Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

• • III ( 1 ~ ~£ 10MI?,. Ii . 0 '" 00 0') ....-4 ' =!3S ;l#iI ~ .1 T ~ QJ I:: = -, ilDlD~Veine.~: (~n ~he J~QI_e_j~ on~(~n.A_1 Nobody will know the answer to that question until the end of the season when long-time motocrosser, thrice National Champion (twice in the 5005, once in Supercross) and outspoken gadfly-aboutracing Jimmy Weinert finishes 'h is first year on a Can-Am as a privateer. It will also mark the first time in a l-o-n-g time that he will have spent any kind of racing time on something else besides a Kawasaki (that's if you discount his short ride with Yamaha a few years ago) since the days of Team Acid Rock in '73. Additionally, . no matter whether he finishes first, last, midpack or quits early, the definitive answer won't come from anybody else but Weinert himself. That may not be satisfactory to his fans and detractors, but Weinert will at least have an answer that he will find sufficient for himself to live by, regardless of what anybody else thinks. For almost seven years, Weinert was as green as the Kawasaki jersey on his back, as green as little green apples, certainly as green as all the money he must've been making which allowed him to afford the nicer things in life. Except for his short stay at Yamaha, Weinel't's relationship with the Big K was as stable and consistent as his racing. He was with them for so long, it was one of those given things that any average motocross fans could accept for granted. The Jammer was even a solid component of Kawasaki's 1980 motocross team. Well, it looked that way, because it was no small surprise to many when it was announced the he had left Kawasaki earlier this year. . "Where to?" was the question asked most often of Weinert's next move. Rumors' had him "definitely signed" with Husqvarna or Maico, but they were just rumors all the same. In fact, Weinert had quietly, though accidentally, tested out his fiance's brother's S Can-Am 250 MX-6 and decided it was the bike to ride. From there rn he 'str uck up a working relationship with Reseda Honda/Can-Am dealer Andy Kolbe to establish a privateer ride but without all the politics and bureaucracy that comes with riding under a factory banner. , But having a change in bike makes and campaign strategies is d only one set of changes that have come into Weinert's life. A l divorce about two years ago changed his financial status a bit. And after living in Laguna Beach for several years, Jimmy decided . that the psychic oppression that the locale generated made it neces- d sary to move somewhere else. J Weinert presently lives in a new home in the northwestern part of the San Fernando Valley, apparently free from past burdens if and ready to jam on into the future and whatever it may hold for him. It was mid-April at the time of this interview, with decent weather and sunny skies. Jimmy's house doesn't stand out from the rows of other tract-built specials in the neighborhood, but inside tells the story: Trophies decorate parts of the living room and other spots, a radio-controlled model road racer graces the fireplace 'mantie ~ along with several pictures of Weinert in action . One wall of the garage is covered with helmets, documenting a long racing career as if, instead, Jimmy had been on hunting safaries. Jimmy was busy working, surprisingly enough not on a motorcycle, but on a Yamaha go-kart. He was preparing to do :> battle later in the afternoon with good buddy Bruce Jenner. Once again, Jimmy Weinert was preparing himself to go out hunting. It took you a year to get mel Yeah. Well, I mean I had nothing to talk about ". And I would've probably been really depressed . True. But you feel a whole lot better now, right? That was a couple of years ago, wasn't it? Yeah . The last time I was very successful was - well, last year was pretty successful , but Kawasaki didn't think so. Why? By Rex Reese 16 It sounds "up" to me , if it sounds "up" to you . Are you successful? I think I'm successful. I was going through a quiet period where I was very tired , J I don't know. I got second in the stadium series, fourth in the 250 (Nationals), I wasn't real happy with that , but I had good finishes. You see, if you don 't win - seeing as I had been Number One - they probably say, "well, second's probably the best he'll

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