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/126548
tight tum. drifted into the other lane and centerpunched a jeep. Minton was unhurt and credited the Streamliner's bodywork for protecting his leg from contact with the 4wheeler. But the Streamliner was badly crippled. The jeep driver likely thought he was under attack by motorcycles from outer space. Team Honda didn't fare much better, plagued with what project leader Dix Erickson called "a myriad of technical problems." Foremost among their hassles were visibility troubles with the Lexan canopy. Rider Brian Uchida found himself disoriented at times and unable to pilot the pod safely. As Erickson put it, "We tend to not realize how much visual imponance goes into riding a motorcycle." The custom CBI25 was surely the most aerodynamically slick vehicle in the event. The chassis was fitted with smaller wheels and a rigid rear end, and featured an elaborate ducting system using the rear wheel as a centrifugal pump to draw air through the cockpit. The fully enclosed machine was equipped with retractable outrigger wheels amidships. Dan Hanebrink's team of teeniescreamers also suffered numerous mechanical woes and didn't finish on time. The 20-inch bicycle frames carried 37cc weed cutter engines and 10speed bike gears. , Most of the spectator attention went to the trio of three-wheelers on hand. each as different from the other as they all were from two-wheelers. Chuck Ophorst's Feora was the most radical design, resembling a cross between a Messerschmidt and a manta ray. But the beautifully detailed trike failed to finish, and with Doug Malewicki's California Commuter running a diesel engine for demoustration only. the top trike was Chuck Clayton's HyBird. While the combo VW-rear/ electric-front power system didn't post any record-breaking mileage figures. the Claytous obviously rode in more comfort than any of the other contestants. The winner of the $300 prize for first place in the production class was Mike Hishiki of Hawthorne. Riding a stock Honda XL80 with clip-ous and road tires, he logged 189 mpg. Mike's only regret was n9t wearing a jacket; a 10mile stretch of cold coastal fog had him chattering, but the prize money warmed him right up. Charlie Perethian of Santa Margarita took the $200 for second place on his Honda XL250, posting a figure of 147 mpg. Third place and $100 went to Steve Posson of San Luis Obispo; 129 mpg on a GS425 Suzuki. "( lugged it a lot," said Steve. The industry class trophy (a marvel in itself) was captured by Steve Kimball of Cycle World riding a Honda Passport. The winning number: 198 mpg. As you may have figured, the rules in the industry class were not too strict. And although the purpose of the event was to display motorcycle economy in real road conditious, it was a contest. And the purpose of entering a contest is to win. And the way to win on a noped is to trail a slightly larger machine acting as a windbreaker. Which is fine. The only problem witli having a friend in front of you breaking wind is that it smells bad. In the end. So to speak. For next year Vetter plans to route the contest up Highway One for the Laguna Seca race at Monterey. The conditious imposed by the coast road will bring a new set of interesting and entertaining approaches to the problems of high-efficiency travel. Entrants are advised that while part of the equation is "What'll it do?," another part, of equal value. reads. "Is it fun to ride?" • EXCLUSIVE PT ES AVAILABLE AT PARTICIPATING DEL TACOS 00 0') ONE NIGHT ONLY SAT. NOV. 14 SAN DIEGO JACK MURPHY STADIUM M Q,) ..c GATES OPEN 6:00 PM RACING STARTS 8:00 PM 8 Q,) SELECT-A-SEAT OUTLETS - TICKETRON L.A. AND SAN DIEGO LOCATIONS > o Z $3.00 DISCOUNT COUPON AT SAN DIEGO COUNTY TOYOTA DEALERS ------------- Del Taco Hot Stuff Sweepstakes and Coca Cola Supercross Finals WIN A HONDA. CR250R MOTOCROSSER PLUS: WINNER TAKE ALL! • 51000 STEREO SYSTEM FROM MAD JACKS • $600 IN DG RIDING GEAR • A YEARS SUPPLY OF DEL TACO LUNCHES (51 TIlCOS _ S"'AU. IICYCIIAGl:I (WINNER PAYS TAX AND LICENSE) • A YEARS SUPPLY OF COCA· COLA ooclIsno, IZ01 CANS, • A YEARS SUBSCRIPTION TO DIRT BIKE AND MOTOCROSS ACTION MAGAZINES. DRAWING WILL BE HELD DURING RACE ON SAT., NOV. 14, WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED. (NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN) (ONE ENTRY PER PERSON) NAME ADDRESS DelTaco.. _ _ CITY STATE ZIP _ DEPOSIT THIS COUPON AT YOUR NEAREST DEL TACO OR AT THE _V_NT - -------------------------------------COMBINATION BURRITO You Get TWO 01 Our Fabulous Burritos 898 M.de with I.an beef, savory refried beans, grated eheddar chHse. t.ngy sauce all wrapped in a w.rm fresh flour tortilla. Also a Med. size 20 oz. Coke. All For $1.99 (You Save At Least $1.50) VALID ONLY FROM NOV. 15, THRU DEC. 15, AT PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS B_E A LOYAL AMA MOTOCROSS FAN USE THIS COUPON IMMEDIATELY 11