Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

• Sidecar update America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Sharon Clayton, Publi$h~ Mike Klinger, Comptroller Skip j'ohnson. Associat~ Publisherl National Sales Manager Jack Mangus. tfssociate Publisher/Editor Rheba Smith, Circulation Manager Caroline ~ndry, Ext!Cutivt! Secretary to the Publisher Editorial Kif Palmer, Associate Editor Paul CarrutherS. Associate Editor Farren Williams. Associate Editor Advertising Terry Prau, Sales Manager Tim Ryan, Salt!~· Manager Mark Thome, Sales Manager Mike Church. Eastern Sales Manager Thomas R. Gonter, Eastern Sales Manager Linda Brown. Western Ad Coordinator Carla Borden, Eastern Ad Coordinator Calhy· Corrao, Advertising Asst. Graphic. and Produ~tion Ginger Machado, Production Manager MaJcolm Wilson. Graphic Artist Diana Hilgenberg, Graphic Artist Mario,n Hatashi13. TypeseueT Carolyn Branham. Typesette-r Dennis Greene. Lab. Tech. Accounting/ Date Proce••ing Donna Bryan. Accts. Receivable Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Fran Hamwey, Credit Circulation Sarah Taylor. Assistant Alma Anguiano. Assistant Linda zamarripa. Assistant Chai Chapman, Assistant Want Ad. Debbie Winklet. Want Ad Sales Dealer Sa'e. and Service David Metz. Dealer Sales Manager Service and Support Chr.is Aitcheson, Headquarters Receptionist Leonard Herring, SmJice and Support National Heedquarten 2201 Cherry Ave., Long' Beach. CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 908.01-0498 (213) 427-7433; 213/636-8844. Many things have been said about sidecars throughout the '86 season and as president of the Sidecar Racers Association (SRA) I think that it is time. to dear a few things up. The first thing is that the SRA is not upset with the AMA for dropping us from their card, because some of the reasons were valid. We were more upset at the fact that they had made a decision to drop sidecars in late November '85 and did not notify us until February '86. Many of the teams had already spent thousands of dollars to get ready for the '86 season, only to learn there would be no f\MA sidecar racing. My feelings were that the AMA used poor judgement in notifying the SRA ,There have also been statements made by certain parties on how much they did for sidecars. and my answer to that is, they only worked for the West Coast races. As for the SRA being upset with Bill Boyce of the AMA, that is strictly a mis-quotation on someone's part and not the SRA's. The SRA has always had high respect for Mr. Boyce and will continue to hold those feelings. Bill Boyce will always be welcome in the pits of the SRA. For the future, as president of the SRA, I want to have our organization include the East, West, North and South as well as our friends in Canada. The SRA should and will grow a5 an organization and not through individual teams. Our numbers are growing and will continue to grow. In closing, I would like to thank Cycle News for printing the different sides of this situation, the people who [Ook the time to comment, the' racers who have backed the SRA, and most of a II Jack Boxstrom and RACE for helping keep sidecars on the race track and not in the ga·rage. As for our fans, we will be back in '87. , GARY J. CARLSON President, SRA Mt. Clemens, MI eestem Office 4190 First Ave., Tucker. GA 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker. GA 30085· . 0805. (404) 934-7850. Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weekJy except the first and last w~k of the calendar year for $52.00 per year by Cycle News, Inc.• 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach. CA 90806. Second class postage paid at Long Beach. CA, ana additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send form 315-79 to Cycle Ne_. P.O. Box 498. Long _ h . CA 90801-0498. Subscription rates: One year. second class mail, S52.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories. cartoons, photos. etc. Such material. ifrublished.. becomes the exclusive property 0 Cycle News. Such accepted material is sujbect to revision as is necessary in the sole discretion of Cycle • News. Unsolicited material which is not usai will be returned. i( accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope. All unsolicited. material will be handled with reasonable care. however. Cycle News assumes no responsiblity (or the safety. loss or damage to such material. Reprinting in whole or partonly by· pamission of the publisher. Advertising rates . and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. Copyrillh~Cycle N...... lnc. 1 986. Tre~· merl< Cycle N regi_ U,S. Petent Office. All righU rved. ON THE FRONT PAGE: 1986 Supercro.. end 250cc National ChlImpion Rick Johnson during the 500cc USGP in Carlsbed. Celifornia. lut June. A Rick Johnson intarvi_ begin. on PlIlIa 6. Photo by Kinney Jone•. 4 Didn't crash Just a quick note to set the record straight. Your reporter. Ron MacLain, in his coverage of the 24 Hour West race at Willow Springs, reports that "Yamaha FZ750-mounted Team 2 with Jolin Harte. Burke Steed, Chuck Waychoff, Terry De Los Santos, Tom Hayner and Rick Mitchell riding, had mounted a furious charge to the front ... blah ... blah. He goes on to say we charged to fourth overall only to crash out of contention in turn eight with a broken crankshaft. For what it's worth. we were third overall at the·four-hour mark and did retire with a suspected crank problem. No member of our group crashed, our Yokohamas stuck like glue aU day, or at least the first four hours. RICK MITCHELL Motorcycle Industry Magazine Thousand Oaks, CA Retraction granted In reference to the September 24 issue, I am requesting a retraction be printed in Voices concerning a statement made by Randy Marrs as he the TSCEC by demonstrating their experience and leadership in putting on a National caliber enduro. nnfortunately they failed not only themselves but the AMA and the TSCEC tool I apologize to the National riders . who took the time and went [0 the expense of driving to Houston for this event. I would also like to extend this apology to the AMA because I know we could have dorie better. reported on the September 7 AMAI CCS meet at Road Atlanta. He 'states that "Ron Barton was disqualified for using an illegal bike." the truth of the matter is as follows: Barton and Gene Church had an agreement with Roger Edmondson of the AMA/CCS to use the race as practice as they both needed track time on unfamiliar machinery. When the race ended, being the gentleman that he is, Barton went to Edmondson to remind him not to be scored for the Supertwins race. It was Ron's third road race in the United States after recently relocating to Atlanta from London, Eng- . land. This is hardly a welcome'introdution to American road racing. Your utmost concern for rectifying this matter is greatly app.reciated. MALCOLME S. TUNSTALL Syd's Cycles St. Petersburg, FL Texan apologizes For the past 14 years, I have been the chairman for the Texas State Championship Enduro Circuit. I have watched the Texas clubs mature into strong, experienced sponsors of quality enduros. Our reputation for running highly organized, competitive enduros is well known and our clubs have taken great pride in this reputation - until now! The Trail Riders of Houston sponsor an enduro each year in late September as a regular event in the Texas State Enduro Circuit; however, this year the AMA granted th~ a National designation ,for the September 21 event. Their enduro is normally a challenging event, however, this year the enduro chairman, Richard Herman, apparently was out to be the first enduro chairman to totally stop the National riders. , ,After the Band C class riders reached their finish line. an additional 26 miles of trail was waiting for the AA and A class riders. Out of. seven National riders that came to the event, only four finished without being disqualified and houring out. The four that managed to finish without houring out did s() only by a space of '(our or five minutes to spare" All of the remaining AA or A class riders from Texas, Oklahoma. New Mexico and Louisiana w.ere disqualified out of their hour. Evidently Richard Herman. had read in one of the cycle magazines a comment made by Terry Cunningham that he thought the National enduros were "too easy'" So, Richard apparently set out to prove a point to a few National riders rather than set up a section to challenge their abilities, It's unfortunate because instead of getting to demonstrate the capabilities that madf them AMA National riders. they went away in frus.tration and anger. And the local AA and A riders from several southern states were cheated out ofan opportunity to ride with and compare their own skills with National calibe.r riders because of one man's inability and total lack of understanding of what it takes to put on an oustanding, competitive enduro. The Trail Riders of Houston had an excellent opportunity to gain national recognition for their club and ROY E. POOL Chairman, TSCEC Bedford, TX Easy reader Thanks for improving Cycle News with the addition of stapled binding. Cycle News is part of my "must reading" and. since the stack is pretty high. anything that makes my reading easier and more pleasant is greatly appreciated. BOB SINCLAIR President, Saab-Scania of America. Inc. Orange, CT Journalistic negligence Since the Los Angeles Times gives about one column-inch of motorcyI=le news a week, I've subscribed to Cycle News for some time to keep me informed of motorcycle news. Much to my amazement, the Times had a big spread a few weeks back on the battlt;s, legal and otherwise, between Mike Goodwin and Mickey Thompson over "supercross"promotion. Apparently it's been going on for some time now, with lawsuits, countersuits, injunctions, etc. I thought "well, since .it's been in the Times, Cycle News will at least mention it." Surprise! No mention. I don't expect you to take sides. but for supercross fans like myself, who buy your paper to keep up with the news. it seems like journalistic negligence to fail to report this matter to your readers. The two-page spread of Kit Palmer's photos from the ISDE (October 8) was super. As a rider and aspiring amateur photographer at local MX races, I was impressed by the composition and feelings conveyed by the photos. He is also an excellent writer. HOWARD C. OBERG La Verne, CA We like to devote-our time to the battles on race tracks rather than in court rooms. Since you're an attorney, Howard, you know we could devote every inch of space in this publication to the legal squabbles going on in this suit-crazed world, but we're sure our readers would get quickly bored of such. As reported last week, Mike Goodwin's Stadium Motorsports Corporation filed Chapter 11 and reorganized as Supercross Incorporated ... Editor. Mertens fan I would like to congratulate Tim Mertens on once again finishing in the top 20 in the Camel Pro Series point standings. and for once again being the top Illinois rider. We know that he had a lot of engine failures with his Honda this season. Keep in mind that his best finish was fifth at the Louisville Half Mile on a Harley. So who says the Harleys are losing it? But when they get the: gremlins out of Mertens' Honda, look out Harley. There'll be another weapon you'll have to beat. GARY J. MAHER Lander. NY

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