Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ ~ "I've been talking to Mike DiPrete (AMA commissioner of professional racing). He's been. sensitive and cooperative and it makes me feel like I'm making some headway. Privateers keep racing alive, and we need an alteration to get the privateer back in the hunt. Like at Pocono (Pennsylvania, where Singleton took the U.S. CN Road Racing Championship title) the 00 factory Hondas (four-strokes) had so (j') much horsepower on me it was unbe.-4 lievable. When the restrictor rule was ~ made in '78 it was fine. but now it's c<") obsolete." Since we talked to .-4 Singleton. he has been invited to address the AMA rules committee on t'd the subject of restrictors. ~ Dale hoped to have his sponsors and race schedule ready by December. but t'd was still drumming up backing. ~ "Beaulieu will be behind me again next year. and' I'm still trying to decide if I'll ride Nationals or in Europe. I'm making inquiries and I'll do whatever is best financially. "I am definitely not riding GPs next . year. Without a works bike it's like knocking your head against a wall (Singleton rode a number of 500cc GPs last year and failed to come up with a single GP peint). I've been on the phone trying to get a worlu bike. but I don't know. If I knew how to get one I'd have one. but European distributors favor their own riders; they give the bikes to their best countrymen. If you're not into politics you're not golD~ to make it over there. "I ve met a number of promoters in Europe, and I'll probably ride a number of selected International races along with a National schedule. I've always ridden a two-stroke, but I know I could adapt to a four-stroke (Superbike). If I want to stay in racing I'll probably have to." Along with Carl Bouchert of Beaulieu of America. Singleton has had a few other sponsors who not only backed him financially but morally through his formative ye.ars. "Dad's been a gold mine to me. He does everything for me and won't take a penny." At that moment Dale's father was out front grading Dale's driveway, preparing it for the asphalt which was to be laid in the morning. Another backer was also instrumental in Dale's success. "Taylor White helped me as a personal favor back when I started and has been helping me for years. I don't know if he wants to get completely involved next year or not." Dale had the misfortune of taking a high speed crash at the Silverstone circuit in England this season and suffered the loss of two toes on his left foot. He reflected: "This year I had a small portion of my body taken away and I started thinking 'Why am I doing this stuff?' Then a guy around here let a chainsaw get away and the same thing happened to him. I realized you just have to take life as it. comes. Healing depends on your. mental attitude -I'm going to get 100 percent of my Dale style back!" As fast as we could clean off the counter, Dale and I hopped in the Cycle News van and headed over to Beaulieu to pick up some rugs which Dale had bought on a deal for some friends. We had a few minutes before they were loaded. and raQ next door to a Family Dollar store where Dale bought some items he had seen on sale. Don't get the impression all National Champions are loose with their cash; Dale figured a few cents saved on toothpaste and shampoo was worth stopping for.· As in all his dealings. bargain hunting and shrewd dickering on prices is the norm. We got the carpets in the van and were on the way back to Dale's house. but not before he stopped at Beaulieu's offices to use the WATS line and make some calls. one to Jim France. vice president of Daytona Inter- e;- c:: national Speedway. Once back at Dale's place it was nearing dinnertime and I thought it best to head for home. Dale had other ideas and asked me to stick around, saying we'd go out and hit a few places and take it from there. It sounded good to me so I cleared it with the office and settled in for the evening. As the sun set, Dale spent some time with his plants. spraying their leaves and talking to them as he worked. All the plants were then brought inside and were put in the master bathroom, which made the Jacuzzi area quite apPealing. Before long we got· underway (but not before Dale cleared another batch of messages on his telephone recorder) and arrived at a local shopping mall. The next hour was spent cutting up with the girls in most every store in the place. The high point of that trip was when Dale literally "picked up" a girl in a toy store. saying he was going to carry ber out and take her on the town! Between her blushing and her boss' intense stares we realized the strategy hadn't worked. but 1 told Dale it was a good effort nonetheless. We grabbed a quick sandwich at Chick-Fil·A and sped off to two different lounges. Within a few minutes in the first nightspot it was easy to see Dale is quite a celebrity in Dalton, as everyone knows who he is and what he's been up to. It would be hard for most Daltonites not to know-Dale is regularly featured in Dalton's local newspaper and recently ran a full two page ad in conjunction with many local businesses after he won the U.S. title. Dale removed his shoe and sock at the bar and let a few folks take a look at his now healed foot which was injured in England. He was lighthearted about the loss of two toes, and joked about it and some of the more squeamish onlookers hesitantly stared. 1 played foosball while Dale made rounds and said hi to everyone. The next club was a spot to meet folks and we did just that, Dale introduc4tg me to a number of people while he made some new acquaint· ances' himself. Racing and motor· cycles seemed to be the farthest things from our minds as we joked around. Time flew and the lights came on; last call was up and we decided to head back to Dale's place. Lady. Dale's well-groomed German Shephard, was waiting for us at the door and Dale brought her inside for a late dinner. Mixing dry dog food and water to make a gravy. Dale then stuck the mixture into the microwave, as Lady likes her food wann. After Dale took care of his dog he took care of me, mixing up a hot solution to soak my foot in (I had crashed a dirt bike the week before and had a swollen foot). "Who'd know berter about getting rid of aches and pains than me?" said Dale as I snuck my tender foot intO the steaming hot water. "Sometimes when I get home from a race my whole body is one solid bruise." We sat around for a bit longer and then it was time to turn in. If you ever wondered how a National Champion pavement scratcher caps off a busy day. you need wonder no longer. Dale grabbed a guitar near his bed and strummed it a few times. "When I go to bed at night I play my guitar and make up new songs about Elmer (Dale's mascot pig) until I fall asleep." With that I decided to pack it in. I had to get up early to make it back to Tucker for work on time in the morning. My day in the life of Dale Singleton had come and gone. Dale' promised to invite me back the next time he has a party. and I only hope I can make the journey. I couldn't think of many other ways to have such a good time. _

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