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/126493
The frrst three years of my riding experience I took for granted the enormous open areas of the desen.. Much of my riding style is based on this openess. My father and I spent much of a riding weekend planning cross·country trips through the riding area. We would pick a far·off mountain range and ride over there and back.. This is quite impossible in Missouri due to the almost total absence of public land. WIST 0') CN $-< Q,) ~ o .... u o Because of this loss, I realize how much it meant to me. This is the point I want to make. I hope that you desen riders realize, if you hadn't already. how precious the desen. "our public land," is. Do everything you can to keep the riding areas open. I am going to help in the fight for the desen because I plan to return to California and the desen after I get out of high school. -I want myself and others after me to be able to use the public land given to us for our enjoyment and appreciation. America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Sharon Clayton, Publisb~r. Caroline Gendry. Ex~culive Secretary to the Publisher. Susan Knecht, Executive Secretary. Editorial Charles Morey, Managing Editor. Dale Brown, Editor. Mark Kariya. Editor. CHRIS LERCH Kansas, City, MO Advertising Skip Johnson, National Sales Manager. Terry Pratt, Sales Manager. Linda Br~wn. Advertising Coordinator. Graphics and Production Kristin Coo~r. Graphic Artise Barbara Travers. Assistant. Marion Hatashita, Typognphy. Dennis Greene, Laboratory. One race maketh not a season Accounting Mike Klinger. Manager. Jeanne Hammond. Accts. Receivable. Donna Bryan, Asst. AcctJ. Rece,ivable. Terry Dailey. Credit Manager. Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager. Shirley Short, Sarah Taylor, Michdle Allan, Assistants. Duane Johnson, Dealer Sales Manager. Want Ads Leslie Tharp. Wont Ad Sales. Services and Support Chris Aileheson, Jamison. 5&5. Receptionist. joe West 2201 Cherry Ave.. Long Beach. CA P.O. Box 498. Long Beach. CA 90801 (215) 427-74gg; L.A. Line 6g6·8844. East 4190 FiB' Ave .. Tucker. GA. P.O. Box 805. Tucker. GA g0084. (404) 9g4-7850. Cycle Ne..s/Weat (USPS 141.g40) is published weekly except the first and lasl wee:lt of the calendar year for $20 per year by Cycle Ne.... Inc .. 2201 Cherry Avenue. Long Beach. CA 90801. Second das. postage paid allang Beach. CA. POSTMASTER; Send form 3li79 to Cycle News. P.O. Box 498. Lonll Beech, CA 90101. Subscription rates: One year. second class mail. $20; (Wo years. second class mail, S!5; three years. second class mail, 15g; 25 ....,Iu. Ill. Cycle N~s welcomes unsolicited editorial materia.l including slorics. arlOOns, photos, ctc. Such material. if pub· lished. bttomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Such accepted material is subject to revision as is necessary in the sole discretion of Cycle Ncws. Unsolicited material which is nOt used will ~ returned if accompanied by a self· addressed stamped envclo~. AU un· solicited material will be ha-ndled with reasonable care. however, Cycle Ncws assumes no responsibility for the safety. loss or dam~ge to such material. Reprinting in whole or part only by permission of the publishers. Advertising ratcs and circulation information will ~ ICnt upon reQucst. See S.R.D.S. Copyright <6 Cycle News. Inc. 1980. Tredemerk Cycle News registered U.S. Petent Office. All rillhts re· ...rved. 4 ON THE FRONT PAGE: Top Fuel winner in three stnlight dreg recing meets, 80 O'8rochta's letest triumph wes et the NHRA/NMRA Winston World Finals et Ontario. Photo by Charles Morey. On Class C racing As the sponsor of Rich King, number 23K from Waterloo, lA, a fine, up' standingJunior din tracker, I find my· self hard· pressed to sponsor him as an expert in 1981. The big hurdle is what to ride. It's sad when an enthusiast, sponsor. or racer is forced to stop racing because they will not conform and cannot afford to conform to the "Harley only" method of dirt track racing. It is hard for those of us who have been associated with racing on a long term basis watch this slow death of racing as sponsors, racers. and spectators diminish race by rac~. year by year. Lack of courag~ and conviction by the Rules Committee of the AMA to make the necessary changes to revive this part of the sport does not set well with me or many others who would like to continue to . be loyal din racing fans. Harley·Davidson has proven Its su periority in dirt track events, but for the betterment of the sport. it's time to say goodbye to those very expensive·to· buy, ·build, and ·operate 750s and welcome with fuller grandstands a new, better, less expensive, and more plentiful form of racing, namely ~he 500cc motorcycle. I'm not advocating banning 750's in 1981 but restricting air flow to 26mm for the 750s as the Juniors have been doing for two years. This can only increase the number of race fans watching their own "home town" boys at local, regional, and national events. It will provide more brand identification. more strong competition. and get Class C off auto· pilot. Implementation of air flow restriction rules on 750cc motorcycles need not wait until 1982 as proposed by the AMA Rules Committee. The~e are no big mysteries about how to do It nor is there a great deal of expense. It could actually be operational in a matt"r of days. It would give all th~ determined to build 500s some hope m being competitive now. .. "Our" AMA Rules Committee IS planning a meeting December 4 and 5, 1980 to fmalize 1981 rules. It is my hope to have you loyal motorcycle racing fans send a postcard or letter to Mike DiPrete, Commissioner of Pro Racing, AMA, P.O. Box 141, Westerville, OH 43081. and show tbe Rules Committee how many people are really interested in reviving dirt track racing by having them take direct action now on the airflow restrictor rule to become effective in 1981 rather than 1982. JOHN KITE Des Moines, IA Help the Duck: join CORVA I was very impressed with the contents of Thumper Freak's letter in the October 1 edition of Cycle News. It is apparent that CORVA has acquired some very progressive leadership. The fact that CORVA is donating one·third of the price for new member· ship to the Phantom Duck Legal Fund is unprecedented; but more important is the uniting of organizations toward a common goal - our freedom to use the land. Yes, I am joining CORVA. This organization's determination deserves oursuppon. D.Y. AUTO Ventura. CA P.S. I sent CORVA an additional $5.00 donation. Open spaces missed As a displaced Californian and avid motorcyclist. I have some things to say about the controversy going on about the Californian desert. I have been riding dirt bikes for four years now. the first three spent in the desert. I lived with my family in Glendora, CA. which is only a shon haul up Cajon Pass to the sagebrush and sand. As can be seen by the return address, I now live in the Midwest. There seems to be quite a bit more trees and mud here than in the desert. Riding back here is certainly fun though. 1 have ridden four enduros SO far and have thoroughly enjoyed them. once I got used to dodging the trees. However, I realized that there is one major difference between riding in the California desert and in Missouri. The ability to make long, cross· crountry trips is what I have largely lost in my move. In reference to Roxy Rockwood's 'appraisal of the Junior race at the San Jose Mile in his National Papers column, I personally feel that the Junior ranks were very talented. We were competing in that event with a 750cc unit and were thoroughly waxed by the dirnunitive 350cc in question. personally thought it was quite a commendable endeavor and congrat . late those responsible. Rockwood throws the entire affair out of COntext by intim· ating a lack of talent and suggesting a rule change to make the Junior class more competitive. Yet the following week at the Half Mile Regional at Ascot the Junior race was down to the last lap before the outcome was decided. La and behold, the little 350cc was there. but was nowhere in sight at the finish. Everyone enjoys close racing, but unfortunately such is not the case all of the time. After returning from six weeks on the circuit I found that 90% of all the racing attended was both close and very exciting. He should know what transpired at San Jose with the 350cc; It was their day to hook up ... the right tires, tire pressure, rider. gearing, engine, and chassis. If we were to change the rules anytime someone did this. we'd be in dire straits. Most people from So Cal have a very narrow perspective on racing because a majority never travel on the circuit or leave this area. "It's a big country." It is difficult to obtain an objective the prejudicial perspective with reponing in this area by self interest groups through the media available. The riders and related personnel in the Midwest and East seem to like the rules as is. Roxy's opinion (as is mine) is one of many. but he has a column 'to voice them in. Ascot is not the only track in the U.S. and I feel Class C in this area was affected more by the decline of AMA sportsman half mile and TT than any other single factorl Did you happen to see the new Yamaha 750cc V·twin? Sorry Roxy, no cigar... EARL E. RO,LOFF Imperial Beach, CA Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Inc. Send letters to Voices. Box 498. Long Beach, CA90801.