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/126654
0(") 00 0') ...... WEST America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Sharon aaylOn, Publisher CarolineGendry, ExeculiveSecrerary lO lhe Publisher Nancy Dan!!'er, Advenising/Edi.orial Assistant. Editorial Dale Brown, Senior Editor. Lance Bryson, Editor. Karel Kramer, Edilor. David Edwards, Editor. Advertising Skip Johnson, Nalional ak.,. Manager. Terry Pral" ales Manager. Steve Wilson, Sales Manager. Linda Brown. Advertising Coordinalor. Hilloah Corry. Advenising Assislallt. Graphic. and Production Gene Benneu. Graphic Artist. Marion Halashira. Typol(T3phy, Sheila Larsen, Typography, Dennis Greene. LaboralOry, Accounting/Data Processing Th.nks Bakersfield Cycliers Mike Klinger, Controller, Donna Bryan, Accounts Receivable Coordinator. Geneva Repass, Assistant. Terry Dailey, Credi. Manager. Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager, Michelle Hanna, Sarah Taylor. Debbie Walker, Lyna Hood, Assisrams. Want Ads Lynda Milligan. WanI Ad Sales. Dealer Sales and Service Tim Ryan, Dealer Sales Manager. Service and Support Chris Ailcheson, Receplionist. Gregory Hanson, SIlcS, West 2201 Cherry Ave" Long Beacb, CA P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801- 0498 (213) 427-7433; L.A, Line 636-8844, East 4190 First Ave" Tucker, GA, P,O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805, (404) 934-7850. Cycle News/West (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except the rirst and last week. ohhe ca lendar yeador $25 per year by Cycle News, Inc" 2'.0101 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806, Second class postage paid al Long Beach, CA. POSTMASTER: Send to"" 31179 to Cycle News. P.O. Boll 498. Long 1IMch. CA 90801-0498. Subscriplion rales: One year, second class mail, $25; lWO years, second class mail, $45; Lltree years, second class mail, $68; 25 weeks, $14. Foreign rales available on request. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited edirorial material including srorin car· lOOns, photos. dC. Such material, ir published, becomes lbe exclusive propeny or Cycle News. Such accepted material is subjttt to revision as is ~ry in lite sole discrelion of Cycle News. Unsoliciled material which is nOl used will be relurned ir accompanied by a sel£ addressed sramped envelope. All unsoliciled malerial will be handled wilh reasonable care, however, Cycle News assumes no responsibilily for the sare.y, loss or damage lO such material. Reprinting in whole or parl only by permission of the publisher. AdvertisIng rales and circulalion information will be senl upon request. See S.R.D.S. Copyrigh~ Cycle News. Inc. 1983. TrIldemerk Cycle News regill1llrecl U.S. PlIant Office. All rights ..t -...d. ON THE FRONT PAOE: Minicycle rider. of the 10 .ncl 80cc VIIrIetiM till the 8011 in PonC8 City for th. NMA/V.m.h. ONC. Phot08 by K8,.1 Krllmer. M.C. The Bakersfield Cycliers Motorcycle Club gave the Phantom Duck Legal Fund a check for$I!l85.07. The amount represents the Cycliers share of the gate at a recent AMA District !l7 Phantom Duck benefit flat track event. This is not the first time the Cycliers have financially supported the Duck's legal fund, and they assure me it won't be the last. There have been orherCycliers benefit races, with our ISDE team being one of the recipients. This cl ub works hard to support individuals and organizations who light to keep the sport of motorcycling and off-roading alive. Many of theCycliers Club members have their roots in the desert, and feel that supporting the Phantom Duck effort to keep public lands open to multiple use will provide benefi ts for all off-roaders. I want to thank the Bakersfield Cycliers as well as other groups and individuals who have backed the Duck in the past. Your support has made the land-use fight possible and has provided an opportunity for people like me to continue fighting to regain and preserve great races like the Barstow to Vegas. The Cycliers have another D-!l7 event scheduled for Bakersfield Speedway on August 27. Perhaps you will want to be there. After all, part of your gate fee will be spent to preserve and improve the sport of off-roading. Thanks, everyone, your support is greatly appreciated. LOUIS McKEY President, Phantom Duck of the Desert Fontana, CA Guest editorial , Curse you, Red B.ronl We just returned from a week of riding and working in the Sequoia National Forest, and found our pbanca ringiDg _oU • the hook _ a as.. result of the "Red Baron" and his blatantly unfounded attack on the Forest Service in Sequoia and the motorcycle volunteer program. Mr. Baron's blasts on Forest Service leaders who "hate motorcycles, carry Sierra Club memberships, andl or get kickbacks from the logging industry" and "have unrestrained powers to close motorcycle trails at will for indelinite periods" could not be further from the truth in Sequoia (We were talking about Sequoia?). Although Forest Service personnel must be decidedly neutral in political position on the job, they have as much right ·as civilians to carry per· sonal views. No recreational trail riders we know of are "kissing up" to the Forest Service in Sequoia. But one thing is clear. Through mutual cooperation, ORV workshops, the continuing Sequoia Summer Series and motorcycle Adopt-A-Trail successes, these "nasty" Forest Service people have helped motorcyclists expand and improve one of the most notable riding areas in the U.S. "Sequoia 99" discusses the following: .....the FS unrestrained powers," "closure extended four or five times," and "Broder Meadows always was, and always will be, wet." The most unbelievable statement of all is .. The wet winte'l' was just an excuse." It is very obvious that more than BrodeT is wet. Perhaps "99" needs a dry shoephone and some desert sun. None of us wants to see closed trails, but the inescapable fact is that this past winter supplied the heaviest snows ever recorded in the Kern Plateau area of Sequoia. And that is the full and all-encompassing reason for so many trails being closed this year. "Unrestrained power?" Hardly. The Forest Service has a very specific series of bureaucratese to complete while evaluating, deciding and signing any trail open or closed. Further, 85-90% of this area's visitor-use days are from OR V enthusiasts. The majority of these are motorcyclists. With far and away the most conspicuity in terms of user volunteer numbers and success, motorcyclists are the pride and keepers of Sequoia's recreational future. We may not get rvery trail opeD·when .we waDt,.bu!, our user input is a valuable "checks and balances" consideration. About "90%" of the trails being closed. If Mr. Baron had his Itnobbies on the ground, he would have found approximately 22% of the trails open on the Fourth of July weekend, and 5!1% open on August !I, with others following as they dry out. So that "99" gets smart about Sequoia, let's talk about the real world. The Forest Service did not "let us build" additional motorcycle trails. Volunteers asIIed, supplied manpower and got results! The Forest Service did the required paperwork and layout, and supervision as a group e£fon. They did not "take away...anything else." No, it's not one mile of trail, but as of July Fourth, a full loop between Troy and Fish Creek Campgrounds; The Upper Bitter Creek Trail. And no, Jackass Trail is not closed. On July !II, the Barbenders West M.C. (who adopted Jackass) put 45 man/woman hours on it, and it is in the best shape ever. Most incomprehensible of all is the statement that "Weare again expected to work on Jackass on August 71" No again. The Forest Service did not expect us to work Volunteer Day II that Sunday. As in every event preceding this one, volunteers offered to work trail for their own futures. Make that requested. Having just returned from testifying before the U.S. Senate against pending wilderness proposals in Sequoia, it is clear that Red Baron's "real now dangers" of corrupt Forest Service personnel and temporary motorcycle trail closures are so myoptic as to boggle the mind. What is the real "now" danger? Wilderness! The final comm~nt period is now, and the urgency of writing to Senator Malcolm Wallup before the September 7 cut-off date cannot be minimized. All letters will be read and recorded. Strong reasons for non-Wilderness in Sequoia are: I) One of the best multiple-use forests in the U.S. 2) From 85 to 90% of present visitoruse days are ORV-related. !I) Already vast amount of nearby Wilderness (Golden Trout and Domeland), the former of which is poorly and barely used. (Where are all the preservationists, who pushed so hard for it, now1) 4) Substantial human impact, with a designated motorcycle trail net· work. numerous four-wheel drive ways, and plJVed roads running right through the middle of..PJ:oposed Wilderness areas. Because Congress allowed the speakers only three minutes apiece, one of the main facts about Sequoia did not get aired. That's the number of real users as opposed to the thou· sands of letters from armchair warriors who make it their life's work to write, write, write. without ever getting past the magazine stand in their living room. If "Red Baron" would like to reveal his identity and do something constructive, we would invite him to sign up on the Sequoia Alert List. This is a fast-expanding lisl of names and phone numbers of real on·theground riders who use Sequoia and have been, up to now, the real- but silent - majority. BILL &: KATHY HERNDON l6!1!1 Hill Sl. Los Angeles, CA 90041 2I!1/255-58l5 Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Inc. &end letten to Voicea. Box 498. Long Beach. CA 90801.