Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

., ~ B Air Standards (Continued from page 2) ~ America's motorcycle newspaper Klotz Volume XXIV Sharon ClaYlOn, Publisher Mike Klinger.Comptroller Skip Johnson. Associate Publisher-/ National Sales Manager Jack Man~us, Associate Publisher/Editor Rheba SmILh. Circulation Managc-r Caroline Cendry. Executive SeCTelary to the Publisher Editorial Kit Palmer. Associate Editor Paul Carruthers. Associate Editor Farren Williams. Associate Editor Nate Rauba, Associate Editor Edwina M~tngus. Calendar Editor Advertising Terry Pran. ales Manager Mark Thome, Sales MantJger Don SlOcber, ales Manager Mike Church, Eastern Sales Manager Mark Mitchell. Ea.stan Sales Manager Thomas R. Comer, Eastrrn Sales Manager Cathy CoITao. Western Ad CoordiHator Carla Borden, Eastnn Ad Coordinator Toni Ooneske. Ad~rtjsing Assi..slarll Graphics and Production Malcolm Wilson,Production ManageT Diana HilRcnbcrg. Graphic Artist Peggy Smith. Graphic Artist Smcey CUOl. Grapllic Artist Marion HalObhila, T"ypt:st:tte:r Carolyn Branham. Typesetter .DenIll.S Greene. Lab. Tuh. Accounting/Data Processing Donna Brydll. AcclS Receivable Coordinator Geneva Repas.s. ASSIStant Fran Hamwey. Cudil Circulation Sarah Taylor, A.ssistant Alma Anguiano. Assistant Cheri Chapman, Assistant Marita Adams. A$Sistant 1- respon~s In reference to the "Motul not Klotz" letter in the Voices section of the September 9 issue: Klotz has sponsored Kurt Hall with product for a couple of years or more. Recently he has done very well on his Honda VFR with Klotz 4-stroke synthetic lubricants, winning many races and gaining a lot of exposure. In addition, Klotz has Kurt pictured in their advertising catalog. Kurt is also a Human Race Team rider. It's difficul t for Klotz to keep track of each particular race or exactly what equipment Kurt is riding. Shit happens_ Klotz wishes Kurt Hall all the best in his future racing endeavors whoever sponsors him. JOHN C. KLOTZ, JR. President Klotz Special Formula Products, Inc. Fort Wayne, I Ramp warning Please issue a warning to riders who use pickup trucks to haul their bikes. A driver was killed in a rear end collision on the fr eway recently when hi loading ramp was pushed through the cab of the truck and into his back. Stowing the ramp crossways in the bed of a pickup truck is best, or secured down the middle if only two people are in the cab. Want Ads Debbie Winkler. Want Ad Sales Service and Support Chris Aitcheson, Headquart~rs Receptionist Leonard Herring, erviu and Support NationalHeadquarte~ 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach. CA 90806. P.O. Bo. 198, Long Beach. CA 90801-0498 (213) 127-7133; 213/636-8811. FAX (213) 127-6685 Eastern Office 4190 First Ave.• Tucker, GA, 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805. Tucker. GA 300850805. (404) 931-7850. FAX (404) 934-3112 Cycle News (USPS 141-3<10) is published weekly except tbe first and last week or the calendar year for $52.00 per year by Cycle News. Inc.• 2201 Cherry Avenue. Long Beach. CA 90806. Second class poslage paid at Long Beach. CA. and additional mailing oUiccs. POSTMASTER.: Send form 3579 to Cycle _ . P.O. Box 498. long _ . CA 90801-0498. DOUG HAYDE Two Wheeler Supply umner, WA I got my Husky backl . I would like to- thank the motorcycle shops, District 37 clubs, and everyorie who took the time to listen to my problem and offer to help me find my bike that was recently stolen. I would especially like to thank Ron Dugan of Malcolm Smith Motorcycles of Riverside, California, who cared enough to take the time to call the police, who in turn recovered my bike. KEITH HILL Placentia, CA Subscription rates: One year, second class mail, $52.00. Sorry course of events Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material induding tOries, canoons. photoS. et . Such ~leriaJ. if published. becomes lhe exclusive pro~ty of Cycle News. uch ac· «Pled m:m:nal is subject to revision as is necessary in the sole discretion o( Cycle News. Unsolicited material which is not used will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed stam~ envelope. All unsolicited material will be handled wlth reasonable care, however. Cycle News a sumes no responsibi.lity for the safety. loss or damage to such material. Repriming in whole or part only by permission of the publisher. Adver· using rateS and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. Thanks for being candid with your readers over the track conditions present at the August 21 Hamburg (New York) National HaJ( Mile where rising young stat Darrel Davis lost his life. I always believed impending disaster lurked around the corner in Hamburg after having witnessed a number of Nationals there, mostly because of what Cycle News ouLIined were the inherent problems of rhe course - long straights with too narrow of a groove in the corners to safely handle the speeds attained due to the shape of the track and dangerous conditions for crashing, i.e. concrete abutments scantily clad inhay bales. Over tbe years these conditions have produced some frightening crashes; sheer luck they didn't produce tragedies. In addition, another factor contributed to the sorry course of events Copyrighte Cycle News, Inc. 1987. Trade-""'" Cycle News registerad U.S. Petent Office. All rights ....rved. SPA 'Conaumer Audit Diviaion Member· ship Applied For December 1988. 4 ON THE FRONT PAGE; Publishing tycoon Malcolm Forbes. movie star Uz Taylor and her new Harley Hugger, a gift from Malcolm, brighten our front page. Photo by Henny Ray Abrams. on August 21 in Hamburg, in my mind at least, and that is the sideshow-like status of the ational. Could we not blame the poor track conditions this year on this sideshow attitude? How about the time two' years ago after t1)e running of the National when riders and tuners were in the midst of loading up their equipment and the fair management shut down the lighting for the fireworks with little or no warning. Then, too, there have been several incidents involving fairground management and race fans concerning race fans having to pay to enter the fairgrounds in order to pay the gate fee into the race facility and not being reimbursed for the fair entry when they have on occasion been advised they would be. Riders come first, though, and American motorcycle racers should not be at the mercy of race promoters, which appears to have been the case in Hamburg. Riders must look to the AMA for this kind of protection but when it comes to Hamburg, my question is this: Where has the AMA been? I can remember a couple of years ago when the AMA took away the Hagerstown (Maryland) ational but retained the Hamburg ational when track conditions by virtue of the physical makeup of the Hagerstown track were infinitely superior to the conditions of Hamburg_ Why would that be? At Hagerstown, racing is the attraction. In the face of the Hamburg tragedy, these questions need to be addressed and answered. DAVID R. HUMPHREY Pittsburg, PA Shrouded in legalese Senator Danforth's Superbike bill reminds me of a yuppie revenge to that classic one-hundred dollar duel between a loud mouth's Heavy Chevy and a Vincent Black Shadow back in the fifties. When the abashed Chevy owner asked, "What was that?!" he was calmly told, "That was second gear." I'd Like to point out to Congress that it has come to my attention that was are importing automobiles from Italy and Germany (we won't mention brand names like Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini or Maserati) capable of going from zero to 100 mph in 10 seconds or less and capable of speeds of over 200 mph. These cars have no more practical use than a Yugo (other than to enhance potential adultery) and are usually driven by citizens whose reflexes have slowed to such an extent that speeds in excess of the national speed limit are potentially lethal with one of these old fat cats behind the wheel. Incompetency, wbether attributed to youth or senility, is still incompetency. But, of course, the real reason for this shrouded in legalese bill is establishment types don't like their $1 00,000 toys having their doors blown off by our $5000 toys. No point in mentioning that either, I guess_ F.]. JERMYN Huntingdon, PA and general counsel of HarleyDavidson and a member of the AMA Board of Trustees said, "We (HarleyDavidson) are pleased with these new amendments and feel that reason has finally prevailed. Our senators from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania did a fine job of presenting the motorcycl ists' concerns on this issue to their colleagues in the senate." According to Hoelter, HarleyDavidson will be able to comply with Senator Durenberger's amendments_ Had the original bill passed, however, Harley-Davidson estimated that it would have cost in the neighborhood of $1 300 per motorcycle to meet tbe 0.25 standard. The increase in cost could have driven some of the manufacturers out of the American market. • CPSC bill may lead to ATV recall, refunds By Farren Williams WASHINGTON D.C., SEPT. 25 A bill introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives would establish a recall/ refund program for all thr~ wheeled all-terrain vehicles and any four-wheeled ATV originally purchased for children under age 16_ The measure, known as the Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act of 1987, al so would curb the power of CPSC Chairman Terrence Scanlon by reorganizing the CPSC, and would establish congressionally-mandated guidelines for re~ulating ATVs and other controversial consumer products, such as lawn darts and disposable cigarette Lighters. The measure, which has not been numbered, was submitted by Congressman James Florio (D-New Jersey), chairman of the House Commerce, Consumer Protection and Competitiveness subcommittee, and was co-sponsored by each of the eight Democrats sitting on the subcommittee, including Dennis Eckart (D-Ohio) and outspoken ATV opponent Henry Waxman (DCaliforma). U passed, the bill would require the CPSC to issue an ATV consumer product safety rule within one year. According to a fact sheet released by Florio and Eckart during a September 23 news conference, the safety rule, "would have to address 'warning and training of users, safety performance of ATVs, and would have to provide for refund options for past purchasers of the dangerously unstable three-wheel ATVs and adult-sized four-wheel ATVs purchased for children under 16 the same refund remedy the commission seeks to pursue in its proposed enforcement action. "By legislatin~ this result, long and costly litigauon will be avoided and safety improvements can begin more quickly. The bill wouLd also provide incentives for states to adopt licensing, training and minimum age laws for ATV drivers." According to an outline of the measure, which has not been released in its entirety, the bill also would, "require that the manufacturers of ATVsoffer free training, helmets and 'other protective equipment, provide notice to purchasers of the risk of (Continued to page 39)

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