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/126667
An open letter to Donnie Hansen From the moment we heard about your accident in Germany, we began praying for you, as we're sure many, many others did. You have come a long way since that time because of a lot of hard work, determination and dedication on your part. If you are feel ing some frustration at this point, have faith and hang in there; we ate sure you have what it takes to be number one again. You may have been jerked around by the factory, but not by your fans. Hang tough, we're really pulling for you. MIKE &: JULIAN Granada Hills, CA WEST America's weekly motorcycle newspaper haron Clay,on. Publisher Caroline Gendry, Executive Secrelary to 'he Publisher Nancy Danger. Adver'ising/Edi'orial Assistant. Editorial Dale Brown. Senior EdiLOr. Lance Bryson, EdiLOr. David Edwards, EdiLOr. Kit Palmer, Editor. Advertising kip Johnson. lalional Sales Manager. Terry Prall. Sales Manager. Linda Brown. Advenising CoordinaLOr. Tina Bowen. Advertising Assislane Graphics and Production Gene 8enneu. Graphic Anise Lori Tyson. Graphic Anise Ma'rion Halashila. Typography. Sheila Larsen, Typography. Dennis Greene, Labora,orl'. Accounting/Data Processing Mike Klinger. Controller. Donna Bryan, Accounts Receivable Coordinator. Geneva Repass. Assislane Terry DaiJey. Credi' Manager. Circulation Rheba Smi'h, Manager. Michelle Hanna, Sarah Taylor, Debbie Walker, Lyna Hood. Assislants. Dealer Sales and Service Tim Ryan, Dealer Sales Manager. Want Ads Lynda Mil_ligan, Wan' Ad Sales. Service and Support Chris Aitcheson, Receplionisl. Gregory Hanson. S&:S. West 220 I Cherry Ave~ Long Beach. CA P.O. Box 498, Long Beach. CA 908010498 (215) 427-74SS; L.A. Line 6S6-8844. East 4190 First Ave., Tucker, GA. P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA S0085·0805. (404) 9S4·7850. Cycle News/We.. (USPS 141·S40) is published weekly excep' 'he fir.. and last week of the calendar year for $25 per year by Cycle News. Inc., 2201 Cheny Avenue. Long Beach. CA 90806. Second class postage paid a' Long Beach. CA. POSTMASTER: Send form 31178 to Cycle N_. P.O. Box 418, Long e-ch. CA 10801-0498. Subscription ra'es: One year, second class mail, $25; two years. second class mail, $45; thrttyears, second class mail, $68; 25 weeks. $14. Foreign ra'es available on request. Cycle News welcomt's unsolicited edi lorial material including stories. cartoons. photos, etc. Such rmnerial, if published. becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Such accepted ma'erial is subjttt to revision as is nuessary in 'he sole discretion of Cycle News. Unsolicited material which is nOl u5t'd will be re'urned if accompanied by a sell addre sed stamped envelope. All unsolici'ed ma'erial will be handled with reasonable care, however. Cycle News assumes no responsibilily for lhe safety, loss or damage to such material. Reprinting in whole or pari only by . permission of the publisher. Advertising rales and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. Copyrigh~ Cycle New•• Inc. 1983 Tredemerk Cycle Newa regi.tered U.S. Petent Office. All right. re- aerved. ON THE FRONT PAGE: The 113horaepower Interceptor 1000 end the SIBec. 80-horaepower Nighthewk S ere et the top of Honde'. performe.-Iineup for 1984. Photo. courtesy Americen Honde. very defensive about it, bordering on being rude. This leads me to believe the situation was expected well ahead of time, and perhaps the ambiguously worded coupon was not an accident but a cleverly worded trap. This type of deceptive advertising, while being more often the rule than the exception these days,' does not make it right. These cons are not only bad for business in the long run, but give motorcycle racing promoters and racing in general a bad name. TOM TOPPINS Los Angeles, CA Time to say thank you It is that time of year that all racers look forward to, yet regret seeing. The season is over, and you must face the facts. Money spent, money made; races won,lost, or almost won. But it is time to say thank you. Backing the number one privateer Su~bike and two F-I bikes takes a lot of help. So here's my greatest thanks to: Udo Geitl and Team Honda; Gary Mathers, Rob Muzzy and Team Kawasaki; jerry Branch; Bel-Ray Oil; Vance Be Hines; Sur-Tech; Costa Mesa Balancing; Crane Cams; Bruce from Goodyear; jim Allen from Dunlap; Kosman; Bill Edmondson and Quick Silver Carbs; Champion Plugs; jim of Fox Shox; Dr. Pepper of Ferodo; C &: C Engineering; Littleton Honda; and my crew of helpers, Rough Stock Racing, Bruce Enderle, Dave Isley, Bruce Sass, Kurt Kyota, Dr. Tom Marcourt and Ed Kelsch; my riders Ricky Orlando and Rusty Sharp; and Dr. Dave Kieffer, who fixed more riders than I fixed bikes. But most of all, I'd like to thank my loving and patient wife Sandy and the twins, Chris and Tim, for their support. I thank you all. DENNIS ZICKRICK FL Collins, CO Tom, we can understand your feelings, but labeling the coupon a "trap" or a "can," is a little drastic. We called up Gavin Trippe, the promoter of the Superbikers, to get his comments about your complaints. While he agreed that the coupon was "probably not clear enough," he did point out that even at $10 instead of the discountedS8, the admission price was a good deal, considering the talent on hand. Last year's tickets were $12. Also Tom, if you weren't sure about the coupon, a simple call to the promoters would have set you straight. Anyway, you can bet next year's coupons will be more concisely worded...Editor. Superbikers complaints I am writing to voice my complaint about the deceptive advertising practices of the promoters of the Superbikers race_ The advertisement in Cycle News is not what I'm talking about; the advertisement flyer sent to me and other AMA members is what I am referring to. The flyer that was sent out contained a coupon promising $2 off the price of admission. I read the coupon a few times, and while it did not say that it was good for only one discount, it also didn't say it wasn't good for more than one. Because I received the flyer, I did not mail order tickets. I felt it safe to assume the discount coupon was good for a number of tickets, as there was no limit mentioned on the coupon. We arrived at the gate just before 10 a.m. and were informed that the coupon was good for only one discount. The people doing the informing were An old Invader returns As I sit here on my 46th birthday, I ponder which was harder: My victory over 12 years of alcohol ism or finishing last week's Southern California M.e. Hare &: Hound (probably the former). In any event, I sould like to thank the Invaders M.C. for letting me and my 12-year-old son Eric pit with them. It was my first desert race in 15 years and my son's first race ever. Luckily, we both finished. I would also like to thank the Southern California M.C. for a tough but very well-laid-out and very wellmarked course. However I wish clubs would make the first loops a little shorter and a little easier to encourage more Old Timers and younger riders to enter. Incidentally, we started the Invaders M.C. in my back yard 16 years ago. RON KAWALSKI Eagle Rock, CA Thanks, ESPN Readers who fear they misslld ESPN's telecast of the San Marino GP road race at Imola, Italy, can rest easy. I called the network's programmingdepartment in Bristol, Connecticut, and was told that the race will be shown several times throughout the month of December. We all know that motorcycle road racing is all but ignored by CBS, ABC and NBC, simply because they don't think there's much of a market for that type of pro~ming. Those of use who apprectate ESPN's effort to . bring us this race should write or call them and let them know how you feel. That's the single best way to ensure that we'll see more racing on ESPN. GIFF NICKOL Towson, MD Send those letters to ESPN, ESPN Plaia, Bristol, CT 0601O...Editor. Scott's "example" In response to Gary Scott's letter about Randy Goss in the November 16 issue, I must say I don't think Mr. Scott has ever set the best example for upcoming riders. Several years ago, in my rookie season, I was one of the last riders to make it into the heats at the Columbus National. Mr. Scott didn't qualify fast enough for the program and became one of the alt.ernates. Shortly before the healS, a Scott represenl3live tried to "buy" my spot in the heat race. He ended up finding someone to replace and that one incident left me with a "bad taste" of Mr. Scott. I Gon't consider that the best behavior for any so-called professional motorcycle racer. JOHN S. EVERS Crystal River, FL Randy Goss is again National Number One. This proves that he is not a "blowhard" as described by Gary Scott in the November 16 edition of Cycle News. Randy was prodded in an interview to compare his position in the point standings (which, at the time, was nearly enough to clinch the title) to a fighter who nearly had his opponent beaten. I feel Randy is an excellent champion. As far as what Gary Scott has to say, what can you expect from a sore loser? GEORGE TAYLOR San Francisco, CA Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc., Send letters to Voices. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801.