which have made most Federal and State laws ineffective. Through Jack Wilson of Big "0" Cycle in Dallas, TX, I found out thatJ.C. Whitney's gas tank supplier is Pickup & Equipment Company, Inc., 311 Hewitt Dr., P.O. Box 217, Hewitt, TX 76643. They are presently having a sale on auxiliary tanks for trucks and vans. Some Cycle News readers have been riding the Cherry Creeit Hare & Hound for years. This year, the race will be over the Memorial Day weekend on May 25, If you dig the desert, you'll love Cherry Creek. It is very similar to the original Big Bear Hare and Hound. Jack Johnson is going for his third straight win. With the ever present threat of t!:le BLM, and the fact that gas will never be any cheaper, let's do it while we still can. The trips to and from the races with good friends are always memorable and it does lower the cost and conserve energy. PAT OWENS Temple City, CA So that', why they're called FTroop ... On behalf of the Pollta Dots M.C" I would like to congratulate RIllS Bowles and F Troop M.C, for the excellent job of promoting their recent hare scrambles. Each of our members who rode the event, know that a lot of time and effort went into making it a success. It's a mystery to us how a group of misfit motorcycle bums who look at other women, use Uncle Luscious, look at pornographic movies and are always loud and drunk after events, could have all the effort necessary to put an excellent event together. Seriously, we all are proud to have been associated with the event, and we hope that other clubs like yours will continue the effort of promoting competitive motorcycling. We are all looking forward to your next event. FRANK SHOWERS Secretary. Pollta Dots M.e. P.S, How about an Enduro?

• Cover