Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

The Race of Champio ns, raced on brand new, box stock Yamaha YSR50s provided by Yamaha, pitted the top three riders from sou th ern California's SMX Track Challenge Series against three riders flown In by Yamaha from T exas' Central Road Racing Club and three riders from th e Utah Sport Bike Association. A team of japanese YSR50 road racers also was supposed to compete, but a rescheduled race in j apan . prevented them from attending. . The Ra ce of Champions a nd SMX programs are designed as fun event s for riders who want to race th eir tiny, 50cc spo rt bike-styled YSRs. SMX, which normally promotes motocross races in southern California, reluctantly got involved with Yamaha about six months ago a nd now sanctions th e month ly ra ces at Willow. " I resisted a t first becau se 1 wasn't convinced it would work," said SMX promoter T erry Wh ytal. But with the ' sa les success of th e YSR50 - it was Yamaha's biggest selle r thi s year, especially in California wh ere more units were sold th an in the o ther 49 states combined - an in creasin g number of riders ar e turning o u t to .race. jim Billingsley, pr esident of the USBA , said that th e number of YSR50 entries is growing with every race in his organization . Hay bales , highway safety cones and banners are used to construct a YSR50 track on th e tire testing skid pad at Willow Springs, The SMX tracks ar e designed to be fun , challen gi ng and safe. They are short and fairly tigh t to keep th e speed down. "We found that if we made the track fast, more people would go do wn ," said Yamaha 's Willie Ama radio. Even on the slower track, quite a few riders fell, although none were hurt. And the YSR comes through minor crashes with a minimum of damage, usually j ust scraped turn signals (if they haven't been removed) and handlegrips. Having fun is what YSR50 races, and motorcycles, are all about, The YSR50 is a blast to ride, and even more fun to race. At only 50cc, the YSR can only go about 40 mph down the longest straights, yet it feels like you 're going mu ch fast er. This is especially noticeabl e in th e turns . where the YSR 's light weight makes it easy to flick over and drag your knee and foot peg. "T he neatest thing about them is that they're not scary ," said Sam Yamashita, promoter for th e CRRC. "It feels like you 're riding 150 mph." The bikes are primarily stock, wh ich make s the racing close. " With stock bikes yo u ca n still keep it fun, a nd it is less expe nsive ," says Why tal. " We don 't want it to get too seri ous." H e said he eventually will be forced to add a modified -class, how ever. Man y racers paint th eir YSRs to look lik e th e - earn Marlboro 500cc YZR GP bik es T Eddi e Lawson rides or lik e Yamaha 's . FZR sport bik es. Although th e racing is supposed to be all in fun, so me riders seem to take it quite seriously. T hey look like they are ready to race seriously rather than have fun . Many of the regular road racers co m pete in full leathers, wh ile so me ride in jeans with kn ee pads, and others race decked o u t in motocross gear. The only requirement Wh ytal makes is that everyone is full y covered . On the track rid ers often look back down the longest straight and laugh at opponents directl y behind th em knowing that th ey can 't be caught. Or they will reach out and try to ho ld back a rival who is 'ga in ing a little bit of ground. But there ar e also riders who drift sideways when an opponent pulls alongside, or refuse ~~61 --=~--=~ -----~ MOTORCYCLE CENTERS GSX·R SERIES: ROUND 7 AT WILLOW SPRINGS guaranteed and your new So. callfomla-GSX·R racing continuesat Willow Springs September 19-20 for round sevenwith AFM (South) sanctioning and sponsorship by Vance & Hines Motorcycle Centers. NatJonBl Seres finals are OCt 9- 11 at Riverside Raceway This year, total series contingencies for anragions combined will far exceed the $285,000 posted in 1986. Nationaly.hundreds of ndars l ate expected to participate and thousands of spectators wiflattend. According to industryexparts, the GSX·R seriesrepresents"revitalized racihg at the grassroots 1a'9L- Attandance for 1987 series is predicted to wensurpass 1986. "Ws'responsoring this event because we strongly balieYe thet racing enhances the sport, T erry ~ Vance & Hines Motorcycie Centers president. said. "This is onearea that a1k:INs privateers the chance to compete against each other equalfy and responsibly.. . ff all comesdCNVfl to ski~ both nding and mechanical. - bik e STAY TUNEDWITH VANCE & HINES 'We 're a complete service and accessories headquarters. Vance emphasized. -ollering a parsonaJiz8d brand 01service not found any. where elsa Combined with our mechanical expertise and a wide selactkJnof accessories. we're perlect for CflJisjng, touring and highparformance machines.- In fact vance & Hines specializes in -sarne-day service.- provided an appointment is made. Hines added, "I want everyI>ke to run just the factory intended. Our Total Tune-up is VANCE. HINES RA-.1HE STAKES as Vance announced a newcontingency pr0gram for ndars in both 750and 1100(open) classes: $50 for tirst and $25 each for second and third. Ridersmust display Vance & Hines decaJs on both sides 01the fairing and use Vance & Hines advance units. brake lines, bat1enes. brake pads or clutch kits. DecaJs will ba availabla · at sign-up.(Winnersin both classes at the RIwN side /ihaJs will receiva $250, $150and $100 for the top three sJots.) "By upping the sfakes and posting contingency funds at WillowSprings, we 're demonstrat· . ing our total commitment to ride rs and thei, machines," vance added. '" believe tha t whe ther a persan races or not, they shUwant a bike to run the way it wassupposed to run." 19876SX-RSERIES SCHEDULE WlLI.OWSPRINGS RACEWAY by AFM (ScuIh) _ Gales open at 8 .. nVFlnaIa on &rdBy SEPTEMBER 1&-20 ROUND 116 RESULTS 750 CLASS _ i n g to Vance this philosophy ISthe , foundatIOn bahind Vance& H,nes Motorcycie Centers. With Byron Hines. s-ume Motorcycie Mechanic of the Year. 'AuK:e opened the fastest growing cham of motorcycle centers specializing in Honda. Kawasaki. Suzuki and Yamaha repairs 1100CLASS 1ST DOU6 POLEI 210 1DIIIIY LYICH 3RD pm CARROLL VANCE & H"U FOR AU. RIDERS 1ST DOUG POLEI 210 CHRIS STEWARD 3RD !All PERO NA'OONAl FIWS ~ ...t1 ...........c• . . , andservici g. n MN'B~ ANAHEI.. TORRANCE (714) n4-1049 (Sep ulved a at Crenshaw ) 2466 Sepulveda Blvd . Torrance , CA 90501 (213) 530-03 14 (1-5 at Harbor ex it , no rth 10 Vermont) 828 W. Vermont Ave. Anaheim. CA 92 805 warranty remains in e/feet.1 baIieYe tha t every I>ke is roaJIy a per1ormancoI>ke: no matterwha t size it is Of ds use. you want it to run ds best " tn response to his own belief, H m created the most thorough tune-up package availableanywhera ~~C'. . . . CENTERS ~.S MOTORCYCLE * NEW LOCAnONS * SOUTHCENTER GATE TOWN (Su nla nd at Penro se ) 9007 Sunland Ave.. Sun Valley, CA 91352 (Firestone at Ga rfield) 586 1 A re ston e Blvd. South Gat e, CA 90 280 (Lon g Beach Blvd . at De l Amo) 5210 Long Beac h B lvd. Long Beac h , CA 90805 (213) .......9 (818) 76 8-902. (213) 927-889. (213) 423-88111 14232 E. Imperial Hwy. KAL-CiARD CONCiRATULATES TEAM LOCKHART! . LONG_lEACH SUNYAU;EY (Imperial at Valley View ) La Mirada . CA 90638 (H untingt on at Mountain) Mon rovi a, CA 91016 (818) 303-6382 • check suspension • adjust sreenng stem basrings • tighten all nuts and bolts • test ride "That~ our Total Tune-up package'- Hines explained. "but 1want to roaJIy emphasize tha t any parsonal need or vanstion is discussed and at1endadto.At vance & Hines, computeriZed tire balancing (within 1 gram toIarance) is alsoavailable as are the latest in tires and accessories. In short Vance & Hines is the rider~ complete motorcycle center. . "'n the race programoutat Willovv Springs," Vance concluded. "we 're running an ad with a 10% discount ooupor! in ff (see program for oIatails). We'd like ovef)ssUn, and condition . Team Lockhart riders, Larry Shorts and Dale Quarterley, claimed the overall vict ory at the Sears Point round of the AMA Endurance Series. Their talent and KalGard's Chain Kote gave them the edge needed to wi n. Congratulations to both on a job well done! [Ka~GaRD]

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