Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Dolwanffo dowhaf? Inawhaf? Raeewhere? By Lance Bryson Sitting at my desk contemplating the thought of what was going to go in the next issue of A TV News, I got this call from Keith Reese of American Honda. "Hey, Lance, have you ever driven an Odyssey?" "No, why?" "I thought maybe you and Skip Johnson would like to meet me at Corona Thursday night and race." "To be real honest with you, Keith. I've never even sat in one, let alone race one." "That's okay; it's easy, plus everyone· has a lot offun." "Okay, sure, it sounds neal." After hanging the phone up, I wondered just what I'd gotten myself into, let alone volunteered Skip for_ Thursday afternoon Keith called to make sure everything was set. Due to a whole lot of work, Skip had to bow out, and that left only me to go out and make an ass out of myself. When I arrived at Corona Keith was getting the last of the three Odysseys he brought out teched. One for myself, one for him and one for John Spary, who is an employee at American Honda. John, like myself, had never raced either which made me feel a little more comfortable about the situation. I was very itnpressed by the way Corona handles tech inspections. They do a heck of a job. By the time all of that was finished and a little BSing around, we had missed our oval practice which Keith said was okay. All you do is go out there and go round and round - no big deal. Well, that may be great for him, but I had still not been in one of these thinllS The gas is on the right . just pull the lever with two fmgers on your right hand. The brake'is on the left, go into the comers deep, brake quick and get out of it. Okay, I think I've got that. Now what? Welcome to racing - get out therel Okay. Mter leaving the pits still unsure of what I was doing, I grabbed two fingers full of the Honda 250cc motor. Down the front chute I immediately fell in love, but then again I was only going straight. Into turn one I grabbed two fingers full of brake. I learned something else in tum one - you don't grab the brake too hard on an Odyssey, they grab hard. Now this is fun, it is really neat. The first four laps of the off-road course I just kind of familiarized myself with the Odyssey, getting the gas on, brake for the comers quick, getting out and trying to get everything dialed in as to what I was doinl{. Settle down, don't get excited yet! (I talk to myself a lot.) Mter about seven laps of practice I was ready to come in, but I could see frotn the flagger who wasn't flagging us in I still had a couple more laps left. I think we went about a total of 10 to 12 practice laps. Mter I came in, I was in awe and disbelief that something like this could be so much fun and I've never done it before. Something else hit mel I was very tired and ready to go home. I told Keith thank you very much and I would see him later. Wait!, he notified me that I still hadn't raced yet and that I had a total of four motOll to run. The oval was the first race of the night for us. It didn't have really a, whole lot to it except running around on a quaner mile, but it was that quaner mile that had to be one of the highlights of the evening. There's something about getting in a car whether it be 80 miles an hour or 45 miles an hour and getting into a tum and pitching it sideways. As I sat on the Ime waiting for the green flag to drop I could hear my hean pounding with excitement, my blood rushing through my body with anticipation of the green flag dropping. As soon as I saw the movement In his hand, I was ofiI Not exactly having a whole lot of weight on my body frame, I felt was a . great advantage. Into tum one I felt like I was in a sprint car race with C\'a'Ybody dicing for the lead, Od,.eys going in every direction. It was.neat. The mOllt exciting parts have got to be at the end of each straightaway when you back the rear end in and keep your fingen in it. That lasted about six laps. Mter the race we had about a 20 minute wait before our off·road race. The off·road race is a completely different animal. From the Corona stands lookin~ down on the track, you would swear It was a Disneyland ride. Everything looked so easy and smooth, but once you got out there on your own three-wheel or Odyssey by younelf, it was a whole different ball game. That sucker was rough. Corona has ablolutely built one heck of an off-road track in· side the Corona Raceway. As we got the green flag and headed for tum one you can't help but keep your fingers all the way in it. By the time six laps was finished my body had been thrown in every possible direction it could move, but then again, you're strapped in so you just hang on. It was neat. I've raced motocTOllS, I've even raced go.karts but to race something like this was completely different. What is really neat about the Odysseys is number one, you are strapped in, you have a roll cage, arm restraints which in case you do tum over your anna don't naturally extend thetnselves and try to save younelf resulting probably in a broken arm. But the safety is all there. The 250cc motor has plenty of get up and go for the beginner rider, for the guy or girl who just wants to go out and play around and have a good titne and that .is exactly what we were doing tonight. We went out to have a good time and just play. In fact, in our first moto of off-road I was in back of Keith Reese and I saw him do one of those slow motion roll overs. As soon as he got back on four wheels he had his finger in it and he took off - nothing hurt, no damage, nothing; he was just out there having a good time. I was laughing so hard I damn near crashed. The second moto I seemed to get braver and braver, not only on the off· road but the oval too, taking a little more of a chance on every tum. And hey, that's what it is all about - you get out there and just do the best you can wide open. I found that Odyssey racing was a perfect outlet for anyone who wants to go out and have fun with the family. It gives you a sense of not only excitement but competition and that is what makes the world go 'round. Corona has a fantastic three-wheel and Odyssey program and if it was not for Keith Reese of American Honda and Ron Crandall, the promoter of Corona, I don't think the sport would be as far advanced as it is. Looking around the pits there were all types of Odysseys from the box stock to the wide open unIitnited go fast models. Just hang on, put your foot or fingers in it and gol As I was parting from Corona I could not help think what a good time it had been from the start to the end. 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