Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127131
"When DIRT RIDER arrives every month there's a fight betVleen me and lYIy sons to see Vlho gets 'it first." -Bill Alsup Eddie Wachs" Award; 19831985-elected to CART board of directors Name: Bill Alsup Occupation: Owner, Lift Services, Alsup Racing Engines, Woodstock, VT; retired Indy car driver Company descriptions: "Lift Services manufactures and maintains ski lifts. The engine business grew from my racing endeavors. We had a substantial engine shop to support my own Indy car racing, and when I retired we pursued the late model sportsman and stock car racing engine markets. Our customers have had considerable success, and it's grown to the point where we're one of the better known engine builders in the Northeast." Riding history: "I went to high . school in Hollywood, where I rode dirt bikes and was caught up in the hot rod scene. I started racing scrambles in 1961 when I moved to Vermont. I became an -Expert and raced in New England until 1969. It was the early days when Edison Dye was first promoting motocross as we know it today. I was one of the stockholders and directors of Intersport, the organization that brought over some of the European riders like Dave Bickers and Joel Robert to put on demonstration rides." .Ca r racing background: "In 1969 I was 31 and felt I was too old to be competitive in MX. I was going to try motorcycle road racing when a friend talked me into driving a Formula Ford. I raced several years with a fair amount of success, going to England with the Canadian team for the WorId Championships and to Atlanta for the SCCA Nationals. In 1974, I turned pro and ran the Volkswagen of America Super Vee series until 1978, when I won both the SCCA road racing championship and the USAC oval series. I was 41 in 1979 and decided that if I was ever going to do the big time, it was high time. ' I bought an old beat-up Indy car from Dan Gurney, along with a truck and a bunch of OtTenhauser engines . That was the year that CART and the USAC split, and I threw my hat in the CART ring. I raced for Roger Penske on the Penske team in 1981, with Rick Mears and Bobby Unser as teammates. That was a great year for Penske: Rick won the National Championship, I was second, and Bobby won Indy. I retired at"the end of the '84 season." Track record: 1978-SCCA & USAC Super Vee Champion (only driver to win both in a single year); 1979-CART "Rookie of the Year"; 1980-CART "Most Improved Driver", finished 7th in point standings; 1981- qualified 7th for Indy 500, finished 11 th , had eight top 10 finishes in II starts to finish second in CARTI PPG Cup point standings, named CART's first "Goodwill Ambassa.dor"; 1982-"American Red Balli Riding preference: "I really enjoy fast desert riding and love to ride in California and Baja. My older son Nipper and I rode from Ensenada to LaPaz and back when he was 13. I want to ride Baja with both boys before I'm too old, so when A.J. is 13 next year, we'll do it again. We do a lot of woods and fire road riding here in Vermont, and once a year I enter a ceremonial veterans' motocross to give the kids a laugh. Both boys are very serious about motocross. Nipper was state champion in the 250 Amateur class last year and will be an Expert this year." Bike. currently owned: Honda XR600; KTM 500 MX; 1968 Bultaco Pursang; 1968 Mick.Andrews replica Ossa trials . Magazine: "When DIRT RIDER arrives every month there's a fight between me and my sons to see who gets it first. I think it's terrific in its scope, and I pick up at least one new tip or trick from every issue. Photography is one of my long-time hobbies and, frankly, the photography in DIRT RIDER is absolutely first rate. Visually, the magazine looks great, and the editorial content is representative of what motorcycling should be." This endorsement is purely voluntary . No fee or other consideration is paid. AT NEWSSTANDS FOR 524.00 PER YEAR OR BY SUBSCRIPTION FOR 515.94. FOR SUBSCRIPTION ORDERS CALL (213) 854ยท2470. JJZ!! 41