Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

America's motorcycle newspaper Volume XXIV Sharon Oayton. Publisht!T . Mikt' KJinf(l'r,CompITOlln Skip Johnson, Associate Publish,.,1 Nation"l Salts Manil.gt:T Jack Manfi;us. Associate PublisJu'rl Editor Rhrba Smith, Circulation Manager C':;;t;mline Ct."dry. E.'(f~culiw StreTt!lary to tit,. Publishrr Editorilll Kit P. . lmer, tf....foc;ale Editor . Paul Qlrrulhrrs. Associ,ll,. Edilor Fam'n Willi4lms, A$Social,. Editor Mike." ul'son. Assistant Editor Edwin" Mangus. Calendar Editor Advertising Terry Pr.lu Sales MaruJgtr Tim Ry'ln, Saws Ma,utgn ~rk Thomt'. Saws Marggn Mike Olurch. £aslrrn Sau-s MandgtT TIlomas R. COtUlT, EAstern S4les ManaK" Ban doubles Last year British and West German motocross sanctioning bodies made double jumps illegal. Now it is time that American sanctioning bodies do the same. Double jump:; were created for one purpose - if you don't make it, you crash. Promoters will say, "I use only safe doubles," which is bull. Regardless of the size and shape of the jumps, there is a level of rider who will not quite clear it and crash. Motocross is so exciting that it does not need the extra crashes that double jumps produce.. The AMA, CMC, NMA, SMX, etc. need to ban double jumps now before another rider ends up in the wheelchair, possibly for the rest of his life. ART OLIVIER Bellflower, CA Linda Brown Wf'stem Aa-Coordinator C.r14ll Bardt·". EAstern Ad COOTdirudor Linc:b Von dt· Vc.oId. Adt~rt;s;ng Asst. Graphics end Production Cinfi;t'T Machado. Production Manage Malcolm Wilson. GrtJp#lic Artist Dian:.l Hil~,..bt.TK. Graphic Artist Pt"Q'Y Snuth. Graphic Artist M.uion Hatadli~. TytH!St!ltt!T Conolyn Br.nJ",m. T,~","a Denms GI't't"Ut". lAb. T~rh. AccountIng/08ta Proc:eaing Donna Bry.ln. Accts.R~Ct'iVdble Coprdinllior RC·JXIS5. ASSlSlD.n' Fr.m Ham,,'c·y. Cr"dit Gt-ntV.& Circullnion Sardh T ..ylor. Assu14nt Alma Anl(ui:lno. As.fisl.", OM'i (:Jkipman, Assistant Marila Adams. Assistant Wrong sponsor In the January 14/January 28 issue of Cycle News, it was reported that I am sponsored by K& N. I am not. The following are my current sponsors: Don Stevens, Competition Products, Ironhorse Motorcycle Works, Torco U.S.A., TK-7, Shoei, and Folland Signs. These are the people who make "Farley phenomenal." Thanks for the coverage. KIT FARLEY Salt Lake City, UT Dt'bbit, Wink1c:r. Wa,d Ad Sail'S D-.Ivid MCll.lHaln Sal~s Manngt"T S8rvic:t1 end Support <:hris Ailchc.·son, HI!fl.dqu.artf"Ts HfU/1I;O",'st . Leonard HC.'ITilig. !Ynlu'" a'ld Support Nrio".1 H.8dq....... 2201 Chc.'rry Aw.• Lonl( 8t.-adl, CA 90806. P.O. Box ~911. LanK St·""h. CA 90801·0498 (21~) 127·H~~; 2131636-8844. Eu1em OffIce 4190 "'irsl A\'t',. TucklT. GA. 50084: mailinl( addn'SS P.O. Box 80,. Tuck,.... GA .!lOOll5. 080,. (404) 9~4·7850. , Cycle.- Nc.',,'s (USPS 141·.!J'IO) is publislwd \\'t'1.·kl)· c'xC't'pl lht, firs. and last wt't"k of lhe.' )'l:ar fur $52.00 pc.'r )'t":.... by C)'ch: Nt.""s.lnc. 2201 aU.T!)' Awnue.·.l....oIlt; Ilt-adl, CA 90806. St'tvnc.l class POSUlkt' p;lid.1I 1..onK Bt-M"h. CA. ;md additional mailulfit OUU:t'S. POSTMASTER; $end form 357910 Cycle (~ lt'tl("lr ... N_. P.O. Box 498. long _ . CA 90801 -0498. Subst.-nption r.m.-s: Ont' )'e.':.II", St'Cond class mail. $,2.00. Cycle.' Ne.",,·s ",:dromt.'S umolicile.'tI e.wlorml male.'ri:.ll indudinJ.; Slorie.'S, c.moons, phOlOS, Sud. male.'ri:.ll, if publishe.'<.I, bc.'rotUt"S lhe.' t.'xclusi\'t.' pl"o,P':'r!y of ~yclt.' Nt'w~..Such :I~ O'pIOO male.-rI.11 IS subJt'C1 10 rt'\'ISlon as IS nt'Ct.~sal)' in Ihe.' solt" discTt.'lion of Cydt.' Nt'W5. Unsoliciwd I1l4lteri.1I which is not uSC'd will })(o rr(umc.'tI if aceompanil-d by a St.'1r addrt-sSt"ll slampc.'d en\'dopc.·. All unsolicill'd mau'ri:11 ",ill bc.. h;lOdkd with rc.lson:.lbll' C'"Mt.', howl'\'e.'r, C)'('Ie.' Ne.''''s i15..~un1l'S no n'Sponsibilil)' ror th(' s:.IIl·l)',loss or dama,.,~' to sue.'h m.lI~ial. Rt'prilllinK in whole.' or pan onl)' b)' permission or lhe publisht.·r. A(h,t'Ttisin~ mit'S and ('ircul;llion infonnalion wiJI bt: St'nl upon reque)l. Sc.."'C S.R.D.S. BPA Consum.. Audit Dlvioion M _ · Ihlp AppIiecI For o-nber 198&. ON THE FRONT PAGE: Scott H8lId flicks around Beta'• . TR34 trillier in a southern Califomill atnNIm. See page 18 for Beta teat. Photo by Len W8lId. Terry Pratt, a Cycle News staff member who placed second in the Old Timers Junior class at the Huron CMC Golden State Nationals round, says the brief motos and the running of two different tracks at Huron Cycle Parle was necessary due to the large turnout of riders and the fact that 35 classes were run. "That's the high price of glory," said Pratt . .. Editor. "Ban doubles" #2 Godspeed, Jimmy One of the hard-charging flat trackers of the sixties is gone. Jimmy Nicholson died at his mother's home in Lancaster, California, last month. Jimmy was probably be~t k~o.wn for his aggressive style while ndtng the Sim's Matchless at Ascot Park. Jim would also often ride a HarleyDavidson on the Tr track and local tracks. He was a small man in size but no one could manhandle a Harley like Jimmy. Jim's racing career came to an early end due to injuries he received when struck by a car while helping a broken-down motorist on the Harbor Freeway in Los Angeles. Anyone who saw him ride well knows Jimmy had the talent and ability to become the National Champion. Godspeed, Jimmy. KEITH MASHBURN Simi Valley, CA SIG HANSEN Santa Ynez, CA ~lC. CopyrigIIdl~N_.lnc. 1987. T.... ""'ric Cycle N _ N l I I _ U.S. ""tent 0tIIce. All rigftb . . .rwcI. BOB DUNN Redwood City, CA I was greatly saddened to hear of David Bailey's serious injuries suffered in a crash on a double jump at the Huron Cycle Park track on January II. How many tragic accidents will have to occur before these damn double and triple jumps are eliminated from motocross and supercross tracks? Don't those responsible realize the negative press that is generated when a top rider (or any rider for that matter) is seriously inj ured? Danger, of course, is inherent in any kind of racing, and we're all willing to take reasonable risks, but double and triple jumps carry too heavy a penalty for rider error or untimely enginel drivetrain seizures. Driver boycotts have been successful at eliminating hazardous track conditions in Formula One car racing. I would suggest that motocross racers owe themselves the same respect, and should boycott tracks that utilize double jumps in favor of tabletop or single jumps. Went Ada 0..18r 58... end Sttrvic. tight off-camber "S" turn soon after the start that was guaranteed to cause a jam-up that would make an enduro rider feel right at home. There's more but I probably already sound like a complainer. My whole. life basically revolves around motocross. Most of my money is spent on motocross. Most of my time, when I'm not at work, is spent on training and bike preparation. After riding for nine minutes on a piece of crap track I felt like a fool for making such a commitment. I've been to Huron when the Golden State Series Medicine Show wasn't in town and it was excellent in every respect. As long as there are days like that I'll keep riding and best of all keep enjoying it. But as far as the Golden State Series goes, I wouldn't waste my time again. The high price of glory I have been racing motocross steadily since 1971. This week I almost retired. Not because I want to quit while I'm at the tqp - I'm certainly not. Not because of injuries - they still happen but they heal. Here's why: Last Saturday I woke up at 3:00 a.m. and drove three and a quarter hours to Huron, California, for the highly acclaimed (by CMC at least) Golden State Series Sportsman Day. For $14 my wife and I were allowed to come in and park. For another $25 I had the privilege of riding two nine minute periods on a burned out, poorly designed race track. For example, there was a very "Ban doubles" #3 David Bailey's recent injury calls into question the wisdom of incorporating double jumps at both indoor and outdoor events. At the professional level, motocross had already lost both Donnie Hanson and Danny Chandler when they "cased it." It's time to ask what purpose doubles serve, and if that purpose outweighs the risk that those professionals who entertain us will suffer severe, life changing injuries and be lost to the sport. Proponents of doubles will argue that doubles provide spectator appeal and enhance racing; ~oubles separate. the "men from the boys." Perhaps. There is no doubt that doubles have separated some very skilled professionals from our sport. I pray that David Bailey is not also lost to the' sport. More importantly,I pray David Bailey has not lost the use of his legs. Motocross was far more exciting for the skills of Donnie Hansen, Danny Chandler and David Bailey, than for the presence ofdouble jumps. In thelr lives can be seen the consequences, both to the sport and in human terms. Motorcycle racers have no lack of courage at the professional level, the promise of fortune and desire for success combine with pure competitiveness to encourage racers to do what they must to gain an edge. It is unfair for us to take advantage of this for the purpose of pleasing spectators while at the same time astronomically raising the risk to those who race. Road racers got together to bring about changes in the design of unnecessarily dangerous race courses. Motocross enthusiasts must now do the same. Double jumps can easily be replaced with obstacles that are safe, yet still exciting, and test ability as well as pure courage. We owe such an effort to those who have so entertained and amazed us with their gifts and skill. J. MICHAEL STUSIAK Davis, CA NoVFR760s Last night (Jan.19) I talked to Harry Bresach of AFM South, in regards to Honda paying contingency money to the VFR700s in 75OccStock Production races. Last year I spent over $5000 to buy a brand new VFR750 and race it against the multitudes of less expensive FZs and GSXRs, even though Honda was not supporting this class. I have always raced Hondas and felt I would continue to support the Honda company by buying the more expensive 750 vs. 700VFR and be one of the few to race it against the GSXRs and FZs at AFM North and South races. Silly me and my brand loyalty. For whatever reason and after a one-year run Honda has decided to discontinue the 750VFR and just sell the 700. I imagine that as soon as the warehouses are empty of VFR700s they will discontinue these also. I asked Mr. Bresach whether Honda was going to support those of us who bought the more expensive VFR750s last year and allow us to compete for contingencies in 750cc Stock Production races. The answer was a shocking no. The VFR750 owner/racer is not allowed to compete for thecontingencies. I currently own six Honda motorcycles and have owned numerous others in my 14 years of riding. I have always thought Honda to be the best. I know Honda is going to pay contingencies on their new Hurricanes and can understand their reasoning, but what I can't understand is how they would turn their back on the VFR7500wners who supported them last year, even though there was no support for that class. I feel it is unfair of Honda to exclude VFR750 owners, who supported Honda last year, from competing in their VFR contingency program this year. Does anyone have a good GSXR750 for sale? CHARLES PRICE Folsom, CA Publi-"ed Iettltra do not nece_rily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. 58ndlettltn to Voice., P.O. Boll 498, Long Buch, CA 90801.

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