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/126658
Mark Jones, were involved in a tragic accident while practicing at Brainerd International Raceway. This accident proved fatal to both of them. How? Why? I really do not know. Hearing of this loss of life disturbs me greatly. I love road racing more than anything else. When tragedies like this, the loss of dose friends, occur, my dreams of being the very best are temporarily shattered. Whik racing at National events I have experienced mutual trust and resprct between competitors, as riders and friends, because we are all doing something we love as a sport and a career. I would do anything for Hugh and Mark, and they for me. I loved and respected them for being themselves to me and everyone else who knew and loved them. The loss of their friendship and presence at future races saddens me deeply. I accept the realization that a tragedy like this could happen to myself or others close to me. The thought is always there in your subconscious mind. Other people I know outside of racing think it is crazy to compete in a sport/profession having such a fine line between life and death. I believe we all accept the risks to do something we love and choose to live for. Godspeed, Hugh and Mark. The next race is for you. Q(") 00 0') WEST Americe'. weekly motorcycle newspaper S~ron Clayton. Publish.r Caroli"" Gendry. E""""li~~rylO Lb. PublisMr Nancy Danl!"r, Adv.nising/Edilorial Anistant. Editoriel Dal. Brown. s.nior Edilor. Lanet Bry· son. Editor. David Edwards. Edilor. Kit Palm.r. Editor. Adverti.ing Skip Johnson. National Sal.. Manal!"r. T.rry Prau, Sal.s Manal!"r. St.v. Wil· son. Sal.s Manal!"'. Linda Brown, Ad· v""ising Coordinator. Hilloah Corry, Tina Bowen, Advertising Assistams. Grephic. end Production Gene Bennen. Graphic Artist. Lori Tyson. Graphic AniSL Marion HaLa· shiLa. Typography. Sh.ila Lar~. Typography. o.",nis Gr....... Laboralory. Accounting/Oeu Proce••ing Mi~ K1inga. Controllrr. Donna Bryan. Accounu Recrivable Coordinator. Gmrva \lq>ass. Assistant. TnT)' DaiJ.y. Cmlil Manal!"'. Circuletion Rh.ba Smith. Manag.r. Michdl. Hanna. Sarah Taylor. D.bbi. Walk.... Lyna Hood. Assistants. Went Ad. Lynda Milligan. Want Ad Saks. O..ler Sel.. end Service Nancy Emde Brogg..-. 0..1... Sal.. Man· al!"r. Tim Ryan. o..l.r Sal.. Manal!"'. West 2201 Ch.rry Av... Long &.ach. CA P.O. Bo" 498. Long &.ach, CA 908010498 (215) 427-7455: L.A. Lin. 656-8844. Eeat 4190 First Av... Tuck.r, GA. P.O. Bo" 805. Tuck..-, GA 50085-0805. (404) 954- 7850. Cyd. N.ws/W.st (USPS 141-540) is publish~ w..kly ."c.pt lh. lirst and last w..k of th. calmdar y..r lor S25 p"r y.ar by Cyd. N~s. Inc.. 2201 Ch.rry Aven~. Long &.ach. CA 90806. s.cond dass postal!" paid at Long &.ach. CA. POSTMASTER: Send f«m 31579 to Cycle Newa. P.O. Boa .... Long 1Ieectl. CA 801101-0481. Subscription rales: Ont year, second dass mail. $25: lWO y..n. Sttond class mail, 145; thr.. y..rs...cond dass mail. $68: 25 w..ks, $14. Fo..ign rat.. avail· ab~ on requ~t. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited edi lorial material including slorit's. car·' loons, photos. .tc. Such mal"";'l. if publish~. b«om.. Lb. odusiv. prop' ...,y of Cyd. N~s. Such acc.~ mat.· rial is subject to revision as is necosary in the sole discretion of Cyde News. Unsolicited material which is not used will ~ fttumed if accompanied by a ..If add... ~ sLamP"d mv.lop". All unsolicit~ mat...ial will b. ~nd1~ with reasonable care. however. Cycle News assum~ no frsponsibility for the safety, loss or damagt' to such material. R"printing in whol. or part only by permission of the publisher. Advenising rates and circulation information will b. ..01 upon r"'ju"l. s.. S.R.D.S. Copyrighte Cycle News, Inc. 1.12. T.......rIt Cycle News .......... U.S. P_nt Offic:e. All rigllta ..- MrwtI. ONTHEFRONTPAG~FNd~ Spenc:erputak... topevement en route to hia 500cc World Roed R.ce Chempion.hip. Coverege begin. on p. 14. File photo by Henny Rey Abrema. Community col...... need help It would be nice if all we had to involve ourselves with was motorcy· c1es. Unfortunately, the motorcycle repair classes offered by Los Angeles Trade-Tech and Pasadena City College are under attack. Of the two motorcycle repair instructors employed at Pasadena City College during the spring semester, only one will return this fall; the result of budget cuts. These programs were originally started, through a lot of hard work, by both dealers and those working at the distributor level of the motorcycle industry. I think it is important to remember that politicians only respond to letters written by registered voters. I also think that Pat Owens did a service to the readers of Cyele News. You should be thankful to know that money spent in the community colleges is not wasted. MICHAEL MILLER Culver City, CA The wey Bred would hew wanted it I wish to thank Cyelt: Nt:ws for the accounts in the August ~ I and September 7 issues on Brad Horrell's death at Sears Point Raceway on August 14. As was accurately reported, Brad was killed after losing control of his bike while competing in the Open Superstreet race. I have been Brad's girlfriend for several years and was present at the race, clocking Brad's la ps near turn II. When I heard the announcer say, "Rider down in turn one," I somehow "knew" that the accident in question was Brad's and that the accident was serious. By the time I reached turn one, climbed the fence and ran to where the paramedics were working on him, I could see he was already dead. As your August ~ I account stated, Brad's death is indeed tragic, but I believe it is not only that. As the person who was closest. to him for the last several years, I can tell you why. While Brad was self-employed as a mechanic, electrician, plumber, roofer, etc., I am a member of the English department at Solano Community College, where I teach composition and creative wrlung. Just as Brad used his spare time to work on his bike and to perfect his skills in racing it. I used my spare time to write poems and give readings of them at colleges and bookstores in the Bay Area. We both believed in taking risks -but of different kinds. I believed in the importance of emotional risks and took them reading and writing poetry. He believed in taking physical risks and took them in racing his motorcycle. Though these endeavors are highly different, we were each other's greatest fans. Shortly before his death I described to him a love peom I had written, in which a woman (myself) watches her lover (Brad) get ready for a race at Willow Springs. In the poem the woman helps the racer on with his leathers, realizing she could "lose everything... Brad knew, of course, that I was talk· ing about death and acknowledged that every rider understood the ultimate risk of motorcycle racing. but said no rider could afford to think of death when racing. Brad had been racing the AFM cir· cuit for slightly less than a year, and I belive it is fair to say that in that time, his competitive skills increased exponentially. He was an earnest and committed rider who rode hard and loved his sport. I had never known him to be so happy and enthusiastic as he was in the last year of his life, and I believe much of the joy and satisfaction came from his racing. I encouraged bim in hi ra ing. and even considering the tragi results. I am not sorry. In the sense of Camu . The Stranger, Brad's death was a "good" death. Those of us who loved him and survived him may look at his loss in at least two ways; as tragic and challenging. I see his death as botb but believe that in the future I will come to see his passing from my life as a challenge - because that's the way Brad would have wanted it. LAURIE DUESING Benicia, CA Godspeed, Hugh end Merle On the night of Saturday, September ~, I was informed that two of my best friends. Hugh Humble and HARR Y KLINZMA National RR #!J I Garden Grove, CA Flegmen concern As a concerned parent of a mot()cross racer, I get the impression from attending MX races that some of the flagmen do not understand the importance of their job: I. To protect the riders. 2. Enforce the rules of the club. There have been numerous times when the flagmen do not pay attention to their duties. If there is a pr()test regarding his part of the track, the flagman better well be able to say what happened! When a racer is down, and you see tbe flagman gazing at a jet, doodling in the dirt or trying to catch bugs; I fear for the racers - all of them. I do realize that it is difficult to recruit flagmen. However, let's make sure that the flagmen who do work are made aware of their responsibilities, whether it be for Minis or Pros. They are all sportsmen. have paid their entry and deserve proper pJ:()tection. With our sport gaining in popularity, let's all work to make it safer so others can't bad mouth. "how dangerous it is." I would like to encourage all spectators to report negligent flagmen to the promoter or race officia I. He should want to know. Remember, u's for the benefit of all of the racers and spectators, as well as for the benefit of our sport. KATHLEEN M. SPEAR Ontario, CA Published letter. do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Send letters to Voice., Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801.