Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

o Voices 5 (Continued from page 4) :l Against drugs in racing Z X o -, o ~ x ... ~ en a:: w o o a:: ---J~ l- The California SUPerbike School Chanenge Race blasts off at Le- ~ guna Seca; (below) Bruce Und and Jack Hart won the Sidecar race. 0 x ... S'decar sidecar and the pair finished seventh. Results Lind/Hart bae" on trae" Oliver ANAL: 1. Bruce Lind/Jack Hart (Yaml; 2. Dean C_on/Robert Eng (Yaml; 3. Brian c.eIen/lan Fillery (Yam~ 4. Phillip Raney/Harry RinelaISuZ); 5. John Dait.y/Arthur DeileyfSuzl: 8. RonatdThome/ John DaMrty; 7. Pete Eauff/_TaylorfKaw~ 8. Tony _~ Bri.- (KawI; 9........ Van ~/Bernie By Roger Smith MONTEREY, CA, JULY 22 1983 AMA National Sidecar Champions Bruce Lind and Jack Hart overcame a-last-row start to record their first win of the 1984 season and their fifth consecutive top placin~ at Laguna Seca. They did it in spite of the fact that Lind broke his collarbone a scant six weeks ago; his usual doctor refused to sign a medical release form for Lind to race at Laguna Seca and he had to go to a spons medicine specialist to get the approval required by the AMA. Lind said after practice and the heat that his shou1der hurtand that be couldn't drive as hard as usual, but that didn't keep Lind and passenger Hart from winning at Laguna Seca. The Canadian team of Philip Roney and Harold Rinela led at the start of the final, their Suzuki four-stroke pullingaway from theTZ750-powered chairs of the nearest competition. They held their lead for two laps before the brakes faded. causing them two off-track excursions and dropping tbem off the pace. Lind/Hart having battled up to second, took over the lead as a result. Dean Cleeton and Robert Eng, who rollowed Lind/Hart from their last last-row start, moved into second. Lind/Hart went on to build an ever-Ienghthening lead, but Deeton/ Eng soon round themselves in a fierce battle for second. Brian Ceelen and Ian Fillery, the points leaders coming into the race, applied intense pressure, constantly jockeying for position and repeatedly pulling alongside. Late in the race Ceelen/Fillery thought they had found their way into second when they attempted to pass Cleeton/Eng on the uphill into turn rive. but their engine faltered and they suddenly found themselves fighting to finish the race, which they did ahead or Roney/RineJa. . r Former Ch amplOn P Essaf Iost ete passenger Michael Taylor in the last corner; ..._ _ Taylor ran back...... Essaf£'s ......... __ to ._4.~ n - - fSuzi. but it is the faster rider's responsibility to pass safely. There seems to be a problem with the great difference in speed, when the faster riders are passing the slower riders, in thatthe faster riders will get close to the slower rider to "spook" him in order that he will block the faster riders behind hin, and this is not right. One or the prob· lems that the AFM has is that there are so many di£ferent classes now, how are we going to divide the race day up in order to accommodate the extras classes if we split up into ovice/Expert classes? As far as sending people home ir they can't make a timed trial, that is not what the AFM is all about. We are there to practice and learn new skills which sometimes can only be learned rrom ontrack training with faster ride.rs. You should look upon the slower riders as a challenge anda learning experience, because the technique that you learn to pass them with will also help you nut or tight spots and will also help you with the passing technique needed to pass riders your own speed and ability. As to the Novice being too slow, there are some old timers that are even slower. LARRY SCHENK AFM #116 San Mateo, CA Se.rs Point coverage a Bozo no-no I realize that the Editor cannot verify the accuracy of everything written by your race reporters. Consequently, some of what is being written about Sears Point road races is what I would call "true fiction." For instance: A couple of months ago in a 250cc Grand Prix race, Rider A was said to be knocking at the door and just couldn't squeeze by Rider B for the win. Actually, after the first lap, no rider was closer than six seconds to the leader, Rider B. More recently, in another 250cc GP race, there was an alleged "drag race" to the flag for secQnd place. In reality, Rider C had come from a third-row start and had closed in on the leader By John Ulrich (again Rider A) at about a second a lap; nearly passing him in the final MONTEREY, CA, JULY 22 two turns. The "drag race" was for Rich Oliver jumped off the the win, not for second place. starting grid first in the CaliAlso, it's tiresome reading about fomia Superbike School Chalthe same races and racers in almost lenge Race at Laguna Seca and every issue. If your reporter can cover six classes, as in the July 4 issue, why led all the way to the checkered flag. not spread it around? Some of us race Prior to the race each GPz550 and win for years with little or no Kawasaki was weighted with lead so coverage. the combinations of riders and bikes Maybe I'm still sore about getting weighed the same. Despite that ateight wins, seven seconds and one tempt at equalization, Oliver domithird at Sears Point last year and nated the event. receiving zilch mention in race covWes Cooley caught and passed erage. [ rode 600cc Modified ProducDavid Erode for second place. but on tion and Superstreet at the time and the last lap Emde drafted Cooley this year they have become popular going up tbe hill toward the corkclasses in Cycle News. screw and took over second, crossing And one more thing - usually I the line ahead of Cooley, who ignore the opinionated ramblings of whipped his bike on with his left well-intentioned people like G.K. hand as if beating a horse. Scott. However, when he uses the Richard Seoular was fourth with Bozo name in such a derogatory manan outstanding ride. Seoular was ner (Voices. July 4). [must speak up. added to the grid at the last moment, Just as in all groups of people, after the warm-up lap, and hadn't there are good Bozos and bad Bozos. been on the bikes beforehand. Deh isn't fair .to put us all in the same spite that handicap, Seoular passed circus tent, so to speak. Mr. Seott isn't most of the field to take fourth place. the first and won't be the last person Oliver won $700 for winning the to put us down in this way. Eventurace; Emde earned $350. Cooley $250, ally, though. the shadow cast on all Scoular $175,.Mile Baldwin $150 for Bozos because of a rew bad candied fifth place and everybody else $100. apples will rade away. Results • 1. Rich Oliver; 2. Oave Emde; 3. Weo Cooley; 4. OE MO TO A RichardSCoular; 5. Mileo Baldwin; 6. Jeff Haney; 7. J N Y OaleFranklin;8.KevinBrunson;9.JoeySommero; Team Bozo ~~~.RlckY Orlando; 11. Kerry Bryant; 12. Pill Her· Oakland, CA ........ __ ........ • _ _.......................:..,.:;,;. +- .. .. _ . . . . __ .... • Wins California Superlri"e School Challenge ""-~..... ~.~ -...lo. . . . Racing is a demonstration of competence. We, who race, bave chosen to demonstrate our competence by our control, our ability and desire to learn. and our passion for speed. We are special because we have chosen to be special. And now we (ind that Bellevue is replacing Bel-Ray. Twisted minds are replacing a twist of the wrist. Chemical additives are going into bloodstreams, not the crankcase. Drugs aTe escapistic. Drugs do not enhance competence, performance, learning, or the capacity to love oneself or anyone else. A drug user does not have the ability to operate an electric toothbrush properly, much less a motorcycle on a busy racetrack. Drugs do not bring success. Ever heard or a drug user succeeding at anything other than doing more drugs? . Paratroopers, also special people, say before takeo£f; "Jump clean'" Let's be special. Let's jump clean. Let's get the garbage o£f the track and out of the sport. Before the garbage kills the sport. And us. L. TENNYZEN Los Angeles, CA Springsteen shouldn't quit Jay Springsteen is a living legend whose AMA dirt track national win total many feel could surpass the 50 mark before he retires. It will be many racing seasons before we see his present total of 38 equalled. Who are we·to suggest that he retire? Only Jay can decide when to hang up his leathers for the final time, and hopefully that won't happen for many seasons. I, like a great number of his fans across the U.S., share his frustration of not being able to compete. None of the talented AMA dirt track riders deserve to be kept down by such an unforgiving ailment, least of all Jay. He's one rine human being, as I'm sure all who have met him would agree. He's a super asset to the Harley-Davidson factory team as he would be to any factory effort. Without doubt he would be a highly valuable technical advisor, public relations man, etc., should he choose to do so. In any capacity, Jay has much more to contribute to the sport he loves. I for one want to see Jay Springsteen, the living legend, back in strong pursuit of national win number 50. KERRY BRETHORST Norwalk, CA Recommends CSS After a hard fast ride in the mountains, I was trying to find thedenominator that made riding with my friends so comfortable. I round it; we have all been trained by Keith Code, yet none of us road race. Mr. Code sells a good product and has great stats to prove it. But the one stat which can't be measured, is how many lives he has potentially saved with his riding tech. I highly recommend to anyone who cuts a quick pace or considers road racing to spend a few bucks and take the California Superbike School. Not only will you learn a lot, it's also a real good time. CHUCK McMULLEN Fresno. CA Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Inc. Send letters to Voices. Box 498. Long Beach. CA 90801 .

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