Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

00 0') WIST l' ... QJ ..c o ~ u o America's weekly motorcycle newspaper 'Sharon Clayton. Publisher CaroliDr Ceodr}', Executi-e Secreary to the Publisher. Victoria Smith, A.iltant. Advertising/Editorial Editorial Dale BI'OWII. Senior Edilor. Mark Kariya. Editor. Lance Bf)'IOn, Editor. Advertising Skip Joh.....n. National Sal.. Manal!"r. Terry Prau. Sal.. Manall"'" Duane Johman. w..t Sal.. Manall"'" Linda Brown, Advertiaing Coordinator. Graphics end Production Kriltin Cooper. Graphic Artist. Barbara Traven, Aaiaant. Marion Hatuhita. Typosrapby. Dennis Greene. Laboratory. Accounting Mike Klinll"". Manall"". Donna Bryan. Acro. Receivable. Shelly laionz. AlaI. Aceu. Receivable. Terry Dailey. Credi, Manager. Circulation Rheba Smith. Ma!>aIl"". Micbelle Ilemier. Sarah Taylor. Laura McQueen. LaNeue Va.ar, Auistanta. Went Ads Jocelyn McNunn. Want Ad Sal... Services end Support Chris Aiteheson. Recep'ionist. Gregory HalllOn. S&S. West 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach. CA P.O. Box 498. Long Beach. CA 90801· 0498 (215)427·7455; L.A. Line 656·8844. Ee8t .190 Fint Ave., TuckeT, GA. P.O. Box 805. Tucker. GA 50084·0805. (404) 954·7850. . Cycle News/West (USPS 141-540) is pub· lished weekly exCepl lhe lint and lut week of the calendar year for 520 per year by Cycle N...... lnc.. 2201 Cherry A-enue. Long Beach. CA 90801·0498. Second cl... pOllal!" paid at Long Beach. CA. POSTMASTER: Send form 3&79 to Cycle News. P.O. Bolt - . Long Beech, CA 1l*I1-0498. SUblCriptiOD rates: On~ ~ar second cl. . mail. 520; two yean, ICCOnd cI. . mail. $55; three yean. ICC.ond clut ma~l. 555; 25 wccb. 511. Foreign rat.. a.. l1· able on request. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial matcrial including stOriCl, cartoo.... photos. etc. Such material. if published. becom.. the exchmve property of Cycle N...... Such accepted material is subject to revision u is ~ry ~ ,the IOle dilcretion of Cycle N..... UlIIOhclted material which is Dot uxd will be returned if aceompanied by a oelf adclre.ed stamped envelope. All ~. IOliciled material will be handled Wlth re_nable care. however. Cycle N..... iUIUIIlCI no respo...ibility for the safety. 1011 or damage to IUcb material. Reprinting in whole or. part only by .!'C'" million of ,he publilhen. Advertlllng rates and circulation infonnation will be ICDt upon requ.... Sec S.R.D.S. CopyrIght· Cycle News. Inc. 1111. TrIId....... Cycle News reglaterecl U.S. 1 ' _ Office. All rights . . ..-d. I ON THE FRONT PAGE: Win- ston Pro tItIllt Mike Kldd II ftlmked by ennouncer Ted Ot· 110. Mia WInston Lynn Griffis. end &ariel,. KkkI. They're en flenked by the new Honda 1IOcc . . . . eDDIed. V Pho1m byMMc K.-ty8 ~. Ic:8n Honda. 4 Hey.. vs. MIC lobbyl8t I read with interest Papa's account of MIC's actions with regard to a reo cent bill before the state legislature. Legislation that, as amended, would have placed the entire OHV fund at the mercy of the radical environmen· talists. In view of the near total disaster to the state OHV program which alm~t occurred, I think some further clan· fication of the events of two weeks ago is in order. This year the MI.C is. ~ing. a contract lobbyist who 15 famIlIar WIth the ways of circumventing the no~al legislative hearing process. Some time ago the MIC decided that the OHV proSram should be allowed to provide operating and maintenance funds to federal agencies to be used for OHV trails on federal land. The user groups have generally opposed this concept without strict guidelines because they are aware that BLM and Forest Service would like to have Green Stickie money pay for the salaries of Forest and Desert Rangers and finance other programs that are restrictive to OHV use. Since the MIC lobbyist knew that the users would oppose any bill which would make this unrestricted change to the OHV.Jund, he attempted to amend a non·controversial Senate Bill which was then being heard in the As· sembly. Unfortunately for MIC, their lobbyist went to a Senate aide to ahve the .amendment written. According to eN, MIC told Papa that this aide is a "closet environmentalist." This is not true. There is nothing "closet" about him. Anyone who has followed the OHV issue over the years would know better than to allow this individual to take charge of writing OHV amend· ments. MIC's lobbyist may be a "high priced, high pressure, w~eeler.dealer" in some areas, but when It cOmes to off highway vehicles, in my opinion he is totally incompetent. After I pointed out to him they were duped, their lobbyist insisted tha~ I have no business "messing around WIth OHV 1egisIation." This arrogant "hired gun" lobbyis.t actually seems to believe that since he is being paid to handle these bills, that individuals with a lifelol1J interest in the program have no businaI being concerned. Let me at this time make it very clear that it was not MIC that discovered the double-cross language. CORVA and I uncovered the problem, and I brought it to the attention of MIC. I have every reason to believe that had it not been for the vigilence of a user organizatin like CORVA and my own effom to publicize this attempted doublecross, that it might have gone unnoticed even by its sponsor, the MIC. I would have expected their lobbyist to thank me for keeping the "egg off his face" rather than telling me to "butt out." As I see it the problem is if MIC wishes to decide what is in the best interests of the users, they must work with the user organizations. I think that if the MIC wants to handle legislation to "help" us, the users, that they should use a lobbyist who will work with the user orgamza· tions.. If they don't wish to work with the groups, then perhaps they should just refrain from "help~ng" ~. The OHV program 15 too Important to the users to allow a "professional" with no understanding of the users and their needs to keep bumbling around with our program. ' I should close by adding that I have since received a letter from MIC promising to work with me in trying to come up with an appropriate bill next year. I hope that this is indicative that the MIC and the users can work together towards what should be our common goal - the development of better riding areas. BOB HAYES Assemblyman, Retired Sacramento, CA Of heros end champions Real live American heros have been as distant as swimming pools on the Sahara in the past two decades. America's Gold Medal hockey team was the greatest emotional high we've had in years - too many years. That American Olympic victory is the only parallel that can be drawn as a cOl?parison to the incomparable dual'Wln of our very own motocross team in the Trophee and MOtocr055 des Nations events. When I heard of the Trophee des NatiollS win I just plain got goose bumps aU over, a lump in my throat and a tn!IDeIIdoua bloated feeling of pride. After bearing of the Motoer055 des Nations victory, I could not have ever been any more proud of being American and an avid motorcyclist. The American motocross team victories should never have occurred, and that's what makes those wins even more tbe emotional charge. These riders had everything going against them when they stepped into the lion's dens in Belgium and West Germany. All they had going for them was the support of the thousands of American motorcyclists, industry members and notable few who slapped the effort to· gether at the midnight hour. The 'des Nations fund became a viable reality much to the surprise of a couple of motorcycle firms who, at .the. last minute, pulled the plug (tbelr nders) from the original number one team. And the effort should have ended there. A few never say die fools; namely Dick Miller, Larry Maiers, Roger DeCoster and others; puUed together a "second-rate" B-team of riders. As the midnight oil burned, spares Honda motorcycles were hurried together (and these bikes were far from the best-type equipment tbey would race against). People scurried .for tra.vel, accommodations, parts, PIeces, nder preparation, etc., etc. It was akin of the proverbial Chinese Fire Drill: At this point there were even Amencan competitors in.Europe who said 'they'll get their doors blown om' But everyone forgot to measure the talent depth of American motocroa racers. Most of all they ignored good 01' American drive and emotion when pitted against adversity. Our team dealt with negative encounters before they ever even raced thanks to a few rude Europeans. Amongst them the ones who were put out that America sent only their "back up" team. And our team was greeted with announcements that our "second-rate team" shouldn't have showed up. And the track in Belgium is renowned as the most demanding in Europe. But it's all history now. Our riders - LaPorte, Hansen, O'Mara, Sun beat the best the world of motocroa could field twice in the most prestigious Intra·National races on the globe. If they are second·rate Americans, then Europe can only wonder and wait to ever see first-rate U.S. motocrossers. And if those Hondas were second·rate world class motocrossers, then Europe can only wonder what first·rate bikes can be. I can't express sufficient appreciation to the splendorous performance of America's World Championship Trophee and Motocross des Nations team. The emotional boost you gave me can only be second to the "high" you ~ll have. American Honda and Its involved personnel also deserve special thanks for chancing their involvement with a 'second·rate' team effort. And I congratulate Hond~ on. the greatest coup in recent raClng urnes. the other individuals and compames that threw in their fmest efforts in the waning hours deserve the thanks of all American motorcyclists. Thanks again guys. You made lo~ of us feel truly great. The next step 15 an American world motocroa champion. You know what Bruce Penhall brought to America this year ~nd Kenny Roberts the thr~ years pn~r. Let's keep the string gomg and bnng home at least one, if not more, world motocross title in 1982. Who wiU be first? DAVE HOLEMAN Montrose, CA !

• Cover