George used the new RGS straight
out of the box without any of our
optional touring equipment fitted,
including the use of regular RGS
handlebars.
George tied for second place with a
perfect time score on this 'round USA
8,400-mile, 'IO-day event. At the com·
pletion of the event George turned
'round and rode his now-fully·run-in
RGS back to his home in Sacramento. Total mileage covered was
11,400. It.is interesting that most of
the bikes used in this event were of
tbe classic ':kltchen sink and all"
type tourers.
George did not find any of the socalled "unsuited for long-distance"
elements.
.In fact, to quote George directly,
the Laverda was "the most comfortable and bullet· proof bike I have ever
ridden, and I have ridden 'em all."
WEST
America's weekly
motorcycle newspaper
Sharon Clayton, Publisher
Mike Klinger, Comptroller
Skip Johnson. Associate Publisher/
National Sales Manager
Caroline Gendry, Executive Secretary to
the Publisher
ROGER SLATER
Slater Bros. (USA) Ltd.
Kenwood, CA
Editorial
John Ulrich Editor
Kit Palmer, Associate Editor
Rex Reese, Feature Editor
Slater Bros'. is the U.S. importer of
Laverdas .. '. Editor.
Advertising
Terry Pratt, Saks Manager
Mike Spencer, Sales Manager
Tim Ryan, Sales Manager
Linda Brown. Advertising Coordinator
Nancy Wastell, Advertising! Editorial
Assistant
Chest protectors
Graphics and Production
Lori Tyson. Graphic Artist
Larry Gill, Graphic Artist
Marion Hatashita, Typesetter
Sheila Larsen. Typesetter
Dennis Greene. Lab. Tech.
Accounting/Date Processing
Donna Bryan, Accounts Receivable
Coordinator
Geneva Repass, Assistant
Fran Hamwey, Credit
Circulation
Rheba Smith. Managt'T
Michelle Hanna. Assistant.
Sarah Taylor, Assistant
Lyna Hood. Assistant
Dealer Sales and Service
Bob Elliott, Dealer Sales Manager
Want Ads
Judy Hilgenberg, Want Ad Sales
Service and Support
Chris Ailcheson, Receptionist
Gregory Hanson, S&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.
East
4190 First Ave., Tucker, GA, P.O. Box
805, Tucker. GA 30085·0805.
(404) 934·7850.
Cycle News/Wes, (USPS 141·340) is published weeklyexceplthe first and last week
of the calendar year for $25 per year by
Cycle News. Inc.. 2201 Cherry Avenue,
Long Beach, CA 90806. Second class pas·
tage paid at Long Beach, CA.
POSTMASTER; Send form 3579 to
Cycle N..... P.O. 80x 498. Long Beech..
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Subscripfion rates: One year, second class
mail, $25; twO years, second class mait
$45; three yean, second class mail $68; 25
weeks, $13. Foreign rates available on
request.
Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editori~1 material including stories, cartoons,
photos, etc. Such material, if published,
becomes the exclusive property of Cycle
News. Such accepted material is subject to
revision as is necessary in the sole discre·
tion of Cycle News. Unsolicited mate,rial
which is not used wiJI be returned if
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Cycle News assumes no responsibility for
the safety, lossordamage to such material.
Reprinting in whole or pan only by permission of the publisher. Advertising rates
and circulation information will be sent
upon request. See S.R.D.S.
Copyright Cycle New•• Inc. 1984.
Tredemerk Cycle New
gilte..d U.S.
Pltent Office. All righu
rved.
National motorcycle patrol
The National Motorcycle Patrol is
a non-profit organization made up of'
volunteers from various backgrounds.
Although the minimum medical
rraining requirement is the Red Cross
Advanced First Aid certificate, our
ranks include EMTs, Paramedics,
RNs, and MOs. The Parrol attends
motorcycle competitions including
motocross, hare scrambles, enduros,
and road races. Our purpose is to
provide immediate emergency first
aid. Our experience in the field is that
our treatment can stabilize serious
cases and prevent complications of
minor injuries. Additionally, treatment at a base station has allowed
less-seriously injured riders to continue racing, or at least to return
home in some measure of comfort.
This base station also serves as an
evaluation site prior to a patient's
further rreatment or transport.
Unfortunately, these services are
limited to competitions located in
northern California. There are simply
not enough of us to cover all the
tracks where our services are needed.
The AFM would like to see us at the
tracks at Willow Springs and River·
side. There are many motorcyc\e'c1ubs
who would like US to cover their
enduros and hare scrambles.
We need to reach a broad base of
racers and club members who would
be willing to help us out. Our biggest
problem is in the recruitment and
training of new members. If more
people knew of our manpower shortage, we're sure they'd be willing to
belp.
KARIN SCULLY
Public Relations
National Motorcycle Patrol
P.O. Box 2804
San Rafael, CA 94902
series ever. It's nice to see Harley
finally challenged.
I am from the northwest and our
only race of the series was Castle
Rock, Washington. As you know,
MI. SI. Helens covered it in ash and it
was dosed. It is now time to get a race
back in the northwest.
In conclusion I would like to congratulate Ricky Graham and Bubba
Shobert. I can't wait to see Doug
Chandler, the exciting rookie. in his
second year.
CAROL STEWART
Pacific City, OR
Touring Laverdas
Generally speaking. a large section
of the U,S. motorcycle press tends to
write up the Laverda RGS (or any
Laverda) as an "uncomfortable, European-style, short·fuse sports bike unsuited to any type of long-distance,
serious road use."
This completely·unfounded and erroneous view h'ils a negative effect on
our sales. Only after a long test ride at
one of our dealers does a potential
customer cast out these '.'unsuited for
long·distance use" notions.
4
As a long-time reader of your weekly
newspaper, I feel I sbould make a
comment on the AMA Grand Nation·
al Championsbip Series, I have fol·
lowed tbis series since the Kenny
Roberts and Gary Scott duels. I wisb
to thank Honda for getting involved
and making this the most exciting
A ccording to women racers we know,
fittiTlg into a chest protector isn't as
big a probl.em as ont! might imagine
- simply loosening the elastic adjust·
ment straps on the sides takes care of
that. A bigger problem is finding a
chest protector that isn't far too large
in the shoulders. Like most of the
women racers we know, AMA D-37
Women's Enduro Champion Dana
Bell. prefers to wear the Hannah Racing Products Flak ]ak ll. .. Editor.
RZ350 plagiarism
I read with interest your article on
RZ350 pipe testing (Cycle News September 19), having once owned one.
But more interesting than the aftermarket pipe review was the social
issue. I believe you are correct in your
statement, :'Law of the land argu·
ments are the refuge of those wbo can
not think."
The real issue in this case '(and I
believe it to be a moral on'e) is the
subject of plagiarism. What about a
world where all true inventors are
gone? Who will be left to copy? We as
consumers have more power than we
might think. You have the power not
to purchase. Think about the people
you support with your money and
why.
Should your newspaper make value
judgements? I believe so. We should
all make value judgements. If we
don't, who will?
PAUL MARBRY
Port Alberni, B.C. Canada
Honda dirt track fan
ON THE FRONT PAGE; Ricky
Johnoon ,(top left) Jopen IUpercroa
winner, Story on page 10. Photo
by Mush Emmonl, Chril Crandln
(Io_r rightl wheeli.. to Berstowto-Vag•• win. See pege 8. Photo
by Lorry Longley.
I realize only a fraction of a percentage of women ride dirt bikes competively but a respectable number of us
ride on the weekends for fun. Does
any manufacturer make a chest protector for women. and if so, why
didn't you cover them (Cycle News,
Noverpber H)?
I can fit into road-racing leathers if
I want to get serious on my GPz. but I
just can't imagine how one would fit
into these' things without major
modifications.
LORRIGOOD
La Mesa, CA
I am most pleased to be able to
remind you that Mr. George Swetland of Sacramento only collected his
new RGS immediately before the
Ironbutt Rally. It is notable that
Published letters do not
necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Inc. Send
letters to Voices. Box 498.
Long Beach. CA 90801.
