Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Wind .. Honda's decision not to import the 1988 VFR750 superbike into the United States reportedly can be traced directly to U.S. Senator John C. Danforth's (R-Missouri) S1536, known as the Motorcycle Safety Act of 1987. Danforth's bill, if passed, would place performance limits on superbikes sold in the U.S. (Continued from page 2) for OHVs, the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles and a mdmber of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission. Gardner Racing's Pete Hames, who was disqualified after winning the Last Chance Qualifier at the September 20 San Jose Mile because his Harley-Davidson reportedly was sprayin~ oil onto the ,track and onto other nders, recently received an apology from the AMA. Hames filed an appeal after the race, charging that since he wasn't black-flagged he had officially won the event. His argumen t didn't hold up at trackside, but apparently carried more weight as the appeal process got underway. "After reviewmg all the pertinent facts, the AMA has issued an apology to Pete Hames," said AMA Dirt Track Manager lB. Norris. "We are crediting him with the win in the LCQ and we will pay him 17th place money for the National Championship. Pete has withdrawn his appeal and· is satisfied with the outcome. Ted Boody (who was credited with the LCQ win) will. keep any money he earned in the National." Random drug testing of selected riders was conducted following the September 26 Ascot HaH Mile in Gardena, California, but the AMA refused to divulge the identities of those being tested. "All our drug testing is confidential," Aid AMA Dirt Track M;lnager J. B. Norris. "Findlay Flyer" Steve Morehead of Findley, Ohio, has had a very successful1987 season. "I've got 20 wins this year," he said just before competing in the Ascot Half Mile September 26. "I have two National wins, 17 Regionals and one in a sprint car." Sammy Sweet of Porter, Texas, who said a few weeks ago that he would ta.ke the rest of the I88son off to recover· from injuries, was seen piloting his Carl Patrick Racing Harley-Davidson around the half-mile oval during the National at Ascot last weekend. "I'm just trying it out tonight to see how I feel," said Sweet. "I'd really like to end up the season at Sacramento." Sweet failed to qualify at Ascot when his mount lost its clutch during time trials. "It sort of made the decision for me," he said. . American Honda tenratively bas decided to sponsor three-tilJle National Champion Bubba Shobert in all Camel Pro races in 1988, not just road ra es. "Ifound out two days ago that Honda would back my dirt track program," said Shobert. ''That ended my search for a major sponsor. I have my major sponsor - Honda!" Honda Race Team Manager Gary Mather said the change was made because the Japanese company ha decided not. to import the 1988 Honda VFR750 superbike into this coun try. "The t.her day t.he decision was made not to bring the new superbike into the U.S.," Mathers said. " 0 we have to run our existing superbike, which is two years old. We felt the best chance of winning a championship was to run nine (road races) and nine (dirt tracks) again. We're going to do thal." Shobert's dirt track effort will be an -out-of-house operation in 1988, but Honda plans to keep the same personnel on the race team. ~ Here's one' for the trivia buffs: When was the last time a rider earned the AMA Junior National Din Track Championship and Rookie (Expert) of the Year honors in the same season? Give up] So do we. If it has ever happened before, we can't recall it, but that probably will be the case at the end of this season. Michigan rider Bryan Villella h~s wrapped up this year's Junior National title, and became the only rookie Expert in 1987 LO qualify for a National dirt track final last weekend'at the Ascot Half Mile during his first-ever Expert ride. Villella finished 13th to earn two National points. Unless another rookie outperforms him at the Sacramento Mile season finale, Villella will capture both honors. A special track will be laid out in the Ascot parking lot as the SMX YSR50 mini-road races move from Willow Springs Raceway to Ascot Park in Gardena, California, for the next four-race SMX/ Yamaha Track Challenge Series beginning October 1 1. For all the rules and information contact Terry Whytalat 714/582-3360. Tommy Watts (Kaw) won both the 250 and 500cc Pro. Classes at round four of the CMC/Dodge Truck Trans-Cal Series at Huron, California. Michael Craig (Yam) took the 125cc Pro vicLOry and finished second to Watts in the 250cc class. Two days of off-road poker run competition, Kiduro (kid's enduro), and other activities will take place at the November 14-1 5 Budweiser Toys for Tots Off-Road Poker Run in Barstow, California. The activities get underway at 8 a.m. Qn Saturday, November 14, behind the Slash X Cafe, 12 miles south of Barstow on Highway 247. For more information, call 619/252-2169. Jeff Kirk has replaced Jeff Hoppe as team representative for the Camel Pro Series. Hoppe was promoted LO asssislant team manager of presence and operations, part of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco USA special events department. Kirk will assist team manager Curtis Gray at Camel Pro events. The promoter of the twice-rained out Syracuse Mile round of the Camel Pro Series has announced that tickets for this year's can.celed event will be honored at the 1988 Syracuse Mile .on September 1 1 . For more information, write Don Brymer., c/o Syracuse Gold Cup Mile, P.O. Box 453. Syracuse, NY 13209. Former Camel Pro Series road racer Henry DeGouw will be the manager of a ix-rider North American team that will compete in the Macao Grand Prix in China over the November 28-29 ~eekend. "Our team ,will consist of Larry Shorts, Scott Cantrell, John Ashmead, Doug Chancey, Rick Shaw and Canadian Art Robbins," said DeGouw. ''I'm told that riders from Europe will include Ron Haslam, Didier de Radigues, Roger Marshall and Kenny Irons. Randy Renfrow raced in Macao last year but is unable LO 1lrAM goj/m ANt> HIS "...... !"lOe' HAvrE 6<»JE Tl/Afl.. R/f)fN" OUT' IN fIlE ()ESS((... "' tl-o (1) ,. ..0 .". o .... u C......E ON, HOP ON 1'1 Y BIKE ANO \liE'LL RIPE ~ To TIle VAN. o ~"'.'.',~, . . .. ..... WE 'u 1IIIIIT UNTIL A RAl!J81T' I/ops /NT'o THE 'TAAP... WE /'lItL TfIE: ~N(', AND WI/AMMo! l\IE'VE GoT PIIJIJEI.I WE 011/ VSE TUE NR To fooW(E ~rs fWO I/I>,T5 TO r.EEP US WARM TONIGHT. GCOO WILL SMITTY IHID MoE ~~ Gfl" OUT oF TUfS A(JlIE~ FIND 0Jr Nfl(; _ nm€. ItJ PAATll! make it over this year." Macao is a six-square mile Portuguese territory in southeast China. The annual race is run on city streets and the weekend's racing includes events for motorcycles and cars. cycle Adventures six-day trail ride that will take participants from Presidio, Texas, to Mexic0i5 Copper Canyon will start on October 25, not on the date we printed in this section last week. For more information, call Les French, 409/866-7891. The Motorcycle Industry Council has engaged Doremus Porter Novelli, one of the country's leading public relations'firms, to develop a national public relations campaign aimed at ell,panding public awareness of the .motorcycling experience. The initiative came from a special MIC Committee formed last year to consider a ra'nge of actions the industry could take to increase interest in motorcycling. Members include representatives from major motorcycle distributors, aftermarket and other industry specialists.' Committee members have pledged $400,000 to fund t.he public relations campaign over the next year. An additional $500,000 in non-enthusiast publication print advertising has been provided by Petersen Publishing Company and tentatively by CBS Magazines in support of the program. Doremus Porter Novelli Vice President Stephen Nissen said, "First year public relations efforts will be aimed at highlighting various aspects of motorcycling; especially for non-enthusiasts. By showing how enjoyable motorcycling can be in a safe environment, we'll be encouraging more people to appreciate what this sport is all about. Our ultimate goal is for more people to experience responsible motorcycling fi'rsthand. " ""ve earned the points needed to advance to the Expert class and .although "II finish out the year racing as a Junior, next year I'll compete as an Expert," said dirt track racer Rob Hassey regarding the string of items about him that have appeared in this section over the past few weeks. CORRECTION: The Great MOLOr- Once a record-setter' among transatlantic ocean liners; the Queen Mary .will host a record-setting cast of mOLOrcyclingstars as the luxury liner turned hotel hosts the 1987 AMA Professional Awards Banquet in Long Beach, California. The banquet is scheduled for Friday evening, November 6, with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30, and then by the presentation of awards in all categories of AMA professional competition. Highlighting the evening will be the announcement of the AMA Professional Sportsman of the Year and the Professional Athlete of the Year. Among the honorees will be America's victorious Motocross des Nations team. Tickets for the banquet are $40 each, which includes cocktails, dinner and dinner wine, and the awards celebration. Tickets will be on sale until October 23; no tickets will be available at the door and early reservations are encouraged. Ticket orders should be accompanied by checks and sent to: AMA Pro Awards Bal).quet, c/o Pat McCoy, P.O. Box 6114, Westerville, OH 43081-6lJ4. 51

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