Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

968. His interest in racing grew and hen he moved to West Germany in 970 he hooked up with Maico. hrough '70, '71 and '72 Narayana aveled the World MX GP circuit as a nero A few years later Narayana trans· ned to America and became Maico's ational Service and Technical anager. He has been involved in e1ding Maico's National MX team ach year and then trying to keep it on road successfully. "There is more work than I can sometimes handle. Multiple jobs are involved," said Narayana. "Sometimes sacrifice is involved because we have a much smaller budget than the Japanese teams." arayana believes a number of factors are involved in making a good mechanic. "A good attitude, responsi· bility and hard work is the only way to make it. From what I expect in results from my riders I must also put in a lot." Japanese motorcycles are arayana's rival~, as he is constantly trying to keep up with the advancements they "re making. As far as the AMA is concerned, some treatment could be a bit more equally divided. "As an individual I am treated fairly but as a manufacturer rep 1 am not. European (affiliated) people are not treated as well as the Japanese companies; that is the truth. At the European GPs more acknowledgement is given to European bikes, so why are the European companies let down here?" Selvaraj has a degree in Automotive Engineering and says he couldn't find a better way to spend his life outside of motorcycling. He has enjoyed cycles since he was a young boy. Keith McCarty McCarty, 28, tunes for Bob Hannah and resides in Orange, California, with wife Vicky and daughter Chris· tina. In his spare time he enjoys flying remote controlled model airplanes, snow skiing and water skiing. McCarty's motivation to get into tuning motorcycles was money. His schooling was in automotive work, but Keith found it too dirty and felt he didn'r receive enough pay for his effort. McCarty thought the travel and acquaintances he'd make on the National MX circuit was the answer, so he took a job at Suzuki in the parts warehouse to get inside the industry. In 1974 he was finally given a chance and began tuning for Mike Runyard, and in '75 went to Tony DiStefano, the year Tony 0 won his first 250cc National Championship. In '77 McCarty moved to Yamaha and was teamed with Hannah. When the AMA came into the con~tion McCarty had some com- plaints. "They're not r~ally fair. It's not political, but too personal. II someone has a good idea and takes it to the AMA, the AMA person will usually push the idea off, blaming promoters or insurance policies. No one stands up for their own decisions. I fought for a long time in what I believed in, but all it did was made me aggravated and I guess I made an ass out of myself. "One of my biggest gripes is Unadilla. We used to be (mechanics signaling area) in a dangerous 60 mileper. hour straight, it's lucky no one got killed. This year (Trans-USA) we were in a hole, you had to guess if it was your rider corning around. It seems. the AMA wants to hide the mechanics, and that's wrong." McCarty knows his job has a big bearing on his rider, but doesn't put all the responsibility on his own shoulders. "The percentage always changes. The rider is the biggest part, and the mechanic has to help the rider understand things. If the rider doesn't want to ride, no one will change him. If he does want to ride, the bike will make or break him. Look at Barnett, he blasted everyone and now he's wondering why he can't take overall (at UnadiHa and Rio Bravo TransUSA rounds). When the bike breaks you have riders worrying about problems outside their jobs." Marty Smith when Smith clinched his first 125cc National title in 1974. Rosenstiel's nickname is "The Mad Professor," which may have something to do with his hobbies of astronomy, electronics and mechanical things or his list of most respected people: Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, the Wright Brothers, Robert Goddard and others. Rosenstiel, like others, wishes the AMA would make the schedule less hectic, as it is difficult to stay enthused when so many miles of driving are involved. Jon also feels strongly about weight rules made by the AMA. "The factories spend big d,ollars to get their factory bikes at just the right weight and then the weight limit changes. It makes it hard to keep up." For Rosenstiel, doing a good job is all that matters. ''I'm treated fairly by the AMA. I just go 'about my business and ignore most everything else. If you think about some problems you just get worked up anyway. All mechanics are different, but for me being a mechanic is my job. Some may need extra recognition. but not me." Dave Osterman Osterman. 24. tuned for Mike Bell and resides in Reseda, California. His interests include riding MX bikes and snow skiing. Osterman got into racing in 1967 and was an aspiring MXer. He realized he wasn't quite fast enough to turn pro, so he turned to wrenching. He went to work for AI Baker for two years, learned about pipe and frame mods, and also met Jim Felt (now tuner for Johnny O'Mara) who helped him get a job with Yamaha. Osterman tunes because it's the next best thing to riding, the money is good, and the people involved are interesting. He has no rivals, and his complaints center around the amount of time needed to correctly prepare a bike and get to lhe r.ext race on time. Bevo Forte Forte, 32, is known as "The Czar ot Motocross" and resides in Santa Ana, California, with MXer Scott Gillman and family on their ranch. He started racing with John Savitski in New England Sports Committee rounds, but soon after hung up his leathers. "I picked up a few contusions and abrasions and left the toys to the boys," said Forte. In 1974 Forte went to work as tuner for Savitski and the pair headed to Florida to contest the Florida Winter-AMA Series. When Savitski semi-retired from pro MXing this season Bevo went on the job market and came up tuning for Donnie Cantaloupi. "As far as I'm concerned Yamaha is the best company to work for. The mechanics have a free hand with the motorcycles, and if you have an idea you can use it. " Jon Rosenstiel Rosenstiel, 39, is the quiet yet effective tuner for Broc Glover. He resides with wife Carol in Westminster, California. and is step' father to Wayne Reid and ational MXer Warren Reid. Rosenstiel got into racing through Honda. He raced in Illinois in '72, and when the Elsinore was introduced in '73, Jon went to work as Honda's first R&D person and race team wrench for the bike. He was working with Bevo's humorous antics on lhe circuit have been known for years, and he is pleased with the recognition he has received so far. "I guess I got more than most. You can't wait for it, you have to get it yourself. I've never had a National Championship. but I meet people and talk to them." Forte realizes the mechanic plays a big part in a rider's career but tries to keep it in perspective. "It's a fifty-fifty deal. but when a rider doesn't finish it's all the mechanic's fault. We're just the roadies. the rider is the rock and roll sta r." Bevo ended our conversation with one point he wanted all Cycle News readers to know: "Everyone should remember I am single and do date at the races." "The AMA says they can't do any· thing about the schedule, but it's because they let the promoters walk on them. They have '10 realize the promoters need the AMA as badly as the AMA needs the promoters. "Ask a privateer how many days a week he can train when he has to drive himself. He has to have a bucks-up father to make it. Some of the AMA guys should ride with a mechanic for a week and see what it's really like. Bill West (Rick Burgett's tuner and Osterman's traveling panner) has literally saved my life about three times. I'd be so tired trying to make the next race I'd be 50 yards off the road headed for a bridge and Bill would scream at me on the CB to wake me up." Osterman's word to the public is: "You have to be the rider's mother. father. sister, nurse and best friend. You're on full time with no time to yourself. You race from January to ovember, take a month off and start over. When I sleep I dream of Mike's bike." Osterman's biggest accomplishment to date is having Mike win the Supercross in Amsterdam, Holland, in September. Pat Alexander Alexander_ 27. luned for Many Smith and resides in Chino Hills, California. He raced MX from 1970-72, then ven· tured into boat racing. After a few years Alexander went back to tuning bikes and received a firm background when he worked at DG Performance for two years under Harry Klem. Alexander's gripes concerning the National circuit entailed three points. "First, the rules aren't just for MX. Too many of the rules are the same for all other forms of cycle racing. Also, I wish there was more rider participation and enthusiasm for the Trophee and MX des Nations. Finally, we have to drive just too many miles. I'd like to see the promoters get to- (Continued to page 74) 25

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