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/126766
is not forthcoming in light of an obviously deteriorating track condition, something is amiss. Certain portions of a track are more challenging than others. Is it not logical, therefore, that track personnel be assigned to those critical points with consideration given to their exper.tise, experience and maturity? Enough said. Let's race. But, let's race safely, on a safe track. With support personnel who care about the sport, and the welfare of the racers. See you at turn six. And seven. And eight. And nine. RANDY CHOATE Los Angeles, CA WEST America's weekly motorcycle newspaper AMA to investigate Riverside crash haron Claylon. Publisher Mike Klinger, Comptroller kip Johnson. Associate Publisher. National ales Manager Caroline Gendry. Executive Secretary to the Pu blisht!T With reference to your report on the Riverside Pro-Am Road Race held April 14-15, 1984. I have initiated an investigation into the reported delays in stopping the Superbike race. The minute race control reported the riders falling at turn seven (more than one rider fell), we immediately called for the red flag at all stations. There were three red flag stations. We will keep you posted as to our findings from this investigation. W.A. BOYCE Professional Competition/Special Projects Manager American Motorcyclist Association Westerville, OH Editori.1 John Ulrich. Editor Dale Brown, Senior Editor Kil P:'llmer. Assistant Editor Mall Hilgenberg, Assistant Editor Advertising Terry Prall. Sales Manager Mike Spencer. nit's Manager Linda Brown. Advertising Coordinator Tina Bowen. Advt:Ttising Assistont Nancy Danger. Advertising/Editorial Ass;sttml Gr.phics .nd Production Lance Bryson. Manager Gene BennclI. Graphic Artist Lori Tyson. Graphic Artist Marion Halashil3. Typography Sheila Larsen. T),pography Dennis Greene. Laboratory Accounting/O.te Processing Donfl3 Bryan. Accounts Receivable Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Terry Dailey. Credit Manager Circul.tion Rheba milh. Manager Michelle Hanna. Assistant Sarah Taylor. Assistant Debbie Walker. Assistant Lyna Hood, Assistant Oe.ler S.....nd Service Tim Ryan. Dealer ales Manager W.ntAds Robert Elliot. Wmlt Ad Sales Service .nd Support Chris Ailcheson. Receptionist Gregory Hanson. 50'S West 2201 Cherry Ave.. Long Beach. CA P.O. Box 498. Long Beach._CA 90801· 0498 ' (213) 427·7433: L.A. Line 636·8844, E.st 4190 First Ave.. Tucker. GA. P.O. Box 805. Tucker. GA 30085-0805. (404) 934·7850. Cycle News/West (USPS 141-340) is pub· lished weekly except the first and last week of the calendar year for $2$ per year by Cycle News. Inc.. 2201 Cherry Avenue. Long Beach. CA 90806. Second class pos· tage paid at Long Beach, CA. POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to Cycle News. P.O. 80,,498. CA 90801-G498. Long_. u bscri pi ion rales: One year. second class mail. S25: tWO years. second class mail. $45: three years. second class mail $68: 25 weeks. SI!. Foreign rates available on request. Cycle News ",-'elcomes unsolicited editorial material including slories. cartoons. photos. ctc. Such material, if published. becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Such accepted material issubjecllo revision as is necessary in Ihe sole discrc· • lion of Cycle News. Unsolicited mal,erial which is nOI used will be reLUrned if accomp;micd by a self addressed stamped envelope. All unsoli ited material will be handled with re.lsonable care, however, Cycle Nt'ws assumes no responsibility .for the safety. loss ord4Jmage [osuch matenal. Repriming in whole or part only by permission of the publi!>her. AdvcrlbinK rates and circulation information will be sent upon rt·qucst. ct'S.R.D.S. Copyright ® Cycle News. Inc. 1984. Trademark Cycle News registered U.S. Patent Office. All rights reserved. ON THE FRONT PAGE: We return to yesteryear and the road r.cing heyd.y ofthe BSA .nd Triumph factories. Our impression of the Ex-Hailwood/ Aldan. BSA-3 begins on page Yeah Sacto, c'mon Kenny My congratulations to Ricky Graham and Honda for winning the recent Camel Pro Series Sacramento Mile. It was a beautiful night in Herb Caen's hometown. The guys that are bad and nationwide put on a great show. The seventh annual Carmichael Honda National Championship Motorcycle Races were the most efficiently run races I can remember. There was hardly any lost time. The fans got their money's worth, to say the least. My hat's off to J.c. and Chris Agajanian for running one slick program. I hope Kenny Roberts and Mert Lawwill can get something together to get "The King" on a mile scoot. Then again I'd dig seeing him run in the Trans-Am sports car series. A littie crossover never hun anybody. Try it, you'll like it. TORREY JUSTIN HEEB Santa Rosa, CA Safety I was very much angered to read of the crash at the Riverside Superbike race that was apparently made worse by poor officiating. Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt. Since I was not there I cannot comment directly on the River ide accident. However I have had over a full year's experience as track controller for races at Seattle International Raceway in Kent, Washington. It was my responsibility to be in charge of all radio communications, talking with corner workers, instructing them to di play necessary flags, and advising the starter when a red flag was necessary. As a "retired" racer with six years on that track, I felt confident in my ability to run a safe race. We did have problems. In one event a "professional" official twice got on the radio after riders crashed, a king [or information that was not of paramount importance. His intentions were good, but it ould have caused a critical delay. I would like to list some thought on how safety could be improved at ~ii1i6i·iPihioitioibiYiiAilainiici·itihic·irtii· iiii~~~r;oadrace even ts. I. The person responsible for track control should, if possible, be a racer with experience on the track in question. If not, then at least it should. be someone who is very familiar with track layout and doesn't need a map to know where turn X is, and if it is dangerous or nol. 2. No one should be on the radio after a fall except for the track controller and the corner worker on the scene. 3. The order of inquiry when a crash ocrurs should be: A: Is the tra k clear? (bodies, bikes, oil, etc.); B: Is the downed rider(s) in need of an ambulance?; C: Who is down? (the rider's number). LEWIS HARRUFF Oakland, CA Let's race safely I am not given to letter writing exercises; however, the events of April 15, 1984, have prompted me to share my observations. On the above-cited day, a hazardous track situation developed several laps into the Superbike race at Riverside International Raceway in the notorious boneyard commonly known as tum seven. A discharge by one of the racers onto the track surface (£rom his motorcycle, I assume) created a treacherously slick track condition; two riders immediately went down. Then another. More riders went down. Still no flag. After a pile-up of nine motorcycles, the race was stopped. The crowd was furious, and expressed their anger by pelting the flagman with everything in sight. The frustration factor reached such heights that several spectators ran onto the track, physically forcing the racers 10 stop. While I do not advocate spectator participation on the track during a race, a flagman has an obligation and a trust to evaluate track onditions at all times; he must possess the innate maturity to decide when track condition deteriorate 10 the point requiringthered flag. Road racing require such decision making; when such a rudimentary decision-making process Please help prevent land closure My name is Dennis Edwards and I represent a committee which is ~th ering information to stop the closmg of a 67-acre riding area. The motorcycle clubs that I represent are the California Enduro Riders Association and the Pacific Imernational Trials Society. The area I am referring to is located between Hayward and Oakland in nonhern California. This parcel of land is owned and operated by the East Bay Regional Parks. The park is referred to as a motorcycle playground which has been used as such since 1954. Our committee is trying to start a letter-writing or post-card campaign of protest to the East Bay Regional Parks authorities. Address such correspondence to: East Bay Regional Parks District, Planning and Design Dept., 11500 Skyline Blvd., Oakland, CA 94619. DENNIS EDWARDS Pleasanton, CA Commendations I would like to commend john Ulrich on his writing and his riding abilities. Throu.gh his words I have known what it was like to try sidecar racing, ride a hillclimber, "sabotage" the Yoshimura four-stroke Daytona racebike. And there were John's reports on the sensations of drag racers - (rom twitching legs to the wobble that didn't go away soon enough ... amazmg. I eagerly look forward to John's story on Kenny Roberts' Daytona Special. Though I might watch my video 100 times, this is probably the close tI'll cometoknowingwhatit's like to ride the machine most of us only dream about. Thanks John, for taking lhe risk and putting il imo words the rest of us can understand. KENNY KOPECKY JR. an Diego, CA